Turmeric Powder - Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects Read more: Turmeric Powder - Health Benefits, Uses & Side Effects

What is Turmeric Powder?

Turmeric powder is a bright yellow powder made by dry grinding of mature turmeric rhizomes 

(underground stems). The use of turmeric for coloring and flavoring food, for cosmetic purposes 

and for medicinal properties dates back to the ancient Vedic culture of India. Used in almost all 

Indian curries, this spice has almost no calories (1 tablespoon = 24 calories) and zero cholesterol. It 

is rich in dietary fiber, iron, potassium, magnesium and vitamin B6.



Health Benefits of Turmeric

The wide range of turmeric health benefits come mainly from its main ingredient, curcumin. This 

widely researched component of turmeric is highly therapeutic and is used in various drugs and 

pharmaceutics mainly because of its immunity boosting and anti-oxidant properties. 

Boosting Immunity – Curcumin has a huge therapeutic value and boosting immunity is one of the

 most important properties of curcumin.

“5 to 8 times stronger than vitamin E and stronger than vitamin C, this antioxidant breakthrough 

may help boost your immunity, maintain normal cholesterol levels, and put the brakes on aging,” 

says Dr. Joseph Mercola about the curcumin in turmeric.


His claims are well substantiated by various studies. For example, Jagetia and Aggarwal at the 

Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer 

Center, Houston, USA, reported - "Interestingly, curcumin at low doses can also enhance antibody 

responses. This suggests that curcumin's reported beneficial effects in arthritis, allergy, asthma, 

atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and cancer might be due in part to its 

ability to modulate the immune system."

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidant Property – Free radical causing oxidative damage of DNA 

and proteins are associated with a variety of chronic diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, and 

neurodegenerative diseases. Curcumin plays an important role in curbing these conditions. 

Curcumin down-regulates certain inflammatory transcription factors such as kappaB, enzymes such

 as cyclooxygenase 2 and 5 lipoxygenase, and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), 

interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and hinders the development of these diseases.

Curcumin Protects Against Certain Liver Diseases as is evident from various studies conducted

 in rats. For example, a Mexican study showed that curcumin prevents acute liver damage by at 

least two mechanisms: acting as an antioxidant and by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation and thus 

production of proinflammatory cytokines. Another study published in the Fundamental & Clinical 

Pharmacology journal revealed that curcumin was effective in preventing and reversing cirrhosis,

 probably by its ability of reducing TGF-beta expression. These data suggest that curcumin might 

be an effective antifibrotic and fibrolytic drug in the treatment of chronic hepatic diseases.

Curcumin Prevents the Development of Type 2 Diabetes in people who have prediabetes. This 

has been shown in a Thai study published in the journal Diabetes Care where the researchers 

found that people with prediabetes who took capsules containing curcumin were less likely to go 

on to develop type 2 diabetes compared with people who didn't take the curcumin capsules. The reason, says Drew Tortoriello, an endocrinologist and research scientist at the Naomi Berrie 

Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center, is that turmeric lessens insulin resistance 

and prevents type2 diabetes. Curcumin, however, is not readily bioavailable; it makes sense to 

regularly add turmeric powder to the food even for people who are not prediabetic.

Curcumin Helps Promote Weight Loss and reduce the incidence of obesity-related diseases. The 

inflammation associated with obesity is due in part to the presence of immune cells called 

macrophages in fat tissues throughout the body. These cells produce cytokines that can cause 

inflammation in organs such as the heart, and islets of the pancreas, while also increasing insulin 

resistance in muscle and liver. Scientists believe that turmeric suppresses the number and activity 

of these cells, and help reduce some of the adverse consequences of obesity.

Turmeric Improves Rheumatoid Arthritis, according to a study by Chandran and Goel at Nirmala 

Medical Center, Kerala. The researchers also found that curcumin treatment was safe and did not 

relate with any adverse events.


Treating sprains and swellings with a pinch of turmeric powder, lime and salt is an age-old home

 remedy practiced throughout India.

Turmeric powder is an effective home remedy for chronic cough and cold and throat irritations. 

Curcumin in turmeric has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s 

disease, according to a study published in the Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. Alzheimer's 

disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration together 

with declining activities of daily living and behavioral changes. Various effects of curcumin, such as

 decreased Beta-amyloid plaques, delayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, anti-

inflammatory, and antioxidant property, improve overall memory in Alzheimer’s patients.


• Researchers from Cancer Biology Research Center, South Dakota, claim that curcumin may be

 an effective chemopreventive and therapeutic agent for cervical cancer prevention and 

treatment. They found that curcumin treatment suppresses cervical cancer cell growth by altering 

the HPV-associated molecular pathways in cervical cancer cells.


Turmeric Powder Uses

Apart from therapeutic uses, turmeric is also used as an important spice, in beauty products and in spiritual ceremonies.

• In India, turmeric is used in almost all curries and gravy dishes. It gives a rich color and a unique flavor to the food.

• Turmeric is a well-known preservative. Scientists from Gujarat found that adding turmeric to paneer (cottage cheese) extends the shelf life of paneer up to 12 days.

• Turmeric is a great pesticide. Sprinkle turmeric (powder) water near all the entry points of your house to ward of insects, ants, and termites.

• Women in India use turmeric in skin products such as creams and body scrubs to boost the glow factor.


• Turmeric has an important place in Indian weddings. Turmeric paste is applied to the bride and the groom as part of the haldi ceremony just before the wedding to give them fresh glowing skins and to ward off the evil eye.

• Turmeric is considered a symbol of purity, prosperity, and fertility.

• Turmeric water is poured / offered to the gods in the temples as a part of Hindu ritual called Abhishekam.

• The color yellow is considered sacred and auspicious in India. The cloths dyed in turmeric are considered pure.

• Drinking turmeric tea daily may well increase your life span, suggests Dr Andrew Weil. Adding one teaspoon of turmeric powder to 4 cups of boiling water, simmering it for 10 minutes and adding honey to taste can do the trick.


• Adding turmeric to meat can reduce the levels of cancer causing heterocyclic amines (HCAs) by up to 40 percent, according to researchers from Kansas State University.

Side Effects of Turmeric

Turmeric is safe and without side effects when used optimally. People with turmeric sensitivity can have mild stomach upset or diarrhea.

• Use turmeric with caution if you are pregnant.

• Turmeric can make gall bladder problems and GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder) worse.


• Turmeric can slow blood clotting and might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery.