Smarter Nutrition Curcumin Review (2024) – Scam Alert?

Smarter Nutrition Curcumin Review (2019) - Scam Alert?

It's time for my Smarter Nutrition Curcumin review – a pretty unusual turmeric supplement:

  • original formula
  • 2 trademark ingredients
  • many positive opinions

So is this product as great as it seems? Or it's just another overrated supplement?

It costs nothing less than $40/ bottle (which is a huge price for a turmeric product).

For this reason – it has all chances to be a scam.

Well, I analyzed all of its aspects – so here's the truth behind (with video).

Note: This review is based on my opinion + research on Smarter Curcumin.

Review Summary

Full Name: Smarter Curcumin by Smarter Nutrition

Product Type: Joint Pain Supplement (its #1 indication)

Since it's a turmeric product – it also works for general/brain health, immunity, etc.

Best Actual Price: Around $40

Cheapest Place To Buy: Probably Amazon

Designed For: In terms of joint pain – it works best for inflammation:

  • rheumatoid/psoriatic arthritis
  • other forms of auto-immune arthritis
  • swollen joints
  • fibromyalgia and chronic pain

It also helps with general health problems (lack of energy, immunity booster, etc.).

Additionally – turmeric is an antioxidant and anti-aging herb.

My Rating: 8 out of 10

Recommended?: Only if you afford it.

It's a great product overall – but a bit too expensive.

That's why I prefer a $15 cheaper alternative that is strong enough for most cases of joint pain.

 

What I Liked About It

  • Excellent ingredients and high dosages
  • Superior absorption (compared to most curcumin products)
  • Pills come as softgels, not capsules
  • Reputable company behind
  • Many positive reviews and praises
  • Available in several retailers/sellers

 

What I Didn't Like About It

  • Quite expensive for most budget types (but not overpriced)
  • Causes stomach pain quite often if taken on an empty stomach
  • Could be too strong for minor problem

 

 


Smarter Curcumin In A Nutshell


Honestly – it's one of the top rated turmeric supplements:

  1. Original formula/ingredients
  2. Superior absorption of curcumin
  3. Trustworthy producer

These also add to the high number of positive reviews from previous users.

But as you might expect – it all comes with a price.

And just like its high quality, Smarter Curcumin is one of the priciest turmeric products on the market.

For this reason – it's not my top recommendation:

  • many cheaper alternatives
  • most cases don't need such a strong supplement

But all in all – it's a quality expensive supplement.

 

 

 


#1 – What It Is & Claims


Before I get into my product analysis – let me give you some general facts about it.

1. Claims

According to its website – this supplement has “the most active curcumin available”:

  • 250x more potent than regular curcumin
  • 92% better absorption

Now – let's take it step by step.

Curcumin is actually the extract from turmeric – which is the best herb for inflammation.

However, curcumin has a major absorption problem in general:

  • very poorly absorbed by the human body
  • over 50% is eliminated immediately

For this reason – most brands combine curcumin with BioPerine (black pepper extract):

  • this increases curcumin's absorption (up to 2000%)
  • it also decreases the quantity that is eliminated immediately

Now – these are general facts.

When it comes to Smarter Curcumin – it uses a totally different technology:

  1. Instead of BioPerine, it contains oily substances.
  2. Curcumin gets absorbed a lot better as an oily extract.
  3. It also has a superior form (C3 Reduct) with a stronger effect.

For this reason, it claims to have the best curcumin on the market.

2. Company Behind

Smarter Curcumin's producer is called Smarter Nutrition.

It's a highly trusted brand with a lot of high quality products.

Actually:

  • each of its products is called “Smarter” (Curcumin, Enzymes, Sleep, etc.)
  • each has a superior formula than most similar products 

So in terms of reputation – Smarter Nutrition is highly praised.

 

 


#2 – Formula (10 out of 10)


Honestly, Smarter Curcumin might have the best formula among turmeric supplements.

I'm speaking in terms of value:

  • very high quality ingredients
  • stronger curcumin extract
  • better absorption (due to oily composition)

For this reason – this supplement has several advantages over its competitors.

  1. Contains a stronger form of curcumin.
  2. Gets absorbed faster and easier.
  3. Uses 2 trademark ingredients (improved versions of original substances).

