Few spices have gained as much attention in recent years as turmeric. Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a golden yellow spice that’s sometimes referred to as “Indian saffron.” It's a key ingredient in many curry recipes. Many of turmeric’s potential health benefits can be attributed to the active compound known as curcumin. Research indicates that curcumin may lower inflammation and improve systemic markers of oxidative stress (a sign of overexposure to free radicals such as those in cigarette smoke and industrial chemicals), according to an October 2017 review published in Foods.
Turmeric may sound like an ideal natural health solution, but there’s an important caveat: It’s hard to ingest enough of the spice to reap any of the health benefits that have been seen in research studies. In order to squeeze the maximum health benefit out of turmeric, you have to add another spice to the mix: black pepper (Piper nigrum L).