When I was growing up, I was scared of my Mom’s Indian cooking. I thought it looked weird, smelled funny and was nothing like what I saw available at school or what other kids were eating. This was a HUGE mistake and one that I regret tremendously. Not only is my Mom’s cooking my favorite food in the world now, but I love all the healthy ingredients she uses!
Indian food, as most of you know, is full of spices that have antioxidants and other nutrient dense properties that nourish the body.
Back then, I knew nothing about those spices, but now I do. Turmeric is one of those spices that I am most thankful for discovering! Not only have I used it to curb inflammation caused by injuries, but I eat it almost everyday.
Turmeric has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat a number of conditions and scientists believe that one of the reasons why turmeric is so powerful is that it contains curcumin. Its beneficial properties have been the subject of thousands of peer-reviewed and published studies.
Recently I went to an island called Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania in Africa. While there, I got to visit the most incredible spice farms that grow almost every spice imaginable. I met the most impressive young man named James. He works on the farm in his free time to save money for med school. James showed us around and we ate the fresh turmeric he dug up straight from the ground. Here’s a short video of James getting some fresh turmeric root for us to try.
See How Turmeric Is Grown:
To experience Turmeric this fresh, was AMAZING to say the least. Here’s 15 easy ways to add this powerful spice to your diet!
15 Ways To Add Turmeric To Your Life:
1. Brew Turmeric tea: Dr. Andrew Weil recommends this simple way to use turmeric – Just bring 1 cup of water to a boil and then stir in ¼ teaspoon of ground turmeric or fresh grated turmeric. Allow it to simmer for 10 minutes and strain before drinking. You can stir in honey or fresh lemon juice for added flavor.
2. Stir up a curry powder: When you’re cooking with turmeric, it’s a good idea to mix it with some black pepper or oil (or both!) as this has been shown to increase the bioavailability of curcumin so that your body can use it. That’s why one of the best ways to eat turmeric is in dishes with some fat, plenty of black pepper and curry powder. A basic curry powder can be made with 8 parts ground coriander, 4 parts ground cumin and 1 part each of turmeric and cayenne or paprika. You can decrease the cayenne and use paprika instead if you don’t want it spicy, and store this in a glass container in your pantry for up to 6 months. Try using this curry powder to make these Chickpea Curry Wraps, or in this Coconut Split Pea Soup! Those are both very simple recipes taken from the Food Babe Meal Plans for Health program. If you want to make a more elaborate curry, you’ve got to try this Balinese Curry Sauce that I learned to make in Bali a few years ago – it’s amazing.
3. Blend it into a smoothie or juice it: You can add a pinch or two of ground turmeric or one to two inches of raw fresh turmeric to a flavorful smoothie, like this Sunrise Green Smoothie, and you won’t even taste it! Granted… it may change the color of your smoothie, since it’s got such a strong pigment. 🙂 To increase the bioavailability, dissolve the turmeric in a bit of warm coconut oil before blending it in, or blend in ½ an avocado for some fat. You can also juice Turmeric, check out this recipe.
4. Season roasted veggies: Toss some fresh vegetables (like diced potatoes, cauliflower, or brussel sprouts) with a dash of olive oil and turmeric, along with any other seasonings you like. Roast at 400 degrees, tossing once until done, usually about 30-40 minutes.
5. Brush your teeth with it: When I first heard this I thought it was ridiculous… because who wants yellow teeth! That’s until I read that for some reason it doesn’t stain teeth yellow, and instead whitens them up naturally. But be warned that your toothbrush will get stained yellow! Simply dip your wet toothbrush in a pinch of turmeric, brush your teeth with it, and allow it to sit on your teeth for about 3-5 minutes. Make sure to rinse your mouth (and sink!) thoroughly and then brush with your regular toothpaste afterwards. This isn’t a daily ritual, just do this occasionally to brighten up your smile.
6. Add color to boring dishes: Stir a dash of turmeric into plain basmati rice, quinoa, mashed potatoes, or eggs for added color. It doesn’t add much flavor, and changes things up a bit.
