Oh turmeric, how I love you!! (Even though you don’t taste so good)
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a plant native to South India and Indonesia and has been valued in Asia for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb. I recommend this healing spice to many of my clients from chronic headaches to crippling arthritis pain. If you aren’t a fan of this pungent super spice, or just don’t know how to use it, you’re not alone.
It’s a particular taste and unless you know how to use it right, you’ll probably forget about this healing gem and leave it in the spice drawer to collect dust. But if you like to use your herbs and spices as your medicine cabinet, then turmeric is a must!
I’ve started adding it everywhere, from salad dressings to quinoa, and even as a natural food dye for icings. If you are new to using this medicinal spice, try the recipe below for a delicious healing beverage!
How can turmeric benefit your health? Let me count the ways..
- Potent anti-inflammatory ~ Chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and autoimmune skin conditions can benefit due to inhibition of a major cellular inflammatory agent called NF kappa-B and the antioxidant properties found in turmeric
- Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, may be used in the prevention and treatment of cancer,including colorectal, prostate, bladder, ovarian, and cervical cancers.
- In Ayurvedic medicine it is used for wound healing and respiratory conditions.
- Turmeric can help to elevate important liver enzymes (UDP glucuronyl transferase and glutathione-S-transferase), helping to enhance detoxification.
- Provides protection against oxidative damage to brain cells that can lead to Alzheimer’s disease
- Due to it’s metabolic anti-inflammatory action, curcumin may be helpful as a weight loss aid.
Healing Golden Turmeric and Hemp Drink
This warming golden beverage has major antioxidant properties to help protect the liver, increases detoxification systems and bile flow, has potent anti-inflammatory actions, is helpful for cancer protection, cardiovascular health and Alzheimer’s disease. Need I say more? Enjoy this wonderful healing beverage as a snack or a soothing drink after dinner to help calm digestion.
- 1 cup coconut or almond milk (unsweetened)
- ½ banana
- 1 Tbsp hemp seeds
- 1 tsp coconut syrup (or raw honey)
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- ¼ tsp dried ginger powder or ¼ tsp fresh ginger root, grated
- ¼ tsp cardamom
- Dash nutmeg
- Dash of black pepper (helps to absorb the trumeric)
How to make:
Add coconut or almond milk to pot and heat to simmer (not boiling).
Add warmed milk to blender along with all ingredients except nutmeg.
Blend until smooth and frothy. Sprinkle with nutmeg and sip it down!
Makes 1 serving.
Enjoy!
