The 3 Musketeers: turmeric, pepper, and CBD to fight inflammation

Are turmeric, black pepper, and CBD the three Musketeers in the night? Does turmeric fight against inflammation (and boring food), while making your taste buds sing Indian raagas?

Yes and yes! read on to find out the health benefits of turmeric. See how combining it with pepper will boost turmeric’s anti-inflammatory effects, and how CBD can also be an ally in the fight against inflammation and the diseases it causes.

What is turmeric?

Turmeric is a plant (in the same family as ginger) most commonly associated with Indian culture but is grown in other parts of Asia too, as well as Central America. It grows as a root. To create turmeric, a fresh root is harvested, boiled in water, and ground into a deep-orange powder.

If you’ve ever had a curry dish (we like a dairy/oil free vegan eggplant curry_[1]) or purchased a spice blend, you already know what turmeric is. It gives curry dishes that vibrant golden color and earthy taste.

What are the health benefits of turmeric

Aside from meeting the cute health-conscious girls in the spice aisle? A lot! Many medical conditions, from arthritis_[2] to depression and anxiety_[3], may began with an inflammatory state inside our bodies. Inflammatory states are controlled by our immune systems.

Turmeric is rich in phytonutrients, a substance that neutralizes free radicals that we encounter in the environment and through our own metabolic processes (like digesting food).

Interesting enough, phytonutrients are a part of the plant’s immune system. And it helps our own immune system control inflammation in our body. How cool is that?

Why pepper and turmeric work so well together

The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, and in pepper is piperine. The amount of turmeric you get from eating a meal typically isn’t enough to have a meaningful medical effect. Thats why a lot of people use capsules and other supplements. These have their own issues, as they usually end up in the toilet- because we digest too much of a substance at once and our bodies can’t make use of it_[4].

Piperine makes curcumin more bioavailable (easier for our bodies to use), and increasing the likelihood that the turmeric will have the intended effect. Considering the active ingredients in black pepper and turmeric takes up about 5% of the spice_[5], our bodies need all the help we can get.

The piperine in black pepper also prevents the liver from breaking the curcumin from the turmeric down, keeping it inside the body longer.

Other uses for turmeric

Want to look a bit younger without using a social media filter? Got some stubborn pimples? You can make a naturally skin-cleansing, anti-bacterial face mask_[6]. People forget that free radicals (that cause inflammation) are created in our skin from the UV (ultraviolet radiation) sunlight.

While we encourage you to wear sunblock to prevent sun damage from free radicals, we know you might not listen. Though a turmeric face-mask might make you look like a simpsons character, it’s only temporary (it washes off). Hopefully you’re eating plant-based so, if you do resemble a simpsons character it isn’t Homer.

What is CBD?

CBD is one of the active ingredients in marijuana. But no, it can’t get you stoned. CBD comes from the hemp plant, marijuana’s boring cousin. So relax and stop clutching your pearls, grandma!

We realize CBD has a stigma, and as of 2024, some jobs (like flight attendants and truck drivers) outright ban their employees from using it. Thankfully theres still turmeric and black pepper!

What are the health benefits of CBD?

From reducing the amount of seizures to treating a range of medical conditions – like insomnia, anxiety, depression, and addiction – CBD is the final Musketeer in the fight against inflammation_[7].

Which is your favorite musketeer and why?