6 Reasons to Cook with Turmeric

The past few years many a yogi have been social media raving about turmeric. Long before the trend, this spice has been used in recipes across the globe for thousands of years to both enhance flavor and boost longevity.

The plant itself is very beautiful with giant green leaves and a pretty tropical yellow flowers. It is the root however that we eat. The root looks a lot like a ginger root and is from the same family. The inside is a robust yellow though and the flavor is slightly different.

If you try a little of the spice just on your finger it is warm and bitter, but add a little to your meal and it makes it what I consider to be a slightly sweet flavor. Not sugary, but vegetable sweet like yams or carrots. I enjoy adding a dash to just about all my winter soups and frequently to a batch of flavored rice or hummus. It can also be enjoyed as a latte added commonly to either regular steamed milk or a vegan milk like almond with some cinnamon and nutmeg or mixed into a smoothie. You can even try it on popcorn. 

It turns things bright yellow and can be used as a natural dye. I’ve found it to not be staining for teeth or hands or dishes, tea is much worse. That said, it adds a ton of color to the dish you make with it. It’s a great one for making fun colorful pasta like Salty Seattle, which is a really fun thing, in the middle of winter especially. When things feel dull that burst of color can lift you way up.

But here is why you actually want to eat it:

Anti-cancer

Fights Inflammation

Fights Depression

Lessens Arthritis

Lowers Diabetes

Lowers Cholesterol

Turmeric has a compound called curcumin in it that has been found to have anti-inflammatory properties, cancer fighting properties, and combats depression, amongst other things. It is important to say that no one thing will cure you overnight, but turmeric seems to be showing signs of helping tame these problems in people who eat this spice on a very regular basis. I for one can attest that I typically feel a mood boost just a few hours after eating some turmeric every single time I do that I can feel is more than just wishful thinking. It’s similar to exercise for how actively better my mood improves. I highly, highly, highly recommend it to anyone who gets the winter blues.

 

Try it here.

 

I feel like it activates my yellow chakra. Does anyone else know that feeling? Have you ever eaten for your chakras before? Which foods did it for you?

Whats your favorite turmeric recipe? Let us know in the comments below. ❤