Turmeric is the world’s third best-selling botanical supplement, preceded by only flax and wheatgrass. The curcumin in turmeric is used in food thanks to its pleasant aroma and yellow color. However, just because it’s a natural ingredient it doesn’t mean it is not toxic. Many other natural ingredients are toxic, like strychnine and cyanide.
Turmeric doesn’t cause substantial side effects, but people have reported nausea, dizziness, diarrhea and stomach issues when consuming it. If you combine curcumin with black pepper you will be consuming as much as 29 cups of the daily dose of turmeric. This will result in increased blood levels as well as changes in the DNA in vitro.
The following types of people should not use turmeric:
Digestive disorders
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, turmeric may interfere with antacid medications, and may lead to increased stomach acid in case it is combined with antacid drugs like Pepcid, Nexium, Tagamet, Prevacid or Zantac.
Turmeric contains causticity and due to that, its long consumption may lead to gastric disorders.
Gallbladder problems
Turmeric may worsen gallbladder problems, so you should avoid it in case you have a bile duct obstruction or gallstones.
People who have kidney stones
When taken in large amounts, turmeric can lead to formation of kidney stones. It is loaded with soluble oxalates, which can bind to calcium and create insoluble calcium oxalate, which is the cause for almost 75% of all kidney stones.
Therefore, people who are prone to kidney stones should avoid turmeric, or limit the intake of dietary oxalate to less than 50 mg a day.
People with diabetes
Turmeric has the ability to reduce blood sugar levels and diabetics can experience significant drop in their blood sugar levels. They can consume it, but in small amounts.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Turmeric is LIKELY SAFE to be taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding if taken in moderate amounts by mouth. However, it is LIKELY UNSAFE if taken orally in medicinal quantities by pregnant women, as it may endanger the pregnancy since it can stimulate the uterus, and it may also promote a menstrual period.
Furthermore, there is no information so far about the level of safety of turmeric in medicinal amounts in the case of breastfeeding, so it is advisable not to use it in order to prevent any possible side-effects
People who should have a surgery
People who are about to have a surgery should stop consuming turmeric 2 weeks before the surgery because turmeric prevents blood clotting and can lead to extra bleeding during and after the surgery.
Source: www.hlfteam.com
