How are curcumin and turmeric related?
Very often, the terms curcumin and turmeric are used interchangeably. It is leading to a lot of confusion. Every spice, including turmeric contains a lot of compounds. Curcumin is the most abundant and important compound of turmeric. It is also the most widely studied component of turmeric. Curcumin is also found in ginger.
Most of the studies that have been done until now, have been done on curcumin, and not on turmeric as a whole. Thus, a lot of misleading information is available on the net regarding turmeric and its health benefits.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has said that turmeric does not have any health benefits. This is because turmeric cannot be patented as it is found in all the households commonly. Therefore there are no financial benefits to anyone researching on turmeric. Curcumin, on the other hand, is a compound derived from turmeric. It may have the effect of drugs more than a spice.