Turmeric is one spice I use daily in my cooking, every day of the year and especially more during the winter season. For thousands of years,Turmeric holds a venerable position in Ayurveda for it’s wide spectrum of medicinal uses and equally important as a flavorful culinary spice.
Picture from: greenprophet.com
Ayurveda and Chinese medicine have used this “golden” spice for centuries as a medicine taken internally in the form of herbal balms, fresh juice, boiled tea, infused milk and topically as lotions, creams, and ointments. And today, modern Western medicine is recognizing the importance of Turmeric in our daily diet.
The reason I take this spice daily is, per Ayurveda,Turmeric is tridoshic in nature. The bitter and astringent taste of this spice pacifies my pitta dosha when taken in moderation. The warming and pungent quality of this spice also aids in pacifying kapha and vata doshas.
Ayurveda uses Tumeric to treat myriad of ailments and diseases, hence it is also called as “Golden Goddess”. Some of the benefits listed…
Benefits of Tumeric
- Powerful Anti-inflammatory
- Effective Analgesic, Anti-bacterial, Anti-allergic
- Popular Blood Purifier
- Promotes Healthy Digestion
- Maintains Healthy Blood Glucose Levels
- Promotes Detoxification and Weight Loss
- Relieves Joint Pain
How I take Turmeric in my daily diet?
In the past, I used to buy Turmeric powder but lately have seen this quality deteriorate. So, now I order organic Turmeric Rhizome which I love to grind fresh in my Vitamix Dry Grinder (which does an amazing job!!). Generally grind small batches that last me for couple of weeks, this way, I know I am taking nothing but pure stuff and the potency is fresh as I make them in small batches.
Making your own freshly ground turmeric powder takes your curries to a whole new level!! The flavor is much deeper and stronger, so you need to put less in your cooking. One thing I would strongly recommend is don’t cook this valuable spice, I always add turmeric to my dishes after switching off the heat.
I also enjoy sipping tea made with this golden spice, great during winter season to keep you warm and free off the winter bug!
How to fully absorb Turmeric in our diet?
Science is proving now, that, when certain foods are eaten together the sum of nutritive value and bioavailability increases as compared to eating them separately.
Eating turmeric along with freshly crushed black pepper boosts the bioavailability of curcumin. Also turmeric is fat-soluble so, eating it with little bit of fat allows it to be fully absorbed in the body.
How to test the purity of Turmeric?
Sadly, but true, not all “yellow” colored Turmeric powder you get in the market today, is made from the Turmeric Rhizome! Did you know there is an easy way to test if you have the “real” stuff or not by this simple experiment…
Take half cup of lukewarm water. Add about 1/4-1/2 tsp Turmeric powder and stir it well. Add few drops of lemon/lime juice and if the water turns violet, pink, or purple it is adulterated! It shows the presence of Metanil Yellow (highly carcinogenic).
Simple tips, like this, help us to make the right decision. So, I encourage you to go ahead and make sure you are taking the “real” turmeric spice Ayurveda so highly regards!
