10 Serious Side Effects of Turmeric

Medically reviewed by Maria Sarino, MD FACT CHECKED

Roots from the Curcuma longa plant are used to produce turmeric, a popuflavoringring ingredient. Curcumin, a substance found in turmeric, has been shown to lessen inflammation in the skin.

This yellow spice is used in a variety of curries, mustarbutterters, and cheese to give them a warm, bitter flavor color. Due to the possibility that curcumin and other turmeric components could reduce swelling.

Turmeric is widely employed in the treatment of painful and inflamed disorders. Osteoarthritis is a popular reason for people to take turmeric supplements.

Hay fever, depression, excessive cholesterol, a form of liver illness, and itching are among the other conditions for which it is prescribed, but none of these applications can be backed up by solid research.

Curcumin for COVID-19 is likewise not well supported by research. Don’t confuse turmeric with turmeric root or turmeric tree.

Turmeric should not be confused with the unrelaplantsants golden seal or zedoary or, which are occasionally referred to by the same name.

side-effects-of-turmeric

Long used to cure inflammation, infections, and other illnesses, turmeric is a component of Ayurvedic therapy. Because of its capacity to lower inflammatory responses within the body. 

Its appeal in the form of a supplement has soared over the past several years. Curcumin is a molecule that is thought to be powerful, although it is not quickly taken into the bloodstream.

It’s crucial to understand what your turmeric supplement offers, especially in terms of potential adverse effects, as it is with any drug you put into your body.

  1. Can Raise The Risk Of Bleeding

    The primary component of turmeric, curcumin, may raise the chance of bleeding. Those who have bleeding issues or are taking medications that could make them more likely to bleed should use curcumin with caution.

    There might need to be dosage modifications. Click on this trusted source to know more about this topic.

    Given that turmeric contains anticoagulant properties, it may raise the risk of bleeding both while performing the surgery and after that.

    Turmeric raises the chance of bleeding, therefore you should stop using it at least two weeks before surgery.

    We must keep this in mind while taking turmeregularlyasis because it is one of its unavoidable cons.

  1. May Cause Problems With The Digestive System

    Curry recipes that include turmeric have not been connected to stomach troubles, but using turmeric in a large amount for a period has been reported to result in gastrointestinal disorders.

    Make sure you take the prescribed dosage of 400 mg to 3 grams of turmeric for adults. If you take more than that, you risk experiencing gastrointestinal issues. In addition to causing indigestion and heartburn, turmeric.

  1. May Cause Gallbladder And Gallstone Problems

    Oxalate, which might raise the chance of developing gallstones, is present in high amounts in turmeric.

    Compared to the control group, participants who had taken turmeric had higher amounts of oxalate in their urine.

    Additionally, taking 20–40 mg doses of turmeric was found to increase gallbladder contractions. Turmeric pills should be avoided if you’ve problems related to the gallbladder.

  1. It Might Trigger Contractions

    Although there isn’t much scientific evidence to support that turmeric may help with PMS symptoms. Therefore, the old wives’ story might have some truth to it.

    Pregnant women should refrain from using turmeric supplements due to their its blood-thinning properties alone. It shouldn’t be an issue to use turmeric in the form of spice in tiny amounts.

  1. Could Make You Nauseous And Diarrhea

    Some of the typical side effects of taking turmeric supplements include nausea and diarrhea. This is due to curcumin’s propensity to irritate the digestive system, which is present in turmeric.

    According to several clinical research, people who took supplements of 0.45 grams of curcumin each day for four months felt minor nausea. Some people may become nauseous from curcumin, even at low dosages.

  1. May Increase The Risk Of Kidney Stones

    An excess of turmeric may make kidney stones more likely, according to research. Oxalates are present in turmeric, which explains why.

    Oxalates which are insoluble calcium are most likely to blame for kidney stones and can be created when to calcium. Check this trusted source which explains well the formation of kidney stones due to oxalate.

    The study supported the claim that turmeric can cause kidney stones by showing that consumption of it increased the excretion of urinary oxalate when compared to consumption of cinnamon.

  1. Might Result In Infertility

    A study on mice revealed that the turmeric compound curcumin decreases sperm function. Furthermore, it reduced fertility. The mouse study found that turmeric was an excellent contraceptive.

    Another fish study discovered that turmeric inhibits the growth of ovarian follicles. Subfertility was another effect.

    It’s also thought that turmeric may make men’s sperm travel less and have lower testosterone levels. But as of now, there is no supporting data.

  1. Could Drastically Lower Blood Pressure

    This may sound advantageous, but for people with high blood pressure or hypertension. However, too much blood pressure decrease can lead to problems.

    There may be hypotensive effects from turmeric. Check this trusted source to know how drastically lower blood pressure can affect health.

    If you take it along with blood pressure-lowering drugs, you could experience abnormally low levels of those drugs. If you use blood pressure medicine already, stay away from turmeric.

  1. Might Impact Women Who Are Breastfeeding Or Pregnant

    There isn’t enough information on turmeric’s adverse effects on expectant and nursing mothers. It is advised to avoid using turmeric in high amounts during these key times in a woman’s life.

    It is unclear if turmeric’s active components would travel via breast milk because breastfeeding mothers have only seldom been the subject of studies on the herb. Additionally unknown are the consequences on nursing infants.

  1. Might Result In A Allergies

    Turmeric may result in skin allergies sometimes. Curcumin has been linked to contact allergies, contact dermatitis, and urticaria (hives).

    This trusted source explains well the allergic reactions to turmeric. Given that turmeric belongs to the same family to which ginger belongs, individuals who are allergic to ginger are more likely to experience a reaction.

    Turmeric allergies are possible if you have allergies to yellow food coloring.

Why Does Turmeric Have Some Adverse Effects?

Oxalate is found in turmeric at a concentration of about 2%. If taken in excessive dosages, this can cause kidney stones in people who are already susceptible.

Not every commercial turmeric powder is also pure. Some of them are tainted. In this case, cheap and potentially harmful substances have been introduced and are not specified on the label.

Some fillers such as barley, wheat, cassava st, arch, or rye flour may be added to the commercial turmeric powders you buy from the market, according to research.

The consumption of turmeric, which contains wheat, rye f, lour, or barley, can induce undesirable symptoms in those who are gluten intolerant or who have celiac disease.

When turmeric powder is mixed with flour, color is improved by the addition of dubious food colorings, which may be present in some turmeric powders.

The coloring Metanil yellow , often known as acid yellow ist is frequently used in India. Studies on animals suggest that large doses of Metanil yellow may harm the nervous system and induce Metanil yellow is illegal to use in Europe and the United States through the toxin effects on humans have not been studied.

Lead is a heavy metal that is extremely hazardous to the neurological system, and s of some commercial turmeric powders can be rich in this element.

Conclusion

Studies that demonstrate the health advantages of turmeric make use of turmeric extracts that are primarily curcumin in levels of more than 1 gram per day.

Since it’s impossible to get that much turmeric in a typical diet, turmeric supplements are frequently used because their curcumin level is substantially higher.

In general, up to 12 grams of curcumin supplement, or around 1.4 milligrams per pound weight of the individual, may be used per day. Any more than that could have negative effects on you.