Can Turmeric Lower Your Cholesterol?

If you’ve ever eaten Eastern Asian or Middle Eastern cuisine, there’s a good chance that you have encountered turmeric. Turmeric is a yellow colored powder that is often used as a food-coloring agent and as a spice in a variety of foods. It belongs to the ginger family and has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat inflammation, infections, and various gastrointestinal ailments.

Health Benefits

The medicinal properties of turmeric's active ingredient, curcumin, have been recognized for centuries. Turmeric is used to treat a wide range of medical conditions. There is evidence to support some, but not all, of the medicinal uses for turmeric.

Cancer

There are ongoing studies to investigate how turmeric affects certain kinds of cancer. Animal studies have shown that it may prevent the disease in rats exposed to colon, stomach, and skin cancers. However, results have been inconsistent and more evidence is needed to confirm this benefit.

Infections and Inflammation

More evidence is needed to know for sure if turmeric can reduce infections or inflammation in humans. Preliminary animal and laboratory studies have suggested a possible benefit. And a clinical trial showed that turmeric does not help lower viral load in HIV-positive patients, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Cholesterol

The research on turmeric so far appears to be favorable, but most of these studies have only involved animals. From these studies, it appears that turmeric mainly affects total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

One study conducted in rabbits fed a high-fat diet showed that turmeric appeared to lower LDL cholesterol levels and triglycerides, as well as prevent LDL from being oxidized. Oxidized LDL has been shown to contribute to the formation of atherosclerosis. The cholesterol-lowering effects of turmeric have remained consistent in these studies. 

Although this information appears promising, there is one hitch: there are hardly any studies that have looked at the ability of turmeric to lower cholesterol levels in humans. Since it does lower lipids in animals, it is thought that turmeric may also do the same in humans. However, the dosage and effect of turmeric in humans when it comes to cholesterol and triglycerides is still under investigation.

The few, small studies that have examined the lipid-lowering effect of turmeric or its active ingredient, curcumin in humans, noted that while there are slightly lowered total and LDL cholesterol levels, it is not a significant reduction. In these studies, people consumed between 60 mg and 1 gram of curcumin for up to six months.

There are other popular uses for turmeric that are not supported by scientific studies. They include the treatment of:

• Stomach and intestinal gas
• Alzheimer's disease
• Eye inflammation
• Bypass surgery
• Crohn's disease
• Diabetes
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Joint Pain
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid arthritis

Selection, Preparation, & Storage

If you are interested in using turmeric in your cooking, there are many recipes available. Some call for fresh turmeric and you can purchase the whole root in the produce section of your local market. Many recipes call for ground turmeric, which you will find in the spice aisle of almost any supermarket.

Because its lipid-lowering ability is still being studied, there is no recommended amount of turmeric to consume. Therefore, you should follow the directions of your favorite recipes.

If are thinking about including high levels of turmeric in your diet or wish to consume it as a supplement, you should make sure that you consult your healthcare provider first. High amounts of this spice may aggravate certain medical conditions, including certain gastrointestinal conditions, diabetes, kidney stones, and bleeding disorders.

Possible Side Effects

Turmeric—when consumed in moderation as a food spice—usually does not cause significant side effects. But some people have reported experiencing stomach upset, nausea, dizziness, or diarrhea. 

Turmeric may lower blood sugar, might slow blood clotting, and may prevent the body from absorbing iron.

Turmeric may interfere with several medications including (but not limited to):

• Medications for treating diabetes
• Medications metabolized by the liver
• Medications that slow blood clotting

It can interact with many others as well.

Using turmeric as a medicinal aid may make certain medical conditions worse, including (but not limited to) gallbladder problems, kidney stones, bleeding problems, GERD, and hormone-sensitive cancers.

It is important that you discuss using turmeric with your healthcare provider if you are taking medication or if you are managing a medical condition.

Turmeric is likely unsafe when consumed in medicinal amounts by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Common Questions