Turmeric, a centuries-old spice that is widely used in curries, is touted for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain-relieving properties. This yellow powder from the root of a plant that grows in India and other parts of Asia and Central America contains an active compound called curcumin, which has long been used as an Ayurvedic medicine for centuries across Southern Asia.
Scientific research shows that turmeric offers potential health benefits that could help people with arthritis and other chronic pain to manage their condition. While turmeric is a popular ingredient in a variety of dishes, in this article, we will focus on turmeric curcumin supplements and the role they play in improving overall joint and muscle health.
Using Turmeric as an Anti-Inflammatory
Turmeric has a warm, pungent, and bitter taste. A medical expert describes that when used as a supplement, its effects are widely effective because of the powerful turmeric curcumin compound, which is touted as an anti-inflammatory. The supplement form of this popular spice contains more of the curcumin compound than what we find in the normal turmeric cooking spice.
For people who have conditions like arthritis, heartburn, joint pain, kidney problems, Alzheimer’s diseases, endometriosis, and irritable bowel syndrome, taking turmeric supplements helps with inflammation. Many patients who are prescribed anti-inflammatory medication to relieve symptoms of chronic pain often face one challenge – those medications can’t be used long term because of side effects.
Alternative medications like turmeric supplements offer a greater way to supplement those anti-inflammatory medications with fewer side effects and complications on the cardiovascular and gastrointestinal system. Patients who are diagnosed with conditions caused by inflammation report pain relief, improved function, and better quality of life after taking turmeric.
Turmeric as a Pain Relief Supplement
With its powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, turmeric is known to promote pain relief in patients with various conditions like arthritis and other conditions. Studies have found that just like ginger, turmeric may have pain-inducing properties equal sometimes to that of over-the-counter and prescription medications.
In some clinical studies done, turmeric anti-inflammatory action helps improve rheumatic arthritis pain, post-operative inflammation and pain, ulcerative colitis, stomach ulcers pain, Crohn’s disease, and other painful conditions. More studies on animals have also shown that taking curcumin supplements helps reduce pain flare-ups in the body.
Including turmeric curcumin in your supplementation routine can be beneficial in preventing the discomfort caused by exercise, muscle soreness, and other pain-inducing conditions. By directly dealing with inflammation and pain, which is an enormous problem today because of our increasingly sedentary lifestyles, turmeric supplements offer an alternative treatment option.
Turmeric Supplement Dosage
Turmeric curcumin supplements are available as a capsule, extract, or tablet. Supplements made from extracts are more popular, as they’re more likely to be free of contaminants. In most cases, the typical turmeric dose that’s used to relieve pain due to a variety of inflammatory conditions such as arthritis is between 400 and 600 milligrams, three times a day.
A dose of 500 milligrams, twice a day is also ideal but should not go above 2000 milligrams a day. Medical experts recommend that patients start out with a single lower dose of 500 milligrams a day to see how their body tolerates the supplement and the potential effects. There’s no universal dosage for everyone as treatment conditions and reasons for use vary.
Once you’ve started with a lower dose and monitored the effects, you can gradually increase the dosage from there. Some people may experience stomach upsets or nausea when using turmeric supplements. If you’ve not experienced any side effects or undesired effects, you can take turmeric curcumin supplements over a longer time.
Choosing the Right Turmeric Supplement
Before you try out turmeric supplements, you should do your research to be sure you’re buying a product with enough curcumin in it. Supplements may be sold as ‘turmeric supplement,’ ‘turmeric curcumin,’ ‘turmeric root,’ and other similar names. You should be aware that curcumin only makes up 3 to 5% of the turmeric plant. Only 10% of quality turmeric supplements on the market today have sufficient amounts of this bioactive compound.
It’s advisable to read the labels of the supplement you’re considering to be sure about the amount of curcumin the product contains. A high-quality turmeric supplement should be made from turmeric root extract with up to 90% curcuminoids so it can be potent enough to provide the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and pain relief benefits that you want.
Take your time to check the other ingredients in turmeric supplements. This is because turmeric by itself is unlikely to provide the desired benefits. Recent studies have shown that up to 60% of supplements we take aren’t absorbed in the body the way they’re formulated. Getting supplements that combine other spices like ginger, black pepper, and herbal extracts like Boswellia Serrata can increase the amount of curcumin that the body absorbs by 2000%.
Turmeric Supplement Safety
While turmeric is typically considered safe to use when taken as recommended, patients should be aware that when taken in high doses, it can act as a blood thinner. Avoid taking it if you’re pregnant, are having surgery, or taking blood thinners. It’s always advisable to consult your doctor before taking any supplements as part of your dietary regime.
Make sure to buy your turmeric supplements from reputable stores or companies to be sure about the quality control in their products. If you’re interested in giving turmeric curcumin supplements a try but are apprehensive about the bitter taste, you can combine it with ginger or honey, for taste and to improve absorption.
Conclusion
Alternative treatment options have been on the rise as more people look for natural and safer treatment methods for their medical conditions. For those with inflammatory conditions that cause pain and discomfort or lack of normal functionality, such as arthritis, natural supplements like turmeric curcumin offer a glare of hope in managing the conditions.
When combined with other natural pain relief options, it works effectively. Follow the guidance on what makes up an appropriate and safe dosage of your turmeric supplement. If you’re taking other medications, consult your doctor first.
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