Turmeric, for your health!

Recently, we enjoyed a broadcast on NPR touting the health benefits of turmeric. In the broadcast, they shared a recipe for Turmeric Milk, a treat which they willingly experienced live on the air for us to enjoy. Trader Bill was sold, urging us all to join in his excitement! That day, on his afternoon snack run, I implored of him to please pick up some milk so we could try this idea out, once and for all! And so it began, in our tiny office here at Spice Traders Mercantile. Bill warmed the milk in our minuscule microwave that is about a 3 watt machine. Lucky for us, turmeric is one of the hundreds of spices we carry, so it was here at our fingertips! Then we slowly stirred in a heaping teaspoon of brighter than day turmeric powder. (It may have been at this moment the errant NEON dribble of turmeric milk made it's presence known on our white cupboard. Careful, this stuff stains!) The broadcast didn't really spell out a recipe, or give us a specific ratio of turmeric to warm milk, but from a few suggestions found online, we threw in some honey for good measure. C'mon, honey makes everything just a hint better! Our portions divided into tiny dixie cups, we proceeded to give this Indian medicinal remedy a shot.

Warmed Turmeric Milk

Our first tastes...initially it is warming, pungent and a bit comforting. I could immediately see how loving mothers in India saw this as medicinal, carefully administering Turmeric milk to their sick and afflicted children. The aroma and the experience is quite invigorating. Jan, our Princess of Prosperity at Spice Traders, described it as an unexpected combination of flavors. "It is initially mild, with a powerful secondary note of spicy, not heat, just exotic." As I sipped my neon yellow milk, I immediately recognized it as a root vegetable, having the essence of ginger. It had a anesthetic sensation, which I found out later is why turmeric is often used as a natural painkiller. 

Here are some other things I learned:

• helps cut levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in the blood--even when the meal is rich in oily sauces and high in fat, as discovered by Penn State researchers
• it is a potent natural anti-inflammatory, reducing arthritic symptoms
• contains curcumin, which may block the formation of many forms of cancer
• it is a natural liver detoxifier
• has been used in Chinese medicine as an anti-depressant
• it is a natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent, useful in disinfecting cuts and burns
• in combination with cauliflower, prevents and stops the growth of existing prostate cancer
• beneficial in treatment of melanoma, leukemia, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer
• has been shown to stop the growth of new blood vessels in tumors
• may aid in fat metabolism and healthy weight management
• may prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease by removing amyloyd plaque build-up in the brain

Now that I've convinced you that turmeric is worthy of your attention, how do you add it to your diet? Here are a few ideas I found to help you actually consume more turmeric in your diet, if you don't fancy drinking it in warm milk twice a day. 

Turmeric Salad

• Add a teaspoon to the water next time you make rice to give it an Indian flair
• Add a sprinkle to your egg salad or deviled egg recipe. You will find it imparts a warm yellow color and a touch of warmth in the flavor. You know that yellow mustard in your fridge? Yeah, that's turmeric!
• Blend with melted butter and drizzle over cooked veggies, pasta or potatoes
• Include it in your next batch of Bread and Butter pickles!
• Don't forget this is what gives curry it's distinct yellow color, so throw a little in your next curry dish
• It is a popular ingredient in a lot of chutney and relish recipes

So what are you going to try it with? Let us know!