7. Drink Golden Milk: This is an ancient Ayurvedic recipe that can be made a number of ways. It is essentially just a turmeric paste mixed with warm milk and oil or ghee. You can use any kind of milk for this recipe (dairy, goat, nut, oat). To make the paste, simply bring ½ cup filtered water to a low simmer and then mix in ¼ cup of ground turmeric, stirring constantly until it makes a thick paste (this can take 5-10 minutes) adding more water as needed. To make the golden milk, mix 1/2 teaspoon of paste with 1 cup of milk in a saucepan and cook over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes. Stir in about 1/2 teaspoon of coconut oil or ghee before drinking (you can also add other spices like cinnamon, ginger, or black pepper, and honey or maple syrup for some sweetness). Store the remaining turmeric paste in your fridge for 2 weeks. This is fabulous before bedtime! …zzzzzzz!
8. Make homemade mustard: You can mix up a basic mustard with ½ cup ground mustard, 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon water, 1 teaspoon each of turmeric and salt. Store in a glass jar in the fridge.
9. Fortify your soup: A few dashes of turmeric can be added to most soups without changing the flavor, it adds a nice color to brothy soups and may help you fight a cold.
10. Mix up some “Golden Honey”: Mix 1 tablespoon of powdered turmeric with 7 tablespoons of raw honey (this is known as Golden Honey). Dissolve a 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture in your mouth every couple hours. You can also make some turmeric gummy bears (like these from The Cook’s Pajamas). Just make sure you choose the right kind of gelatin to make these (grass-fed, organic). Since gelatin is an animal product, it’s crucial that you carefully choose your gelatin and that it doesn’t come from factory-farmed animals that were subjected to antibiotics, artificial hormones and GMO feed.
11. Saute a healthy side dish: For a quick side dish, saute some fresh greens (kale, spinach, etc) in some olive oil and turmeric. I like to add fresh garlic and a dash of sea salt too.
12. Sprinkle on an avocado: This is an awesome snack, full of fiber and just enough fat to keep you from indulging in unhealthy processed snacks from the vending machine. Another variation is to mash the avocado, mix in some ground turmeric, a dash of sea salt, a dash of black pepper, and spread it on sprouted bread or brown rice crackers or cakes.
13. Make natural food coloring: There’s no reason to ever bake with artificial dyes like Yellow #5 and Yellow #6, when it’s so easy to make with turmeric. Just boil some water, whisk in enough turmeric to create the yellow shade you want, and boil for 3 to 5 minutes. Allow it to cool and store it in a glass jar in the fridge – and that’s it! If you want to use it to dye Easter eggs, simply add some vinegar to the dye.
14. Top your salad with it: You can sprinkle a pinch of turmeric directly on your salad or blend it into about any salad dressing, and the flavor will go largely unnoticed. Make a quick turmeric salad dressing by whisking together 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric, 2 teaspoons miso paste, 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon raw honey and the juice from 1/2 a lemon (this is another recipe from the Food Babe Meal Plans for Health program) – or try stirring some into this tahini dressing!
15. Spread it on your skin: Just mix some ground turmeric with a little water (you can also use coconut oil, almond oil, or sesame oil), apply it on your skin, and wash off after about 15 minutes. Beware, that turmeric will temporarily stain your skin, so this works best on body parts that you can cover easily or don’t mind being orange for a little while!
Before you run out and buy some turmeric…
One thing you don’t want to do is just pick up some random powdered turmeric from the spice aisle and start sprinkling it on your food, because many of these spices are irradiated, grown with conventional pesticides, and not organic. If you want to use turmeric effectively, buy organic high quality ground turmeric or fresh turmeric root from the produce section (found in natural food stores like Whole Foods).
Want to learn more about turmeric?
When you pick up your first bottle of Truvani Turmeric, I’ll send you two complimentary eBooks:
- Truvani Life: I’ll walk you through my top healthy-living tips. I answer some of your most-asked questions about what to eat (and what to avoid) to stay fit and healthy.
- The Ultimate Guide To Turmeric: A beautiful 35-page guide to help you better understand the remarkable power of Turmeric, the ancient Ayurvedic remedy. I’ll show you how to incorporate it into your daily life with delicious recipes, specific product recommendations, and more.
Get your Truvani Turmeric + 2 Free eBooks here
Our mission at Truvani is to choose the absolute best ingredients, as nutrient-dense as possible, without processed chemical ingredients invented by the food industry to increase their bottom line. We enjoy food the way it was meant to be – real, whole, organic, and full of nutrients. Experience it for yourself!
