1. Turmeric Contains Bioactive Compounds With Powerful Medicinal Properties;  Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color.  It has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb. Recently, science has started to back up what the Indians have known for a long time… it really does contain compounds with medicinal properties (1).  These compounds are called curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin.      Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.   However, the curcumin content of turmeric is not that high… it’s around 3%, by weight (2).  Most of the studies on this herb are using turmeric extracts that contain mostly curcumin itself, with dosages usually exceeding 1 gram per day. It would be very difficult to reach these levels just using the turmeric spice in your foods.  Most of the studies on this herb are using turmeric extracts that contain mostly curcumin itself, with dosages usually exceeding 1 gram per day. It would be very difficult to reach these levels just using the turmeric spice in your foods.  Therefore, if you want to experience the full effects, then you need to take an extract that contains significant amounts of curcumin.