Why You Want Turmeric in Your Life

Beautiful, beloved turmeric is one of the most well-known, commonly used, and highly revered spices in the world. This vibrant, golden-orange colored root has been used in the Ayurvedic tradition for thousands of years and is a staple in most Indian households. Because of its many health benefits and uniquely versatile taste, it has also become a popular and well-known cooking spice and herbal ally in the West in more recent years.

Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric root is one of those rare and valuable herbs that is balancing for all of the doshas, or Ayurvedic body types, making it a beneficial addition to almost everyone’s diet. It is known to have a special affinity for the blood and circulatory system, through which it delivers its beneficial properties to the entire body, according to Sebastian Pole in Ayurvedic Medicine: The Principles of Traditional Practice.

The many gifts of turmeric extend to almost every other system of the body, including but not limited to the following:

• Healthy digestion
• Comfortable joint movement
• Proper function of the brain and nervous system
• Healthy blood sugar levels already within the normal range
• Proper function of the liver
• The heart and circulatory system
• Strong immune system
• Healthy, glowing skin

How to Use Turmeric

So what are the best ways to incorporate turmeric into your life? There are dozens of ways to welcome in this versatile spice, but here are my three favorites.

• Add it to your food. Try it in soups, stews, stir-fries, on roasted veggies, in curries, sprinkle it on your morning scramble, sip some turmeric-ginger tea—your options are endless! Just a teaspoon a day will help you get your daily serving.
• Take a turmeric supplement. This is perhaps the easiest way to get turmeric into your routine, especially if you already take a minute each day to take vitamins or other health supplements. Even if you don’t, you just need to find a time of day that works for you, and then take your turmeric supplement.
• Make a turmeric latte. This is my favorite way to take turmeric, especially in the cold fall and winter months. I love Banyan Botanicals’ new Turmeric Milk Mix —with turmeric as the main star, I can get my daily amount in a way that is easy and delicious.

This blend also includes spices like cinnamon and cardamom, plus the herbal superstar ashwagandha. Ashwagandha is an adaptogen that works with the body’s innate intelligence to modulate the effects of stress on the body and mind, and it helps support healthy energy levels throughout the day—including sound sleep at night, according to Anne McIntyre in The Complete Herbal Tutor.

Embracing the Ritual of Health

The more we can bring beneficial herbs like turmeric into our daily lives and find ways of enjoying their benefits that are both practical and pleasurable, the more we take our health back into our own hands.

Taking herbs to support your health doesn’t have to be complicated. Find the option that best resonates with you and get started. Commit to a routine with your turmeric and see how you feel. Whether it finds a permanent place on your spice rack, joins your other health supplements and vitamins, or becomes a delicious and creamy treat before bedtime, turmeric deserves a place in your life.