Turmeric: Beyond the Latte

Turmeric: Beyond the Latte

Turmeric lattes are everywhere these days. Is it a passing fad or is there a reason for you to include turmeric in your life?

Here are some things you should know about turmeric:

  • It’s pronounced tur-mer-ik. Yes, you are supposed to pronounce that first ‘r’.
  • Turmeric is a herb that comes from the root (rhizome) of the plant Curcuma longa, and is a part of the Zingiberaceae (ginger) family. It has a deep orange colour and a warming, slightly peppery, bitter flavour.
  • Dried, powdered turmeric can be found in the spice section of the grocery store. Whole turmeric is showing up more and more in the produce section of grocery stores, often alongside ginger. If you can’t find it in your local grocery, try a nearby Indian market.
  • If you’ve used this herb in the past you’ll know that it stains! Take care not to let it get on your clothing or sit on countertops, and you may want to wear gloves while handling fresh turmeric.

Health Benefits of turmeric:

  • Turmeric is most popularly known for the anti-inflammatory compound curcumin, but that’s not its only health benefit.
  • Studies have shown that turmeric possesses antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties, and has potential against various conditions including allergies, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease[1] and can be used in preventing and treating gingivitis[2]. 

How popular is turmeric? In the 2016 Food Trends on Google report, searches for turmeric grew 56% in 3 months[3], and there are currently 3,913 peers reviewed studies on turmeric on PubMed. It’s a popular topic!

Add Fresh Turmeric Root to Bone Broth

How can turmeric be used?

Whether you are using dried or fresh turmeric, keep in mind that a little goes a long way. 

  • The turmeric latte aka golden milk aka turmeric tea seems to be the most popular way to include it in the diet. This warm beverage is typically a mix of warm almond or coconut milk, turmeric, sweetener of choice with optional vanilla, ginger, black pepper (the compound pepperine aids in the absorption of the turmeric), cinnamon or other spices.
  • Add a teaspoon of dried or freshly grated of turmeric into your bone broth soup for a savory warm beverage.
  • Use it in a face mask with yogurt and honey to help brighten and soothe your skin.
  • Add a teaspoon into your smoothie. Turmeric pairs well with carrot, mango or pineapple and adds a nice bright colour to your morning beverage.
  • There are lots of ways to include turmeric in your home cooked meals: sprinkle some turmeric into your rice when it is cooking, add it to soups & stews, roasted vegetables, homemade salad dressings and even scrambled eggs.

 

About the author:

Hema is a Certified Nutritional Practitioner (CNP) and culinary nutritionist. After more than 10 years in consumer marketing & project management, Hema’s journey into nutrition began when she started experiencing her own health issues. Her path into her own healing led Hema to become a Certified Nutritional Practitioner, culinary nutritionist, 21-Day Sugar Detox Coach and a volunteer Food Revolution Toronto Ambassador. She focuses on educating others about the powerful healing abilities of nutrient-dense whole foods. Check out Hema's blog at nomadicnutritionist.com! 

Sources: 

[1] Aggarwal BB, Sundaram C, Malani N, Ichikawa H. Curcumin: the India solid gold, 2007, Web.

[2] Stoyell KA, Mappus JL, Ghandi MA. Clinical Efficacy of turmeric use in gingivitis: A comprehensive review, August 2016, Web

[3] Pina, Pedro. 2016 Food Trends on Google: The Rise of Functional Foods, Google April 2016, Web.

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