I’ll bet you guessed wrong. So many people are passing around info on Facebook, and other social media, advising us to eat more turmeric; sprinkle it on salads, add to soups, even put it in your oatmeal to reduce inflammation, etc. Not exactly…
Here’s the real truth. No one really knows how much of the spice you’d have to add to your food to reap those benefits, except that it’s a LOT! However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use turmeric to help reduce inflammation. Most docs recommend 1000-3000 mg a day for inflammatory diseases like arthritis. They also recommend taking the supplement with some black pepper added as the pepper makes the turmeric more bio available. That means that your body can absorb it better. The good news is that a reputable company (Schwartz) offers a 1500 mg tab that you can try. It’s on Amazon a bit cheaper than the company itself sells it for. I have ordered some and will try it for my psoriasis. It takes 3-4 weeks to feel results, so I’ll keep you posted.
There are some cautions for taking turmeric supplements so make sure you speak to your doctor before trying any supplements. I talked with mine about this particular supplement the other day and she agreed I’d be a good candidate for it, as I am not on any medications.
Turmeric supplements should not be taken with medications that slow blood clotting (Anticoagulant/ Antiplatelet drugs) because turmeric can also slow blood clotting. Taking turmeric along with these medications increases your chances of bruising and bleeding.
Some medications that slow blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam, others), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn, others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), fish oil supplements and others. Better be safe than sorry, so check with your doc.
Most of you know that I have attempted any and all natural remedies that I could find for my psoriasis for a couple of years now, with no results. Recently, I‘ve been using a vitamin D cream that my doctor prescribed and it has helped all but one stubborn area on my body, so I am still looking for relief. Fingers crossed for the turmeric.
One of the things I tried for my psoriasis was going gluten free; it made no difference in my skin condition. However, I must say that I have just passed my one year anniversary of being (mostly) gluten free and I have noticed a bonus side effect that I did not expect. I have steadily lost weight over the last year. Not a lot, however, as I was not overweight, but I’ve lost 5-6 lbs. I do eat a bit of food with gluten here and there. If I am out I will eat what’s on the menu or my friends table. I don’t have celiac disease. I went gluten free by choice.
This weight loss is something that many of my students and clients report as well. Some of the people I know who’ve gone gluten free have lost as much as 30 lbs. It’s a gradual loss which is always a good thing as that makes it easier to maintain.
Let me know if you’ve tried any turmeric supplements, or gone gluten free, and what results you saw, and I will share them with my readers!
Best of Health,
Kathi
