This Is How Much Turmeric You Actually Need To Eat For Arthritis, Cancer And Other Diseases

Turmeric is an ancient herb that comes from the curcuma longa plant. It is often added to various dishes thanks to its unique bitter flavor. The spice has also been used as a natural remedy against numerous diseases for millennia.

According to several studies, turmeric is a powerful antibacterial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory agent which is great for digestive problems.

How much turmeric do you need?

Depending on the reason why and the form of turmeric, the dose varies, but in general, there are two types of turmeric dosage: preventive and curative. The preventive dosesare low and can be taken for a longer period, while the curative dose is much higher and should be taken until the problem goes away.

The curative doses are usually recommended to people suffering from arthritis or cancer, while the preventive can be taken by anyone.

Turmeric can be found in the form of cut or dried root. Cut root is fresh turmeric that still contains water. It can be added to foods and salads, but never heated or cooked. Dried root is essentially turmeric powder and is usually a turmeric supplement. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric is extracted from the plant and then concentrated to make powder.

Here are other forms of turmeric you can take:

Fluid extract

This is a liquid form of curcumin mixed with vegetable glycerin or water.

Tincture

Turmeric tincture is made with alcohol as the delivery method – tinctures vary in strength, and are usually made of distilled water and 20% alcohol.

Tea

You can easily brew some turmeric tea at home. Some people drink it with a bit of coconut milk and black pepper. Black pepper increases the bioavailability of the spice for up to 200%.

The University of Maryland Medical Center has established the following doses as the ideal turmeric dosage:

5-3 gr. of fresh cut root daily;

1-3 gr. of dried powdered root daily;

400-600 mg. of curcumin (standardized powder) 3 times a day;

(1:1) 30-90 drops of fluid extract daily;

(1:2): 15-30 drops of turmeric tincture 4 times a day.

WebMD says that these doses are recommended for treatment of diseases and conditions:

Upset stomach: 500 mg. of turmeric, 4 times a day;

Osteoarthritis: 500 mg. of a specific turmeric extract for this condition that contains 95% standardized powder, twice a day;

Rheumatoid arthritis: 500mg. of curcumin extract for this condition that contains 95% standardized powder, twice a day.

Dr. Weil says that you should take 400-600 mg. of curcumin 3 times a day for best results. If you need a higher dose, take it for a few days until everything is back to normal.

How much turmeric you need to take to treat cancer?

Start with a small dose of 1 gr. of curcumin for a week, then move to 2 gr. a day in the second week. You should be ready for 4 gr. of curcumin by the third week, while weeks 4-8 require taking 8 gr. a day.

Possible side-effects of long-term use

Turmeric can lower the blood sugar levels in diabetics, so consult your doctor before starting the treatment if you’re diabetic. High doses of turmeric have been known to lower blood pressure. Don’t take turmeric if you’re on cholesterol medications as it can interfere with their action.

Turmeric is a natural blood thinner and shouldn’t be mixed with other blood thinners. Stop taking turmeric supplements for a week before surgeries as it can cause bleeding during the process.

When taken on an empty stomach, turmeric has been known to cause nausea. However, even with these side-effects, turmeric is considered safe, and problems occur only when it’s taken in high doses for a longer period. Stick to the recommended doses and you will be fine.