Tumeric, more often known as turmeric, is a shrub related to ginger, with finger-like golden stems underground that are dried and ingested in a variety of ways, including as a spice for cooking and a paste for the skin, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, or NCCAM. It is grown in India, as well as other areas of Asia and Africa.
Weight loss
Researchers funded by the Agricultural Research Service, or ARS, released a study in the Journal of Nutrition in May 2009 that discovered supplementing a high-fat diet in mice with curcumin, which is found in turmeric, reduced body-weight gain and total body fat when compared with mice who received the same diet but without curcumin. The curcumin group, researchers learned, had less blood vessel growth, as well as lower levels of blood glucose, triglyceride, fatty acid, cholesterol and liver fat. More study is necessary to determine whether curcumin in humans has the same effect, officials said.
Cancer and inflammation
According to NCCAM, few clinical trials have been conducted on turmeric. However, preliminary studies suggest that curcumin, one of the chemicals found in turmeric, may have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. These studies have been done on animals and in laboratories, and not yet confirmed on people. According to Medline Plus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, cancer research has looked at antioxidant activity, prevention of new blood vessel growth, and direct effects on cancer cells, with studies in the area of colon, breast and skin cancer. Inflammation studies have examined diseases such as arthritis, eye inflammation and cognitive function.
Other diseases
Medline Plus also says researchers are examining the effects of turmeric on several other diseases. Some human evidence suggests possible help with heartburn, high cholesterol and scabies. Blood clots, gallstones, stomach problems, HIV and viral infections may also be helped by turmeric. However, much more study is necessary, officials say. According to NCCAM, turmeric is used in traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine, to aid digestion and liver function, relieve arthritis pain, and regulate menstruation.
Cautions
Turmeric is considered safe for most adults, but high doses may cause problems with indigestion, nausea, or diarrhea, as well as the liver, officials with NCCAM said. People with gallbladder disease should avoid turmeric as a supplement. And, as always, tell your health care providers about the complementary and alternative practices you use.
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