Now – Smarter Curcumin's formula is based on 4 compounds.

So let's take a closer look at each.

1. Curcumin C3 Reduct®

This is actually a special form of curcumin.

That's because it contains 95% tetra-hydro curcuminoids.

Now – regular curcumin contains regular curcuminoides (curcumin extract).

On the other hand, Smarter Curcumin contains 95% tetra-hydro curcuminoids – which:

  • are a more active type [1]
  • have a much better absorption

Basically – Curcumin C3 Reduct® is the #1 responsible for Smarter Curcumin's potency.

2. Black Seed Cumin Oil

This ingredient is meant to increase the supplement's absorption:

  • contains essential fatty acids
  • creates an oily base for curcumin

Basically – it improves curcumin's absorption through its oily consistency.

Additionally – this black see cumin oil also decreases inflammation. [2]

3. Ginger Root Extract

Ginger seems to help with digestion support.

It also has an anti-inflammatory effect (but a lot weaker than turmeric). [3]

4. AstraGin®

This is actually a blend of 2 herbs:

  1. Panax notoginseng
  2. Astragalus membranaceus

In terms of effect – this blend also increases the absorption of curcumin.


Conclusion

Smarter Curcumin's formula is excellent.

If you ask me – it's one of the best formulas among turmeric products (if not the very best):

  • superior form of curcumin
  • easier absorption
  • strong ingredients overall

So in terms of compounds, there's nothing I can criticize about this supplement.

My only observation is that for most people – regular curcumin works just as well.

So there's no point paying extra for a more professional product (like this one).

 

 


#3 – How To Use It (9 out of 10)


Coming up – here are a few things about how you should take this supplement.

1. The Pills

First of all – how do the pills look like?

Well, Smarter Curcumin is again smarter than most supplements even at this chapter.

Instead of the usual gelatin pills – it uses softgels:

  • about the same dimensions
  • easier to swallow in general
  • you can take them even without water
  • soft consistency

So if you're sick of those regular capsules – you're probably going to love these softgels.

Though they're not smaller, you might feel like they're easier to swallow.

2. The Schedule

That's not the best part about Smarter Curcumin.

The supplement doesn't require only 1 pills per day, but 2:

  1. You can take both together or separately.
  2. I personally recommend spacing them out.
  3. Make sure to take them with water, though.

It's true that softgels can be swallowed without water, in some cases.

But it's safer to have some water as well – especially until you get used to it.

Other than that – 2 pills per day is quite decent, if you ask me.

 

 


#4 – Results (8 out of 10)


Smarter Curcumin is a quality product – even its reviews say so.

For this reason – I will try to analyze its customer opinions, in order to get a better idea about how it works.

Note: I only considered authentic reviews from Amazon (in order to avoid fake/promotional reviews).

1. Positive Opinions

Smarter Curcumin has a huge number of 5 stars reviews on Amazon.

Its average is 4.7 stars from almost 3000 reviews.

Honestly – that's an incredible number (in the good way).

So it's the best proof that this supplement is as effective as it claims.

Here's what most people praise it for:

  1. Some claim it's the best curcumin they have tried.
  2. Others say it's really helpful against pain.
  3. A few also mention it helps with stiffness.

Overall – most users are people suffering from arthritis and chronic pain.

In those cases, Smarter Curcumin seems to help tremendously.

But it's not everything perfect about it.

2. Negative Opinions

As usual – there are enough people who didn't like this supplement.

Most of them are complaining about:

  1. No effect after several bottles
  2. Side effects (especially stomach pain)
  3. High price
  4. No refunds accepted

Now – it's obvious that a product cannot work for 100% of its users.

For this reason, Smarter Curcumin might not work for some.

And apparently – there's quite a bunch of people who didn't experience any relief from it.

So before purchasing the product, consider this possibility.

As for its price – I totally agree that it's extremely expensive, but at least its value is worth it.


Conclusion

Smarter Curcumin has over 80% positive reviews.

That tells a lot about its high quality, if you ask me.

However – it also has enough unsatisfied customers (especially in terms of price).

For this reason, it's probably not my #1 recommended curcumin supplement.

