Turmeric
Other names turmeric powder, ground turmeric
Turmeric: high in salicylate and oxalates; low in histamine. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- SalicylateHigh
Turmeric is a dried, ground rhizome measured at 38.83 mg of salicylate per kilogram — the LOWEST of the five spices in the survey, though still far above any vegetable. Supplement doses are the real issue — a curry uses grams, a capsule course can deliver far more, day after day.
Sources· 1
- Malakar S., Gibson P.R., Barrett J.S. & Muir J.G., J Food Compos Anal 57 (2017) 31–39, salicylic acid by GC-MS in 112 foods, Table 2c for the spices
- OxalatesHigh
Turmeric is not the highest-oxalate spice - cardamom is, by a wide margin - but it carries the form that matters: 91 per cent of its oxalate is SOLUBLE, against 6 per cent in cinnamon, and soluble is the fraction that gets absorbed. A teaspoon in a curry is still a teaspoon. What changed the exposure is the supplement aisle: turmeric is now taken in gram doses, daily, which is a different food from a seasoning.
Sources· 2
- Ghosh Das S & Savage GP, Plant Foods Hum Nutr 67 (2012), total and soluble oxalate of ten Indian spices
- Noonan SC & Savage GP, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 8 (1999)
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)Low
Turmeric is dried plant material with no protein and no fermentation, so it produces no histamine of its own. It is used in pinches besides. The Swiss list rates “turmeric (Curcuma longa)” 0 of 3, without the L it reserves for liberators.
Sources· 1
- SIGHI — Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance, food-compatibility list (2024-08-29), for the entry, its rating and the absence of a liberator letter
- TyramineNone
- SucroseNone
- FODMAPsNone
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- NickelNone
- GlutenNo
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
React to Salicylate? Check these too
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does turmeric affect?
Turmeric is notable for salicylate, oxalates and histamine. Clear on tyramine, sucrose, FODMAPs, lactose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, fructose, nickel and gluten.
Does turmeric contain salicylate?
Yes — turmeric is high in salicylate. Turmeric is a dried, ground rhizome measured at 38.83 mg of salicylate per kilogram — the LOWEST of the five spices in the survey, though still far above any vegetable. Supplement doses are the real issue — a curry uses grams, a capsule course can deliver far more, day after day.
Does turmeric contain oxalates?
Yes — turmeric is high in oxalates. Turmeric is not the highest-oxalate spice - cardamom is, by a wide margin - but it carries the form that matters: 91 per cent of its oxalate is SOLUBLE, against 6 per cent in cinnamon, and soluble is the fraction that gets absorbed. A teaspoon in a curry is still a teaspoon. What changed the exposure is the supplement aisle: turmeric is now taken in gram doses, daily, which is a different food from a seasoning.
Does turmeric contain histamine?
Turmeric contains only low levels of histamine. Turmeric is dried plant material with no protein and no fermentation, so it produces no histamine of its own. It is used in pinches besides. The Swiss list rates “turmeric (Curcuma longa)” 0 of 3, without the L it reserves for liberators. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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