Herbs and spices are more than just flavor enhancers for your meals. Studies show that they are packed with essential nutrients and health-supporting chemicals that can only be found in plants, making them good sources of nutrition. So even if you use only small amounts of herbs and spices in your meals, these condiments still contribute a lot to your overall health and wellness.
Ideally, enjoying their benefits should be as easy as incorporating them into healthy and delicious recipes. But with pollution affecting crop yields and quality, and corrupt practices, such as food fraud, becoming widespread in the food industry, food safety has become a huge concern for many consumers.
This issue affects all consumable (edible) products (both plant- or animal-based), regardless of their superfood status. That’s why when buying groceries, it’s so important not just to read labels but to get to know brands and their values, the extent of their commitment to quality and safety, and most importantly, where their products are sourced.
Heavy metals may be hiding in your favorite seasoning
Dried herbs and spices play a huge role in American cooking. In fact, the United States is the world’s largest spice consumer, importing more than 40 different spices from over 50 countries around the world. [1] Americans also love to include dried herbs in their recipes, with domestic production of these flavorful crops reported to be growing annually as well.
According to a recent online survey of 2,000 American adults conducted by The Harris Poll, an overwhelming 94% prefer to cook with herbs and spices, and about 75% of them do so at least twice or thrice a week. [2] This data shows just how valued these ingredients are and how often they are consumed in a typical American household.
Some of the most popular herbs and spices among American consumers are chili powder, dried basil, thyme, cinnamon, ground paprika, dried onion and garlic, dill and flat-leaf parsley, with cilantro surprisingly taking the top spot. [3] While all these superfood ingredients have plenty of health benefits to offer even when used in small amounts, their frequent consumption has unfortunately become a cause for concern.
In 2021, Consumer Reports (CR) published a report detailing how many store-bought herbs and spices contain high levels of dangerous heavy metals – levels that exceed the maximum limit set by regulatory agencies. [4] After testing 126 different dried herbs and spices from popular brands, including big ones like McCormick, Great Value (Walmart) and Trader Joe’s, CR found that “[r]oughly one-third of the tested products, 40 in total, had high enough levels of arsenic, lead, and cadmium combined, on average, to pose a health concern for children when regularly consumed in typical serving sizes.”
Thyme and oregano, in particular, were the most contaminated, with all the brands tested showing levels that experts found to be “concerning.” While these herbs were not among the top 10 most popular among Americans, experts warn that “some products contain enough heavy metals, even in the small amounts used in cooking, to raise a concern when used regularly.”
5 Reasons to ditch Black Pepper and Turmeric Root Powder from commercial brands
It wasn’t just thyme and oregano that the CR report had labeled the worst offenders. Their lab results showed that sweet basil, particularly from Spice Islands, had heavy metal levels that were of “moderate concern,” while ground turmeric from La Flor had levels that were of “high concern.” [5]
Turmeric, a spice well-known for its reputation as a medicinal herb, has been rapidly rising in popularity in the U.S. not just as a culinary ingredient but also as a dietary supplement. According to a report, over 95% of the turmeric consumed in the U.S. is imported, 70% of which comes from India, while the remaining comes from Fiji, Indonesia, Jamaica and China. [6]
Fans of this versatile herb know that it is often paired with black pepper for a good reason: Black pepper, another popular American kitchen staple, contains an active compound called piperine that can increase the absorption of curcumin – turmeric’s most beneficial component – in the human body by as much as 2,000%! [7]
Black pepper holds a special place in American cooking, being just as ubiquitous as salt. Despite its tiny size, black pepper contains high amounts of essential nutrients, such as vitamins A, B, C, E and K, and minerals like magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium. [8] Like turmeric and curcumin, black pepper derives its antioxidant potency from piperine, the alkaloid responsible for its pungent flavor.