Instead – I recommend a brand that is a lot cheaper and seems to work really well too.

 

 

 


#5 – Side Effects (7 out of 10)


Among Smarts Curcumin's negative reviews – about 40% are related to side effects:

  1. Stomach cramps
  2. Increased blood pressure
  3. Heartburn
  4. Rashes and itching

Now – out of these side effects, stomach pain is by far the most common.

To be honest, turmeric cause stomach pain itself.

That's because it irritates an empty stomach.

For this reason – most likely, people experiencing stomach pain took the pills before food.

Honestly – even if the label recommends this, I advise you to take the AFTER FOOD.

Since turmeric causes stomach pain itself – all supplements based on it will.

But taking the pills on a full stomach will reduce or even cancel the effect.

Other than that, Smarter Curcumin doesn't seem to cause many side effects.

 

 


#6 – Price (4 out of 10)


As a joint supplement – Smarter Curcumin is a bit expensive.

But as a turmeric supplement – it's very expensive.

So this is probably one of its biggest downsides, if you ask me. 

1. The Exact Price

Smarter Curcumin costs about the same in all sellers/retailers:

  1. Standard price is $39.95 per bottle.
  2. This is a monthly supply.
  3. Amazon also offers free shipping for it.
  4. On its official website, shipping is free on orders over $125.

Honestly – $40 per month is way too much.

I personally could not afford such a high amount (especially when so many turmeric products cost under $30).

The supplement is definitely worth $40 in terms of formula.

But most people could get the same effect from regular turmeric formulas.

That's why I wouldn't really recommend Smarter Curcumin.

If you afford paying so much per month – it's totally fine.

But if you're not, I strongly recommend other alternatives. that work pretty much the same.

2. Competitors' Price

I will only compare Smarter Curcumin with my #1 recommended turmeric supplement (Turmeric Plus):

  1. SC's standard price is $40 per bottle.
  2. TP normally costs $24 per bottle.
  3. Both products offer a discount for larger quantities.
  4. SC comes as cheap as $25 per bottle.
  5. TP is available for even $16 per bottle (lowest price I know).

So in terms of price, Turmeric Plus is a better option.

That's why it's my top recommended turmeric supplement.

Now – in terms of value, Smarter Curcumin is definitely above.

But the point is – unless you have a severe inflammation, you don't need such a powerful product.

Any regular turmeric formula would do (as long as it has a high absorption).

And Turmeric Plus meets this criteria.

That's why it's a potent alternative to Smarter Curcumin for most people.


Conclusion

In my opinion, Smarter Curcumin is way too pricey for a regular budget.

I'm not saying it's an overpriced product – far from that.

But I personally could not afford it on a monthly basis.

Besides – most people don't even need such a strong formula:

  • regular turmeric products would do
  • you can find many options under $30

So that's the main reason why I wouldn't recommend Smarter Curcumin.

Not as a top choice, at least.

 

 


#7 – Availability (9 out of 10)


Since Smarter Nutrition is a pretty famous brand – all their products are easily accessible.

And Smarter Curcumin makes no exception:

  1. Sold on its official website.
  2. Also available on Amazon.
  3. You can find it on Ebay, Walmart and other retailers too.

Now – my top recommendation remains Amazon:

  • free shipping for all orders
  • often discounts
  • faster and safer refunds

Basically – Amazon will refund you without many questions, which I can't guarantee about Smarter Nutrition.

For this reason, I would pick Amazon.

Other retailers like Ebay and Walmart either have higher prices or they're not as safe.

 

 


#8 – Smarter Curcumin In 3 Conclusions


Here's how I would sum up my opinion on Smarter Curcumin (in 3 ideas).

1. Amazing Formula

At this chapter – Smarter Curcumin is among my favorite turmeric products:

  • original formula
  • superior forms of ingredients (especially curcumin)
  • higher absorption rate

Besides –  2 of its ingredients are trademark compounds.

This means they have an improved version than the original substance.

So to be honest – this supplement has a great overall formula.

2. Really Works

In terms of customer satisfaction – this product rocks:

  • over 80% positive reviews
  • an average of 4.7 stars
  • many praises regarding its anti-inflammatory effect

Don't imagine it doesn't have any complaints.

