Unlock the Power of Turmeric

The golden turmeric spice has many health perks. It’s a powerful antioxidant, has anticancer effects and anti-inflammatory effects that act as a natural painkiller. Its supports brain function, heart health and joint health and boosts your immunity too.

But here's the catch: simply sprinkling it into your tea won't cut it. To truly harness the potential of turmeric, you need to activate it to unlock its full potential.

But why bother, you ask? It all boils down to absorption. The superhero compound in turmeric, curcumin, packs a powerful punch. However, scientific studies have shown that turmeric, in its natural state, has a low absorption rate, meaning our bodies struggle to reap its benefits fully. Most of the curcumin gets absorbed in the liver and stomach lining, rather than reaching the bloodstream where it can work its magic.

4 ways you can activate turmeric and supercharge absorption:

1. Pepper Power: Ever wondered why black pepper is often paired with turmeric? It's not just for flavour. Pepper contains piperine, a compound that slows down the liver's drug-inhibiting mechanisms, boosting curcumin absorption by up to a staggering 2000%. A pinch of pepper in your ginger turmeric shot will do the trick.
   

2. Embrace Good Fats: Turmeric is fat-soluble, meaning it dissolves in fats. Pairing it with good fats like avocado or coconut oil aids its journey through the liver and stomach, ensuring more of it reaches the bloodstream. That's why adding coconut cream to your curry works – they provide the perfect vehicle for turmeric absorption.
   

3. Purple Powerhouses: Add purple foods like berries, red grapes, onions, apples, and green tea into your diet. They have quercetin, a flavonoid that hinders the enzymes responsible for deactivating curcumin. Blend up a blueberry smoothie with a dash of turmeric for a deliciously potent dose.
   

4. Golden Paste: Make a turmeric and pepper paste (or keep shop bought turmeric blends in your fridge) and add it to your golden lattes or bedtime herbal tea.

How much turmeric should I take?

While those eating a traditional Indian diet may eat as much as a teaspoon of turmeric a day (about an inch of fresh turmeric root), there simply isn’t an RDA (recommended daily allowance) we can follow for turmeric.

Adding turmeric to your cooking, smoothies, lattes or a morning wellness shot has many health benefits. And from a health point of view, its best used when you need it most. But if you’re interested in taking a regular turmeric supplement speak to your doctor first.

If you can find it, fresh turmeric is always best. And with these simple yet effective ways of activating your turmeric, you can unlock its full potential and pave the way for a healthier, vibrant you.

Adding turmeric to your cooking may be better than taking supplements.

SOURCES

1.     Kocaadam B, Şanlier N. Curcumin, an active component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), and its effects on health. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2017 Sep 2;57(13):2889-2895. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2015.1077195. PMID: 26528921.

2.     Percival SS, Vanden Heuvel JP, Nieves CJ, Montero C, Migliaccio AJ, Meadors J. Bioavailability of herbs and spices in humans as determined by ex vivo inflammatory suppression and DNA strand breaks. J Am Coll Nutr. 2012 Aug;31(4):288-94. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2012.10720438. PMID: 23378457.

3.     Zdrojewicz Z, Szyca M, Popowicz E, Michalik T, Śmieszniak B. Kurkuma – nie tylko przyprawa [Turmeric - not only spice]. Pol Merkur Lekarski. 2017 Jun 23;42(252):227-230. Polish. PMID: 28662006.