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How much Turmeric should you take each day?
September 21, 2020
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Turmeric is most known for its vibrant yellow coloring and its increasingly popular addition to a healthy lifestyle. While the uses of turmeric may be newly marketed and advertised, it is not a new herb; in fact, it has been used for medicinal purposes for approximately 4,500 years in Indian culture (Source: PBS). For most, turmeric is a common ingredient in several foods; however, it has begun to appear more frequently in holistic medicine.
Turmeric is a great herbal supplement that has been shown to improve several body functions, but like anything, it must be taken in moderation. Turmeric is not FDA approved, so dosages may vary depending on the source. The recommended daily dose is 500 – 1,000 milligrams each day.
Supplements are an excellent way to promote health and wellness that are becoming increasingly popular. In this article, you will learn about proper doses of turmeric as well as the best way to go about taking it to increase your health and wellness.
Is it Safe to Take Turmeric Each Day?
When you hear about something so good for your health, your next question is usually how often you can take the supplement or herb safely. Whenever you add any supplement to your diet, a good rule of thumb is to add it gradually until you have built up to the correct dosage. (Source: Times of India)
Because the FDA does not approve herbal supplements, they have likely not undergone the rigorous testing that other medications have. Therefore, the concept of daily use has many different schools of thought. While it is believed that turmeric can be taken daily, it is important to know the side effects you may experience if you choose to do so. (Source: Everyday Health)
How Much Turmeric Should You Take Each Day?
The amount of turmeric that you take each day is going to be dependent on your purpose for using turmeric as well your age and body size. You also need to factor in other medications you take that could interact with the turmeric. Again, because it is not a drug that is monitored, tested, and approved by the FDA, there are no specific guidelines when it comes to dosing. However, holistic doctors recommend taking 500-1,000 milligrams each day for health maintenance. (Source: Well and Good)
Turmeric is a supplement that has not undergone long term studies to determine its’ benefits from long-term use. So, you may wish to use caution and choose to only take the supplement for short periods, such as the eight months that are recommended. (Source: RX List)
Can You Take Too Much Turmeric?
Because the dosing recommendations are not well-researched, you may be left wondering if you can take too much turmeric and what happens if you do take too much turmeric. The good news is that adding too much turmeric to your diet is not likely to be life-threatening.
However, you may experience some less than desirable side effects, such as:
- Difficulty with blood clotting: Some individuals may notice an increase in bleeding or bruising when they are taking turmeric. This occurs because turmeric is known for its ability to thin the blood. Therefore, if you take blood-thinning medications, you should use extreme caution when taking turmeric.
- Nausea and Diarrhea: Too much turmeric can cause intense gastrointestinal issues resulting in severe nausea and diarrhea, which will resolve itself. However, it can cause dehydration and impact the way your body absorbs important nutrients from food and other vitamins.
- No immediate results: As the popularity of adding turmeric to your diet grows, you must understand the length of time it takes for your body to reap the benefits of turmeric. Some people say they notice differences right away, while others do not notice any difference for months or if they notice any at all. While turmeric is known widely for its many medicinal purposes, there is no guarantee of immediate relief from the symptoms you are hoping to treat or remedy. Like any supplement or drug, turmeric may affect everyone differently.
- Cause contractions: It is not recommended to any supplements while pregnant without the direct guidance of a physician. Turmeric has been known to cause contractions in pregnant women, so it is important that it not be taken without support and guidance.
(Sources: Cookist and For Care Education and Research)
Because the side effects of taking too much turmeric can be quite devastating to your everyday well-being, it is important to read the label of your supplements carefully to understand the dose you are putting into your body. Some options require one dose a day, while others require two. Keep yourself safe by checking the label carefully.
What Time of Day Should You Take Turmeric?
If turmeric is something that you are hoping to add to your supplementation repertoire, you are likely wondering when you should take the supplement. Again, there is no hard and fast rule about taking the supplement. However, your reason for taking the supplement may impact the time of day you choose to use it.
