Current:Home > FinanceWhat is turmeric good for? The spice has powerful antioxidants and other benefits-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
What is turmeric good for? The spice has powerful antioxidants and other benefits
View Date:2024-12-24 00:23:24
More than just adding flavor, color and aroma to our food, spices tell a story. Take turmeric, for example, which was first used nearly 4,000 years ago in India before spreading through China, East and West Africa and Jamaica. Turmeric also has a long history of religious significance and medicinal use in South Asia.
"Turmeric's main active component, curcumin, makes it a potential treatment for numerous health conditions," says Dr. Denise Millstine, a women's health and integrative medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona.
Still, experts contend turmeric needs to be researched further to confirm the impact of these health benefits.
What is turmeric?
A member of the ginger family, turmeric, also known as Curcuma longa, is a flowering plant whose rhizomes (roots) appear similar to the rhizomes of ginger − but with a yellowish-orange color instead of brown. Grated, sliced and peeled in its raw form or dried and ground into a powder, turmeric is used extensively in Indian cuisine especially, giving foods both flavor and color. The spice is commonly added to soups, tandoori chicken, rice and curry, and has become a popular enhancement in roasted vegetables and egg scrambles.
Turmeric has also been used as a traditional Indian medicine for centuries and is widely available today as a supplement in the form of both powder and capsules.
What is turmeric good for?
Though the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health notes the health effects of turmeric supplementation on certain medical conditions "remain uncertain," turmeric does have properties known to be beneficial. For instance, as with other colorful plant-based foods, turmeric is rich in phytonutrients (powerful antioxidants), known to protect the body from free radicals like sunlight or air pollution and shield cells from damage.
"Turmeric may also aid digestion, improve brain function, and support healthy skin," explains Lisa Young, PhD, an adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University and the author of "Finally Full, Finally Slim."
The active component, curcumin, is also known to "decrease and relieve some symptoms of mild arthritis, such as joint pain and joint inflammation," says Jessica Sepel, BHlth, a clinical nutritionist and founder of JSHealth. Turmeric may also improve heart health by reducing bad cholesterol while increasing good cholesterol, Young says.
Curcumin may also have cancer-fighting properties, though such research is ongoing.
"Some studies suggest that curcumin may have anticancer properties by inhibiting the growth of cancer cells and preventing the formation of new blood vessels in tumors," says Jen Messer, a nutrition consultant and registered dietitian at Jen Messer Nutrition.
How much turmeric to take daily?
Turmeric does have some known negative side effects.
"While turmeric is safe to consume, too much of it can cause diarrhea, nausea and headache," Young says. Eating turmeric may also slow down blood clotting due to its anticoagulant properties, "which can be beneficial for some but dangerous to others," Young adds.
Millstine notes that though she agrees that "turmeric is generally safe," there are other potential side effects to be mindful of. "The biggest risk I encounter with turmeric in my practice is interactions with other medications," she explains. Some forms of the plant may also cause heartburn.
While there is no standard established dose of turmeric to take daily, "The World Health Organization has determined an acceptable daily intake of turmeric powder as 1.4 milligrams per pound of body weight when turmeric powder is used as a spice in cooking," explains Messer. She adds that most research indicates turmeric's supplement form should be kept between 500 and 2,000 milligrams daily, "but an effective dose may vary on the condition being treated."
"As with all herbal dietary supplements, there can be risks associated with consumption," Sepel says. "Therefore, I always recommend checking in with your health professional to ensure that it suits your individual needs."
Discover more health tips for your daily diet:
- Healthiest vegetable: Check out these great nutrient-dense options
- Healthiest protein:Why this option may benefit long-term health
- Apple cider vinegar health benefits:How to drink it for weight loss
- Healthiest diet:Why the answer encompasses more than just food
- What does Vitamin D do?:Benefits of the supplement
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered.
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "Is chai good for you?" to "What is the healthiest grain?" to "How to clean your air fryer" – we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.
Contributing: Clare Mulroy
veryGood! (3855)
Related
- Utah AD Mark Harlan fined $40,000 for ripping referees and the Big 12 after loss to BYU
- Protesters march through Miami to object to Florida’s Black history teaching standards
- Tuohys call Michael Oher’s filing ‘hurtful’ and part of a shakedown attempt
- A former fundraiser for Rep. George Santos has been charged with wire fraud and identity theft
- Disruptions to Amtrak service continue after fire near tracks in New York City
- Death toll from devastating Maui fire reaches 106, as county begins identifying victims
- Inmates at California women’s prison sue federal government over sexual abuse
- Orlando, Florida, debuts self-driving shuttle that will whisk passengers around downtown
- CFP bracket prediction: SEC adds a fifth team to field while a Big Ten unbeaten falls out
- Florida's coral reef is in danger. Scientists say rescued corals may aid recovery
Ranking
- Who's hosting 'SNL' tonight? Musical guest, start time, where to watch Nov. 9 episode
- The 1975's Matty Healy Seemingly Rekindles Romance With Ex Meredith Mickelson After Taylor Swift Breakup
- Pushing back on limits elsewhere, Vermont’s lieutenant governor goes on banned books tour
- Teen Mom's Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra Share the Hardest Part of Daughter Carly's Adoption
- 1 dead, 2 children injured in wrong-way crash; driver suspected of DWI: Reports
- Eggo, Sugarlands Distilling Co. team up to launch Eggo Brunch in a Jar Sippin' Cream
- 'Error in judgement:' Mississippi police apologize for detaining 10-year-old
- Massachusetts man fatally shoots neighbor, dog, himself; 2 kids shot were hospitalized
Recommendation
-
Could trad wives, influencers have sparked the red wave among female voters?
-
'The Blind Side' subject Michael Oher is suing the Tuohy family. Many know the pain of family wounds.
-
For Cowboys, 5-foot-5 rookie RB Deuce Vaughn's potential impact is no small thing
-
Muslim mob attacks 3 churches after accusing Christian man of desecrating Quran in eastern Pakistan
-
Mississippi governor intent on income tax cut even if states receive less federal money
-
Texas Woman Awarded $1.2 Billion After Ex-Boyfriend Shared Intimate Images Online Without Her Consent
-
A marijuana legalization question will be on Ohio’s fall ballot after lawmakers failed to act on it
-
Watch: Sam Kerr's goal for Australia equalizes World Cup semifinal before loss to England