You might recognize turmeric for its brilliant golden color or perhaps you’ve eaten it in a traditional Indian curry dish. This spice, made from turmeric root, has been used for thousands of years in both India and China. It has some amazing health benefits primarily due to the main active ingredient called curcumin. Curcumin contains more than two dozen compounds that support normal, healthy inflammatory levels in the body. It's also a very strong antioxidant, meaning it removes damaging free radicals from the body, and is known for promoting the body’s innate resistance to pathogens in the body.

Because curcumin promotes a healthy inflammatory response within the body, it's often used for joint pain and swelling. It's a natural liver detoxifier, and can even be mixed into a paste and applied topically to support skin health.

How can you add more turmeric to your diet? Simply sprinkle it on roasted vegetables (like asparagus, brussels sprouts, and potato wedges), add it to soups, enjoy more curried dishes, or try this turmeric tea. Combining turmeric with freshly cracked black pepper dramatically increases its absorption in the body.

Turmeric root powder has a peppery, warm and slightly bitter flavor with a delicate fragrance. If you are using dried turmeric powder to make tea, you can reduce the bitterness by boiling it, so pay attention to the water temperature if you find your tea to be bitter. 

Adding turmeric to your diet is a great step toward optimal health, and on my list of top 5 natural foods to include regularly. Enjoy! 

I N G R E D I E N T S

1 tsp cinnamon

pinch of clove

pinch of nutmeg

1 tsp fresh ginger (optional)

fresh cracked black pepper

1-2 cups water

raw honey to sweeten

milk of choice – coconut, almond, and hemp milk all taste great

optional add in: ¼ to ½ teaspoon ashwagandha powder

D I R E C T I O N S