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What is the difference between turmeric and curcumin?
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Turmeric is a rhizome with the botanical name “curcuma longa.” The main active compounds that are present in turmeric rhizomes are curcuminoids (mainly curcumin, demethoxycurcuminoid and bis-demethoxycurcuminoid) and essential oils.
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What is the difference between Turmeric 95% extract and BCM-95®?
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Turmeric 95% extract is standardized to 95% curcuminoids consisting of curcumin, demethoxycurcuminoid and bis-demethoxycurcuminoid. BCM-95® is standardized to 86% curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcuminoid and bis-demethoxycurcuminoid) & 7-9% essential oils that are naturally present in the turmeric rhizome.
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Is BCM-95® tested for heavy metals?
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Every batch of BCM-95® produced is tested at both our in-house lab and an external lab in the US for heavy metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury. We use the latest and most accurate lab equipment called “IC-PMS” instead of conventional Atomic Absorption.
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What is the lead content in BCM-95®?
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Every batch of BCM-95® is produced with a lead limit of not more than 0.5 ppm. Most of the available turmeric extracts have a lead limit of 2 ppm or greater.
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Is BCM-95® Organic Certified?
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BCM-95® is not Organic Certified, but the cultivation of the raw material is done using organic practices.
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Is BCM-95® non-GMF (genetically modified food)?
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Yes, BCM-95® is non-GMF.
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Is BCM-95® allergen free?
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Yes, BCM-95® is allergen free?
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What are the solvents used in manufacturing of BCM-95®?
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BCM-95® is manufactured using only ethanol or ethyl acetate.
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Does BCM-95® contain harmful solvents?
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BCM-95®does not contain any harmful solvents like EDC (ethylene di-chloride), benzene, acetone or IPA (isopropyl alcohol).
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Why do companies use harmful solvents in manufacturing turmeric extract?
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Harmful solvents specifically EDC (ethylene di-chloride, also known as 1, 2-di-chloro ethane) are used to get more yield during the extraction, thus reducing the cost of the final extract. Once these solvents are used, it is not possible to remove them from the final extract.
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Why are solvents used in extraction and why is it difficult to remove them from the final product?
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Curcumin and curcuminoids are not water soluble compounds. Thus it is necessary to use solvents to extract them from the rhizomes. Turmeric extract goes through a process of crystallization during the manufacturing process. When the curcuminoids are extracted from turmeric, they are in the form of crystals. During the process of crystallization, all the solvents are trapped in the crystals. Companies which use harmful solvents can sometimes get away with this since solvent residues in these crystals are difficult to test for using conventional laboratory test methods.
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How do we test for solvent residue in BCM-95®?
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The conventional test GC-MS is best known for solvent residue testing. But for curcumin, this is not the right method since the curcuminoids are in crystal form and the solvents are trapped within these crystals. Using GC-MS, it will give the “misleading” report of no solvent detected. BCM-95® is tested for solvent residue using the most advanced laboratory equipment called GC-Headspace. In this method, the crystals are broken and all the trapped solvents are collected and measured. BCM-95® contains no harmful solvents and all the batches of BCM-95® abide by United States Pharmacopeia
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Should BCM-95®is taken with meals?
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It is always advisable to take BCM-95® with meals, but there is no harm if taken in the absence of meals.
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Can BCM-95® be taken with any other medication?
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To date there is no scientific evidence to prove that curcumin interacts with any medication. Please consult your physician or healthcare professional before consuming any supplements, including BCM-95®.
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What is the recommend dosage for BCM-95®?
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Most of the clinical studies used 500mg of BCM-95®, twice daily. Please consult your physician or health care professional before consuming any supplements including BCM-95®.
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Does BCM-95® cause gastrointestinal problems?
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People who are not accustomed to turmeric may experience gastrointestinal problem initially, although no cases of gastrointestinal conditions arising from BCM-95® use have been reported.
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What clinical studies have been done?
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Please see summaries of the clinical research.