7 Health Benefits of Turmeric

Not familiar with turmeric? While you might not have a jar of the spice in your cupboard, it’s likely you are already acquainted. For instance, it’s what gives mustard and curry their vibrant coloring.

While a great addition to foods needing that golden hue, turmeric also has anti-inflammatory properties that benefit your health.

Registered dietitian Nicole Hopsecger, RD, LD, discusses turmeric’s many benefits and shares advice on how to incorporate turmeric into your daily life.

What is turmeric?

Turmeric is a spice that comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant, which is a perennial in the ginger family. Its major active ingredient is curcumin.

“Curcumin gives turmeric that yellowish color,” Hopsecger says. “But beware: It stains easily. Try not to get it on your clothing!”

Turmeric’s treasure lies in curcumin’s benefits. Curcumin has antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Researchers are investigating whether it may help diseases in which inflammation plays a role — from arthritis to ulcerative colitis.

Turmeric health benefits

The spice, which is easy to add to smoothies and curries, shows promise when it comes to the following health benefits.

Lessens inflammation

For chronic conditions where inflammation starts to affect tissues in your body, taking turmeric may be beneficial.

In one study of people with ulcerative colitis, those who took 2 grams of curcumin a day along with prescription medication were more likely to stay in remission than those who took medicine alone.

“It won’t necessarily help during an active flare-up, but it may help prolong remission,” Hopsecger says.

Improves memory

Another clinical trial showed that 90 milligrams of curcumin taken twice a day for 18 months helped improve memory performance in adults without dementia.

“Researchers thought that the reduction in brain inflammation and curcumin’s antioxidant properties led to less decline in neurocognition, which is the ability to think and reason,” Hopsecger shares.

“Curcumin may also have a role in preventing the development of Alzheimer’s disease — however, that’s an area where we need more research.”

Lessens pain

Turmeric has deep roots in both Chinese traditional medicine and Ayurveda for treating arthritis. Research suggests that taking turmeric extract could potentially reduce pain from osteoarthritis, though further study is still needed.

“But I wouldn’t rely on a curcumin supplement alone,” Hopsecger cautions. “Medical management should come first.”

Fights free radicals

Turmeric has antioxidant properties, and one study shows that it may protect your body from free radicals by neutralizing them.

Another study suggests that turmeric’s antioxidant effects may also stimulate the action of other antioxidants.

Lowers risk of heart disease

With its ability to help reduce inflammation and oxidation, turmeric could lower the risk of heart disease.

Studies show that turmeric may help reverse the heart disease process. In healthy middle-aged and older adults who took curcumin supplements for 12 weeks, resistance artery endothelial production — which plays a significant role in high blood pressure — was increased.

Another study followed 121 people who had coronary artery bypass surgery. A few days before and after the surgery, the group that took 4 grams of curcumin a day saw a 65% decreased risk of having a heart attack in the hospital.

Turmeric may also be helpful when used along with medication for managing cholesterol levels. Research shows that curcumin is safe and may protect those at risk for heart disease by lowering certain levels of cholesterol, though more study is also needed to look at how much and what type is effective.

Helps fight depression

If you have depression, the protein known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is reduced and your hippocampus — which helps with learning and memory — starts to shrink. A study shows that curcumin can boost BDNF levels and may reverse changes.

Another study shows that curcumin was just as effective as fluoxetine (Prozac®) in lessening symptoms of depression. Curcumin may also increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, which are chemicals in your brain that regulate mood and other body functions

Helps prevent cancer

Curcumin may affect cancer growth and development according to a few studies.

One study, which focused on colorectal cancer, saw a 40% reduction of the number of lesions in the colon in men.

Nutritional value

While doctors commonly recommend taking 500 milligrams twice daily with food, the dose that’s right for you depends on your overall health. More isn’t always better, so talk to your provider.

“It’s safe to take up to 8 grams per day, but my recommendation would be somewhere on the lighter side: 500 to 1,000 milligrams a day for the general population,” notes Hopsecger.

For optimal absorption, try taking it with heart-healthy fats like oils, avocado, nuts and seeds, she adds.

While the risk of side effects is low and drug interactions are unlikely, stop taking turmeric if you notice ill effects. Turmeric may cause bloating, and there’s a theoretical concern that it may interact with blood-clotting medications. Also, avoid it if you have gallbladder disease.

And always talk to your doctor before starting any dietary supplement, as supplements could potentially interact with other medications you’re taking.

And remember: Turmeric can help complement your conventional care, but it’s not a substitute for medicine.

“No dietary supplement can replace medications or even a well-rounded diet,” Hopsecger cautions. “If your diet is poor, taking a curcumin supplement isn’t going to do anything miraculous.”

How to use turmeric

You can take turmeric as a supplement or use it as a spice.

“Curcumin is more potent in a supplement because they’ve extracted it from the turmeric,” Hopsecger explains. “If you are buying turmeric in the store, it does have some antioxidant properties. While using it as a spice may not have a significant impact, it is a great way to season food without salt.”

Not ready to commit to a supplement? While cooking with turmeric doesn’t give you as big of a health boost, you can still benefit by adding it to:

• Smoothies
• Golden milk
• Soups
• Eggs
• Muffins
• Rice
• Roasted veggies

“It’s one of the main ingredients in a curry sauce — it’s potent, pungent, bitter and very earthy,” says Hopsecger. “I always think of that curry smell as being what turmeric tastes like. You can buy the spice ground these days from many supermarkets and spice stores, or you can buy the fresh root and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can then peel, and chop or grate to use in your recipes.”