Recently food manufacturers have started to incorporate ingredients like turmeric into their products in an attempt to appeal to consumers who want to heal their digestive systems and other ailments.
Turmeric is the yellow food spice which gives curries that yellow-orange colour. Whilst it has only been trending in UK supermarkets over the last few years, it has been used for thousands of years in India as a natural medicine.
What makes it so incredible is the natural substance curcumin which makes up turmeric. curcumin has exceptional anti-inflammatory properties which can fight bacterial infections, whilst aiding the bodies natural repair system. It also has anti-oxidant capabilities which protects the human body from free radicals.
Many people will take a daily dosage of turmeric mixed in warm milk, because curcumin has been linked to increased levels of the hormone brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Without this hormone, there are increased chances of developing Alzeimers disease and depression. So, turmeric could help combat brain related diseases.
Studies also suggest that curcumin has a positive effect in reversing heart disease and cancer. Inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, curcumin can also work as a preventative medicine to prevent cancer in the first place.
Can You Overdose On Turmeric?
Whilst everything has its benefits, can too much turmeric cause unwanted side effects?
Does this root spice provide the answers to every antidote?
Whilst this spice is readily available online and in many high street stores, it’s important to ensure you source high quality turmeric. Organic is always the best and safest option to ensure you are not ingesting hidden chemicals which the farming and food industry is so heavily reliant upon globally. So, taking a pure quantity of turmeric will ensure you receive the full benefits.
High dosages should be avoided, as too much of anything can cause adverse side effects such as:
- Digestive issues
- Nausea
- Diarrhoea
- Headaches
If you are taking turmeric in the form of a supplement, you must always read the label to avoid excess consumption over the recommended amount.
Conventional or Traditional?
The question on many people’s minds is how well do natural remedies work in comparison to conventional prescriptive medicine?
Patient preference means that some individuals like to research and trial natural remedies because they believe in the power of the earth and the spices that grow on it, whilst others have no patience to try such things and need a quick solution answer for their problems. To prepare a natural remedy, it requires time and effort to source the ingredients before carefully brewing and stirring them. Natural compounds such as curcumin found in turmeric need to be taken in significant amounts to reap the benefits and absorption into the bloodstream is not always straightforward. You need an additional carrier to aid the process; black pepper is an effective digestive aid which helps absorption of nutrients.
There is a lot to consider in the purchase and preparation of ayurvedic spices and time is the enemy. For patients who are suffering in pain, whilst being immobile because of their illness, preparing natural solutions is not an easy option, no matter how much they would like to try the natural alternatives route.
Which is not to say that traditional remedies should be overlooked for their preventative cures. Prevention is always better than cure and if you can use spices to prevent an illness, then you have nothing to lose.
Instead, conventional, tried and tested, “already-prepared” tablets that give instant results are the unquibbable answer. Which is why MyMedsUK are on board to help patients gain even quicker access than ever before to obtain their medication, whether it is for pain relief or curing acne. No trips to the high street pharmacist, or waiting over half an hour before your medication is ready to take home.
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