Does Turmeric's Reputation Translate Into Real Health Benefits?

[appalachiablue]

- The Guardian, May 22, 2022. - Clinical trials show that curcumin, present in the spice, may help fight osteoarthritis and other diseases, but there’s a catch – bioavailability, or how to get it into the blood. -

While Kamal Patel was probing through the reams of user data on examine.com – a website that calls itself “the internet’s largest database of nutrition and supplement research” – before a planned revamp later this year, he discovered that the most searched-for supplement on the website was curcumin, a distinctive yellow-orange chemical that is extracted from the rhizomes of turmeric, a tall plant in the ginger family, native to Asia.

Patel concluded that this was probably because of curcumin’s purported anti-inflammatory properties. “An astounding number of people experience inflammation or have inflammation-related health conditions, and curcumin and fish oil are two of the most researched supplements that can sometimes help,” he says. This consumer interest in curcumin hasn’t gone unnoticed by the “wellness” industry.

Besides its use in pill supplements, curcumin is increasingly being incorporated into cosmetic products that claim to help treat acne and eczema, prevent dry skin, and even slow down the ageing process. Some reports predict that the global curcumin market size could reach $191m (£156m) by 2028. As with any dietary supplement, separating the hype and the truth is not straightforward, since not all the claims about turmeric are complete hyperbole.

Most are based on the curcumin turmeric contains, which has been shown to be a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant.

This is where it gets more complicated. The proportion of curcumin in turmeric is just 3%, by weight. The scientific studies that have made positive health associations use either pure curcumin or turmeric extract that has been designed to contain mostly curcumin. The doses of curcumin required to give benefit are very high – typically about 1,000mg a day. So despite what manufacturers might claim, consuming turmeric shots and lattes or adding a little extra spice to your meals will not come close to reaching the necessary dose. Some turmeric products have even been found to be contaminated with heavy metals such as lead, which can have adverse effects on your health...
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/may/22/does-turmerics-reputation-translate-into-real-health-benefits

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Americans like magic pills

But diet is a complicated variable with millions of interconnected parts, and diet is a preferred vehicle to supplements. My opinion it's more important to eliminate the toxic than to add the supposed cures. Compared to 1880 we eat far more extracted oils, modified strains of wheat, and impurities galore. A tablespoon of turmeric a day can cancel all that, amiright?

[Lettuce Be]

2. I get terrible feet and hand cramps. My neurologist suggested I try turmeric. It works a treat!

Seriously, I buy in bulk and cap it myself but it works for leg cramps. No idea why. I take two caps, three times a day. My husband also takes it, same reason. My sister tried it for same reason, said it worked. No reason not to give it a try.

If I stop taking it, my cramps do return. Again, no idea why, so it's not a "cure" just helps enormously.

Many spices have healthful benefits. Cinnamon is another.

[Tetrachloride]

3. Might I suggest watermelon. Potassium and water.

[in2herbs]

4. Prior to my hip replacement I used curcumin for the pain and was taking 8-10,000 mg/day, so

yes, it does have to be taken in large doses to be effective. The surgeon didn't even know what it was or that it could be used for pain. When one of my horses had mild-medium arthritis I fed him curcumin. It worked until it didn't and as his arthritis progressed, it didn't.

I am still into herbal and homeopathic therapies, but now my go-to remedy for AI and pain is CBD oil.

[Warpy]

5. If you like turmerric, by all means season your food with it.

However, until studies are complete and the refining process is overseen by the FDA, avoid the health food concentrates. While a few companies try to refine curcurin the safest way possible, many more companies out there are shady as hell.

I say this because random assay of a lot of health food supplements and concentrates found that the herbs were most often not what was on the label and the concentrates were contaminated with a lot of things you don't want. Some have even been found to be contaminated by prescription drugs, something you'd need to tell your doctor if you knew they were in there.

The herbal supplement industry has successfully fought regulation for years, so caveat fucking emptor.

[appalachiablue]

6. Kick

[wishstar]

7. There have been recalls recently for lead contamination in turmeric and curry powder

so caution is advised and taking high doses is risky.

[appalachiablue]

8. Thanks