If you know someone who loves turmeric or needs to try this powerful spice, please share this post with them!
Xo,
Vani
*This statement has not been evaluated by FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
As with any dietary supplement, you should discuss with your healthcare professional prior to use. If you are breastfeeding, pregnant, or considering pregnancy, you should consult your healthcare professional prior to taking any supplements. Discontinue use and contact your healthcare professional if you experience any side effects or an allergic reaction. Keep out of reach of children.
Hi Vani,
Do you think the Simply Organic brand ground turmeric is a good one? Is that sun dried as well?
I am not sure, but I love this brand for my other spices.
what about taking curcumin capsules in addition to or in place of adding turmeric?
Im not sure about all the exaggerated anti aging properties of spices and parsley etc that you talk about. You are 36 and u look 36. So I don’t see your point
Please, pronounce this word correctly. It’s TUR MER IC. The first r is not silent. Thank you.
@Noma – THANK YOU for pointing this out. Drives me NUTS that people don’t pronounce it correctly!
Additionally Vani, you MUST point out that in order for TUR MER IC to be absorbed into our systems it MUST be heated with water and as it cools, add organic virgin coconut or 100% organic olive oil and some pure, organic black pepper to the mix. Go to http://www.turmericlife.com.au for all the information about turmeric you ever wanted to know. Some awesome reading!
i wondered too as I buy this brand.
I feel like I avoid Indian food because I have no clue how to cook or prepare it. And sometimes with spices, a little goes a long way. I don’t want to ruin dinner and then have to order takeout. But I have been reading a ton about how good Tumeric is for you. I love the idea of using it as a substitute for food coloring.
We’ll have to change that! I need to post more Indian recipes.
Yes you do need to add more Indian Foods
Than you
Patricia
Yeah! I love Indian food spices. That would be awesome!
Oh please do, I love Indian food, I am always eating it…well, I did cook it..:)
I discovered Indian food a few years ago. I fell in love with it. It is now my most favorite type of food. I think most of the dishes are fairly healthy or can be easily modified to make them healthy without losing the flavor, aroma and/or texture.
Any ideas would be most welcomed!
Yes please!!!! I LOVE Indian food !!!! We just came a few weeks ago from the smokey mountains (where I would love eek to live) and i bought a book called the medecin of the Cherokee. ..they also talk about all the health benefits of tumeric and all the other spices….I love it! Im so obsessed with Indians, they are so wise,beautiful and they livery the way my heart n soul wanna live! What a great Culture. …
by the way my kids 5 n 10 loveeee tumeric
It is really easy to make Indian food, curry, turmeric, coconut milk and add other spices to your taste. as Nike says Just do it:)
I finally just started making some Indian dishes last year, after not eating Indian food more than a handful of times my whole life. If you worried about the spice, you can start with half as much as in the recipes, and taste as you go along, and when it’s done see if you would want to add more next time.
(Worried about the spice as in spiciness in general, not turmeric, which I don’t believe is spicy by itself. I also add a shake of turmeric to Indian dishes even if they don’t call for it, and to any tomato-based sauces where the color is overtaken by the tomatoes, like even Italian meat sauce, and baked beans.)
I work with a woman from Iran and she says to use the yolk from an egg and mix a tablespoon of turmeric with it, apply the paste to sore or injured joints and wrap with a cloth before bed and when you wake up the joint feels much better. Thanks for all you do!
Hello! I’m looking for a food blogger/ chef who considers themselves a yogurt expert for a Market Research Study in NYC on 9/16. Would you happen to know anyone in the NYC area? It’s an hour in-person interview and pays $250.
Thanks!
I first started using curcumin bcm95 There are many pill types ,brands ….I have used these pills about 7 years but lately I’m experimenting with turmic in salad dressing ,stirfries,and making my own curcumin in a coconut oil b l ack pepper paste to use instead of the pills ……If you have any health i ssues you could google your issue with turmic or curcumic use to see if it might help …..It seems to help everything
I have started using a capsule with BCM 95 from Life Extension after using Turmeric from New Chapter for over a year. Definitely makes a difference for arthritis pain and more. Also add 1/2 teaspoon spice to some of smoothies.
