All about Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice that is commonly used in Indian cuisine to add flavor and color. This spice can add a bright yellow color to foods, which is why it is also known as the golden spice. It comes from a root similar to ginger, which for centuries, has been used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat joint pain and digestive issues.

Curcumin is a bioactive compound that is present in turmeric and gives the yellow pigment to this spice.  Recent evidence indicates that the curcumin present in turmeric may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is currently being studied as a natural treatment to help with chronic joint pain and arthritis. Turmeric has also been attributed with other properties such as anticancer, antiviral, antibiotic and antifungal. However, all these claims are still under study.

If you are considering including turmeric in your diet, always prefer to use food vs a supplement. You can add turmeric to your rice, stews, you can use it to season your proteins or to make homemade vinaigrettes.

Today I want to share with you one of my favorite ways to incorporate turmeric in my diet and it is in the form of a hot tea drink. Sometimes I like to drink it in the afternoon instead of drinking a second cup of coffee or as a warm drink before going to bed.

Turmeric Golden Milk

Ingredients

1 cup milk of preference

1/4 tsp turmeric

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp ground ginger or grated fresh ginger

1/2 tsp cinnamon or 1 whole cinnamon stick

1 Stevia packet or sweetener of preference

Directions

1. Put all the ingredients in a small saucepan.

2. Whisk frequently while heating over medium heat.

3. Serve hot.