If you like the concept of using food as medicine, you may name it food pharmacology. Medicines are an evident example of how microscopic compounds can remarkably change the human body. However, what’s even more mesmerizing is the profound effect foods, and natural herbs can have on the body. But how can we incorporate food’s healing properties into our everyday lives? “Pharmacognosy” is used to study medicines derived from natural bases. Due to its healing effects, turmeric curcumin has welcomed much attentiveness in research and wellness communities over the years. To date, 230 clinical trials have been performed to discover its many health benefits! A quick search of “curcumin” in PubMed induces nearly 18,000 results. Turmeric can help those with autoimmunity and the thyroid, reduces whole-body inflammation, heals the gut, and detoxify heavy metals from the body.

In this article, we’ll explore the following:

• Is turmeric good for the thyroid?
• Thyroid Disorder
• How to take turmeric and curcumin for thyroid health
• Safety and Dosage

Is Turmeric Good for Thyroid?

Turmeric is vastly used as a dye agent in cheese, butter, and different dairy products. It’s also utilized in manufacturing many foods, such as canned liquids, baked items, ice cream, yellow cakes, orange juice, biscuits, popcorn, confectionaries, cake icing, cereals, sauces, and gelatins. The reported human consumption of turmeric in Asian regions goes somewhere between 200-1000 mg/day. To date, turmeric is a prevalent spice. You’ll see it in dietary supplements, drinks, teas, functional food applications, and invariant as energetic elements in pet supplements and foodstuffs.

Turmeric’s healing miracles can mainly be attributed to blends named curcuminoids. Curcumin is a primary curcuminoid understood for its rich anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Instances of conventional and Ayurvedic benefits of turmeric have:

• Ease inflammation and arthritis
• Treat respiratory infections
• Treat seasonal allergies
• Heal wounds
• Act as anti-cancer
• Helping with urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Helping with liver and gallbladder problems
• Relieving digestive problems like indigestion, gas, colic, abdominal pain, and distension

Turmeric and curcumin have anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, which are healthy in handling autoimmune disorders. Multiple analyses examine at use of turmeric for joint discomfort caused by rheumatoid arthritis. One study discovered that people taking 1000mg turmeric root extract daily for 2-3 months had the same pain and inflammation improvement as those consuming ibuprofen. 

Co-occurring research recommends that curcumin in turmeric can:

• Enable a healthful inflammatory response: Curcumin obstructs a molecule named NF-kB, which transits into the cores of cells and depends on inflammation-linked genes. While doing so, it is thought to help reduce inflammation, which is connected to several inflammatory disorders, including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.
• Amplify the body’s antioxidants: Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that can balance free radicals that cause oxidative damage — one of the mechanisms behind many infections. It also improves the activity of the body’s antioxidant enzymes.
• Support regular cardiovascular role: Curcumin is as productive as some pharmaceutical drugs in boosting the healthy function of blood vessels, which helps control blood pressure and blood clotting.
• Lessen indicators linked with Arthritis: Arthritis induces joint inflammation, and the powerful anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin have been displayed to ease pain and inflammation more virtually.
• Sustain a balanced mood: Curcumin facilitates brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels, which lowers depression symptoms. There is also some proof that curcumin may keep normal levels of the brain neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine (or happy hormones).

Because of its capability to lower inflammation and oxidation — factors that play an enormous function in many disorders and aging — curcumin may help control or treat various conditions, including Hashimoto’s. It’s no surprise this substance has been revered for centuries!

Thyroid Disorder:

The endocrine system is a web of organs and the hormones they secrete. Also, it handles body procedures such as growth, metabolism, sexual function, sleep, etc. The thyroid gland is the largest organ. It is in front of the throat above the collarbone, with two lobes on either side of the windpipe.

The thyroid secretes hormones that regulate body metabolism. Additionally, it secretes the following functional hormones:

• Triiodothyronine
• Thyroxine
• Calcitonin

Thyroxine and Triiodothyronine hormones regulate growth and the rate at which the body burns calories, while calcitonin controls calcium levels. The pituitary gland (master gland of the endocrine system) controls the thyroid. 2 in 40 people suffer from thyroid dysfunction.

Thyroid dysfunction includes:

• Thyroid: Inflammation and bulging of the thyroid
• Hypothyroidism: Reduced production of thyroid hormones
• Hyperthyroidism: Advanced production of thyroid hormones
• Thyroid nodules: nodes/lumps in the thyroid
• Thyroid cancer
• Goiter: Thyroid gland enlargement

Thyroid medicine entails consuming thyroxine supplements for hypothyroidism and drugs to decrease the activity of hyperthyroidism. When this treatment doesn’t work, the part or whole gland can be removed surgically. Surgical removal or radioactive iodine treats thyroid cancer and nodules. 