I really enjoy receiving your emails and all the very good, accurate and useful information. You definitely are a cutting edge trail blazer and “peaceful warrior” when it comes to promoting health and encouraging big shifts in a mostly very irresponsible food industry.
I had ordered your book when it first came out along with a promotional bonus but unfortunately I was away on overseas work when it arrived at the post office and they returned it after holding it for only 15 days. I will order another copy and some for my grown up family.
Thanks for all your creativity, initiatives and making this your mission that also nurtures you in so many ways
Thanks for all your great work, helping to clean up the food industry! No one else has your determination! I’ve suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for 10+ years. At my worst I needed a walker to move, now I can play golf again and walk with no pain at all. I stopped eating unhealthy and now eat organic fresh fruits and vegetables. Turmeric has been a big part of my new diet. Dedicated my life to helping and mentoring all autoimmune disease sufferers around the world. To spread the word I wrote my book, Arthritis: How I conquered it! Stay happy and healthy! Thanks, Walt Merrill
Great post! I’ve been a fan of turmeric — and Indian food — for years. Sayer Ji over at GreenMedInfo.com says turmeric cures or alleviates over 600 medical conditions. But even without that, I’d still be a fan of turmeric. Keep up the good work, Vani!
Coincidence! I just sauteed some fresh organic swiss chard with turmeric, curry powder, pine nuts, and dried apriots in olive oil. Added a little white wine and vegetable broth. It’s yummy! Then I saw your article.
That sounds amazing!
I get my Organic Turmeric from Thailand in capsule form which also has Black Pepper Piperine. I pull the capsules apart and put the Turmeric in a raw protein shake with powdered raw greens, raw cacao powder, Maqui berry powder, raw Camu powder, coconut powder, hemp oil and apple cider vinegar. All Organic. I put Hexagonal water in to get all this to mix together. Shake and drink.
I LOVE turmeric and have been using it in so many ways for about a year now. I don’t have any bad health symptoms as I eat the Food Babe Way!! but take it as a precautionary measure. Did you know turmeric is also excellent for your pets? My dog Sofie also loves it.
Check out this OH! SO INTERESTING SITE:
turmericlife.com.au and find out what this support group is advising. There is a LOAD of vital information attached for you and your pets.
I have been using turmeric a lot myself lately. I recently read several books by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, who is an anti-aging expert, and turmeric is near the top of his list for foods that make you look younger. He is huge on the connection between inflammation and aging, and Turmeric is very anti-inflammatory. So it’s not just the inside of your body that benefits, it’s your skin, too!
Great reminder, thanks !
I have used Turmeric for years already and since I read your article, dear Food Babe, Vani, I am even more aware and will try to apply it on my teeth too.
Love from Knut (Canute)…
I never considered brushing my teeth with turmeric, and I’m not sure I could endure that! But I have used turmeric as a spice, and I will try the tea! Thanks again, Food Babe.
I heard that turmeric prevents Alzheimer disease as there is very low occurrence in people of India due to their large use of turmeric. However, the turmeric needs to be heated/cooked to provide this benefit. I watched a TV show with simple Indian cooking by Alamelu. She would heat oil in a pan and put in the spices for their flavors to bloom, then add the other ingredients. I don’t follow recipes, I just throw healthy food in a pan and cook it the least amount of time for the nutrients to be available without destroying them. Some foods need cooking a bit like tomatoes need 1/2 hour, while collards would need only 4 minutes if cooked at all. Some foods with need some cooking to be digestible. Some foods should not be cooked because it damages Vitamin C and precious enzyme. So I throw olive oil in a pan at low heat as not to let it smoke and cause carcinocenic effects and toss in the spices found in curry, such as turmeric, cardeman, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, then I add purple onions, for my immune system, letting them cook a few minutes then sliced or cubed tempeh or firm tofu, for protein and calcium, then sliced carrots with vitamin A that is oil soluable, garlic that has been chopped and allowed to sit in the air for 15 minutes to allow the oxygen to create an immunity supporting chemical, and not early to burn, finally I add my dark green leafy veggies and complimentary mushrooms with selenium for happy hormones. I add a bit of water just below the leafy greens so they steam for only 4 minutes, instead of boil and the water also gets all those good spices into a solution off the pan like deglazing and turns it into a soup. Yummy, healthy, quick. If you want to do authentic Indian cooking, there are many sources online and many authors of Indian cuisine cook books. Or find an Indian in your neighborhood and pay them to teach you in their home.
