Do you need black pepper to absorb your turmeric? The popular opinion is a yes. Over the last decade, black pepper has become turmeric’s mandatory side-kick, found in almost every supplement on the market.
This combination is a result of cross-over, randomized study in humans conducted by Shobha et.al. in 1998. The result showed that an active compound called piperine found in the black pepper improved turmeric’s absorption the body by 2000%
Since its publication in 1998, the study has been re-examined and re-evaluated. Now we know more about piperine and turmeric. This new information has re-kindled the debate- is the black pepper and turmeric combination really powerful?
The question is significant because customers gravitate towards turmeric for its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-microbial properties, and other health benefits. Turmeric has become an absolute favorite amongst people looking for alternatives to pervasive pharmaceutical solutions for health.
So let us first understand why turmeric needs a side-kick at all? Then we will further our knowledge about piperine or Bioperine and its possible association with leaky guts!
The Black Pepper & Turmeric Connection
To understand the connection between turmeric curcumin and black pepper, we will have to understand the concept of bioavailability first. 
Bioavailability is referred to as the extent and rate to which the active drug ingredient or active moiety from the drug product is absorbed and becomes available at the site of drug action.
Sounds complicated? Let us simplify it for you. Bioavailability indicates how easily our body can absorb certain chemicals. Higher the absorption, the better the impact of the chemical on your body.
Turmeric has many chemical compounds called curcuminoids. The most significant kind is curcumin which aids turmeric health benefits. The problem is that curcumin has very low bioavailability and thus, limits its utility for the body. But don’t you worry, there are simple solutions to this problem.
The first solution focuses on curcumin’s fat solubility. When cooked or supplemented with oil such as coconut, it gives positive results and gets absorbed by the body easily.
Beyond fat solubility, another successful way is to pair it with Bioperine or piperine, found in black pepper. Piperine is an alkaloid that has many functions. The most significant is improving the bioavailability of curcumin.
So what would happen if your turmeric supplement has no black pepper or piperine?
The Leaky Gut & Why It’s Okay If Your Turmeric Has No Black Pepper
No one can deny the significance of black pepper in aiding the bioavailability of turmeric benefits. But there is another side to it.
Many supplement companies in the market are going piperine-free. The reason is its impact on the intestines. Studies have shown the mechanism of piperine’s bioavailability is a result of increased intestinal permeability.
Increased intestinal permeability or leaky gut implies that the tightly intact intestine system has abnormal microscopic holes and cracks. Studies claim that piperine helps in bioavailability by impacting the permeability of your intestines.
More than 4000 square feet of an area inside our stomach is covered by the intestinal lining. These tightly held intestines work together to make sure our body absorbs only necessary nutrition into its bloodstream. The problem arrives when the intestinal lining’s permeability increases. It may lead to gastrointestinal issues such as irritable bowel syndrome and even Crohn’s disease.
Therefore, alternative solutions are now available in the market which do not contain black pepper at all. The good news is, you can get turmeric benefits without it.
Turmeric Without Black Pepper Is Possible!
You don’t necessarily need black pepper for turmeric benefits. You can go piperine free!
For instance, Ozia’s turmeric candy is 22x MORE bioavailable than standard turmeric products WITH black pepper. Why? We use TurmiPure Gold® which optimizes absorption by utilizing all kinds of curcuminoids found in turmeric.
There are many Curcuminoids found in turmeric. The majority knows only about curcumin. Turmeric also has demethoxycurcumin (DMC), bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), and tetrahydrocurcumin.
For example, tetrahydrocurcumin has more bioavailability than curcumin and and is being studied as an anti-cancer remedy. More research into DMC, BDMC, and tetrahydrocurcumin is happening as we write about it. The results are promising. By utilizing the curcuminoids spectrum, the turmeric bioavailability can be improved, effortlessly.
To be able to reap the benefits of turmeric, all you need is turmeric! The common belief that black pepper is necessary is not true. You can most definitely take it but if you have a sensitive gut, you may wanna reconsider your choice.
At Ozia, we are extracting the power of turmeric with our innovative and delicious candy. Our customers have seen a positive impact on their overall well-being. You can check out our story: How do Ozia products work? A month in the life of a retired NFL Player
In case you’re starting your journey now and confused about the dosage, click here to read our article- Can I Take Turmeric Everyday?
References
Campos, M. (2017, September 22). Leaky gut: What is it, and what does it mean for you? – Harvard Health Blog. Harvard Health Blog. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/leaky-gut-what-is-it-and-what-does-it-mean-for-you-2017092212451
Chow, S.-C. (2014). Bioavailability and bioequivalence in drug development. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Computational Statistics, 6(4), 304–312. https://doi.org/10.1002/wics.1310
Global Turmeric Market; Industry Size, Share, Growth, Demand Analysis and Forecast, 2018 – 2024. (2020, August 31). Zion Market Research. https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/turmeric-market
Khajuria, A., Thusu, N., & Zutshi, U. (2002). Piperine modulates permeability characteristics of intestine by inducing alterations in membrane dynamics: Influence on brush border membrane fluidity, ultrastructure and enzyme kinetics. Phytomedicine, 9(3), 224–231. https://doi.org/10.1078/0944-7113-00114
Lai, C.-S., Ho, C.-T., & Pan, M.-H. (2020). The Cancer Chemopreventive and Therapeutic Potential of Tetrahydrocurcumin. Biomolecules, 10(6), 831. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom10060831
Shoba, G., Joy, D., Joseph, T., Majeed, M., Rajendran, R., & Srinivas, P. S. (1998). Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Planta medica, 64(4), 353–356. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-2006-957450
Wunsch, N.-G. (2020). Market volume of turmeric worldwide in 2017 and 2027. Statista. https://www.statista.com/statistics/740259/global-turmeric-market-volume/