There are plenty of them, actually.

But compared to the positive opinions – they're not as numerous.

3. Quite Hard To Afford

As you might expect – Smarter Curcumin is quite pricey:

  • one bottle costs $40
  • that's only a monthly supply

Now – I'm not saying it's overpriced at all.

Considering its ingredients/value, it's totally worth $40.

All I'm saying is that, in many cases – such a strong product isn't necessary.

A $25 regular turmeric formula would decrease the pain just as well.

So unless you have a severe pain, I don't think it's worth going for a strong product like this one.

 

 


#9 – My Video Review


 

 


My Verdict – Worth Or Not?


Short answer: It depends.

If you afford it – it's a great product in terms of formula:

  1. Strong and high quality ingredients.
  2. Superior absorption.
  3. Many positive reviews.

However –  I don't recommend it due to its high price.

Besides, most people's inflammation could be solved with regular turmeric supplements.

There's no need for more (unless you have a severe problem that doesn't respond to regular turmeric).

Plus – regular turmeric supplements cost under $30.

Instead of paying $40 on Smarter Curcumin, I recommend those instead.

My personal favorite is a product called Turmeric Plus:

  • best price on the market (up to $16 per bottle)
  • high quality ingredients
  • great dosages
  • many positive reviews

As for Smarter Curcumin, don't get me wrong – it's a great supplement.

If you don't care about any $15 extra, go for it.

But I personally recommend the cheaper alternative (especially at first).

If your body reacts well to regular dosages – why start with higher ones?

best turmeric

Written by 

Oltea Roman is a registered pharmacist with a long experience in the health field. She graduated from University of Medicine and Pharmacy and has studies in Cosmetology, Dermatology, Toxicology and several others. She has a 2 years experience as a retail pharmacist. You can connect with her via Linkedin or email.

Last updated: May 15, 2024

12 thoughts on “Smarter Nutrition Curcumin Review (2024) – Scam Alert?

  1. I am a big fan of this supplement! I don’t have arthritis or joint pain as you say in your review, but I used to have some high blood pressure and my doctor recommended this besides my medical treatment. It has helped a lot! There was a time when I was taking only the prescription treatment but I didn’t feel as good as I feel now. Then I added this Smarter Curcumin and my blood pressure is constantly within the normal range.

    I honestly don’t care much about its price, as long as it’s helping me I would pay anything!

    1. Hi Sonja, thanks a lot for sharing your experience with Smarter Curcumin. I’m glad to hear it’s helping so much. Its #1 effect is the anti-inflammatory one but it also promotes heart health and keeps blood pressure within the normal rates. So it’s definitely helpful for that, I even mentioned it at the beginning of my review.

      If price doesn’t matter for you and you afford buying this product on a monthly basis, that’s great. There’s no point to switching to a cheaper product then. However, I recommend a less pricier alternative because there are lots of people who have tighter budgets so they can’t afford supplements like Smarter Curcumin. That’s the only reason behind me cheaper recommendations.

      Thanks again for your feedback on this product!

  2. Hi Olly, thank you for your thorough review. I was looking for a good product to relieve my joint pain. I’m going to visit a doctor in the future but until then I want to start using something to help. Sometimes it’s really hard to bear. This curcumin supplement is out of mu budget range, so I will surely check out your cheaper recommendation. Just wanted to ask, have you heard of Penetrex? I saw it was very praised in online so I thought I might give it a try, until I see a doctor at least. Do you think it’s good enough as any turmeric supplement?

    1. Hello Steve. First of all, I would need to know more about your joint pain. In what part of your body did it appear? Does it hurt constantly or only at times? Is the area also swollen on only painful?

      Seeing a doctor is a must, especially if the pain has been going on for several weeks. If you didn’t have any accident or hit, there’s no way to know the cause unless you visit a doctor.

      Now – until you manage to do that, I would recommend using an alternative solution. Normally, I recommend supplements for joint pain because they treat the problem on the inside and don’t only hide the symptoms. 