Unfortunately, despite their considerable health benefits, turmeric and black pepper are two of the most adulterated spices in terms of origin, according to a study published in the journal Foods. [9] Because of the growing popularity of turmeric, the Times of India reports that low-quality turmeric powders are often mixed with artificial colors, dyes like metanil yellow (an organic salt that is toxic to the human body [10]) or lead chromate (a bright yellow salt that could cause lead poisoning [11]) to imitate the appearance and texture of high-quality turmeric. [12]
Meanwhile, whole black pepper is often adulterated by mixing it with papaya seeds, which look very similar to whole black peppercorns. Some black pepper powders are also mixed with chalk powder to increase their weight, while not-so-fresh black peppercorns are often dyed with artificial colors to make them appear fresher. [13]
Another issue with the turmeric and black pepper products sold in groceries (both spices and supplements) is that many contain high amounts of toxic metals. In 2010, a 12-month-old boy was admitted to the Boston Children’s Hospital due to blood lead levels that far exceeded reference levels. A thorough investigation of the child’s home revealed that daily consumption of lead-contaminated spices, including turmeric, was the cause of his lead poisoning. [14]
A recent study of turmeric sold in India and Pakistan (some of which end up in U.S. groceries) also revealed that most, if not all, samples had alarmingly high levels of lead, exceeding 1,000 micrograms per gram of raw turmeric. [15] The study attributed the presence of lead in turmeric products to adulteration with lead chromate, which also contains another toxic heavy metal – chromium.
Aside from India, the U.S. also imports turmeric from China, which is known for its serious industrial pollution. China has long had a problem with heavy metals (and other toxic substances) contaminating its food supply because of heavily contaminated soil. In 2008, a study of medicinal plants widely cultivated in China revealed alarmingly high levels of cadmium in all tested crops. Turmeric root was one of the analyzed samples. [16]
Similarly, black pepper, another spice heavily imported by the United States, is often contaminated with lead, chromium and cadmium. A recent study of black pepper fields in India’s Kerala region – a significant exporter of the spice – revealed that these soils contain high amounts of lead, chromium, cadmium, zinc and copper, which are absorbed by black pepper crops and ultimately end up in food supplies around the world. [17]
Contamination and adulteration compromise not just the safety of foods but also their potency. Many manufacturers care more about profit than the health of their consumers and won’t hesitate to give you low-quality products that contain more harmful additives than beneficial components if it means they could make more money that way.
While turmeric and black pepper have many reported benefits, how they’ll affect your health depends on their nutrient and phytonutrient content. If your turmeric contains very little curcumin, it wouldn’t matter even if you combine it with high-quality black pepper – you won’t enjoy its full benefits. It may even harm your health if it’s high in toxic chemicals and metals.
According to a study published in the journal Plants, the presence of chemical pollutants in water and heavy metals in soil significantly reduces the potency of otherwise beneficial plants. This is because these harmful substances, once absorbed by plants, disrupt the production of important plant chemicals – the very same active components that can support your health and wellness. [18]
And let’s not forget that the turmeric and black pepper you see on grocery shelves are, first and foremost, products, so expect that they contain additional ingredients that would help their manufacturers maximize their profits. These often include preservatives, fillers and flavor enhancers. Unfortunately, these additives can lower the overall quality of turmeric and black pepper. They may also trigger allergic reactions in some individuals. [19]
That’s why it’s so important to choose where you get your food products wisely. Just reading labels is not enough – you need to be aware of deceptive practices and which brands genuinely care about consumers. The problem of chemical/pesticide and heavy metal contamination can be solved by opting for organic products – but simply choosing one based on labels does not guarantee your safety.
Going back to the analysis of contaminated herbs and spices done by CR, the report also highlighted the fact that labels such as “Organic” and “Packed in the USA” didn’t make any difference when it comes to heavy metal levels. This points to two significant truths: that many products on the market are deceptively labeled, and in order to be sure of the quality and cleanliness of a product, you can’t just rely on “in the USA” statements – you have to know where exactly the raw materials are sourced.
That’s why you should purchase only from vendors you trust – those with long track records of upholding purity and quality, who are clear with what’s in their products and where they are sourced, and who subject their products to rigorous lab testing.
To recap, here are 5 good reasons to be wary of turmeric and black pepper sold in supermarkets:
· They are often adulterated.
· They are often contaminated with heavy metals.
· They may contain lower levels of beneficial compounds.
· They may be mixed with harmful additives.
· They are often deceptively labeled.
