Turmeric is a spice with a yellow-orange color that originates from the southern part of Asia. It is a common ingredient in a variety of Indian dishes, as well as Middle Eastern dishes as well.
It is also consumed for beneficial health effects. The use of supplements containing curcumin or turmeric the main active ingredient is getting more and more popular.
Some people are concerned about the possible negative effects that high doses of curcumin and turmeric supplements can trigger. This review examines the research evidence.
What’s the word turmeric?
Turmeric al, so known by the scientific name Curcuma Longa, is a renowned Indian spice, herb for medicinal use, and food coloring ingredient in the ginger family.
It is a key element in Indian curries and has an aroma that is typically described as spicy and bitter. The majority of the world’s curries are grown and eaten in India.
The stalks of the root, also known as Rhizomes, are bright orange or yellow. They’re typically dried and crushed into powder.
Turmeric is mostly composed of carbohydrates, starch, and fiber. Like other spices, turmeric is a source of various plant components and minerals ( 1Trusted Source).
The stalks of the root are abundant in plant compounds called curcuminoids. These are the principal active components in turmeric. They are responsible for the turmeric’s yellow-orange hue and the bulk of the health advantages it offers ( 2Trusted Source).
The most studied curcuminoid, curcumin, could comprise around 4 percent of turmeric ( 3Trusted Source).
Powders of curcumin or turmeric that are sold commercially are also often enriched with ingredients. They are silicon dioxide, which is an anti-caking ingredient that helps prevent clumping.
Certain turmeric powders that are sold at a discount may contain unapproved additives that aren’t mentioned on the label. This is referred to as the adulteration of turmeric and is explained in greater detail in the following paragraphs.
SUMMARY
Turmeric is a well-known spice with a yellow-orange color. It can also be used in the form of a food coloring and nutritional supplement. Curcumin is believed to be the main reason behind most of the health benefits.
What is the reason people consume turmeric?
Turmeric is utilized as an ingredient in food coloring and spices that adds color and flavor to foods. Also, it is consumed to reap the health benefits. Most of them are attributed to curcumin, which is its primary active ingredient.
Curcumin supplements provide the following benefits, just to just a few of them:
- Reduction of inflammation. Chronic inflammation is linked to a variety of illnesses. Research has shown that curcumin supplements can reduce the levels of inflammation markers and can aid in treating or reducing symptoms of health conditions that are inflammatory, such as inflammatory bowel disease, arthritis, psoriasis art,hritis depression, and atherosclerosis ( 4Trusted Source).
- Better antioxidant status. Curcumin and other curcuminoids can be powerful antioxidants that can boost your antioxidant levels. Antioxidants guard against damage to cells caused by free radicals. This can be linked to health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer ( 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).
- Enhances blood vessel functionality. Studies suggest that curcumin supplements can aid in the dilation (widening) of blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow and decreasing the pressure of blood ( 7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).
- Lower risk of heart attacks. They may also reduce the chance of having heart attacks, possibly due to their anti-inflammatory effects by enhancing the function of endothelial cells or by increasing the levels of cholesterol ( 9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).
- Anticancer properties of HTML0. Curcumin may help reduce the growth of cancerous cells and help promote the death of cancer cells. The current research studies are investigating curcumin’s potential as a treatment option for various cancers, including prostate, breast pan, creatic, colorectal, and lung cancers ( 11Trusted Source, 12Trusted Source, 13Trusted Source).
- Support for neurological well-being. Curcumin supplements may aid in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and dementia ( 11Trusted Source)
SUMMARY
Alongside its use as a food dye, people consume it to reap the health benefits. These have been extensively researched.
The adverse effects of curcumin and turmeric
The main key ingredient, curcumin, is generally regarded as secure and has no serious adverse consequences ( 14Trusted Source).
Some people might be afflicted by side effects when they take these in large quantities as supplements.
Turmeric
Turmeric has about 22 two percent Oxalate is around 2%. In high doses, it can cause kidney stones for those with a predisposition ( 15Trusted Source).
Furthermore, it is important to note that not all turmeric powders are genuine. Some are contaminated. This means that less expensive and potentially harmful ingredients have been added to the product and are not on the product’s label.
Studies have shown some commercial turmeric powders can include fillers like cassava barley, starch, wheat, or Rye flour ( 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).
Consuming turmeric that is made up of barley, wheat, or rye flour may cause adverse reactions in those who suffer from gluten intolerance or celiac disease.
Certain turmeric powders could contain untested food colorants which are added to boost the color of the powder when it is mixed by mixing flour.
One of the most popular food coloring agents utilized to color food items in India is called metanil Yellow. It is also known as acid-yellow 36. Research on animals has shown that methanol Yellow can cause neurological damage and cancer when consumed in large quantities ( 18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).
Although the harmful consequences of the metal-yellow haven’t been studied in humans, however, it is illegal to utilize metal Yellow in Europe, the United States, and Europe. (20, 21Trusted Source)
Some turmeric powders might contain lead, which is a heavy metal that is particularly harmful to the nervous system ( 22Trusted Source, 23Trusted Source).