You may have seen this bright yellow-orange spice in the grocery store and wondered “how would I ever use that?” Well you healthy and fabulous eager learners, let me fill you in on the juiciest info I’ve got on this popular spice. There’s a lot scouring the web about turmeric, but let me give you the ultimate 411 and share some tricks of the trade that us holistic nutritionists know. Go grab your turmeric now that you have sitting in the spice cupboard, bring it with you to the computer, sit down, get comfy and let’s dive into this divine spice worth many times it’s weight in gold. Ready? Let’s go…
Alright, first things first. This deciduous tender perennial (yep, it keeps coming back year after year) is known among it’s friends as Curcuma longa. It loves to vacation and hang out in Southeast Asia and is native to this area. Ginger is turmeric’s sister… they’re related and from what I’ve heard, they’re the bestest of friends and pop up all over recipe books around the world together. You know what they say about ginger right? No? Well then jump on over to my good friend and holistic nutritionista Nicole Hunter’s Gingerly Love article and she’ll teach you everything about ginger, Click Here. You’ll love it, I promise! Plus, knowing about ginger will give you a better idea about it’s sexy sister: turmeric.
Turmeric & Ginger look alike
Ms. turmeric is a long rhizome like Ms. ginger, but Ms. turmeric rocks a thinner, rounder shape. She also catches all the boys’ attention with her brilliant orange flesh. Just like ginger, turmeric’s roots are what are used and home to loads of healing actions.
Where to find it?
Most Asian stores have fresh, frozen and even dried turmeric roots.
Health food stores also often offer the dried whole root. If you haven’t seen one, you’ve gotta check it out! I have a few on hand and love to look at their bright yellow color. They make my spice cupboard look fancy.
Supermarkets everywhere carry turmeric in ground form. Test out different forms of it, taking in it’s happy color and getting to know it’s scent and flavor and get your creative juices going and start playing in the kitchen and adding it to different recipes. No stress! Just have fun and see which recipes YOUR body and taste buds like it in. I’m all about listening to your body.
Healing properties:
Brace yourself… this is juicy and I’m only sharing this because The Naked Label is ALL ABOUT creating a world where we can all Be Healthy & Feel Fabulous and I totally want this for each of our amazing readers! Turmeric is definitely one of those spices that we want part of this world! Ready for the long list? Here it is:
Antioxidant
Turmeric has potent chemical compounds that kick out those free radicals roaming around inside our bodies that damage our arteries and speed up our aging. Yahoo! Natural anti-aging (inside and outside) with turmeric!
Anti-Inflammatory
Ok, here’s where I share a personal story. I started to fall in love with turmeric when I started reading the latest research about it’s anti-inflammatory effects, particularly in Crohn’s Disease, a disease I’ve been living with for over 17 years now.
Whoa! Hold the phone… What?! Me, Ashley, a holistic nutritionist with Crohn’s Disease? Shouldn’t all holistic nutritionists be like, super healthy? Yep, well I’ve come a long way since I was 9 years old and complementary and alternative medicine have had a significant impact on my health. How do you think I found holistic nutrition and fell in love with it? Every holistic nutritionist has their reasons, and mine was to learn what I needed to listen to my body and how to take my healing journey to the next level, and then to teach what I’ve learned with everyone else so that we can all Be Healthy & Feel Fabulous.
Which leads me to turmeric! This healing spice is more than just the spice in your kitchen; it’s the herb that should be in your medicine cabinet. Not only does it provide anti-inflammatory relief, but it’s also used to treat:
- rheumatoid arthritis
- cancer
- candida
- AIDS
- Crohn’s disease
- eczema
Antimicrobial
Turmeric combats them ALL! You name it, turmeric has something in it’s tool belt to win any fight with any lurking microbial: a shining sword to fight off bad bacteria, advanced tear gas to extinguish viruses, and something extra special for fungi like Candida – a head over heels, fall-in-love-with smile and figure that leads fungus in for the kiss of death. Turmeric has a weird and crazy fetish for Candida, like one of those vampires from Twilight has for human blood. Turmeric is your new best friend ladies and gents!
Anticoagulant
Analgesic
Wound healer
Lowers blood cholesterol
Reduces exercise pain
Antispasmodic
Protects liver and increases bile production and flow
Who cares about bile production and flow, anyway?
What you probably didn’t know about bile
Top 12 uses for turmeric:
- inhibit colon and breast cancer
- helpful for those who have had their gallbladder removed
- boosts insulin activity
- reduce stroke risk
- hepatitis
- nausea
- digestive problems
- rheumatoid arthritis
- candida
- AIDS
- Crohn’s disease
- eczema
Turmeric Recipes:
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Pot Popped Cheesy Turmeric and Coconut Oil Popcorn
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Green Lentil Dhal
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Baingan Bharata (Eggplant Curry) with Chickpeas
This recipe was provided by holistic nutritionista-to-be Ashley Anderson. Check out her site here! At The Naked Label we love to watch for new and exciting content that Ashley pumps out especially about digestive health!
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Photo of Turmeric powder by: Steven Jackson.
Photo of Ginger and Turmeric roots by: Ratna Rajaiah.