Top 5 Ways to Use Turmeric in Your Daily Routine

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family, and like ginger, produces fragrant roots that are commonly used in cooking, traditional medicines, and beauty/wellness products. Delicious and fragrant, turmeric is also highly nutritious and is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties among other medicinal qualities. There are lots of amazing ways to use turmeric, and adding just a little bit to your daily diet can help you maintain overall wellness.

Overview: What is Turmeric

The turmeric plant is indigenous to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, where it has traditionally been used for cooking and a variety of other purposes such as herbal remedies. The beautiful golden yellow-orange of the turmeric root is deeply pigmented and can be used to create dye for textiles or to add beautiful color to curries, salads, soups, and more. Turmeric is also beautifully fragrant, particularly when dried and ground, adding delicious flavor to various savory dishes, drinks, and desserts.

In addition to its delicious culinary properties and beautiful pigment, turmeric also possesses several healthy medicinal properties that are proven to help support human health and wellness.

Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties that have made turmeric a favorite in traditional Indian and Southeast Asian medicine. Supplementing a healthy diet with small amounts of turmeric can help to support brain function, reduce unwanted inflammation, and possibly even prevent certain cancers. Some of the benefits of consuming turmeric include:

• Reduced inflammation
• Increased absorption and retention of antioxidants
• Improved brain function and reduced risk of brain disease
• Reduced risk of heart disease
• Could help to prevent and treat Alzheimer’s
• Antidepressant support
• Anti-aging and great for the skin

What Are The Side Effects of Turmeric?

When taken in reasonable and recommended amounts, turmeric is not associated with any major side effects. Like other supplements, consumption of turmeric could cause some stomach discomfort or nausea in certain individuals, but these symptoms typically occur only at higher doses. When applied directly to the skin, turmeric may stain or leave a yellow tint behind and should be used with caution around easily stained clothing or household items.

How Much Turmeric Should You Take Per Day?

Typically, individuals wanting to add turmeric to their daily routine should consume between 500-2,000mg of turmeric per day, though this could vary depending on personal preference or need. Turmeric capsules are a good option if you are not a fan of the flavor of the root, but if you enjoy it, fresh is always better.

Though dry turmeric does contain the active ingredient curcumin, if possible, it is better to consume the root fresh. Fresh turmeric contains many natural nutrients and antioxidants and is rich in natural oils that are highly beneficial for overall health.

Top 7 Everyday Uses for Turmeric

Now that we have convinced you that you should be adding turmeric to your daily routine, you are probably wondering how exactly you are going to sneak turmeric into your diet. Here are 7 awesome ways to use turmeric to support your overall health, all of which can easily be incorporated into your daily routine without much additional effort.

Shredded

Using your cheese or vegetable grater, shred fresh turmeric root to top your favorite salad, mix in with your favorite dip, or add to fresh sandwiches to enjoy a little extra color, flavor, and nutrition.

Candied

Candying fresh turmeric is an amazing way to turn this fragrant root into a sweet treat and can help you to preserve the root for an extended period. Candying turmeric can help you to avoid wasting roots when you overbuy, or can be a good way to ensure you have access to this nutritious treat year-round if you live somewhere with limited supermarket access. Candying your turmeric is fairly simple, and there are many awesome recipes out there to experiment with. This candied turmeric recipe from Delicious Obsessions is an excellent example, and both the candied roots and the syrup are delicious on ice cream, topping fruit, or eaten on their own.

Minced

Mince your turmeric and add the finely chopped root to anything where you might use minced garlic, ginger, or onions. Pasta sauces, soups, rice dishes, stews, and any other dish that tastes delicious with garlic, ginger, or onions will receive an added boost of nutrition and flavor when you toss in a few teaspoons of minced turmeric.

Infused in Oil

With its natural anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is amazing paired with CBD, which promotes relaxation and can reduce body tension and pain. CBD infused oils can be added to anything from savory dishes and foods to sweet desserts and drinks. CBD oil infused with turmeric gives you all the benefits of CBD with the added nutritional value of turmeric, creating an amazing relaxing and anti-inflammatory cocktail in a simple tincture. Want to try combining CBD with turmeric? Try this incredible turmeric CBD oil from Mana Botanics.

Blended in a Smoothie

An inch or so of frozen, peeled turmeric added to your smoothie is a great way to balance flavor, add a beautiful color, and receive all the root’s natural antioxidant properties all at once. Freezing fresh turmeric is also a great way to preserve the root, and makes it easier to add to blended items like smoothies and soups.

Pickled

Like candying turmeric, pickling the root can help to extend its shelf life and make its consumption and keeping a little more convenient. Like pickling other root vegetables, pickling turmeric requires only a simple brine and an air-tight container. Try this simple fresh turmeric pickle recipe, or create your own and add your favorite pickling flavors.

Golden Paste

Golden paste is made from a blend of coconut oil, turmeric, and spices to create an easily preserved spread. Golden paste can be added to virtually anything. Mix into yogurt, oatmeal, or soup, spread on toast or scones, enjoy with warm milk to soothe the throat, or apply topically for mild anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving effects.