As one of nature’s healing plants, turmeric root has been used for its taste and health potential for thousands of years. However, turmeric powers should be wielded with caution, because of the fact that it isn’t appropriate for all people. Are you one of those who should avoid or restrict the consumption of turmeric? Read on to find out.
When Should You Avoid Turmeric (Or Reduce Its Consumption)?
People on medication for diabetes
Turmeric can help to lower blood sugar and as such it is one of the top 8 spices and herbs for type 2 diabetes. For people with diabetes and pre-diabetic people who control their condition solely through diet, turmeric may be good for them.
Nevertheless, people who are taking medication for their diabetes need to be aware of turmeric’s effect on blood sugar and discuss turmeric usage with their prescribing physicians before continued use as when combined with medications for diabetes, turmeric might make blood sugar too low and cause hypoglycemia.
People with gallbladder problems or tendency for kidney stones
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) claims that turmeric can cause side effects and increase the risk of gallbladder problems, so if you have gallstones or obstruction of the bile passages, you should talk to your doctor before taking turmeric.
In addition, if you are prone to kidney stones you’re better off not taking turmeric supplements. The reason for that is that turmeric contains significant amounts of the chemical oxalate, which increases the risk of gallstones.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in May 2008, turmeric significantly increased the levels of oxalate in the urine as compared to placebo after four weeks of treatment in healthy individuals. The conclusion was that high levels of oxalate in the urine increases the risk of kidney stone formation in susceptible people.
People who suffer from stomach acid
Our stomach is full of acid that is naturally produced in the body and helps break down food.
However excess stomach acid can cause symptoms like pain and other health problems such as heartburn (reflux) which occurs when stomach acid leaks into the esophagus. Frequent heartburn suggests gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can damage the esophagus and throat. Reducing excess stomach acid is the best way to manage these problems.
Turmeric may increase stomach acid production, which may decrease the effectiveness of drugs used to reduce stomach acid. Avoid taking turmeric if it worsens symptoms of stomach acid. You can also try these natural remedies for heartburn.
People who take blood clotting medications
Turmeric can thin the blood, meaning it can be inappropriate for people who have bleeding disorders as it can increase their risk of bruising and bleeding.
WebMd says that turmeric can also interact with medications that slow blood clotting such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), warfarin (Coumadin), and others.1
Talk about your desire to take turmeric with your doctor before using it if you are on medications for blood clotting or have bleeding disorders in order to determine if turmeric is the right choice for you.
You should stop using turmeric at least 2 weeks before a surgery to avoid extra bleeding during and after surgery.
Pregnant women and turmeric consumption
Turmeric is considered safe during pregnancy and breast-feeding when taken in amounts usually found in food. However, turmeric is probably unsafe when taken in large amounts or in a supplement form during pregnancy, since it may stimulate menstruation or stimulate the uterus, thus risking the pregnancy.
Besides, there is not enough information regarding the safety of large amounts of turmeric during breast-feeding, so it’s best to use it in normal food quantities and not as a supplement.
How Much Turmeric to Consume
According to Maryland Medical Center, for those who do not have medical or health conditions on the cautionary list discussed above, taking up to 3 grams of powdered turmeric root (which is about one teaspoon) per day is safe, while the dosage of cut root is 1.5 to 3 g per day for an average-sized adult.3
What’s good about turmeric is that you can use it both in fresh or ground form. The ground form is much more concentrated, and usually when converting fresh to ground turmeric, a single tablespoon of fresh turmeric root is equal to 1/3 of a teaspoon of dried turmeric.
Ideas for Turmeric Consumption
– Use turmeric to make this anti-inflammatory drink for pain and inflammation.
– Use turmeric to make a healing drink for more than 60 diseases.
– Use turmeric to make the Ayurvedic recipe of golden milk.
– Use turmeric as a face mask to treat various skin conditions: Turmeric Face Mask Recipe for Glowing Skin, Acne, Rosacea, Eczema and Dark Circles
Resources:
(1) http://www.webmd.com/
(2) http://www.drugs.com/npc/turmeric.html
(3) https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/turmeric
(4) NIH – turmeric
(5) http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/87/5/1262.abstract
(6) https://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/when-to-avoid-turmeric/
