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Turmeric and your liver​

How to use turmeric for the liver?

Its scientific name Curcuma longa, also called poor man's saffron or long-life spice, you can buy powdered turmeric, a spice that is used in curry, obtained from the rhizome of a large perennial herb of the Zingiberaceae family. It has many virtues for health, in particular its beneficial action on the health of the liver.

Let's take a look at the effects of turmeric on liver function, and how to use it to benefit from its benefits.
Functions of the liver in the body
The liver is supplied with blood through the portal vein, which supplies the body with blood loaded with many substances obtained from digestion or from the activity of organs of the digestive system.

Liver cells, endowed with specific enzymes, absorb molecules and allow their chemical transformation, vital transformations for the body, and which mainly allow:

store and distribute nutrients from digestion
degrade and "digest" toxic substances
synthesize the majority of blood proteins
produce bile
etc.
The liver is a major organ in the human body, so it should be taken care of.

Focus on cirrhosis of the liver
Turmeric is beneficial for cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis is a diffuse, chronic, irreversible and severe disease of the liver, which combines three types of lesions: liver cell damage, fibrosis, and regenerative nodules. Healthy tissue is therefore replaced by scarring, which prevents the liver from functioning properly.

It is often of viral origin (hepatitis), drug or alcohol, and causes symptoms as varied as: loss of appetite, lack of energy, weight loss, bruising, itching, fever, variable moods, yellowing of the skin , whites in the eyes (jaundice), etc.

Turmeric, to be more precise, the curcumin contained in turmeric can then have a beneficial effect thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action. It helps relieve the symptoms of cirrhosis and help prevent the disease.

The benefits of turmeric for the liver
Helps in liver detoxification
One of the main reasons for the toxification of liver cells is oxidative stress caused by an excess of harmful free radicals, compared to the antioxidant compounds responsible for removing them from the body.

The curcumin in turmeric is known to be a great antioxidant, helping to fight the action of these free radicals, and therefore prevent premature aging of liver cells.

Preventive action on cirrhosis of the liver
Studies conducted by Karina Reyes-Gordillo of Washington University have shown this action on the liver. One study involved the administration of curcumin to damaged liver tissue.

Result: observed a marked reduction in several oxidative stressors and metabolic markers of liver damage. Decreased levels of mRNA and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) proteins have been shown, which are key factors in the development of cirrhosis.

Action on inflammation
Cirrhosis is characterized by an inflammatory condition, caused by:

activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC)
high levels of certain compounds such as serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase
This inflammation caused by cirrhosis often causes pain in those affected. Turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory drug, often used for chronic or acute inflammation.

Dr. Yumei Fu and his team studied the action of curcumin on inflammation of damaged liver in animals. The result: the inflammation was significantly stopped, the hepatic stellate cells became inactive, and the levels of inflammatory markers were greatly reduced.

Action on cholesterol
Turmeric helps regulate bad cholesterol (LDL) levels, the presence of which is proportional to the extent of liver damage, in obesity-related cirrhosis. The higher the cholesterol, the greater the liver damage.

You should also know that LDL cholesterol activates the hepatic stellate cells (HSC), which themselves influence hepatic fibrogenesis.

Studies conducted by Dr. Qiang Kang and his team at the University of Florida investigated the action of curcumin on LDL and HSC. Result: administration of curcumin leads to a marked reduction in cholesterol per cell, and a decrease in the number of LDL receptors responsible for the activation of hepatic stellate cells.

Action on blood sugar
Turmeric helps regulate blood glucose levels, the high presence of which (hyperglycemia) is a major activator of hepatic stellate cells leading to liver fibrogenesis in diabetes-related cirrhosis.

It helps block the transfer of cellular glucose, influence the level of certain proteins that affect glucose metabolism and stabilize high insulin levels.

Action on gene expression
The expression of cirrhosis is very dependent on genetic interactions. Compounds such as TGF-beta and HSC promote liver damage and help activate mRNA and related proteins.

Studies have shown that consuming turmeric increases the levels of a gene, the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Proteor (PPAR) receptor, which blocks cirrhosis-related signals and helps control mRNA and protein levels. associates.