MOM ALWAYS KNOWS BEST
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Vani please stop being a commercial for products that pay you to promote them. seriously you don’t need the financial support!! you started out with a great authentic mission, now you are a commercial for any paying product. and on top of that you embarrass yourself by having vacations paid for so you can pimp yourself ( sorry to be so rude I don’t know of another descriptive word for what you are doing now)to promote them. You were always taken seriously and respected, now you are compromising yourself. I Mean who wears leggings and huge earrings to Africa??? i hope you did some work for the underserved while you were there.
For the record 46% of the population will have an appendectomy, your “medical crisis” seriously ?? why do you continue to be vague and refer to it as your medical crisis? great marketing. I sincerely hope you can get back to being authentic . your work is so important, but it is only meaningful and impactful when it is authentic and comes from your heart. Good Luck.
Maybe you should dress in such a way as to make yourself feel beautiful. It might lift your spirits.
How do you think bloggers make money??? (that’s how she started out and quit her paying job) If she puts a link to a product she HAS to put the affiliate link disclaimer. Or maybe she should work for free. These are products she supports and backs not products that bought her Gheesh (insert eye-roll here)
What about taking supplements for turmeric is that just as affective as raw or powder
Look up the product Protandim. It has a lot of turmeric in it and has excellent research behind it.
I have Crohns Desease, after 20 years I fell out of remission and started looking for natural anti-inflammatory herbs. I stumbled upon Turmeric… With a diet of organic ground flax (I’ve found has anti-inflammatory properties) and organic turmeric from a company called Organic India along with a cleaner diet I have been able to get my symptoms minimized.
Curcumin needs to be heated in the digestive tract to be most beneficial. For people like me that have digestive issues pepper or pepperin can be harsh. Organic India’s turmeric uses ginger instead which creates more heat without the irritation. Love this stuff!
Beautiful, nature itself tells us about God, even our own hearts ♡ by which many will judged by the King of kings who resurrected in a glorious body, not like these dying temporary ones we have now :). Jesus is coming and everyone will bow down . It’s necessary we care for our current/temporary corruptible bodies, but even more so, a lot, way lot more, for our eternal soul. We wouldn’t sell 1 of our precious beautiful eyes – how much more our soul. What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul. .. God bless you all in Jesus’ name amen.
..I so enjoy your site, and I also use Turmeric…in many of the ways you have written about. ..I have also found that its a nice little ‘ remedy’ for asthma. I have mild adult asthma and brew up a ‘ concoction ‘ of filtered water,( heated ), add raw or organic honey , add 1/8 tsp. to 1/4 tsp of turmeric, stir well and sip. Its amazing . 🙂
i have a question FoodBabe what filter do you use for your filtered water cause i didnt think any of the normal ones filter the fluoride and other added chemicals only the chlorine taste and the heavy metals?
Check out the Berkey filters. They Filter both fluoride and chlorine. Water tastes great~!!
Even the phrase “Just Do It” has been borrowed from the Ancient Indian mythology “The Mahabharata”. Here Lord Krishna tells Prince Arjuna to go ahead, and “Just do it” when Arjuna is in doubt about fighting and killing his own cousins. This is the famous ” Bhagavat Ghita’. For those not familiar, please find an easy to read version.
A most excellent interpretation of the Gita is ‘God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita’ by Paramahansa Yogananda (SRF).
I make turmeric ‘tea’ all the time. I love the taste and I don’t have all the packaging waste typical of buying tea bags.
My husband is a high level tennis player at 65yrs. He is in many tournaments and we are going to our 2nd. nutritionist for the optimum diet. We try very hard on our own but realize it is so complex. He is supposed to eat a certain amount of carbs and protein 4hr. prior to a meet and only 1 1/2 hrs for other foods. Any suggestions would be helpful.
Martha
Good afternoon! I applaud your diligence on eating well and getting plenty of exercise. One huge area within the ‘art of eating’ is called food combining. I read a small 20 page pamphlet way back when I had hair on my head and Moses was still around! That pamphlet was titled, ‘Food Combining Made Easy.’ Recently, I found another book written covering the same topic. ‘How To Always Be Well.’ The book, I believe was written back in the 1940s. The author’s name is Dr. William Howard Hay. The book is out of print but if you know someone running a used book store they may be able to find it for you. Lastly, check out Dr. Masaru Emoto! This book shows you how to energize your water/food way beyond our 5 senses! Blessings.
p.s. Nobody makes an apple like Him!
