Posted on 04/16/2024 8:55:10 PM PDT by RandFan
Turmeric, a flowering plant of the ginger family, has long been prized in Ayurvedic medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties and in Asian cuisines for its earthy flavour and vibrant hue. Haldi, the spice’s Hindi name, is derived from the Sanskrit for “golden coloured”. But for the millions of South Asians who habitually consume it, turmeric’s skin-staining yellowness can be deceptive and deadly.
To heighten their colour, the rhizomes from which the spice is extracted are routinely dusted with lead chromate, a neurotoxin. The practice helps explain why South Asia has the highest rates of lead poisoning in the world. The heart and brain diseases it causes—to which children are especially susceptible—accounted for at least 1.4m deaths in the region in 2019. The economic cost is crippling; that year lead poisoning is estimated to have lowered South Asian productivity by the equivalent of 9% of gdp. Yet it turns out that with clever policies, enlightened leadership and astute messaging this blight can be greatly reduced. Bangladesh has shown how.
(Excerpt) Read more at economist.com ...
Reaction?
Buy only certified organic turmeric from a company that tests their products for contaminants. The only herbs or spices I buy I get from such companies. Starwest botanicals is one such company. They have just about every herb and spice anyone could ever want, and they have their own lab in which they test for contaminants, foreign matter, purity and that the product is really what it’s supposed to be.
https://www.starwest-botanicals.com/
"Lead chromate is not particularly toxic because of its very low solubility. The LD50 for rats is only 5,000 mg/kg."
It's not causing millions of deaths. The dust is more of a concern during manufacture, with people breathing it in, not swallowing it.
"Lead chromate must be treated with great care in its manufacture, the main concerns being dust of the chromate precursor. Lead chromate is highly regulated in advanced countries. One of the greatest threats comes from inhalation of particles, so much effort has been devoted to production of low-dust forms of the pigment." [1]
Nice link, thanks!
Our local Walgreen's carries both NatureMade and Nature's Bounty brands, also on the list.
When I searched Amazon under "lead-free Turmeric", there were dozens of listings, but none of them specifically mentioned "lead-free" on the top page, and even with detailed examination of the labels. I think the ones that say "organic" may be classifying themselves that way; but it's not the same as saying "lead-free" outright.
The Consumer Reports ones were supposedly laboratory-tested by CR.
I’ve been making my own medicinal herb blends for a long time, for others, family and myself. Seen amazing results.
:^) Thank you!
I have put turmeric in my BBQ sauce.
Yup. Great idea. I’ve never bought into the capsule thing. Lots of ways to get it via food.
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