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Turmeric has a peppery, warm and bitter flavor and a mild fragrance slightly reminiscent of orange and ginger, and while it is best known as one of the ingredients used to make curry, it also gives ballpark mustard its bright yellow color.

Turmeric comes from the root of the Curcuma longa plant and has a tough brown skin and a deep orange flesh. Turmeric was traditionally called “Indian saffron” because of its deep yellow-orange color and has been used throughout history as a condiment, healing remedy and textile dye.

Turmeric is a powerful medicine that has long been used in the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions, including flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, hemorrhage, toothache, bruises, chest pain, and colic.

Curcumin is effective to prevent heart diseases, as turmeric has antioxidant, antiplatelet and cholestrol-lowering agents. These are all beneficial for the prevention and treatment of heart diseases. Thus turmeric helps to prevent heart diseases and also acts as an aid.

Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric that is said to have powerful anti-platelet activity in several preliminary studies. For dosage for atherosclerosis, you are recommended to check the label instructions. The usual recommended dosage of turmeric powder capsules is 400-600mg thrice daily. I strongly feel that this would vary a lot from case to case.

Turmeric is not known to have any side effects as such. Turmeric has blood-thinning properties. Hence, anyone taking blood-thinning medications like warfarin must consult their doctor before taking turmeric for heart or stroke.

Apart from this, those taking drugs to reduce stomach acid, pregnant and breast feeding women and diabetic patients must be cautious when taking turmeric supplements. Turmeric spice used in food is usually safe for anyone to consume. Excess consumption could cause diarrhea or ulcers in extremely rare cases.