The Super Spice You Need in Your Life

Turmeric. You may have heard this buzzword thrown around lately—and for good reason.Due to [...]

By Hayley Simmons

(Photo: Getty)

Turmeric. You may have heard this buzzword thrown around lately—and for good reason.

Due to it's boundless amount of disease-preventing properties, Turmeric has been touted as possibly the most effective nutritional supplement in existence and more and more studies are showing the incredible effects it can have on your brain and body.

But, what IS it, exactly? (You just mastered Chia Seeds and Cacao powder, and now you're expected to know this?) Never fear, we're breaking it all down for you now.

First, the basics:

  • It's a plant/root
  • It's a relative of ginger that has a warm, bitter taste
  • It's main active ingredient is curcumin, which has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant (working as well as many anti-inflammatory drugs but without all the negative side effects)
  • It's one of the healthiest ways to add flavor to dishes and is frequently used in curry powders, mustards, butters and cheeses

Now, the seemingly endless benefits:

  • Known to tame heartburn and upset stomachs and is a natural liver detoxifier
  • A compound in Turmeric may stave off heart attacks, delay diabetes and fight cancer
  • Leads to various improvements that have proven to lower risk of heart disease (which is the biggest killer in the world right now)
  • Used to relieve joint pain and joint inflammation associated with arthritis
  • Boosts levels of an important brain hormone (BDNF) which increases the growth of new neurons and fights degenerative processes in the brain like Alzheimer's (aka, it could make you smarter)
  • Used to great a laundry list of other ailments like stomach pain, bloating, gas, jaundice, liver problems, gallbladder disorders, headaches, colds, menstrual problems, depression and the list goes on and ON

Okay great, Turmeric is obviously fabulous and you're obviously on board to buy a bottle or three STAT, but how are you supposed to use it?

Another good question, you inquisitive Womanista, you.

Here's how you can incorporate it into your daily life:

  1. Toss it with roasted vegetables and olive oil (works especially well with cauliflower and root veggies)
  2. Add it to egg scrambles and frittatas
  3. Add it to your brown rice dishes
  4. Mix it into soups (we're dying to make this carrot, turmeric and ginger recipe!)
  5. Sprinkle it onto sautéed greens like kale or cabbage
  6. Blend it into a smoothie
  7. Make Turmeric tea

A photo posted by deliabrown (@deliabrown) on

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