Dodgy knees? Turmeric may help ease arthritic joint pain

We’re often told turmeric, the popular spice that gives curry its yellow colour, is a superfood that it can do wonders for your health, and now, new research has found a turmeric extract may indeed help to combat pain in people with knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in Australia, with statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showing about 2.2 million people live with this painful condition that’s characterised by the breakdown of the cartilage that covers the ends of bones in joints. The cartilage breakdown means the bones rub against each other, causing pain, swelling and reduced mobility, usually in the hands, spine and joints such as the hips, knees and ankles.

There’s no cure for the condition and it can worsen over time, which is why researchers from the University of Tasmania set out to find a safe and effective way to treat osteoarthritis.

The researchers randomly assigned 70 participants with knee osteoarthritis to receive either two capsules per day of turmeric or two capsules per day of a  placebo for 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, they found patients taking the turmeric supplements reported less pain than those in the placebo group. Those in the turmeric group also took fewer pain killers than those in the placebo group. Yet there was no difference in the structural aspects of knee osteoporosis, such as swelling or cartilage make-up. The findings were published in the academic journal Annals of Internal Medicine on Wednesday.

If you suffer from osteoarthritis and are keen to try turmeric yourself, there are two popular turmeric products available on the Starts at 60 Marketplace. The Turmeric Latte Blend is ideal for people on the go or looking to cut back on their coffee or sugar intake because it makes a hot drink that tastes amazing! All you have to do is add half a teaspoon of the blend to your milk and stir well.

Aside from managing pain, turmeric may also improve brain function, lower your risk of heart disease and help prevent cancer, multiple studies suggest. The blend available on our marketplace contains black pepper to increase the body’s ability to absorb the good-for-you extract, as well as cinnamon and ginger, both of which have their own wellbeing benefits, ranging from soothing an upset stomach to lowering blood sugar in people who have diabetes.

The Turmeric Latte Blend can be purchased on the Starts at 60 Marketplace for $14.95.

If drinking your turmeric isn’t your style, we’ve also got Turmeric Curcumin and Black Pepper Capsules that have proven a hit with over-60s. Each capsule contains curcumin, one of the main active ingredients in turmeric, that has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. It’s recommended that you start with one capsule per day, taken with a meal or a drink because turmeric is best absorbed with fats. The Turmeric Curcumin and Black Pepper Capsules can be purchased on the Starts at 60 Marketplace for $29.95.

If you’re wondering whether these turmeric products may be helpful to you, read the testimonials that we’ve included from satisfied users of the Golden Grind supplements. For example, Sue from Victoria says: “I have just purchased my fourth pack of Golden Grind, after my first pack I felt pain in my shoulder and hand pain had reduced considerably”. And if you’ve got any questions about these or any other products on the Starts at 60 Marketplace, get in touch with us by email and we’ll be back to you asap!

IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.