Food Combining made Easy, I think was written by a man Herbert
Shelton.
I’m wondering how long turmeric lasts. I got a large amount two years ago from Penzey’s Spices, which seems to be a good quality source. Will it still have beneficial effects for health? Thank you.
I have to get myself some golden milk then!
I started using turmeric regularly and noticed if I use too much, it will give me headache.
Do you not feel that this type of farming has led to destruction of their natural surrounding, and greenery, as i have noticed in the background, in the outskirts, trees and various fauna….
Ironic that this same practice would not be allowed in the Amazon forest by you or others that care about keeping these endangered places, free from deforesting farm practices..
Whats your view on this?
Sadly, all agriculture causes destruction of habitat. Just look at the Great Plains of the U.S. Or anywhere that anything is grown. You can wild-harvest, but that also poses sustainability issues.
Lots of great ideas, but I wonder when you are going to find out that oil is bad for people? Oil is not a “food”, it is a component of food and without all the rest of the stuff that makes a food (fiber, protein, etc), it becomes toxic, contributing to diabetes, cancer, inflammation, etc. It is omnipresent in our society as is the diseases it causes. We need to tell people, and show more recipes without it. There are few things that cannot be made without oil. Butter has all the attributes of oil.
http://www.life-saving-naturalcures-and-naturalremedies.com/dr-bruce-fife-interview-coconut-oil-expert.html
I am so lucky, I have a friend who is Indian, and cooks for me all the time…she is also my neighbor. I had no idea her cooking was good for me too! Yeah!
what are your thoughts on taking Turmeric as a vitamin supplement? Is it as effective? I take the ‘Youtheory Turmeric Advanced Formula Anti-Inflammatory Support, Tablets’.
On another topice, I want to say thank you for the research article on stevia and the great recipe for stevia extract. I react unfavorably to erythritol. It makes me very dizzy if I have more than 2 t. of that brand of stevia in a 24 hour period. I am also very allergic to sucralose, aspartame and all the dextrose stuff. I’m going to grow stevia. My friend already has a plant and it loves our hot dry climate…..if we can keep the bunnies out of it. Cheers, Kathie in Odessa, WA, USA
The way i add turmeric to our diet is I add it in in cooking rice, water, 1 tsp of powder turmeric per cup of rice. Some times I put some lemon grass leaves or pandan leaves. Hope this will help.
Hello Vani, I see plenty of Full Circle Foods products at the store latetly. The Brand name is simply Full Circle and their logo is a circle with colors and it says “return to a natural way of living”. I’m sure you’ve seen it. Organic crops are very limited and organic produce is hard to come by. Then all of a sudden these people start coming up with all kinds of supposedly “organic” products made with all or mostley organic ingredientes. Do you now anything about the company behind this Brand? Would you endorse their products? In their web-site there’s a section called Our Story. But they don’t really say anything about who they are or how the company started. How do we know their products are truly organic? What if the only organic stuff in their products is the word ‘organic’ in the package? This could be a biotech mafia operation. They probably thought one day, “eeyyyy we’ve created franken and toxic foods and now we’re gonna sell food to the greenies as well. Make a lot of money on both fronts, we just print the word organic in the envelope and no one is the wiser”. Please share your comments if you know anything about this brand and thank you for all the good work and for fighting the good fight.
I have been using tumeric and honey for years to help with immunity in the winter. The minute I feel like I might be getting a cold I take some. It always works great. Everyone else in the house and at work can get a cold or the flu and I never seem to all winter. I just can’t seem to get my family to try it though. They see I don’t get sick but they are afraid of the taste. I will keep trying to get them to take it though. Lol wish me luck.
Keep up the great work. You are making great changes.
Turmeric is also extremely good on wounds. My first experience was 20 years ago when my mom found a kitten injured in our backyard. it had a deep gash on its paw. my mom, put some turmeric and bandaged it with a handkerchief. She continued to do this for 2 weeks and it completely healed and the little fellow was so happy that he decided to make our home his home.
