Superfood trend: the lowdown on turmeric
Turmeric has become super trendy, now appearing in a multitude of beauty products and its signature Golden Milk giving the Matcha Latte a run for its money. But before you rush into making your own DIY turmeric face mask, what’s all the fuss about and how can you incorporate this wonder spice into your life without the risk of dying your face yellow, a la Daisy Ridley?
Hailed as a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, turmeric is an excellent source of iron and manganese, as well as vitamin B6, dietary fibre, copper, and potassium. Health experts advise that we make an effort to consume turmeric on a daily basis to help support our immune system, improve circulation, regulate blood pressure and revitalise the liver. Studies have even found turmeric to be an effective treatment of depression because with prolonged use it can help combat anxiety, irritability and stress-induced fatigue.
I love turmeric and have been enjoying warm turmeric milk for a while now, especially as a pre-bedtime tonic. Cow’s milk is my favourite way to enjoy it, but when I’m cutting down on dairy I use either Almond or Rice milk. These don’t feel quite as comforting, but are still tasty options.
A really simple way to boost turmeric intake is when brewing regular tea, add in ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric to your mug before pouring in the hot water. I like to add it to smoothies, especially my morning protein shake. I either use 1 teaspoon ground turmeric or about a 1-inch piece of fresh turmeric root. This gives a subtle hit; you can double these amounts if you prefer a more intense flavour. Include coconut oil in the mix to boost absorption of the spice.
If you are new to turmeric, adding a teaspoon to scrambled eggs or an omelette is a great introduction. The flavour will remain low-key while the colour of the turmeric will complement and enhance the colour of the eggs.
To add warm flavours to any curry or stew, add 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric when you sauté the vegetables in oil. This works extremely well with one of my favourites, sweet potato and lentil stew. It’s a staple dish for me, especially during the colder months when I’ll knock up a batch in the evening and refrigerate in single portion sizes to take to work for my lunch.
Turmeric is also very well suited to cauliflower, so why not give a colour pop to your plate while spicing up your cauliflower rice with half a teaspoon. Or how about adding a golden glow to a chicken or tofu stir fry? There are so many possibilities because turmeric really does pair well with so many foods. When it comes to combining flavours, cinnamon, cardamom and garlic are a good choice.
Last, but by no means least, try intensifying the flavour and colour of pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins or a pumpkin loaf by stirring in 1 teaspoon of freshly shredded turmeric to the batter and baking as usual. I have a fantastic recipe for Pumpkin and Pecan Muffins. Click here to take a look and get baking in time for Halloween and Thanksgiving.
As well as benefitting our overall health, in time the effects will begin to reflect in the look of our skin, which cannot be clear and glow if our bodies are suffering or overloaded with toxins. So start harnessing the power of turmeric today and see the difference inside and out.
Please share my post if you enjoy it and don't forget to come and join me on Twitter.
Catherine x
