Fried eggs, cauliflower rice, pork chops, lamb, noodles… I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word turmeric, it conjures vivid smells of amazing dishes that have been brought to life with this versatile spice. There’s nothing better than food packed full of flavour to have you salivating in anticipation. But what if I told you, turmeric not only adds amazing flavour, but is full of health benefits. A relative of ginger, this multipurpose spice is not only common in India, but has been used for centuries in medicine to treat many different issues.
What Is Turmeric?
Firstly, let’s take a look at exactly what turmeric is. This flowering plan belongs to the ginger family, and its roots are commonly used in cooking. Its warm bitter taste is often used in curries and other dishes – in fact, this is the spice that gives those curries the yellow colouring. Several different compounds make up this plant, one of which is quite well-known: curcumin. This yellow-flavoured chemical is known for its health benefits and is used widely in medicine. Scientists are only now just catching up with what Indians have thought and believed for a long time: it really does contain medicinal properties.
- Depression: one of the most well-known compounds in turmeric is curcumin. Over the past years, scientists have been excited about its potential to ease depression and aid antidepressants in their job. Research is currently divided on this one, but it certainly can’t help to try.
- Anti-inflammatory: while small amounts of inflammation in your body is good, when it becomes chronic it starts to attack your body’s tissues. Scientists now believe that low-level inflammation actually plays a big role in many diseases from heart disease and cancer, through to Alzheimer’s and more. Curcumin has been proven as a strong anti-inflammatory that is actually just as effective as some of the anti-inflammatory drugs out there – minus the side effects.
- Viral infections: no-one likes feeling under the weather, and many of us are all too eager to try mum’s chicken soup to help us feel better. Next time, it might be worth adding some turmeric to the dish! Curcumin can actually help you fight off a variety of viruses, including the flu.
- Headaches: turmeric’s cousin, ginger, is well-known as a natural remedy to help with those headaches. Naturally, coming from the same family turmeric can also play a role in this. While there is little scientific research to back this claim up, people do sing its praises online, so it may be worth testing out for yourself.
- Cancer: did you know that it has been suggested turmeric can help both prevent, and possibly even fight, cancer. It has been studied in cancer treatment and found to affect cancer growth, development and spread at the molecular level. There has even been evidence that it may actually prevent cancer in the first place. It’s still early days with these studies, however it’s a hope that is definitely worth holding onto.
- Hay fever: curcumin has also been proven to reduce hay fever symptoms, such as sneezing and itching.
Knowing all these amazing health benefits, you are probably running out to the shops now to pile on the turmeric in tonight’s dinner. This isn’t a bad plan, since we all know how amazing this spice tastes! But sadly, it’s not going to result in the health kick you are hoping for. Most studies that have been carried out on this plant use extracts that are mostly made up that vital ingredient: curcumin. Being able to reach the same levels just using the turmeric spice in your food is highly unlikely.
So what is the best way to experience these health benefits? Using a supplement – while still adding the spice to your food, of course! Turmeric Capsules are the most effective way to get all the health benefits offered by curcumin, in the one easy-to-digest capsule. Due to its properties, almost seven times more curcumin is absorbed with these capsules, by taking just one, twice a day.
Looking for some other options? If you simply want to add a little more of this spice into your life, here are some simple ways to do it:
Turmeric Tea: helps with your digestive system and can be a great way to ease the symptoms of a hangover.
Turmeric Latte Blend: how great is this combination? Replace your regular coffees with the delicious tasting lemon and ginger in this blend that will help absorb the turmeric. So many health properties in one delicious drink!
Turmeric Hot Chocolate Blend: you really can’t go wrong with hot chocolate. This blend contains all the right properties to get a little more turmeric in your life, in a nice, tasty and health drink.