Drinking Turmeric Water in the Morning May Be Hurting Your Liver! Things To Keep In Mind

Mornings are a busy time for everyone, and to take care of your health, you may be taking a few extra supplements to elevate your well-being. Turmeric water is popular as it is believed to help cleanse

your body and strengthen immunity. However, doctors do not think so. Turmeric water, or tea, is an extremely popular morning drink due to its natural health benefits, which include curcumin, an antioxidant that has immunity-boosting properties. Also, it is popularly believed that turmeric water can support digestion and enhance heart function; however, doctors say this morning ritual may be stopped. From digestive discomfort to liver damage, there are many potential side effects that you need to be wary of.

Risks of drinking turmeric water

High doses of turmeric taken daily can be disastrous for your health. A few ways it can affect include:

• Large doses of turmeric increase the risk of increased urinary oxalate levels, which can form kidney stones.
• Since turmeric is a blood thinner, avoid it if you have any bleeding disorder.
• Turmeric can interact with medications, which include antidepressants, antibiotics, antihistamines, blood pressure medicines, and even chemotherapy treatments.
• Turmeric aggravates stomach and digestive issues like acid reflux, ulcers, and gallbladder stones.
• Turmeric lowers the absorption of iron.
• For pregnant women, too much turmeric intake can lead to health issues.
• Turmeric can lead to hypersensitivity reactions like hives.
• Turmeric supplements have been implicated in cases of acute liver injury, which resolved with discontinuation of the supplement.
• High doses of turmeric cause heart rate and rhythm disturbances.
• Many studies have revealed that commercial turmeric powders may contain fillers like cassava starch or barley and wheat or rye flour – which can lead to adverse symptoms in those with gluten intolerance.
• High doses of turmeric can also lead to severe headaches and nausea in a few people.

Liver toxicity

Doctors say high doses of turmeric – in water or as supplements – especially those with enhanced bioavailability – are associated with permanent liver damage. Those who have even the slightest of existing liver conditions or are taking high-dose supplements should be extremely cautious. According to a recent study, there have been at least ten reported cases of turmeric-associated liver injury, with one patient dying of acute liver failure.

How much turmeric is too much?

While there are no official recommendations for the intake of turmeric, and the maximum tolerable intake level has not been identified, as a general rule, you should not exceed the dosage recommendations you find on supplement labels or even a teaspoon a day. According to the US FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives, there are set acceptable dietary intakes which include 1.4 mg per pound, which is 3 mg/kg of body weight per day. However, make sure to first talk with a doctor before deciding how much of a supplement you should start taking a day.