Where to get CLEAN, LAB-VERIFIED Organic Black Pepper and Turmeric Root Powder
The issue of heavy metal contamination of our food supply is not something we can simply ignore. Experts continue to sound the alarm about heavy metals because these substances can cause serious harm to human health.
Lead, the World Health Organization (WHO) warns, can enter the body via inhalation of particles or ingestion of contaminated water and food. Once inside, lead travels to different organs, such as the brain, kidneys, liver, bones and teeth. The bad news is, lead is not easily expelled from these tissues and instead accumulates there over time, especially in your bones and teeth. [20]
The WHO further warns that “[y]oung children are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning as they may absorb up to 4–5 times as much lead as adults from an ingested dose.” Pregnant mothers with lead stored in their bones may also inadvertently expose their fetus to lead since stored up lead is released into the bloodstream during pregnancy.
According to studies, pre-natal lead exposure leads to stunted growth, irreversible damage to the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and an increased risk of cognitive developmental delay. [21] Meanwhile in adults, long-term lead exposure increases their likelihood of developing hypertension, cardiovascular problems and kidney damage.
Chromium, another heavy metal often found contaminating herbs and spices, is actually an important micronutrient for the body, being heavily involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and protein. But because it is only needed in minute amounts, anything in excess can cause adverse effects to your body.
According to a study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, chromium’s toxic effects depend on a person’s exposure path. Chromium enters the body via three routes, namely, inhalation, ingestion and skin contact. When chromium is ingested through contaminated water and foods, it has been shown to cause profound DNA damage, which can lead to liver dysfunction and the development of lung (especially when inhaled), stomach and colorectal cancer. [22]
Like chromium, cadmium is a known human carcinogen, and exposure to this heavy metal, especially at high levels for an extended period, has been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer. [23] According to studies, cadmium also accumulates in the body due to slow excretion, and long-term exposure at low levels can cause kidney, bone and lung disease. [24][25]
Because of the serious adverse effects of heavy metals, you need to be careful of established sources, especially those that you ingest. This is why the Health Ranger Store offers only lab-tested, organic turmeric and black pepper -- when we are able to acquire ultra-clean lots.
We’ve recently acquired a full lot of organic turmeric exclusively for our customers. Only the cleanest and highest-quality turmeric passes our stringent qualifications. To create our Health Ranger Select Organic Turmeric Root Powder, we put our raw materials through a series of rigorous quality inspections covering everything from how the organic turmeric was harvested to how it was ground into a fine powder, steam sterilized and sifted until it is finally packaged.
Our premium organic turmeric root powder has undergone extensive lab testing for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology to ensure optimal purity, potency and cleanliness. Derived from fresh, raw turmeric root grown on pristine organic farms in India, Health Ranger Select Organic Turmeric Root Powder boasts of cleanliness and quality you can trust. Packed with curcumin and essential nutrients, it retains the full nutritional benefits of raw turmeric. It also contains no gluten, GMOs, fillers, artificial sweeteners or additives and is certified Kosher and organic.
To complement our premium organic turmeric powder and help you boost your absorption of curcumin, we’re also offering Health Ranger Select Organic Ground Black Pepper. Harvested from organically grown peppercorns in Indonesia, our high-quality, freshly ground black pepper is perfect for curries and other dishes and contains no fillers or additives. It is also non-GMO, vegan, certified organic and meticulously lab tested for glyphosate, heavy metals and microbiology.
Like our ultra-clean organic turmeric root powder, Health Ranger Select Organic Ground Black Pepper is lab verified for potency and purity.
Upgrade your recipes by adding a burst of nutrition and flavor with our ultra-clean, lab-verified organic turmeric and black pepper!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose any diseases.
References
[3] https://www.allrecipes.com
[4] https://www.consumerreports.org
[5] https://www.cleaneatingmag.com
[6] https://www.frontiersin.org
[7] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[8] https://www.verywellfit.com
[10] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[11] https://www.sciencedirect.com
[12] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
[13] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
[14] https://journals.sagepub.com
[15] https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
[16] https://link.springer.com
[17] https://link.springer.com
[18] https://www.mdpi.com
[20] https://www.who.int
[22] https://www.mdpi.com
[25] https://www.osha.gov
