It’s ugly and lumpy and mostly people don’t know what it is when they see it at the shops. But I love turmeric. Even if it does stain every device in my kitchen a bright yellow.
Know this: more and more studies are showing it beats inflammation. And fights cancer. I eat it as often as I can and it’s made major inroads into my puffiness from that damn ole thyroid disease. SO MUCH SO, MY RECENT TEST RESULTS WHICH I GOT BACK YESTERDAY SHOW I’VE REDUCED MY ANTIBODIES TO NORMAL LEVELS. It wasn’t just turmeric. But it was from diet! Yes. It can be done. PLEASE be heartened by this. Read more about how I heal my auto-immune disease here.
Turmeric has been called one of nature’s most powerful healers. It has great anti-inflammatory properties which can help arthritis. It is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It is said to be a digestive aid that will settle the stomach. Turmeric contains a rich source of antioxidants that help fight against free radicals. It also is said to have anti-platelet properties that help protect against strokes and heart attacks. Studies have also shown that it has a beneficial effect on the liver. In Ayurvedic medicine, it’s a blood purifier. It also normalizes the sugar levels and is very beneficial for diabetes patients. Here are 20 reasons to add turmeric to your diet.
The one that stands out for me is it’s an anti-inflammatory- it inhibits the enzyme which is responsible for inflammation, puffiness and throbbing. Stacks of recent studies are showing how effective it is in bringing down swelling in the cells.
If you have auto-immune disease of any sort: turmeric is your friend.
New York Times blogger Merrill Stubbs also cites it as the new food every top restaurant is using right now. And it made Oprah’s list of the top superfoods for 2010
How to eat turmeric
1. Use the raw root where possible (it looks like ginger, but’s skinnier and is orange on the inside)
2. Make a tea – grate it with some ginger and put in a teapot with lemon wedges and some maple syrup
3. Eat it with cauliflower..the combination of these ingredients has been proven to prevent and help in the treatment of prostate cancer. Here’s a great recipe for a turmeric cauliflower soup from Buff Chickpea.
4. Grate it into basmati rice with some cardomom pods.
5. Stir fry veggies such as broccoli, onion, carrots and sweet peppers, and add a pinch of turmeric along with some ginger, garlic and tamari
6. Grate some into hommus.
7. Add to a banana smoothie. Serious! Or add to a squeezed veggie juice.
8. It’s unreal in Moroccan and Indian dishes. I love it with lamb. Try this Moroccan lamb stew recipe from Wholefoods.
9. A reader just reminded me of this one, too – add to scrambled eggs for kick and colour.
I love turmeric! I like to put it in scrambled eggs
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Sarah this is great news.
My son has a couple of AI diseases, and since MasterChef is obsessed with cooking. He has been putting paprika and turmeric in dinner most nights. That Moroccan Braised lamb looks like dinner tonight. yum ..Last week he made a Moroccan shepherds Pie with Turmeric , also delicious. Interestingly since cooking with Turmeric and other spices his internal issues have improved … thought it was coincidental .. maybe not … thank you for the information, and your wonderful blog
Chris
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gill Stannard, sarah wilson and sarah wilson, Aran Goyoaga. Aran Goyoaga said: RT @_sarahwilson_: anyone with inflammation issues should read this http://bit.ly/aHeN0x [...]
Thank-you so much Sarah, I am inspired. I love love love your work.
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Awesome food. Awesome post.
In Chinese Medicine we use Tumeric for a host of things – it also helps to unbind and is therefore great for pain relief, be it of the chest or abdomen specifically. Its often prescribed for period pain. It can also be used topically also! For ringworm and bruises, and yes as you said, inflammation! You have inspired me to cook with it tonight! Love this.
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Wonderful to read Sarah that your antibodies are at normal levels..you must be excited after all this time…Ian
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Does cooking it reduce its efficacy? Should it be eaten raw for maximum benefit?
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Thanks, Sarah. I try to throw it in everything: like any old stew or a salad dressing. I also want to know the answer to Kelly’s question: does cooking it matter?
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Wonderful article Sarah! You always seem to be on my wavelength – I came across this article after a sleep-deprived night with a swollen tooth. I know have a cup of that tea in front of me (although I substituted honey for maple syrup as honey is anti-bacterial, which I thought wise after my dental surgery today) and it is absolutely delightful.
Im always keen on natural/ herbal alternatives to healing auto-immune diseases, please keep them coming! Your articles are always so inspiring and a breath of fresh air!
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more curries! woo!
with sweet potato, because that is awesome.
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I don’t like its taste, but turmeric in the form of tonic herbs, is good for relieving bad cramps. As for Indonesians, the tonic, which is called Jamu Kunyit Asam in Bahasa, is one of the heritable beauty secrets..
drink water after having the tonic, if I may suggest..