A few years ago, i split the webbing on my palm while playing cricket and applied a turmeric bandage on it. I was good to go in 3 days.
The one thing though is that you should have access to good, genuine turmeric powder. Many brands available in Indian grocery stores in the US are not genuine. If you have access to dried turmeric, there is nothing like grinding to make your own. if not MTR is a good brand.
What is the optimal amount to consumed each day of raw ? I make a lemon tea each morning before my coffee and I use about an inch and simmer. How much more ? Suffering from inflammation. Thanks in advance.
Hi,
I was told that you have to be careful how much Turmeric you consume it reduces your Iodine, is that true?
I tried mixing turmeric with coconut oil, making a paste and putting it on my 2 year old’s hands for his eczema. I left it on as long as he could stand it, about 15 min, then washed it off. It’s too hard for him to sit still so this isn’t a practical solution. I tried many creams but almost nothing works. Sometimes I use hydrocortisone and it’s helpful, but as soon as I stop using it, the eczema returns. Do you know of any natural way to help his eczema? Thank you.
At 47 I FINALLY cured my exema with chia seeds. 1-2 teaspoons every day, and I’ve been eczema free for 3yrs now. Make a pudding for the little guy and he’ll eat it right up….
I don’t really like the taste of turmeric so I started taking it in capsule form (450mg with 5 mg. pepper). I have fibromyalgia and recently fell and injured myself. Even though the injury had healed my overall pain level had stayed very high. I increased my turmeric intake to 2 capsules 3 times a day and I am finally not in constant pain. I had just about given up on ever feeling pain free. Does turmeric reduce iron, though? Just read that recently.
Do you have any recipes/uses for the fresh turmeric leaves ? I have a plant growing now that is doing so well,I had to ask . Thanks
Add it to roasted veggies – sounds like a hit. Wash it down with some iced tea.
http://agreenleafhome.com/category/sustainability/
Just bought my turmeric immediately after reading your article Vani. Thank you for making ‘living healthier’ easier for those of us that are caring for sick or overweight people trying to get thinner- like I’m doing for my family of 9. Your like the ‘cliff notes’ that cuts to the chase and packages it in a form we could understand. Aside from the few haters you have (as I noticed on the comments) you are making such a difference in the lives of many! Keep partnering with whoever you have to in order to keep supporting yourself. As long as the information is genuine and accurate- we’re gonna keep reading!!
Just because you grew up with Indian food doesn’t automatically make it the best diet ever. If that’s what you want to eat, fine, but don’t act like it surpasses all over foods from over the world in keeping you healthy. I suspect that Indian agriculture has its own issues, but they are just different than the ones we have.
Not trying to be mean, just trying to keep everything on a level keel. Stating that one spice will likely prevent a whole host of medical issues is a bit of a stretch. Everyone wants the magic spice/food/drug that will cure everything.
Still like your newsletter, but more when you are pointing out things like the differences in butters. That is where your strength is.
I make a ginger/turmeric shot every morning in my juicer. It’s wonderful and easy, 1/2 to 1 apple or pear + a 1/2-1″ knob each of fresh ginger root and fresh turmeric root. It tastes great. Is a wonderful wake up drink and what a nice anti-inflammatory way to start the day!!!
Do a search on types of cinnamon. Seems ceylon type is the best, and does not harm the liver. Cassia cinnamon is a little different, and do not use in abundance. The cinnamon advertised here is cassia type. I have not researched liver disease in India though. My dr. is the one who warned me about not using the cassia type because of a liver problem.
Turmeric has around 300 synergistic healthful components, so taking a supplement which has only ONE of these, such as curcumin which is usually extracted with harsh solvents as it is not water soluble, is probably not the best way to go. Whole Turmeric powder is much healthier, but you need to know that it needs a bit of gentle heating, a healthy oil or fat for digestion, and freshly cracked black pepper which increases the effect in the body once digested. Fresh root is fine but for health purposes it’s probably not going to give you enough in such small amounts, which is why the powdered root is so good to use. Check out http://www.turmericlife.com.au for ways to use this amazing spice for human and animal health.
Is there a vitamin supplement with turmeric/curcumin you would recommend that offers this as opposed to putting it in food? I have joint pain in my knees from running and severe TMJ. I would like the benefit of this for reducing inflammation but don’t think I can use it as a food.