The anti-ageing ingredient hiding in your spice rack…

April 18, 2025|Charlie Hobbis

curcumin

And why we chose to include it in JOLT.

Hey JOLTers!

Let's talk curcumin, the golden compound inside turmeric that we've packed into every single bottle of JOLT, and the ingredient that makes JOLT yellow.

You've probably spotted turmeric on our ingredients list and in your favourite Indian dishes (mmm, biryani).

But the thing is, turmeric, (the root) that you'll find in your kitchen spice rack is packed with natural compounds, but the one doing a lot of the heavy lifting is curcumin. It's the most studied and the most biologically active. And unless you're eating turmeric by the tablespoon (please don't), you're probably not getting enough of it to actually do anything.

So first up, what is curcumin?

Curcumin is the active ingredient found in turmeric, the golden-orange spice you know and love. It's what gives turmeric its iconic colour and that rich, earthy kick you taste in Indian food. But it's also a kick-ass antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound, studied for everything from exercise recovery to healthy ageing.

Why it's in JOLT (and why ours hits different):

Curcumin on its own? Kind of a diva. It's notoriously hard for your body to absorb. That means if you're just sprinkling turmeric on your eggs or throwing it into your smoothie, you're getting about 2-6% of actual curcumin. Translation: you'd need 11 teaspoons of turmeric or 33 grams a day to get a meaningful amount. Yuck.

So, how are we any different? We've done two key things to maximise the benefits felt from our curcumin:

We use a concentrated dose. Not turmeric powder, not the stuff you buy at the supermarket, this is the pure, active compound in a form your body can actually use.
We've paired it with black pepper. Black pepper helps curcumin absorb way better. And after getting our head down and doing the research, we can tell you JOLT's absorption is 2 and a half times higher than your standard multivitamin. In fact, studies have shown that pairing curcumin with piperine (the main active compound in black pepper) can increase absorption by up to 2,000%. No, that's not a typo.

So what can curcumin actually do?

Let's start with the big one...

It fights inflammation (aka the ageing accelerator)

Chronic inflammation is a sneaky culprit behind many age-related conditions, like arthritis, heart disease, and even cognitive decline. Inflammation basically tells your cells, "we're under attack", even if you're just watching TV.

And curcumin is like the cool-headed negotiator that calms things down.

Faster recovery, better workouts

Got DOMS from the gym? Curcumin's got your back (literally).

Studies suggest it helps reduce muscle soreness and boosts recovery after intense training. In fact, a 2020 meta-analysis (that's basically a mega-study of studies) found that curcumin supplementation improved muscle performance and reduced damage and inflammation after exercise.

Brain gains and better moods

The brain loves curcumin too. Emerging research shows it may increase BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor - try saying that 10 times fast), which supports learning, memory, and even your mood.

In plain English: curcumin might just help you stay sharper and feel brighter as you age.

Some researchers are even exploring its potential role in delaying cognitive decline, though that's still early days, so don't throw away your crossword puzzles just yet.

But here's the catch (and the selling point). Not all curcumin is created equal.

We didn't just toss in some powdered turmeric and call it a day. JOLT uses pure, third party tested curcumin, combined with six other ingredients that work in synergy to support your whole system.

TLDR: Too long. Didn't read.

Curcumin is the active compound in turmeric that supports longevity by fighting inflammation, improving muscle recovery, and potentially boosting brain function.
You'd need to eat ridiculous amounts of turmeric to get enough curcumin. Don't do that.
JOLT gives you a pure, third party tested form of curcumin in every dose, as part of our science-backed stack of seven ingredients.
You could try to replicate it with tubs of turmeric and a PhD in formulation. Or… you could just take JOLT.

So next time you're sipping your chai, sprinkling turmeric in your eggs, or demolishing a butter chicken, give a little nod to curcumin.

But if you want the real benefits?You know where to find it.

Stay spicy, The JOLT Team.