Is the turmeric you are using secretly making you sick?

Can consuming too much haldi can silently make you weak? Let's find out. It is impossible to imagine Indian food without haldi. This ancient spice has been a quintessential part of every Indian household.

Right from adding a punch of taste and colour to the dishes to boosting immunity to giving a healthy glowing skin, this age-old spice has been one of the most potent and sacred spices used in several Indian rituals.

This is the reason why turmeric is used extensively for home remedies, cooking or in drinks like golden milk, but do you know what happens when you add excess to your diet? Here are some shocking facts about consuming excess haldi and how it can impact your health.

Yes, as they say excess of anything is bad for health and this fits perfectly in the context of haldi. While most people consume haldi to stay healthy, excess of this spice does exactly the opposite.

As per a study conducted by the National Library of Medicine it was found that haldi can inhibit iron absorption by 30 to 90 percent. However, this majorly depends on the amount of haldi consumed. This happens due to the stoichiometric qualities of turmeric. It often binds with all absorbable forms of iron from the food leading to iron deficiency and ailments like Anemia. This probably explains why haldi was not added traditionally in green vegetables.

According to health experts, people suffering from Anemia must avoid excessive intake of turmeric as it can further reduce the hemoglobin level.

While adding a pinch of haldi to milk, kadha or herbal blends can help in boosting immunity as well as accelerate metabolism, excess intake of haldi can increase heat in the body and lead to bloating, diarrhea, stomach ache and vomiting. This is due to the hot potency of this spice, which helps in healing fever, cold or sore throat.

Excessive intake of haldi can also increase the risk of kidney stones. This is due to the presence of oxalates in turmeric. Intake of turmeric supplements can often trigger urinary oxalate levels and form kidney stones.

Turmeric is loaded with an antioxidant called curcumin and several minerals, which are great for boosting health. As per health experts, one can add 1 teaspoon of turmeric to the daily diet in drinks, curries or home remedies but consuming more than that may pose side effects. In the context of Indian cuisine the average daily intake should be around 60–100 mg of curcumin per day.