How to take turmeric and curcumin for thyroid health

The right way of consuming turmeric is “Turmeric curcumin supplements.” It can benefit in reducing the risk of thyroid disorders as well as benefit in treatment.
Because it includes ginger and black pepper extracts in the perfect amounts to enhance the absorption of turmeric and curcumin.

Or you can make Turmeric Drink from fresh roots.

This warm bedtime drink can innately cure infections and strengthen the immune system. Take a glass of boiled milk and add a pinch of fresh turmeric, a few saffron strands (4-5), coarse almonds (4-5), and sugar as per liking. The perfect amount varies for every person.
Avoid taking these turmeric drinks on an empty stomach and close to taking prescriptions. Turmeric Milk, Turmeric Tea, and Turmeric Rice are other alternative choices.

Turmeric for Thyroid: Safety and Dosage

Always talk to your healthcare provider before adding a turmeric curcumin supplement to your thyroid prescription. They can better evaluate turmeric curcumin supplementation’s safety according to your specific needs. Dietary supplements are not a substitute for thyroid medicine. Thyroid hormone alternate medicine is the most effective cure for hypothyroidism so far. If your doctor prescribes your thyroid medication, you must take it as stipulated. Besides, most people can safely use turmeric/curcumin dosages (up to 8 grams/day).

Please take note of the following precautions:

• Do not use curcumin if a pregnant or breastfeeding woman or if you are a man trying to conceive a baby.
• Do not consume turmeric if you have ulcers, gallbladder problems affecting excess bile secretion/overactive bile formation, GI inflammatory ailments, or hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, or uterine fibroids.
• If you are suffering from diabetes, observe your blood sugar levels while supplementing with it.
• Suspend use at least two weeks before a scheduled surgery.
• If you have a record of kidney stones, please communicate with your doctor before taking curcumin.

Interactions it may have:

Some citations say turmeric has higher oxalates, which can raise the risk of kidney stone formation in exposed people. However, it is worth mentioning that these studies use 10 g of turmeric (which includes roughly 200 mg of oxalates) as a reference point of view. Most people do not use that much turmeric in their food (½ teaspoon of turmeric holds nearly 24 mg of oxalates).

Further, curcumin extract is moderately empty of oxalates. It may be safer to ingest for those prone to kidney stone formation. A study utilizing curcumin fused with piperine (black pepper extract) showed notably reduced gallstone formation by improving bile secretion. That stated curcumin appears safe to take with thyroid hormones. Nevertheless, we suggest taking curcumin 30 to 60 minutes before thyroid medicines. It’s also reasonable to test your thyroid hormone levels while consuming thyroid medications to confirm that your present supplement and medication regime are functioning.

Opinionated evidence indicates that curcumin boosts sulfasalazine (Azulfidine) levels, used for ulcerative colitis and rheumatoid arthritis, inside the body. One study examining curcumin’s impacts on Japanese individuals showed that this herb raised levels of sulfasalazine by two to three folds. If you’re taking sulfasalazine and are concerned that curcumin may interact with it, you should immediately discuss this interaction with your endocrinologist.

The Bottom Line:

Turmeric is rich in potent natural antioxidants, making it therapeutically effective for thyroid disorders. It can counterbalance thyroid hormones in hyperthyroidism as well as hypothyroidism. It can help decrease inflammation and reduce the risk of goiter. Also, it can prevent and benefit thyroid cancer. We highly recommend incorporating turmeric into the diet to manage and prevent thyroid disorders.

SOURCES

Samanta L, Panigrahi J, Bhanja S, Chainy GB. Effect of turmeric and its active principle curcumin on t(3)-induced oxidative stress and hyperplasia in rat kidney: a comparison. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994577/ Indian J Clin Biochem. 2010 Oct;25(4):393-7. doi: 10.1007/s12291-010-0046-6. Epub 2010 Oct 8. PMID: 21966112; PMCID: PMC2994577.

Shakeri F, Bibak B, Safdari MR, Keshavarzi Z, Jamialahmadi T, Sathyapalan T, Sahebkar A. Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Curcumin in Thyroid Gland Disorders. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35142266/ Curr Med Chem. 2022;29(16):2878-2890. doi: 10.2174/0929867329666220210145033. PMID: 35142266.

Curcumin mitigates lithium-induced thyroid dysfunction by modulating antioxidant status, apoptosis and inflammatory cytokines, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jobaz.2016.10.001 

Jurenka JS. Anti-inflammatory properties of curcumin, a major constituent of Curcuma longa: a review of preclinical and clinical research. Altern Med Rev. 2009 Jun;14(2):141-53. Erratum in: Altern Med Rev. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19594223/ 2009 Sep;14(3):277. PMID: 19594223.