Which active component in black pepper is essential for enhancing curcumin absorption by up to 2,000%?
Answer
Piperine
The primary obstacle to realizing the full therapeutic potential of curcumin is its poor absorption rate in the digestive system. To overcome this metabolic hurdle—which involves rapid processing in the liver and intestines—curcumin must be strategically paired with another substance. The most extensively researched and highly effective pairing involves piperine, which is the key active constituent found in black pepper. Piperine functions by slowing down the metabolism of curcumin, allowing significantly more of the compound to enter the bloodstream intact, potentially multiplying absorption efficiency by as much as twenty times.

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