Turmeric – The Golden Spice: Medicinal Benefits, Side Effects & Some Interesting Facts

Turmeric is also known as “Golden spice” due to many medicinal and other beneficial properties. This spice has a rich and colourful history that dates back to about 4000 years. This ancient spice is being used for centuries as both food and medicine. It was also used as a culinary spice and had some religious significance. It is believed that turmeric was one of the ingredients that have been used as Ayurvedic medicine around 500 BCE. Also, turmeric residues have been found in pots that date back to as early as 2500 BCE!

Now, let us take a further look at other interesting facts about turmeric that you never knew.

Common Usage

Although it is a root, it is most commonly used in powdered and dried forms. With its mild peppery bitter taste, it often leaves us with so many exciting cuisines, especially when used with some other mild spices. Turmeric gives our favourite cuisines that golden appetizing colour that we often see in curries and spicy dishes.

Health Benefits

When it comes to the health benefits of turmeric the list is really long! So, let us take a quick look at its remarkable medicinal and health wellness properties.

Turmeric contains a pigment called Curcumin. It is used by people in its isolated form for its exceptional benefits. However, to get maximum health benefits it is recommended to use Turmeric in its fresh ‘whole’ spice or ground form. Curcumin on consumption increases the number of antioxidants in your body which then prevents the free radicals from disrupting bodily functions. Environmental issues and smoking causes the build-up of these free radicals in the body and disrupt bodily processes. Curcumin being rich in antioxidants protects cell health, especially those found in the colon region and promotes a healthy digestive tract.

Medicinal Properties

One of the primary medicinal benefits of turmeric is its healing properties which are known to come from curcumin only. It has anti-inflammatory properties that can be compared to those found in Ibuprofen, also added benefit of not posing any side effects to the user. Damage to cells by free radicals and issues like inflammation and hypothyroidism are some of the causes of depression and anxiety while it’s not an ideal and only treatment for relieving depression, however, it is a promising candidate for increasing antioxidants in the body and has anti-inflammatory properties which definitely aids well to the person suffering those conditions.

Side Effects

I know it’s hard to believe but turmeric can pose some side effects to people consuming. So, let us dive right into it and find out how turmeric can affect you so the next time you consume it you’ll be well aware of the benefits as well as the side effects of it.

Generally safe to eat turmeric and curcumin may pose some side effects to the consumer. “Too much of a good thing can be dangerous” this saying goes perfectly for Turmeric, as including large quantities of turmeric in the diet can upset the stomach, cause acid refluxes, diarrhoea, dizziness as well as headaches. Taking large amounts of turmeric supplements can enhance the active production of oxalate in the body which may lead to stone formation in the kidneys.

Turmeric also acts as a blood thinner and should be avoided in possessing blood-related conditions. It can also interfere with some of the medications like chemotherapy, cardiac medications and in the case of diabetic medication, it can do some real damage by severely decreasing the blood sugar levels.