It is recommended that you take turmeric at bedtime unless you are taking two doses each day. If this is the case, it is best to take it in the morning and then again at bedtime. If you take other medications at either of these times, you must know if interactions exist between the two. Even natural supplements can have adverse reactions with medication, so it is best to err on the side of caution (Source: The Living Proof Institute).
Some sources indicate that taking turmeric first thing in the morning is a great way to jump-start your digestive system for the day. However, some people recommend taking it before eating a meal for the same purpose. As you can see, there are many different thoughts when it comes to when you should take turmeric. Ultimately it is going to be up to you, your lifestyle, and how it makes you feel at certain times of the day. If you are uncertain, you could reach out to a holistic health professional for advice.
Who Should Not Take Turmeric?
While turmeric can be a wonderful supplement to add to your arsenal of natural remedies, some cautions need to be taken. Certain people should not take turmeric because doing so would have serious health implications.
The following groups of people should not consume turmeric:
- Those taking medication to treat diabetes: Turmeric has been known to lower blood sugar levels, which can be extremely dangerous when you are taking medications to help balance blood sugar levels.
- Individuals that are iron deficient: Turmeric makes it difficult for the body to absorb iron from foods, so it needs to be used with caution or not at all by individuals that suffer from iron deficiency.
- Anybody that suffers from an acid reflux disorder: Individuals that suffer from any form of acid reflux need to use caution when deciding to use turmeric for any purpose because it can increase the severity and amount of reflux that is experienced by the individual.
- Patients with certain cancers: Turmeric can alter the number of hormones that are produced in the body. Excess hormones can heavily impact certain cancers, such as breast cancer and ovarian cancer. While this may not always impact everyone, it is essential to check with your physician before using it.
Although this list seems discouraging, especially if you were excited to begin a turmeric journey and found your ailment on this list, it does not necessarily mean that you can never try the supplement. It does, however, mean that you need to use caution when introducing it into your daily routine. If you are suffering from something that could be worsened using turmeric, take the time to seek advice from a medical professional.
What Forms Do Turmeric Supplements Come in?
If you are ready to begin using turmeric, you are likely wondering how to take it. You will find recipes for turmeric tea and turmeric-seasoned meals as well as turmeric supplements in the form of pills and powders. Turmeric is versatile, so you have options when it comes to adding it to your diet and turmeric can also be used topically.
The most common ways to take turmeric are:
- Capsule: You can find turmeric supplements in a range of capsule forms. When looking at capsulated turmeric, pay attention to the composition of the capsule. You want to make sure you are not putting unnecessary chemicals into your body. Most capsules are vegetable, so they are harmless.
- Powder: If you are planning to cook with turmeric or use it to make tea, you will want to stick to the powder. A word of caution when using powder: turmeric can stain very easily, so you need to make sure you rinse your mouth well and maybe even brush your teeth to avoid unnecessary staining. It will also stain surfaces, so make sure you wipe any spills right away.
- Liquid: Turmeric comes in a liquid form that may not taste wonderful, but it eliminates the need for your body to break down a capsule. The liquid is typically more potent, so keep a close eye on dosing recommendations.
- Chewable: If you want to go old school and take a chewable supplement, you can find turmeric supplements in a chewable form. Again, make sure you brush your teeth well to eliminate the risk of staining.
- Gummies: Like most vitamins and supplements, you can find turmeric supplements in the form of gummies. The dosing is likely like capsules, but check for added ingredients in the gummies. There can be a lot of hidden sugars in gummies that can impact your health over time.
Each of these options will have similar measurements of turmeric; however, you must pay close attention to the dosing information for each. For example, gummies may require that you take two, while capsules may only require one to achieve the same results.
(There are combinations such as CBD and Turmeric which have great benefits as well.)
Final Thoughts
Turmeric can provide a gold mine of health benefits, and the risk of taking too much is relatively low. However, if you happen to ingest a bit too much turmeric, the worst that is going to happen is likely an upset stomach and some bathroom issues. In extreme cases, you may begin to vomit.
There are many forms of turmeric you can choose to take, depending on your needs and lifestyle. No matter how you choose to take it, pay close attention to dosing instructions, and always check to make sure it will not interact with any current medications and supplements you are taking.