      However, supplements need at least a few weeks to start working. In easier cases, you can see an effect in a few days. So if you want to try a supplement, my advice is to go for it (depending on when you’re going to see your doctor as well). Anyway – here’s a list of my top recommended joint supplements. Most of them have really low prices, so you will surely find something within your budget range,

      Regarding Penetrex, I’m quite familiar with it as I reviewed it some times ago. It’s a good cream in terms of effect but it doesn’t do anything for the actual problem behind. In other words, it only hides the symptoms for a few hours – it doesn’t treat the actual cause inside. 

      That’s why I don’t recommend topical products for joint pain. They need to be applied every few hours and if you stop using them, the pain gets back as bad as before. So they’re not a real solution. However, if you’re going to see your doctor in the next 2 weeks and you only need a temporary reliever, you can give Penetrex a try.

      Please let me know what your doctor tells you. I hope this helps for now.

  3. Hello. I’m having a hard time deciding between this and a turmeric supplement from Spring Valley, which is much cheaper. I saw it has a good rating on Amazon so I was wondering if Smarter Curcumin is a better catch? Considering that it’s more expensive. Waiting for your answer, thanks.

    1. Hey Fami. Smarter Curcumin and Spring Valley’s turmeric are actually pretty different from many points of view. 

      And Smarter Curcumin is better at most chapters (except for price): it has a better formula, a much stronger absorption and smaller pills. On the other hand, Spring Valley’s product has a really basic composition and a poor absorption (since it lacks BioPerine and any other absorption booster).

      When it comes to price, Spring Valley’s supplement is indeed cheaper – but it’s not worth those money. On the other hand, Smarter Curcumin is also very pricey, despite being excellent in terms of composition.

      Now – I’m not really sure what problem you have. If it’s a severe pain/inflammation, Spring Valley isn’t good enough for sure. It has a poor absorption, so its effect is going to be very weak (at most). On the other hand, if you’re only buying turmeric for its general benefits and you’re on a tight budget, it might be good enough.

      However, if you want a quality product for a low price – I would suggest my top recommended turmeric product. In case you need more options to choose from, here’s a list (Smarter Curcumin is among them, but most of the others are cheaper).

      I really hope this helps and let me know if you need some other details.

  4. You know, I’ve really liked this product. My mother worked hard in her youth and is now feeling the effects of being very active during her youth. After she started taking this product, she seemed more energetic with all her burden lifted—probably because this product really works! However, what you said in you review is really true. Unfortunately, 40$ is really costly.

    1. Hi Beatriz! I’m glad your mother is feeling better. Too much hard work without proper care for the oneself is really damaging to the body, especially for mothers because of the labors and works they must accomplish. Thank you for sharing your (or at least your mother’s) experience with this. I do agree that $40 is really taxing in the long run which is why we personally recommend Turmeric Curcumin Plus. It has excellent formula, affordable, and brings fast relief. Aside from that, employing natural remedies can help your mother too so it is really recommended.

  5. Hi Olly! Thank you for your very thorough review. I’ve been thinking of whether to get this product or ProJoint Plus for my joint pain. I cannot go on suffering from this pain as a grandpa with kids to watch on some days. Price is not really an issue for me but cheaper option is also a nice.

    1. Hello Louis! Your praise is very much appreciated. I think going for Projoint Plus will do you well because it works for any joint problem unlike Smarter Curcumin which is best for only for joint pain, particularly inflammation. Aside from that, although you don’t have any issue with the price, I think the affordability of ProJoint Plus is one of its advantage. In addition, I suggest that you also make use of natural remedies to help with your pain. But if I may add, here are some of the best joint pain supplements that we found. You might want to check them out and see for yourself. Have a good time with your grandkids and I hope you find the perfect product for you!

  6. I have wanted to try this for so long but I don’t have enough money on my pocket. Is there any product that you can recommend that is cheaper that works the same? I am a blue collar worker that works outside most of the time and the heavy labor is really taking its toll on me, especially on cold days.

    1. Hey Klaus! Money can really give people quite the struggle. I understand your situation and luckily, I do have some recommendation for you! Vita Balance’s Turmeric Curcumin Plus is my best bet for your problem. It has a reputable brand behind it, works fast, and very affordable. Moreover, it also has general health benefits for its users. Be sure to check our review about it to learn more and decide for yourself. Have a nice day.

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