Why Black Pepper is Essential for Turmeric Absorption?
Turmeric is celebrated worldwide for its benefits, from being a ‘kitchen queen’ to being a part of home remedies for a wound or the flu. But did you know a fact about turmeric’s active compound curcumin? Curcumin is difficult for humans to absorb. The compound ‘piperine’ present in black pepper plays a vital role in the absorption of curcumin in human bodies.
While making Mt.Meru Medicines’ Precious Lakadong Turmeric Tablets, this fact was well utilized. These turmeric tablets have the correct proportions of pure black pepper (no extracts) to ensure curcumin’s bioavailability.
The Science Behind Curcumin’s Absorption by Black Pepper
Turmeric and black pepper go hand in hand. Studies show that adding black pepper to turmeric increases the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000%.
The Perfect Combination
Unfortunately, curcumin's bioavailability is low. This means much of the curcumin passes through the human body unused. Black pepper has piperine as an active compound. Piperine helps in increasing the bioavailability of Curcumin for the human body.
Mt.Meru Medicines' Founder Radhika Ponda has captured the vital beauty of black pepper while making our turmeric tablets. Both black pepper and turmeric are sun-dried and powdered to make them in pill form. Black pepper, when combined in the correct ratio, enhances the bioavailability of curcumin in the turmeric tablets.
Hence, the tablets have a proper proportion of curcumin and piperine in the pure form with jaggery as a natural binder. The tablets are enriched in prana (life-force) without any extracts, additives, or preservatives.
Scientific Foundation
Studies show that pepper containing piperine (whole herb and no extracts) enhances the bioavailability of curcumin. Piperine helps increase the permeability of the intestinal wall. It makes it easier for curcumin to enter the bloodstream.
This natural synergy between black pepper and turmeric has been recognized in traditional medicine for centuries, and modern research continues to validate these time-tested combinations.
Why did we choose not to add any kind of Extracts?
We choose whole turmeric over curcumin extract because Nature's Complete formula helps support healthy liver function while working gently with your body's natural processes. Whole turmeric may help support normal liver function through its natural compounds that provide antioxidant support and help maintain healthy inflammatory response as part of normal physiological processes (Hewlings & Kalman, 2017; Prasad et al., 2014).* However, when curcumin is isolated and concentrated into extracts, research suggests this may place additional demands on the liver by affecting cytochrome P450 enzyme pathways, which are involved in processing various compounds, including medications (Volak et al., 2008; Zhang et al., 2014).* Whole turmeric contains a variety of complementary compounds, including other curcuminoids, essential oils like ar-turmerone, and natural fiber that work together to deliver curcumin in a way that supports normal liver function (Kunnumakkara et al., 2017).* This natural matrix helps ensure your liver receives curcumin's beneficial compounds at levels that support normal physiological processes rather than stress them. By respecting turmeric's original form, we honor both ancient Ayurvedic wisdom and modern understanding of how botanical compounds work best within their natural context.
Similarly, we add whole black pepper to our turmeric supplement instead of isolated piperine extract to maintain this philosophy of gentle, natural enhancement. While piperine extract can dramatically increase curcumin absorption by up to 2000%, this rapid enhancement may place additional demands on your liver's natural processing capacity, potentially affecting how your body handles other nutrients and compounds (Shoba et al., 1998; Atal et al., 1985). * Whole black pepper provides a gentle, sustained increase in bioavailability that works in harmony with your body's systems. The complete pepper matrix contains not just piperine but also essential oils, fiber, and other compounds that help support natural absorption, helping you receive curcumin's benefits while supporting normal liver function (Meghwal & Goswami, 2013).* This approach mirrors traditional Ayurvedic wisdom, where turmeric and black pepper have been combined for centuries, not to force maximum absorption, but to create a balanced enhancement that supports your body's natural processes (Chainani-Wu, 2003).
Super-Easy Ways Turmeric Can Be Made Bioavailable
Add Healthy Fats
Turmeric is fat-soluble, so consuming it with healthy fats (like olive oil, coconut oil, or ghee) further enhances absorption.
Practical Cooking Tip
In a pan, add ghee/edible oil
Add mustard seeds or cumin seeds
Add vegetables with 1 teaspoon of turmeric
Sauté the vegetables for 5 minutes
Consume Turmeric Tablets
Mt.Meru’s Turmeric Tablets are wholesome for your holistic health. The pill is a powerhouse of Lakadong turmeric that is freshly sourced from farms in Lakadong ( Northeastern Himalayas of India) with the right proportion of black pepper. The tablets have the right turmeric and pepper ratio and jaggery as a natural binder.
Easy tip to have turmeric tablets:
The tablets are easy to consume and easy to swallow with a glass of water. If you like the taste of turmeric, you can even chew it! The tablets are pure with Prana (Life force) preserved, with zero extracts, zero preservatives, and zero additives!
Black Pepper & Turmeric Duo Benefits
Anti-Inflammatory Power
The combination of turmeric and black pepper may help reduce inflammation linked to conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Antioxidant Boost
Curcumin and piperine both have potent antioxidant properties that neutralise free radicals and support cellular health.
Digestive Support
Piperine stimulates digestive enzymes to improve gut health and nutrient absorption, while curcumin enhances enzyme production for efficient digestion.
For anyone seeking the full health benefits of turmeric—whether in golden milk, curries, or supplements—combining it with black pepper is essential. The science is clear: black pepper activates turmeric, making its powerful curcumin compound!
Are you in search of a flavorful drink rich in superherbs and best for maintaining overall health? Try Mt.Meru Medicines’ Golden Milk, which has synergistic superherbs - Lakadong Turmeric, Black Pepper, Saffron, Cardamom, Cinnamon, and Ginger in their purest forms.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Mt. Meru Medicines’ products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness. The information on this website is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
References
· Atal, C. K., et al. (1985). Bioavailability of curcumin. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 37(1), 44-46.
· Chainani-Wu, N. (2003). Safety and anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin. Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 9(1), 161-168.
· Hewlings, S. J., & Kalman, D. S. (2017). Curcumin: A review of its effects on human health. Foods, 6(10), 92.
· Kunnumakkara, A. B., et al. (2017). Curcumin, the golden nutraceutical. Molecules, 22(9), 1398.
· Meghwal, M., & Goswami, T. K. (2013). Piper nigrum and piperine: An update. Phytotherapy Research, 27(8), 1121-1130.
· Prasad, S., et al. (2014). Curcumin, a component of golden spice: From bedside to bench and back. Biotechnology Advances, 32(6), 1053-1064.
· Shoba, G., et al. (1998). Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta Medica, 64(4), 353-356.
· Volak, L. P., et al. (2008). Curcuminoids inhibit multiple human cytochromes P450. Drug Metabolism and Disposition, 36(6), 1132-1137.
· Zhang, W., et al. (2014). Curcumin: diverse bio-actions and potential therapeutic applications for the treatment of cancer. Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 14(6), 787-792.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10724617/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9619120/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10724617/