Curcumin would therefore have the ability to act directly on the genetics of the body and prevent the expression of genes responsible for cirrhosis.

Several in vivo and in vitro studies published in the Chinese Medical Journal have shown that the PPAR-gamma present in curcumin can prevent fibrosis in cirrhosis by negatively influencing HSCs.

Action on the harmful effects of alcohol
Turmeric is a spice with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and enzymatic regulating properties, beneficial properties in reducing the harmful effects of the accumulation of lipids caused by alcohol consumption on the liver.

Indeed, excessive alcohol consumption causes an accumulation of lipids in the liver cells which in turn can cause alcoholic liver disease (ALD).

Action on alcohol-free fatty liver syndrome (NAFLD)
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is caused by the deposit of excess lipids in liver cells (hepatocytes).

A study published in Phytotherapy Research shows that curcumin has a beneficial effect on patients with NAFLD: lowering LDL levels, glucose levels, fat, and modification of hepatic enzyme reactions.

Action against hepatitis
Studies have shown that curcumin is beneficial in cases of hepatitis B or C, particularly in blocking the replication of the virus by inhibiting the activity of the p53 protein and the activation of Akt-SREBP-1.

Other benefit
There is a lot of research being done on turmeric for the fight against cancer, which shows promise and benefits in liver health.

How to consume turmeric for the liver?
There is no precise dosage for turmeric and liver ailments, it is advisable to consult a doctor in case of liver problems, and not to embark on a cure without his advice.

Turmeric can be used in different ways depending on what you want to do with it, we have detailed how to use turmeric where the different uses of the rhizome are explained so that you can make the best use of it. To summarize :

Combine turmeric with black pepper
The downside of turmeric is its low bioavailability, which means that if you want to heal yourself with it, you have to consume large amounts!

By combining turmeric longa with black pepper, curcumin is better absorbed by the body. Piperine interacts with curcumin, and the properties of turmeric are increased, some say by 1000.

Without this, our intestine badly assimilates the molecules of curcumin, too large and too easily filtered by our metabolism.

In terms of the combination, I generally recommend a ratio of 1 to 9: 1 dose of pepper to 9 doses of turmeric. Namely that mixing turmeric with a fat can also improve its assimilation by the body.

Classic dosage
Against digestive and hepatic disorders, it is generally recommended to consume as a preventive measure, between 2 and 3 g of turmeric powder per day, or about 1 teaspoon.

Turmeric can be consumed as an infusion or in other ways such as directly in flavored foods.

Kitchen use
This way of doing things is ideal as a preventive take, before you feel anything, it will take care of your hepatic system and prevent all the disorders we have already discussed.

Add 2 to 3 g of turmeric powder per day and per person in all your culinary preparations. This amount corresponds to around 200 mg of curcuminoids, depending on the quality of turmeric purchased.

In infusion
Infuse 1 to 2 g of turmeric powder with 2 or 3 black peppercorns in 150 ml of boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink 2 to 3 cups a day.

In infusion, it is interesting to make an infusion of turmeric and lemon, the yellow spice and citrus being two complementary ingredients that act in synergy
Honey with turmeric
It is a preventative and curative way to take turmeric. A natural remedy that has always been used in Asia, the mixture of honey and turmeric, named after golden honey, is the combination of two very powerful natural remedies, which are beginning to arrive in the West thanks to the development of alternative medicine.

It is a real panacea, it is used in prevention by eating a teaspoon every morning on an empty stomach.

Precaution before taking turmeric
Like any product, turmeric has its share of contraindications and side effects, which we have listed in our article on the dangers of turmeric. This product which is so good for you can go so far as to become a danger if taken by the wrong person and no matter how.

There is no real overdose of turmeric, even in high doses it is not toxic. However, although there are no definitive studies on this subject, caution should be taken in the following cases:

Turmeric may interact with certain medications. It may increase the effect of blood thinners, diabetes medication, or antacid therapy.

Turmeric should be consumed with caution in the event of gallbladder disorders. Although it helps regulate bile production, if there is a blockage in the bile ducts (such as stones), taking turmeric could make the problem worse.