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Great post Sarah! Tumeric is definitely a power food.
As you know ayurveda is a great field of interest and the learnings about food and its role in how we live is a real eye opener.
How are your chakras?
BIG Love.
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Thanks Sarah,
I have started adding tumeric to a chicken, vegetable and ginger soup – it’s delicious! I’d be interested to hear more helpful hints about your diet that has helped bring your antibodies back down to normal. My TSH levels have come down, but despite a gluten, dairy and egg free diet my antibodies have not decreased much.
Thank you so much for sharing and glad you are back online with your inspriational posts.
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i put turmeric in my scrambled tofu all the time (mostly cause it makes it the color of eggs!) but i honestly had no idea you could buy it raw! i thought it was ginger at first when i looked at the picture…then i realized it was yellow. neato! i will definitely try some of your suggestions.
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And it’s good for your eyes, too.
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[...] 6. Eat turmeric. Here’s why. [...]
[...] some turmeric on my lunch. I love it on [...]
The fuzz was very funny but great for me. Sometimes I need to hear the rational side of exercise in the morning to kick my emotional butt and sleepy head out of bed. so good inspiration for tomorrow.
I have an AI disease (inflammatory) and have been taking curcumin tablets, since surgery to my lungs last year. I buy it from the States, it is heat solubilised so it is absorbed by the body quicker and easier than normal turmeric. Curcumin is the protein which makes turmeric yellow which inturn has all the goodness for diseases like this. There have been well documented studies of the effect of turmeric/curcumin on ai diseases. I will admit it has made a big difference to me, which is great. Sarah, you are great and cover all bases, very thorough research.
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I fell in love with a health tonic in Bali called Jamu- had it nearly every day! I was ecstatic to see it in Nortons the other week and made it for myself, its just juice of turmeric, lemon, ginger, splash water and honey. Amazing- stained my juicer like a mofo though! Worth it for evoking honeymoon holiday memories alone!
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November 22nd, 2012 at 2:02 pm
Your drink is called Lolah [Balinese national health drink] I came upon it by accident in Bali and loved it so much I drank it three times each day. I woke each day at4am fresh and alive then bed about 11pm still fresh but slept better than ever before.I am 61years old and i no longer take medication for cholesterol, blood pressure or blood thinners.Tumeric can be grown in Australia (just like ginger)andim sure it could be grown inside in a well lit warm area in cold countries.Powdered tumeric is just as good( the locals told me)Also stop using for two weeks before surgery as it thins the blood…IT is excellent for period problems because it relaxes the muscles of the uterus. THis really works. Ginger in warm milk with a little sugar.
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February 22nd, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Thank you so much for all the review information. It was very beneficial. Please tell me how do you make “lolah” drink. Thank you.
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February 23rd, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Happy to help , Lolah, Officially Lolah is 3 slices of fresh ginger.1 peeled orange [pith on] 45mls of honey , 1/4 teaspoonof powdered tumeric, splash of water, ice and blend well.I personally use 3/4inches of ginger and 1 flat teaspoon of tumeric. I like it strong. Enjoy
just a note – some naturapaths recommend staying away from broccoli and cauliflower….
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is it sufficient enough to use powdered turmeric that is sold in spice jars?
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My DH takes it everyday for bone spurs, if he stops it flairs up again. Will be passing this along. Thank you.
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i had hashimotos 32yrs ago. i also had my thyroid removed with radioactive iodine.
had thyroid function test last week and the tests were not wonderful.
i have had asthma/allergies since i was 10months old. i now have diabetes, fibromyalgia and polymyalgia rheumatica, which is cripplingme.
i believe all of the above to be AI disease.
any comments/helpful information would be appreciated.
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November 22nd, 2012 at 2:08 pm
Marian , please try The lolah drink three times a day I dont have muscle aches and pains anymore Im sure it will Help.I cant stress how good it is.
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I have enjoyed reading your page it is very informative and interesting . I look forward to reading more ! Well done!
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Prayer and turmeric have disolved my thyroid lumps and nodules. I have a letter from my doctor saying that what is left isn’t even big enough to biopsy. I’ve had two biopsies in the past only to see everything return. The turmeric secret for anybody not getting results or who doesn’t cook or eat healthy: get the liquid form from your health food store or Sprouts store. It comes with a dropper. I add the dropper to my coffee every morning. I keep a dropper at home and one in my desk at work so that I don’t forget. The product runs about $10.00 from Sprouts. I paid around $13.00 from another store. I also don’t consider my diet to be healthy. I try to make better food choices but there aren’t many fruits and veggies in my diet.
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