R.I.P. golden lattes
I felt have so smug drinking my 4pm turmeric lattes these past few months.
I *could* have been drinking coffee. It gave me more of a buzz, but that golden latte-induced smugness made up for what the health beverage lacked in caffeine shakes.
According to the many listicles I read on the subject, turmeric was anti-inflammatory, a powerful antioxidant, it boosted brain function, lowered my risk of heart disease, helped to fight cancer and improved symptoms of depression.
I thought that, while I was sitting there with that most punchable grin on my face, I was not only getting de-puffed, but also smarter, happier, and basically developing a god-like immunity to death.
Alas, my immortality wasn’t to be.
R.I.P. turmeric lattes.
R.I.P. smarmy sense of self-satisfaction.
Another health trend bites the dust.
According to new scientific research, you can pretty much kiss everything you’ve heard about turmeric goodbye. Make like a pissed ex-girlfriend and delete that bastard’s number from your phone.
Now, there’s some pretty fancy scientific terminology in what I’m about to say (I’ve got my smug face on again), but hold tight.
Most of turmeric’s ascribed health benefits come from a chemical compound called curcumin, which is contained within the substance. As it turns out, curcumin is a bit of a con artist. It is what scientists call a Pan-Assay Interference Compound. The acronym, PAIN, is accurate. What this essentially means is that while curcumin *appears* to interact with proteins in a medicinally beneficial way, it is all talk and no walk. When these supposed health benefits are put to the test in clinical trials, they fail every time.
In the words of Quartz:
“At least 15 studies on curcumin have been retracted from scientific literature, and dozens more have had corrections appended to them.
“[Curcumin is an] unstable, reactive, non-bioavailable compound and, therefore, a highly improbable lead [for drug development].”
Just like a fuming ex who’s been duped one too many times, I’m running straight back into the arms of my old lover. Coffee, you were always the one for me.
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Image: Getty
Words by Kirsty Sier
