Turmeric - Superhero Spice
Turmeric definitely qualifies for superhero status when it comes to health - and can act as a really potent medicine for a huge variety of ailments. It’s a really powerful immune booster - so always useful to have it to hand to keep away colds and flu.
The active ingredient component of turmeric is Curcumin - and it’s properties include:
Anti-inflammatory properties, which fight the inflammation that is at the root of so many long term chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome and Alzheimer’s
It increases anti-oxidant levels and neutralises free radicals, which are the cause of tissue damage all over the body
It boosts levels of the brain hormone BDNF, which increases the growth of new neurons and fights various degenerative processes in your brain
It has also been shown to protect against heart decease and cancer and reduce the effects of inflammation in autoimmune conditions such as arthritis
It has even been shown in some recent studies to improve instances of depression
Getting started
Easy morning wake-up drink
Just pop a few slices of fresh turmeric and fresh ginger with a squeeze of lemon and a touch of black pepper into a mug and top with hot water. Let it infuse for a few minutes and drink warm.
Flu-buster
Up the ante and make an even more powerful immune system booster:
Blend together equal amounts of lemon, ginger, garlic and turmeric into a paste - again with a little black pepper. Store this paste in the fridge (or make in bulk and divide into ice cube trays in the freezer). When you need an immune system pick-me-up mix a teaspoon into hot water and drink. Great to take when you feel a cold coming on - or take every day as a preventative measure.
Turmeric Latte
Ingredients
350ml almond milk
¼ tsp each of ground turmeric, ground cinnamon, ground ginger
½ tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp raw honey (optional)
grind of black pepper
Put all the ingredients in a small saucepan and whisk constantly over a gentle heat. Once hot, pour into mugs and sprinkle with a little more cinnamon to serve.
Another easy way is to add turmeric to creamy curries, sauces and soups - more recipes coming up soon.
Pro Tip!
Turmeric is not well absorbed by the body - so always add a little black pepper to turmeric, to increase the absorption into the bloodstream - and onto all your cells to do its work