Turmeric extract — curcumin derived from turmeric — may protect heart after surgery: half of those patients were given one-gram curcumin capsules to take 4 times a day, starting 3 days before their surgery and continuing for 5 days afterwards: people on curcumins had a 65% lower chance of heart attack. One limitation was that the study was relatively small. Another is that while curcumins are thought to be safe, there could be side effects at very large doses. April 16, 2012