Be wary if something sounds too good to be true. This is a truism that we have heard since childhood. It now seems to be true for turmeric which has been hyped as a super food.
Turmeric is made from the ground dried roots of the Curcuma longa plant, native to India, and it is the main component of curry powder. It is slightly peppery, mustardy and gives foods a vibrant yellow orange color.
Circumin has an array of anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-cancer activities. This is well and good, but these properties are being over hyped. In fact a small fortune has been spent on marketing promotions including outrageous claims that turmeric is one of nature's greatest gifts to mankind.
There has been a good deal of research on curcumin, but most studies have been small and poorly designed. In fact many studies have been funded by the manufacturers themselves. We take issue with so called scientific studies that are self promoting and frequently run without a control group.
There is some new research that is promising, but for now we recommend caution before you commit to the regular use of turmeric.
