Digestive discomfort is a common hurdle we’ve all experienced, encompassing symptoms like bloating, gastric heat, acid reflux, and a general sense of fullness or indigestion. Recent Google statistics show a 50% increase in searches for “digestive discomfort treatment” in the past month, making the timing of a newly published study particularly serendipitous.
Research on turmeric
The study reveals that turmeric is as effective as the commonly used over-the-counter drug omeprazole in treating digestive discomfort. Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor that prevents the stomach from secreting gastric acid. Prolonged use of such medications has been linked to reduced microbial diversity and alterations in the gut microbiome, along with other negative health impacts.
Analyzing 206 participants with functional digestive discomfort—symptoms such as rapid post-meal fullness, abdominal pain or burning, not attributable to specific diseases—for over 28 days, the study found that those taking two turmeric capsules (250 mg) daily experienced less digestive-related pain compared to those using omeprazole. This trend persisted even after 56 days.
The role of turmeric
For turmeric, this study serves as positive publicity. Turmeric is widely regarded as a superfood due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Its active component, curcumin, scientifically proven to aid in controlling inflammation, metabolic syndrome, anxiety, and arthritis, among other benefits, is an excellent addition to your daily routine—even in low doses—for general health management.
With its warm, mustard-colored spice, turmeric can be added to smoothies, incorporated into delicious curries (and other dishes), or taken in supplement form (found in Jolt’s Age Blocker and Artah’s Deep Detox). However, research suggests that it’s worth combining with other ingredients like piperine to ensure enhanced bioavailability.
Other approaches to encourage a healthy digestive system include maintaining a three to four-hour gap between two daily meals, reducing the intake of raw foods, taking a post-meal stroll, and trying relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises or slow restorative yoga.
