Turmeric is a spice often used in Asian foods, and commonly found in curry. Turmeric comes from a turmeric plant. It has a warm bitter taste that will turn foods a bright orange color. The root of turmeric is curcumin, which is often used in foods for its bright yellow color. However, it is time we give this spice more credit. Not only does it give us flavor and color in our foods, but it also has many health benefits. Curcumin and other chemicals in turmeric are linked to reducing inflammation and depression. The anti-inflammatory agent in curcumin is good for people with arthritis because it can reduce swelling and pain. It is found that Tumeric can also help lower blood fat cholesterol.
The research on turmeric and its healing powers is quite new, leading to insufficient evidence supporting the connection to other diseases. For example, some research shows that curcumin can improve memory and attention in older adults, while other research shows that curcumin does not improve mental function in older people who don’t show signs of mental decline. Also, for patients with Asthma, adding turmeric to standard therapy for asthma doesn’t seem to improve lung function or reduce most asthma but adding turmeric to usual asthma treatment in children may reduce the need for rescue inhalers and reduce nighttime awakenings. Overall, the benefit of Turmeric is that it is a spice. By including it in your diet you are not putting yourself at risk of developing side effects that often come with new medications.
Below are a few ways you can include turmeric in your diet:
- Use a small amount of turmeric in scrambled eggs or a frittata
- Add it to vegetables, its warm, peppery flavor goes well with cauliflower, potatoes, or other root vegetables
- Add a dash to rice for color and flavor
- Blend it in a smoothie, the pungent flavor is usually well masked in a smoothie
- Add it to soups
