What you need to know ⬇️
Curcumin is the biologically active compound in turmeric (the yellow spice used in curry).
It’s a polyphenol known for its beneficial effects on metabolic health—including blood sugar, insulin, inflammation, and weight.
But curcumin is not well absorbed from the digestive tract, so there have always been questions about its bioavailability and whether it’s worth taking.
A new research review (PMID 39062953) reveals that curcumin may not need to be well absorbed to still have metabolic effects 🙌
The reason is because curcumin acts directly in the gut to shift the gut microbiota in favor of beneficial bacterial strains, like Bifidobacteri, Lactobacilli, and butyrate-producing bacteria.
👉 This shift in gut microbiomes translates into a cascade of events that influences metabolic health.
The thing about natural compounds is that they always have multiple effects on many pathways in the human body. This is what makes them more challenging to study and to explain but so powerful for our health.
If you want to explore ways to add more turmeric into your diet, you can try out:
🫚 Golden Milk (warm milk with turmeric and spices)
🫚 Yellow Rice (add a dash of turmeric while cooking)
🫚 Scrambled Eggs or Tofu (mix turmeric in when cooking)
🫚 Smoothies (sprinkle into your smoothie)
Do you have a favorite way to use turmeric? Let me know in the comments.
Servida S, Piontini A, Gori F, et al. Curcumin and Gut Microbiota: A Narrative Overview with Focus on Glycemic Control. Int J Mol Sci. 2024;25(14):7710. [link]
