Turmeric is quite hyped. Golden lattes, for example, are said to be good for your immune system, and you supposedly need the piperine in black pepper to activate the active ingredients in turmeric. But is this actually true?

Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has often been the subject of scientific studies. And while it appears that it is indeed healthy for you, there is actually no scientific evidence to support strong claims.

The strongest links are found between curcumin and metabolic health. However, it is not scientifically proven that turmeric is also good for your immune system. Other links found between curcumin and health are that it could have positive effects on your cardiovascular and mental health. However, studies are often conducted with large amounts of curcumin, where the curcumin percentage ingested by respondents was much higher than what you would normally get through food.

Turmeric from the supermarket contains on average only about 2-3% curcumin. You would therefore have to consume a lot of it to see any effects. It is also not convincingly shown that piperine enhances the effect of curcumin. Greater effects were measured by adding vegetable fats to turmeric.

The conclusion? Turmeric is not bad for you, but it is certainly not a miracle cure. It is a nice addition to a healthy diet, but it will not make you better if you are sick.

What we do know for sure is that it makes your dishes and drinks tasty and colorful. That makes you happy, and a good mood is also worth a lot ;-)