Most people who say “turmeric didn’t work for me” were taking it in a way the body barely absorbs. These five habits make the biggest difference.
1. Help your body absorb it
Turmeric’s active compounds are poorly absorbed on their own and are cleared from the body quickly. Two things help:
- A healthy fat such as cold-pressed coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil or flaxseed oil, because the compounds dissolve in fat.
- Freshly cracked black pepper. Its piperine slows how fast curcumin is broken down and excreted. Grind it fresh, because piperine degrades once ground.
Golden Paste combines all three. → Golden Paste recipe
2. Start low, go slow
Start with about 1/4 teaspoon of Golden Paste twice a day with food, and build up over a week or two. If you get loose stools or an upset stomach, drop back to a smaller amount and stay there longer.
3. Little and often
Turmeric doesn’t stay in the body for long, so several small servings through the day with food work better than one big one.
4. Check your medications first
Turmeric and black pepper can change how some medicines work, including blood thinners, diabetes, blood pressure, antidepressant and seizure medications. Talk to your doctor, vet or pharmacist before you start. → Turmeric and medications
5. Give it time
Many people report changes after several weeks, not days. Keep a simple note of how you (or your animal) are going.
