Tropical Weight Loss
Photo by Karolina Grabowska Pexels Logo Photo: Karolina Grabowska

Is it OK to take turmeric everyday?

The World Health Organization found 1.4 mg of turmeric per pound of body weight is okay for daily intake. It's not advisable to take high doses of turmeric for long periods of time. There isn't enough research to guarantee safety. If you want to take turmeric to relieve pain and inflammation, talk to your doctor.

Does lemon burn belly fat?
Does lemon burn belly fat?

Lemons are known to help you lose weight; thanks to the presence of vitamin C and antioxidants that promote good digestion. Lemons also have...

Read More »
How much water should I drink if I want to lose belly fat?
How much water should I drink if I want to lose belly fat?

8-10 glasses There is no “magic” number of glasses of water that you should drink each day to lose belly fat. However, aim to drink 8-10 glasses of...

Read More »

You may use turmeric to make curry, but other people use it to treat inflammation and pain. The main active ingredient found in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin is an inflammation blocker. It’s as effective as some anti-inflammatory drugs without the major side effects. That’s a big deal because inflammation plays a role in every major disease. Ayurvedic medicine, an ancient holistic approach, uses turmeric for internal and external inflammation. Practitioners treat fatigue, rheumatism, and serious pain with turmeric. In the past, people outside of Ayurvedic practice considered turmeric a spice. It was also used to dye fabric and food. Now, it’s popular around the world for treating ailments.

It easy to find turmeric for medicinal use. It’s available in teas, juices, and pills. But how do you know the proper dosage?

Keep reading to learn how to take turmeric for pain.

What is Turmeric?

Turmeric is a plant that grows in India, Asia, and Central America. It’s related to the ginger plant. Yet, it has a pungent, bitter taste. Dried turmeric roots become powder, tablets, capsules, teas, and extracts. It’s a common spice found in curry powder. The yellow curcumin is often used for food coloring. Makeup manufacturers add turmeric to beauty products for its antioxidant properties. Its essential oil is in perfume.

Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric in supplement form has higher levels than the spice used in cooking. It’s a great addition to an anti-inflammatory diet. The anti-inflammatory properties make it a popular remedy for conditions, including:

Arthritis

Joint Pain

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Heartburn

Kidney Problems

Colitis

Recent studies show turmeric helps prevent and reduce joint inflammation. This reduces pain, stiffness, and inflammation related to arthritis. For digestive relief, pay close attention to the amount of turmeric in a supplement. High dosages can cause an upset stomach. Turmeric’s health benefits may include lower cholesterol levels. Research done on animals to date produced encouraging and consistent results. It’s reasonable to think it can lower cholesterol in humans, too.

How to Take Turmeric for Pain

Turmeric in Indian and Asian cooking is a long-standing tradition.

A typical Indian diet supplies 2,000 to 2,5000 mg of turmeric per day. That equals 60 to 100 mg of curcumin. If you ingested the same quantity of turmeric as an extract it would be 1,900 to 2,375 mg of curcumin.

Should I take fish oil everyday?
Should I take fish oil everyday?

When taken by mouth: Fish oil is likely safe for most people in doses of 3 grams or less daily. Taking more than 3 grams daily might increase the...

Read More »
Do I need a fat burner to lose weight?
Do I need a fat burner to lose weight?

Fat burners can help enhance fat loss, but they're only supporting when you have a proper diet is in place. Fat burners work in a variety of ways,...

Read More »

The spice has about 3% curcumin. Turmeric extract has 95% curcumin. Adding turmeric to your food provides some benefits, but not as much as a supplement. Most studies use a turmeric extract. The typical study dose of 500 to 2,000 mg of turmeric per day had potential benefits. The exact dose depends on the medical condition. The Arthritis Foundation suggests taking turmeric capsules (400 to 600 mg) 3 times per day. Another option is to take a half to three grams of the root powder every day.

Further studies revealed one gram of curcumin per day helped arthritis patients.

