Golden milk lattes are popular for good reasons. Turmeric is not only delicious, it has also been known to have extremely powerful healing properties. As part of the same family as ginger, eating turmeric has been known to reduce inflammation, reduce allergy symptoms and give us an immune boost.
With all the possible health benefits that come from turmeric, are there any negative risks to consuming it? Although rare, we found some potential side effects from eating turmeric that may be helpful to know. And for more healthy eating tips, be sure to read The 7 Healthiest Foods to Eat Right Now.
You can eat unwanted additives
Turmeric is a great addition to many spicy dishes, as well as a fun way to make a golden latte when trying to skip coffee. Unfortunately, when we consume turmeric powder, we also risk consuming some unexpected additives that lead or flour such as rye, cassava or wheat.
This is due to a common process called counterfeiting, where powdered spices are mixed with other spices, cheaper flour and sometimes ingredients such as lead, to make the production process cheaper. Unfortunately, as consumers, this risks consuming unwanted ingredients.
You may experience bloating or other digestive problems
Turmeric consists of many different active ingredients, including the most important and beneficial for our health: curcumin. Curcumin can be extracted and sold as a separate supplement from turmeric, and for the most part it is harmless.
However, a study from Cancer prevention research showed that curcumin causes diarrhea, bloating or other digestive problems in a small number of people. This side effect is rare, but still possible if you consume larger amounts of turmeric regularly.
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You may have a headache or nausea
Curcumin is one powerful antioxidant, why many people take it in supplement form or by eating turmeric. Although curcumin is beneficial in many different ways for our health, a few different studies have revealed its possible mild side effects.
A study from BMC complementary medicine and therapies stressed the fact that curcumin can potentially lead to headaches or nausea, although it is still a fairly rare side effect and only occurs in a few people. If you consume a lot of turmeric and experience headaches or nausea afterwards, this may be something to be aware of!
You can temporarily stain your skin, nails or countertops
The yellow color of turmeric is so intense that it is used as one natural dye in many parts of the world. When cooking with turmeric, especially fresh turmeric, you will probably stain some parts of your hands, nails and maybe even your worktops. Thankfully, the coloring is temporary and will wash away the skin shortly after.
It can affect your gallbladder
In large quantities, turmeric has been known to potentially cause gallbladder problems in a small number of people, especially those who already had gallbladder problems already. In a study from Asia Pacific Journal of Nutrition, it was shown that large amounts of turmeric can possibly cause the gallbladder to contract, which can lead to blockages and malfunction.
Read this next:
- Why you should eat turmeric right now
- The One Turmeric Hack Everyone is trying right now
- An important side effect of eating turmeric, says science
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