Extracts vs Raw Powder

• Raw Powders: These are simply ground-up versions of the whole plant or ingredient. While they can offer some benefits, raw powders generally contain lower concentrations of active compounds. For instance, raw turmeric powder typically contains only 1-5% curcuminoids, the active compounds responsible for its health benefits. This means 200 mg of raw turmeric powder may only deliver 2-10 mg of curcuminoids.

• Extracts: Extracts are more concentrated and offer higher levels of active ingredients. For example, a 50:1 extract of turmeric means that 50 grams of raw turmeric powder were used to produce 1 gram of extract. This process increases the potency and effectiveness of the ingredient. A standardised turmeric extract at 95% curcuminoids would deliver 47.5 mg of curcuminoids from a 50 mg dose, significantly more than raw powder.

When reading supplement labels, it’s important to distinguish between the Nutritional Information and the Ingredients List. The Nutritional Information provides the active ingredients and their reported values, while the Ingredients List includes all components, such as fillers, binders, and the actual form of the active ingredients. These two sections should be read together to get the full picture of what’s inside the supplement.

Imagine you’re looking for a joint care supplement that includes turmeric for its anti-inflammatory support. You come across two products. One lists “200 mg of Turmeric Powder,” while the other lists “50 mg of Turmeric Extract (standardised to 95% curcuminoids).”