The world is waking up to what Indians have known, learnt and practised for years, especially when it comes to the use of spices in our cooking. While the Western world often deems spices for their role in elevating a dish with its complex flavours. Indians have known the secrets behind its healing properties for years. This time, a study published in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine has an interesting finding about a spice found in every Indian kitchen and it’s proven to cure indigestion.
Turmeric Is A Spice That Can Cure Indigestion As Well As Antacid: Study
The study published in the BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine states that curcumin— a natural compound found in turmeric—is as capable of reducing excess stomach acid and curing indigestion as the drug omeprazole, an antacid. Indians have used turmeric in their cooking for 4,000 years, during the Vedic culture. People in the Indian subcontinent use turmeric as a medicinal remedy.
Before this study, the effectiveness of turmeric as compared to traditional drugs remained unclear. But this study throws more light on its effectiveness. Many people from across the world face the issue of indigestion. Commonly, people consume Omeprazole to cure it. But it has side effects like high fracture risk, and infection risk and may cause deficiencies in micronutrients. Interestingly, unlike omeprazole, turmeric doesn’t have any such side effects.
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Here’s What The Study Found
According to a report by WION, the study conducted a clinical trial on 206 patients in the age group of 18 to 70 years suffering from indigestion in Thailand. They were put in 3 treatment groups for 28 days — turmeric, omeprazole, a combination of the spice and the drug.
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After 28 days and again after 56 days, patients in all three groups showed similar improvements in their health. This indicates that oral curcumin is safe for consumption and the body tolerates it. However, this study has its own limitations like the small sample size, lack of long-term monitoring data and short intervention period.
However, it is interesting to know that the study concludes that turmeric is as effective as any antacid to cure indigestion. Meanwhile, do let us know if you strongly agree with the healing properties of turmeric.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (Image used for representation)