Why consume too much ginger, turmeric or cinnamon, it can interfere with your prescription drugs

Sprinkle cinnamon on porridge, a pinch of turmeric in curry or a little ginger in biscuits – these popular spices are kitchen staples around the world. For centuries, spices were not used to taste food, but also valued in time-honored Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for their healing properties. But does something as innocent as a spoon of spices disturb your drugs?

Take cinnamonFor example. Pretted from the bark of trees cinnamomum, contains energetic compounds such as cinnamaldehyde, eugenol and cumary. Cinnamon oil, derived from bark or leaves, is often used in the taste of food, smells and herbal remedies.

Cinnamon is associated with a number of potential health benefits: it is wealthy in antioxidants, can reduce inflammation, helps Regulate blood sugar levelsThis reduces the risk heart disease and even improves brain function. It was also traditionally used To alleviate digestion and separate infections.

But Last examination From the University of Mississippi, cinnamon aroused that cinnamon may reduce the effectiveness of some drugs. Laboratory tests found that cinnamaldehyde activates receptors that accelerate the way of cleaning drugs from the body – potentially makes them less effective. Although these studies are still at an early stage and have not yet been tested in humans, they have crucial questions about cinnamon interaction with contemporary drugs.

The type of cinnamon also matters. Cinnamon commonly found in supermarkets – Cassia Cinnamon – is cheaper, widely available and comes from a part of Asia. Ceylon cinnamon, often marked as “Real cinnamon“It comes from Sri Lanka and is generally more high-priced. Cassia cinnamon contains higher levels of coumarin, a natural compound that can harm the liver at high doses, According to research. Caratin is also Known anticoagulantWhich means that it helps prevent blood clots, which is useful in medicine, but risky in combination with blood thinning drugs, such as warfarin.

Was Several case reports Suggesting that cinnamon supplements can raise the risk of bleeding when they are taken with anticoagulants. This is probably due to the impact of the caramin of liver enzymes responsible for decomposing drugs such as warfarin. Some tests He also suggests that cinnamon may potentially interact with other drugs, including painkillers, anti -cancer drugs, anti -cancer drugs and diabetic drugs.

But before you throw away a spice stand, remember: the risk comes from high doses, especially in the form of a supplement. Lithe sprinkling cinnamon on porridge is unlikely to cause problems.

Miniature doses

Another spice with a healing promise – and potential risk – there is turmeric. Known for living yellow color and operate in cooking and time-honored medicine, turmeric contains curcumin, a compound praised for anti -inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

However, information about Turkuma interaction with drugs is still confined. Most of what we know come from laboratory tests and animals that do not always translate directly into people. However, there is evidence that curcumin can affect how some drugs are metabolized, especially by disturbing liver enzymes. This means that maybe it potentially interaction With antidepressants, blood pressure drugs, chemotherapy drugs and some antibiotics.

Turmeric also has the natural properties of thinning blood, which can strengthen Impact of drugs such as warfarin or aspirin. Animal research suggests Turmeric can also lower blood sugar levels, which means that it can raise the effects of anti -diabetic drugs or insulin. In addition, turmeric was shown reduce blood pressurewhich, in combination with drugs for blood pressure, can cause excessive decrease.

As in the case of cinnamon, these effects are most often associated with high dose supplements, and not diminutive amounts used in food.

Ginger is another celebrated spice due to health benefits, in particular its anti -lone and anti -inflammatory effect. But his energetic relationships, including gingerolIt can also affect the way your body supports medicines.

Ginger can act as delicate thinner blood, which means that combining it with anticoagulants can raise the risk of bleeding. . The evidence is mixed As for ginger and diabetes: while Some studies suggest It can lower blood sugar levels, further tests are needed to fully understand the effect it can have when taken next to anti -diabetic drugs.

High doses

While laboratory tests suggest that spices can affect the method of processing some drugs, the enormous majority of these effects in high doses have been observed – usually from supplements, not everyday cooking.

If you are taking medicines, especially blood thinners, diabetes or chemotherapeutic drugs, it is worth talking to a doctor or pharmacist before modern herbal supplements will start. But for most people, using spices in typical culinary amounts is unthreatening – and is a delicious way to add meals for both taste and potential health benefits.

So go ahead: sprinkle, pinch or rain – just remember what is in the medical cabinet – and watch out for any herbal supplement at a high level.