"Besides being lauded for its natural anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is a natural laxative.
A pilot study conducted in 2004 found that human participants with IBS who took 2 tablets of turmeric every day for 8 weeks reported reductions in abdominal discomfort and improved bowel movement patterns.
Health experts believe that turmeric is a natural laxative that boasts anti-inflammatory properties. Evidences suggests that turmeric also holds the potential of reducing IBS related symptoms.
It can aid your digestion
It's used in ayurvedic medicine as a digestive healing agent. Now Western medicine has begun to study how turmeric can help with gut inflammation and gut permeability, two measures of your digestive efficiency. Turmeric is even being explored as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome.
And one double-blind, placebo-controlled study found that turmeric reduced symptoms of bloating and gas in people suffering from indigestion.
High doses or long-term use of turmeric may cause gastrointestinal upset for some people, says the Mayo Clinic.
Taking turmeric in large doses has potential risks: Mild side effects include upset stomach, acid reflux, diarrhea, dizziness, and headaches. Consuming large doses of turmeric supplements can significantly increase urinary oxalate levels, increasing the risk of kidney stone formation.
High doses of turmeric could have a blood-thinning effect; if taken on top of prescribed anticoagulants, this could increase the risk of dangerous bleeding. People with liver or bile duct problems should not take turmeric supplements, as they can increase bile production.
Don't take turmeric supplements if:
You're taking aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil , Motrin ), or Acetaminophen (Tylenol ). Turmeric may lessen the effects of these medications.
According to a study conducted at the Tufts University, curcumin can actually suppress fat tissue growth. Another way in which turmeric helps in losing weight by regulating sugar levels and further preventing insulin resistance. This results in excess fat that is not retained in the body.
What time should I take my turmeric? Turmeric should be taken with meals to help with absorption. It's also a good idea to divide it into two doses taken 8 to 12 hours apart. This will help increase absorption and keep levels steady in the body.
Turmeric can gas, bloating, acid reflux, and flatulence if the daily dose exceeds 1,000 mg.
According to a study published in the Nutrition Journal, it is thought that turmeric has a half-life (the time it takes the body to eliminate half of a drug) of 6-7 hours.
Taking a turmeric supplement for four to eight weeks could help to improve the effects of inflammation such as ease the pain of stiff joints or help to improve our general health.
“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,” says Hopsecger. For optimal absorption, try taking with heart-healthy fats like oils, avocado, nuts and seeds, she adds.
“Curcumin, a substance in turmeric, may help reduce inflammation in the body, so it's been sold widely as a supplement,” Kohls says. “It's also been touted as an antioxidant. Turmeric has also been applied to the skin for pain or swelling, and the essential oil can be used in perfume.”
Turmeric is hailed as a common medicinal spice, part of the ginger family, and can be used to aid the quality of sleep whilst also lowering anxiety levels, improving mood, and promoting relaxation.
Turmeric causes potentially severe liver injury that is typically hepatocellular, with a latency of 1 to 4 months and strong linkage to HLA-B*35:01.
Previous experimental research has indicated that curcumin, one of the many active components of turmeric, can significantly alter gut microbiota and that these alterations of the composition and/ or metabolic activity of gut bacteria may in part explain therapeutic benefits of curcumin [3-4].
Most people find success taking turmeric either in the morning to start their day, or at night before bed to combat inflammation from the day's activities. We also recommend that you take turmeric with a meal since curcumin absorption increases when paired with healthy fats.
Unfortunately, turmeric doesn't offer a quick fix, so you'll need to take it daily to notice results. If you were wondering how long it takes turmeric to work, this can vary from person to person. However, you should usually expect to start noticing improvements in around 4-8 weeks when taken daily.