Does Turmeric Kill Candida Cells?

Turmeric derives from the roots of a plant called Curcuma longa, native to Southeast Asia. Its main compound is curcumin which gives it a bright yellow color and a distinctive taste, hence it’s been used in Southeast Asian cuisine for centuries.

Turmeric is also used in Chinese medicine to treat ulcers, cardiovascular diseases, arthritis, and tumors.

Apart from incorporating turmeric powder in your daily cooking, you can make the most of its antifungal ingredient, curcumin, by consuming it in its concentrated form in capsules, tablets, liquid extract, and tinctures.

In this article, I’ll focus on antifungal qualities of turmeric and I’ll share with you the most interesting recent studies that focus on the effect of turmeric on Candida cells:

• A 2014 study that focused on how exactly curcumin kills Candida cells found that it destroys their membranes so that the contents of Candida cells leak and the cells die.

• Many studies focus on the combination of curcumin and light in Candida treatment. One study used a photosensitizer (light and oxygen) and curcumin solution to see their effect on Candida albicans and other organisms. They managed to completely inhibit not only Candida albicans cells, but also other fungi, such as Aspergillus niger and Fusarium oxysporum.

Turmeric Flower

• In 2016 a group of researchers focused on using turmeric for vaginal yeast infection. They developed a turmeric vaginal suppository that contains curcumin,  xanthan gum, guar gum and HPMC (Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose). The formulation of the curcumin vaginal tablet allows to maximize its antifungal effect, so the results are very promising. We still have to wait for the tablet to be tested on humans and developed further.

If you’re looking for a dietary supplement to help you fight a yeast infection, turmeric is definitely a 100% natural antifungal remedy that you can use on daily basis.

So what’s the best turmeric supplement?

If you’re looking for a turmeric supplement to treat or prevent a yeast infection, it’s best to pick a supplement that contains turmeric extracts standardized to 95% of curcuminoids.

What’s more, it should be an enhanced curcumin formulation which helps increase its bioavailability. In recent years turmeric gained a lot of criticism for its low bioavailability.

Low bioavailability means that the proportion of a substance that enters your bloodstream after you ingest it is low.

In order to boost curcumin bioavailability, manufacturers came up with different types of curcumin formulations, enhanced with compounds that help your body make the most of its healing properties. Take a look at my picks:

 Ultracur Curcumin Whey Complex

According to the manufacturer, UltraCur Formulation makes curcumin 100 times more bioavailable than curcumin on its own. This formulation attaches curcumin to a protein which acts as a carrier enabling more curcumin to reach your bloodstream.

Each capsule contains 600 mg of UltraCur curcumin, and you can open it to add the powder to your morning smoothie.

Relentless Improvement CurcuWin Curcumin 

The CurcuWin Formulation is a mixture of tocopherols (natural antioxidants), cellulose, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (hydrophilic carrier) with 20% of total curcuminoids.

A 2013 study on its bioavailability shows that it’s 46 times higher than that of regular curcumin.  CurcuWin supplements contain 60 capsules of 250 mg.

CurcuminRich Double Strength Theracurmin

The CurcuminRich Formulation contains curcumin reduced to nanoparticles emulsified with polysaccharides. The fact that curcumin is very small particles makes Theracurmin 27 times more bioavailable than regular curcumin.

It comes with 60 capsules of 600 mg which you can open and add the powder to your drink if you prefer.

If you want to learn more about other natural remedies for yeast infection, check my article about best natural supplements for yeast infection.

What are Other Health Benefits of Turmeric?

Apart from having antifungal properties, turmeric can also support your health in the following ways:

• It’s an antioxidant, which means it helps slow the aging processes and prevent arthritis, cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

• It reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by lowering your cholesterol levels

• It’s got an anti-inflammatory effect helping you reduce symptoms of such conditions as psoriasis, IBS, and multiple sclerosis.

• It’s got a soothing effect on your stomach and it boosts appetite

• Studies show that curcumin can kill cancer cells, however, these tests have only been carried out on animals.

Does Turmeric give any Side Effects?

Although turmeric is considered very safe, it can occasionally trigger:

• An allergic reaction such as skin rash

• An upset stomach and diarrhea if consumed in high doses

• It’s not recommended to people suffering from gallstones and gastrointestinal conditions

It’s also worth knowing that turmeric can interfere with the following medications:

• certain anticoagulants

• diabetes drugs

• antacid medications

It’s best to consult your doctor before you start using turmeric or curcumin supplements.

Conclusion

Turmeric offers some many health benefits that it’s really worth making it a part of your daily diet.

However, if you’re trying to treat a particular condition, such as yeast infection, it’s best to take concentrated curcumin instead, as that’s the ingredients that make all the difference.

Order UltraCur Curcumin Whey Complex

Just make sure you do proper research before you choose your curcumin supplement as some of them won’t let you make the most of its healing properties.

Remember, its bioavailability is the key, so if you choose one of the curcumin formulations I recommend, you can be sure you’ll get the best quality possible.

If you want to learn more about other natural cures for yeast infection, be sure to check my article about natural cures for yeast infection.

Have you ever used turmeric to treat a yeast infection? Did it work? Please share your experiences and questions in the comment section below.