What Is Turmeric Actually Good For? (The Stuff My Friend Swears By)
My friend Sarah used to roll her eyes every time her Indian mom shoved turmeric milk at her whenever she had a cold. Then last year her knees started aching so badly she couldn’t get through a shift at work without ibuprofen, and her dermatologist bills were getting ridiculous because of constant breakouts. Fast forward six months — she’s the one texting me at 10 p.m. from Costco asking if I need more turmeric because “they have the giant jar on sale.” Here’s exactly what she says turmeric has done for her (and what the science actually backs up).
1. Her Knees Stopped Betraying Her
Sarah’s doctor said it was early arthritis. She started taking 500 mg curcumin capsules with black pepper every morning. Three months later she texted me a video of herself running down the stairs two at a time “like a normal 34-year-old.” Studies show curcumin works about as well as NSAIDs for joint pain, but without wrecking her stomach.
2. Her Skin Finally Calmed Down
She used to have those angry red patches on her cheeks that no skincare fixed. Now she does a turmeric + honey mask once a week and her skin tone is actually even. She sent me a selfie last month with the caption “I look like I sleep 12 hours a night, send help.” Dermatologists use curcumin topically for eczema and psoriasis because it actually reduces inflammation.
3. Period Cramps Went From “Call 911” to “Mild Annoyance”
Sarah used to take three ibuprofen and still cry on the bathroom floor. Now she pops a curcumin capsule the day before her period and says she barely notices day one. She calls it “nature’s Midol.”
4. She Doesn’t Bloat After Curry Anymore (Ironic, Right?)
She can finally eat Indian food without spending the night hugging a heating pad. Apparently curcumin helps with bile flow and has antimicrobial effects — her gut just works better now.
5. Her Mood Is… Weirdly Stable
She was skeptical, but she says the winter where she usually turns into an angry hermit was noticeably better. There are studies showing curcumin can work as well as Prozac for some people with depression. She’s not throwing out her meds, but she says the edge is gone.
How My Friend Actually Takes It (Because She Hates Golden Milk)
•Morning: ½ teaspoon turmeric + pinch of black pepper + honey in warm water (she calls it “ugly tea”)
•Cooking: She throws it in eggs, rice, roasted veggies, literally everything
•Bad skin days: Turmeric + yogurt mask (then immediately cleans the sink because yellow stains are real)
•Period week: Extra curcumin capsule with dinner
The One Thing She Warns Everyone About
You HAVE to take it with black pepper or fat, otherwise your body just pees it out. She learned that the hard way after a month of seeing zero results.
Also, she stopped two weeks before her wisdom teeth surgery because it can thin blood a tiny bit.
Bottom Line From Sarah Herself
“It’s not magic. It’s not going to make you lose 30 pounds or cure cancer. But my knees don’t hurt, my face doesn’t look inflamed, and I’m not curled up in a ball every month. For the price of a jar that lasts me four months? I’ll keep drinking the ugly tea.”
She says if you’re going to try one thing, do the morning drink for two weeks straight (with pepper!). Worst case, you hate the taste. Best case, you’re the one texting your friends about Costco turmeric deals in six months.