One issue with turmeric is it’s hard for the body to absorb the spice by itself. Nutritionists suggest mixing the spice with black pepper and olive oil to help your body absorb it. The amount of turmeric used in normal cooking is safe. But don’t assume more is better. High doses can cause nausea, diarrhea, and dizziness. The World Health Organization found 1.4 mg of turmeric per pound of body weight is okay for daily intake. It’s not advisable to take high doses of turmeric for long periods of time. There isn’t enough research to guarantee safety. If you want to take turmeric to relieve pain and inflammation, talk to your doctor. It’s important to consider potential drug interactions.

When to Avoid Taking Turmeric

It’s important to be cautious with all herbal supplements. Turmeric is safe when taken in recommended doses by mouth or applied to the skin. In most cases when people take turmeric to relieve pain it’s safe. But, you should consult your primary care physician and use caution in the following situations:

Iron Deficiency

If you suffer from an iron deficiency, turmeric may interfere with the way your body absorbs iron.

Kidney Stones

Turmeric is high in oxalate. Oxalate can bind with calcium to form painful kidney stones.

Gallbladder Disease

How many eggs should I eat a day?
How many eggs should I eat a day?

The American Heart Association recommends up to one egg a day for most people, fewer for people with high blood cholesterol, especially those with...

Read More »
How many kgs we can lose in 3 days?
How many kgs we can lose in 3 days?

The three-day diet or Military Diet as it is called is a low-calorie diet which aims at a decreased intake of calories per day (870) and will help...

Read More »

Turmeric is dangerous if you have gallbladder disease. It may encourage the gallbladder to contract and make symptoms worse.

Bleeding Disorders

Turmeric can lower the ability of blood to clot. Turmeric can increase the risk of bleeding for someone on certain blood thinner meds.

Pregnant or Breastfeeding

There’s no research on turmeric supplements for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Diabetes

Turmeric may cause a drop in blood sugar levels.

Drug Interactions

As mentioned earlier, consult your doctor if you take other medication. Turmeric supplements interact with certain blood thinners and diabetes medications. Normal amounts of turmeric eaten in food are safe.

Side Effects

Doses up to 8 grams per day for limited periods of time in research studies haven’t produced toxic effects. Some people did experience side effects including stomach pain, constipation, nausea, and diarrhea.

We need more research to determine the safety of long-term usage.

How to Choose Your Turmeric Supplement

Supplements aren’t regulated like medications. Do your research on the company and brand you choose. Consider supplements tested by a third party like Informed Choice or NSF International. Turmeric extracts are the most potent type of supplement. Concentrated extracts are 95% curcumin. Powders and spices contain a lot less of the potent ingredient.

Extracts also have less chance of contamination from other substances.

The Turmeric Takeaway

Consider the research if you want to know how to take turmeric for pain. Studies suggest 500–2,000 mg of turmeric per day has potential benefits. Turmeric in extract form performs best. Remember, official dosage recommendations aren’t available. It may take some trial and error to determine what works best for you.

Health benefits occur when you combine turmeric with a healthy diet and exercise. But what if turmeric doesn’t relieve your inflammation and pain?

When you need non-addictive options for chronic pain relief, contact NWA Interventional Pain. Schedule an appointment today. Our natural, powerful treatments reduce the inflammation that causes chronic pain. We’re experts at treating a variety of pain conditions.

How to lose 3kg in 10 days?
How to lose 3kg in 10 days?

Here are some tips that will help you lose 2–3 kgs in just 10 days. Keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. Water has a very important role in...

Read More »
How much time do you need off work after a tummy tuck?
How much time do you need off work after a tummy tuck?

approximately two weeks The tummy tuck, medically known as abdominoplasty, requires approximately two weeks off work for full recovery. Most people...

Read More »
What does creatine do for men?
What does creatine do for men?

Your body stores creatine as phosphocreatine primarily in your muscles, where it's used for energy. As a result, people take creatine orally to...

Read More »
How much weight can you lose with bupropion?
How much weight can you lose with bupropion?

A 2016 study that analyzed the long-term weight loss effect of various antidepressant medications found that non-smokers who took bupropion lost...

Read More »