Turmeric, a spice you may be familiar with if you like Indian food, has become majorly popular in Western society recently-and for good reason! Evidence of turmeric has been dated back over a thousand years ago, and it’s use has ranged from a spice, to medicinal, and even to religion-particularly the Hindu religion. Turmeric contains Curcumin-a powerful anti-inflammatory substance. Some of the benefits of regularly consuming turmeric include:
Anti-inflammatory (inflammation is at the root of a lot of health issues)
Soothes digestion
Aids in weight loss
Helps to encourage healthy cholesterol levels
Promotes radiant skin
Boosts memory
Cancer and disease prevention
...and there are so many more benefits to regular consumption of turmeric. Personally, it’s helped to clear up my skin and to help with inflammation. I’ve always had bad inflammation in my shoulders which caused a lot of tension and sometimes pain. When I regularly consume turmeric, this pain subsides substantially. I’ve even heard of people healing injuries naturally with turmeric.
Okay so turmeric sounds great and all, but how do we get it into our diet daily?!
Funny you should ask...I’ve highlighted some of my favorite ways to consume turmeric. I use all of these methods depending on the day, so that I’m always getting at least a little turmeric everyday. I like turmeric because it’s versatile-you can go sweet by pairing it with honey and cinnamon, go savory by adding black pepper, or go extra spicy by mixing it with ginger!
Turmeric Latte
Ingredients:
-1 cup homemade almond milk -1/2 TSP Turmeric -1/2 TBSP Coconut Oil -1/2 TBSP Local Honey -1 Pinch of Cinnamon Warm the almond milk over the stove for a few minutes to desired drinking temperature. Put all ingredients in the blender and blend on HIGH for 30-45 seconds (if your blender is plastic, make sure the almond milk isn't too hot before putting it in there!) Pour in a mug and enjoy!
Curried Vegetables
Try this easy Roast Cauliflower with Curry, Turmeric and Lemon Pepper. I've made this several times and it's so easy and delicious!
You can also just saute your vegetable of choice and add 1/2-1 TBSP of turmeric along with salt and pepper.
Sweet Potatoes
I really like a teaspoon or two of turmeric in my mashed sweet potatoes. You can go savory and add the black pepper, or stay sweet with some cinnamon.
Smoothies
You can add a teaspoon to your smoothie easily-kick up your vanilla smoothie a notch by adding some turmeric. I'm about to release a carrot cake smoothie that has turmeric in it.... stay tuned :)
Pill Form
A turmeric supplement is one of the best ways to get your turmeric fix daily. Truvani, a company started by food activist and blogger Vani Hari, has the first ever 100% organic supplement on the market. It’s a tablet with Curcumin and black pepper, which helps your body absorb all of the great nutrients. I keep this on my purse and take it almost daily. I used to make a turmeric latte every morning, but that’s time-consuming! On the days that I don’t have time to curry my cauliflower or make a latte, this did a very convenient alternative!
Best Practices With Turmeric
Like most spices, you want to store in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight. It’s always best to get the fresh root if possible, but that’s not always practical! When purchasing ground turmeric, always go organic so you’re avoiding pesticides or any other chemicals used in processing it. Try to consume it with healthy fats since it’s fat-soluble. Also, try to consume it with black pepper too- black pepper also helps the absorption of the curcumin.
What's your favorite way to consume turmeric?
XO
Haley
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