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Intrigued to know more about the benefits of turmeric?1 Keep on reading the article then, as we share all the details.
Turmeric is a bright yellow spice generally used in Asian food as a flavouring or colour. It has a distinctly earthy smell, and its flavour profile is slightly tangy and bitter, with a slight ginger taste.
However, turmeric acts as a tasty condiment, but it also provides numerous health benefits.
1. Benefits of Turmeric
1.1. Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties
One of the biggest benefits of turmeric has to be the presence of curcumin.
The primary active components of turmeric are curcumins which give the spice a characteristic yellow colour, and curcumin is known for antifungal and antioxidant activities.
Due to anti-inflammatory compounds, turmeric has been used extensively in traditional medicine for many years.
Curcumin is a natural antioxidant that not helps to control inflammatory symptoms but also slows the aging process and prevents diseases like Alzheimer’s. Increasing the intake of turmeric in certain cases helps in providing proper age maintenance2.
It is, therefore, sometimes recommended to take turmeric directly rather than taking turmeric supplements 3or turmeric extracts.
It might be a good idea to take turmeric supplements with a high-fat meal as it would double the benefit of turmeric in the human body.
1.2. Turmeric May Play a Role in Treating Depression
Next on our list of turmeric benefits, we will explain its potential ability to cure depression. Similar to Alzheimer’s, depression is also associated with a reduced level of BDNF.
Turmeric with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties appears to be proven effective in treating depression, brain-derived neurotrophic ailments, and other common brain disorders.
An investigation found that there has been a significant increase in BDNF levels upon injecting curcumin into rats. However, results of more research are required to find out whether turmeric can treat depression completely.
Research could be based on the drug’s potential and its anti-inflammatory properties. The experts who conducted the research believe that the drug helps with depression more effectively.
However, curcumin also improves heart disease and other health conditions. It helps to neutralize free radicals.
1.3. Turmeric May Work as an Anti-Aging Supplement
Another potential benefit of turmeric is its ability to work as an anti-aging ingredient. However, currently, as for now, there is no data to determine how turmeric can influence longevity.
Studies have suggested that turmeric can even act as a valuable anti-aging ingredient even when used in cosmetics.
1.4. Other Health Benefits
Apart from the above-mentioned benefits of turmeric, according to studies, turmeric has shown effectiveness in
- curing arthritis-related pain-causing stiffness and rheumatoid arthritis
- reducing tumour cells,
- maintaining blood sugar levels and completing the iron deficiency in the body,
- helping in maintaining ideal body weight, reducing iron deficiency in the body,
- curing diabetic nephropathy and endothelial dysfunction,
- regulating the flow of blood in blood vessels and combating cardiovascular diseases,
- reducing colorectal cancer,
- improving oxidative stress,
- easing inflammatory bowel disease and reducing inflammation.
2. Side Effects of Turmeric
Turmeric can be considered a common spice and deemed safe. However, it does not suit everyone in human studies, and more research is needed to solidify the claims of the benefits of turmeric.
It is thought that curcumin found in turmeric may help relieve pain, heart disease and cause disease.
Currently, research shows that using curcumin might have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, reduce weight, and ease arthritis pain and swelling. It has also been shown that curcumin may help to treat other diabetic conditions.
It is also believed that this drug helps heal injury, infection, or chronic inflammation that may contribute to the onset of diseases.
However, there are some complaints of nausea and diarrhea when higher doses of turmeric supplements are taken.
Therefore, one should always ask the health care provider before starting turmeric as a supportive or preventative treatment to review potentially hazardous side effects or medication interactions.
Some of the potential side effects of turmeric supplements are
2.1. Bleeding Disorders
Turmeric with curcumin content reduces blood clotting ability. Turmeric is considered a blood thinner and can cause serious bleeding and side effects when taken with blood thinner pills.
In some cases, it leads to excessive bleeding that is hard to stop. Turmeric slows down blood clotting, which leads to excessive bleeding.
Also, turmeric can cause a high risk of bleeding if the patient is also on some other medications. Therefore consult with the doctor and then only take turmeric once the doctor gives you a green signal.
2.2. Dosage
Dosing up to 8 grams a day for a few hours and ten minutes for research studies has not had serious health effects on humans.
However, some users have complained of digestive distress, nausea, and diarrhea apart from the regular benefit of turmeric.
2.3. Drug Interactions
AtTurmeric supplement interacts with specific blood thinners or diabetic medications. Consult your physician before starting any medicines, as an inappropriate dosage amount will lead to oxidative damage shown by the research results.
Turmeric has numerous benefits, but one cannot imagine how a particular drug could affect the human body.
2.4. Gallbladder Disease
Turmeric helps to contract gallbladder veins and makes these symptoms more severe. For people suffering from gallbladder diseases4, it can cause more severity rather than improving symptoms.
Turmeric has been found to cause gallbladder diseases severely due to its ability to secrete more bile juice. Also, turmeric contains oxalate which causes a higher risk of forming stones.
Patients with bile obstruction or gallbladder stones should avoid taking turmeric or turmeric supplements. Doctors even advise patients to stop taking turmeric if a patient is suffering from gallbladder issues.
2.5. Lower Blood Pressure
Too low blood pressure can be dangerous, and turmeric is extremely effective in lowering blood pressure. So if a patient is already taking some pills for low blood pressure, try to be careful with the amount of turmeric one intake.
2.6. Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women
When it comes to turmeric supplements, doctors may say no to the intake of turmeric supplements. However, turmeric can be included in one’s diet while pregnant.
However, there has not been much research on whether turmeric will pass into breast milk or not.
2.7. Allergies
Curcumin present in turmeric can cause serious allergies, which a person may not have experienced earlier. One can hardly tell what type of food will go well with what kind of body.
Ask your doctor related to this matter. They will study your body and give you a systematic review of your body and body type.
It is said that excess of everything is bad. An old saying but holds a hundred percent truth. A little precaution before taking any natural ingredients or supplements will lead to an overall healthy outlook toward life.
Conclusion
Hopefully, our article was able to shed some light on the health benefits of turmeric. Turmeric has numerous properties and can be effectively included in one’s diet.
However, if you want to include turmeric supplements in your diet, too, consult with your doctor before you do so.
- Singletary, Keith. “Turmeric: an overview of potential health benefits.” Nutrition Today 45.5 (2010): 216-225. ↩︎
- El-Ferik, Sami, and Mohamed Ben-Daya. “Age-based hybrid model for imperfect preventive maintenance.” IIE Transactions 38.4 (2006): 365-375. ↩︎
- Funk, Janet L., et al. “Efficacy and mechanism of action of turmeric supplements in the treatment of experimental arthritis.” Arthritis & Rheumatism: Official Journal of the American College of Rheumatology 54.11 (2006): 3452-3464. ↩︎
- Baron, Todd H., Ian S. Grimm, and Lee L. Swanstrom. “Interventional approaches to gallbladder disease.” New England Journal of Medicine 373.4 (2015): 357-365. ↩︎
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