Posted on 10/01/2018 12:37:42 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Turmeric supplements are popular these days, but for one woman in Arizona, taking a turmeric supplement may have triggered an uncommon liver problem, according to a new report of the case.
What's more, the link between the woman's liver problem and her turmeric supplement use wasn't identified by her doctors — but rather by the woman herself, after she consulted the internet.
Until the woman brought it up, her doctors weren't aware that she was taking a turmeric supplement, and the case underscores the need for doctors and patients to communicate about the supplements that patients are taking, the report's authors said. [27 Oddest Medical Cases]
The report, by researchers at the University of Arizona, was published Sept. 10 in the journal BMJ Case Reports.
Turmeric is perhaps best-known as a spice in curry powder, but some studies suggest that it has anti-inflammatory properties. Early research suggests that turmeric may help with certain conditions, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, but more research is needed on its benefits, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
In the new case, the 71-year-old woman started taking turmeric supplements after she read a news article about a study in animals that suggested turmeric may help prevent stroke. She was also taking 20 other medicines and supplements. Her health care providers knew about most of these medicines and supplements, but not the turmeric.
About eight months after she started the turmeric supplements, a blood test showed elevated levels of liver enzymes — a sign of liver problems, the report said.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
There are a lot of people who lived to be 100 or more who never took a vitamin pill or a supplement in their lives.
Cbd oil has done more for me than most stuff.
Thank you for that. One popular brand suggests 2 1160mg caps per day. Seems prudent to think about cutting back.
She was taking 20 other medications and supplements..
Duhhhhh..
Her liver was pickled in its own juice.
Some evidence also shows that turmeric is good for blood sugar control in diabetics.
I don’t take supplements but I do try to put cinnamon in my coffee, sprinkle turmeric on my soup or scrambled eggs, and have two or three cups of green tea per day.
I trust working foods and spices into my diet naturally, over companies that putting things into a pill.
I have very mixed feelings about supplements. I believe in many natural remedies, and the right of an individual to treat himself with them. At the same time, a lot of these things, and their processing, go unregulated. Also, medical doctors aren’t very knowledgeable about them.
I think you have to be very careful where you buy your supplements, and don’t try to save money by using things from less than highly reputable producers.
Turmeric has been used in food forever, and heavily in some cuisines. I wonder if this issue is something that occurs in just some people, like Fava bean ‘allergy’.
They use it as a spice. A lot smaller doses. I had a Hindu co-worker years ago ... we were talking about various health problems and a lot of times she would say “We have an herb for that.” Which I took to mean a pinch of this or leaf of that or maybe a tea.
One of my mom’s cousins went overboard on supplements and it seemed to hasten her end. I’m not surprised by the report of liver problems.
Cbd oil has done more for me than most stuff.
___________________
Initially skeptical of CBD oil,I developed a tic in one finger that was annoying and very tiring to the single muscle involved, as well as not being conducive to sleep. I’d read that CBD was used for seizures and tried it.
I took 25 mg/day for a week and had no effects at all. I then doubled it and after 3 days of 50 mg 1xday, the tic vanished. I’ve been taking it for 6 weeks and now take 25 mg one day and 50 the next. If I delay taking it until the end of a day, I notice some tremoring after about 30 hours w/o it. It also alleviated some leg muscle stiffness and seems to also improve some scaling skin areas.
Interesting stuff. Pricey, for the full spectrum, but so far, worth it.
As an aside......that's why I will never eat shrimp. Stories about the way they handle it on shrimp boats make me ill.
I'm also a little queasy about tuna, too----they actually process it and can it onboard the fishing ships that catch the tuna.
How sanitary could that be?
If I need a turmeric supplement, I’ll add it to my split pea soup with ham hocks, yummy.
Thanks for the info ... I’ll take it up with my doctor.
Unbelievable story!
You have got to be so careful with supplements. They’ve been pushing turmeric for a while now.
I would not eat or take anything packaged in a Third World country.
They do not have the same sanitary practices we do here.
Turmeric is a popular spice in India.
Sorry to say, India is very lax in these matters.....laxity even extends to cleanliness in bodily functions.
Supplements are not regulated and may contain harmful bacteria like salmonella or heavy metals like lead or mercury, or poisons like arsenic.
That being said, supplements from well known reputable and reliable companies are more likely to be safer as those companies don’t want their reputations ruined because of shoddy practices. (Shady companies might use fake ingredients &/or poorly sourced ingredients &/or dirty poorly maintained processing facilities &/or methods.
On the other hand, spices are heavily regulated by the FDA, as shown by the following link:
Questions & Answers on Improving the Safety of Spices
https://www.fda.gov/food/foodscienceresearch/risksafetyassessment/ucm487954.htm
I use organic turmeric spice and organic turmeric root in many dishes. The health benefits are better absorbed when combined with black pepper, heat, and a little fat (turmeric is fat soluble and better absorbed with some fat).
Links about turmeric:
3 tricks to enhance turmeric absorption and boost its benefits.
https://foodpharmacy.blog/2017/03/3-tricks-to-enhance-turmeric-absorption-and-boost-its-benefits/
Cancer Dr. Explains How Cooking With Turmeric Leads To Amazing Health Benefits
http://naturalsociety.com/cancer-doctor-explains-how-cooking-turmeric-health-benefits/
Since the fall of 2011, I have survived 3 bouts of cancer and now in the process of fighting the 4th bout. In addition to traditional medical care, I have switched my diet to heavily organic fruits and veggies during treatment. I admit that after remission I have resumed old bad diet habits (mostly meat, dairy, & some non-organic veggies & fruits - I love pizza and BBQ and sweet stuff). I gotta stop doing that.
Regardless of my diet, though, I give all glory, credit, and praise to God and Jesus, in whom I have complete trust and faith.
I use turmeric sometimes when I attempt Indian food which I love. Not in large doses. I am a cumin fiend though.
My mother is 101, still lives in her home. She has never taken supplements or vitamins. Good genetics in her side of the family.
One of the reasons I started grinding this up in my protein shakes is because of the extremely low incidence of alzheimers in India and countries that consume a lot of Tumeric.
Wasn’t aware it was an anti-inflammatory, but awesome.
No problems here so far, but I don’t take a lot of meds either, and it could be a med-combo problem. (interaction)
I only use the stuff every few years to make pickles, but my entire adult life, I have pronounced it TOOMeric. I heard it pronounced TERmuric on a tv commercial last week. I’m almost 67 years old; I think I’ll just keep pronouncing it TOOMeric. Age has benefits.
Go to a Indian grocery and buy one-two pounds of fresh turmeric root. Plant in a clump, clumped kind of close together in your garden. It makes a profusion of huge lovely leaves in a patch.....mine are two ft high or more.
I use fresh ginger root a lot which is cousin of turmeric and also anti-inflammatory. Ultimate for inflammation is MSM powder from Bulk Supplements up to two tablespoon daily taken along with vitamin C/ My own experience. plus DMSO topically.
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