Written By: Kira Greasley, B.A., CHNC.
With summer behind us and, temperatures cooling, my thoughts always drift to those foods that bring warmth.
Turmeric, a relative to ginger, comes from the large, deep-yellow underground stem of the plant Curcuma domestica. This intense yellow-orange coloured root is a deeply warming spice that has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The active constituent in turmeric is curcumin which has been shown to decrease pain and inflammation in the pancreas, stimulate the production of insulin and reduce blood sugar levels, which helps reduce the risk of onset diabetes. Curcumin also protects the kidneys from the damage caused by drugs, chemicals, heavy metals, diabetes and kidney surgery. If that wasn’t already enough, turmeric is also known to inhibit platelet aggregation, which can reduce the risk of blood clots, a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
Turmeric can be often hard to grind yourself, so most often, I buy my turmeric already ground. If you do the same, make sure you buy small amounts of good-quality powder and use it up before you buy more.
If you are curious and looking for ways to add turmeric to your diet book a consultation with Kira Greasley, B.A., CHNC to learn more.
**If you are on any medications, please consult your MD or ND before introducing turmeric into your diet.
