Curcumin can make an incredible difference in the health of your equine athlete. But first it’s important to understand what you should look for in a product to make sure your horse is benefitting from the best curcumin available.
Why Curcumin Over Turmeric?
Curcumin is derived from turmeric, a plant scientifically known as Curcuma longa. Curcumin is the naturally occurring compound in the roots [rhizome] of the turmeric plant. Extracted and concentrated, it has beneficial antioxidant power and provides intensive cellular protection from oxidative stress. If you settle for a standard turmeric product containing a minimal amount of curcumin, you’re settling for lightweight support—and no horse deserves that!
Next, pay attention to absorption. Curcumin is not easily absorbed, so enhanced bioavailability and longer blood retention time (at significant levels) are also benchmarks to watch for. Another tip? Curcumin is a superior choice to glucosamine and MSM when tackling equine joint health. A highly bioavailable curcumin supports a healthy inflammation response in your horse, without causing any harmful side effects.
How to Pick a Curcumin Product
Now that you know how important curcumin is for the health of a horse, it’s time to understand what to look for in choosing a product. This is an important step because advertising hype can steer you in the wrong direction. Absorption is important, but what type? For example, don’t choose a product that relies on black pepper for absorption. While a compound found in black pepper (piperine) has been shown to boost curcumin absorption, this compound may interfere with the absorption of other medications or supplements your horse may be taking. Select a curcumin product that enhances bioavailability by blending it with turmeric essential oil containing ar-turmerone. A product with a standardized boswellia and DLPA is a good choice for equine joint stiffness, discomfort, and soreness. These ingredients are also safe for competition season—no worries about doping complications. Make sure any product you choose is tasty to your horse, or they will sort through the pellets and not get the recommended amount.
As a horse owner, trainer, or simply a horse lover, you know how important it is to give the best to the equine in your care. Incorporating a highly bioavailable curcumin into the daily regimen for your horse is a great step to excellent equine health.