Turmeric
You might know from my Instagram and Facebook feed that my husband and I spent a long weekend in NYC. We rode bikes EVERY DAY – up to about 30 miles a day! We loved it so much that when we got home, we dusted off our bikes and hit the road! Bike riding in NYC in June vs. Charleston, SC is very different temperature-wise (traffic-wise too). To start our SC adventures we rode around our neighborhood for a bit before deciding to venture out. Always choosing early in the morning or later in the evening we were surprised that the breeze created by riding was pleasant. Who needs cars and air conditioning?!! I’m joking! On our first adventure out we rode about three miles to the Waterfront Park and Pier and then to the other side of town to Shem Creek. We then crossed back to our side of town and headed for home. Hot, thirsty (we forgot to bring drinks – this is new for us), and a little sweaty, we were happy to come across a juice shop. We shared a nice refreshing green juice and my husband had a turmeric shot. Check out the Turmeric Shot recipe I recreated to share with you. It’s husband approved! Enjoy!
Turmeric is a spice that is commonly used in Asian food. It comes from the root of the turmeric plant. This plant is part of the ginger family and is perennial which means it comes back each year. Generally, if you plant the root, you’ll need to dig it up to use it but if you leave a couple in the ground or replant a few roots it will multiply and you’ll have some for the future! Below is a picture of the turmeric roots I planted a couple of months ago. You can see lemongrass behind it. Being my first time planting turmeric, I was shocked to see the growth so fast. I’m hoping that I’ll have a nice clump of roots in there when I dig them up. I watched these videos to learn how to plant and harvest turmeric. I think you’ll find it super easy, however, the entire process takes about eight months. The second video gives great tips on storing so you can have turmeric all year until the next batch is ready for harvest!
Below is what it looks like when you dig it up and wash it off (hopefully).
You may have heard turmeric being referred to as curcumin. Curcumin is the yellow-colored primary active part that comes from the turmeric root. Many people use turmeric as an anti-inflammatory. The Natural Medicines database says it can be used for:
- arthritis
- joint pain
- indigestion
- abdominal pain/bloating
- Crohn’s disease
- ulcerative colitis
- IBS
- headaches
- common cold
In food and manufacturing, the essential oil is used for perfumes, the turmeric and its resins are used for flavoring and coloring. You probably know it best for being a culinary spice and major ingredient in curry powder!
Besides the Turmeric Shot, I like adding organic turmeric powder or a small piece of fresh root to my smoothies. You can also try sipping on a Golden Turmeric Latte.
I know many who do well supplementing with 500mg a day and working up to 1000mg a day if well tolerated. Check Fullscript for a good quality supplement in your price range. Remember, if you are my client you will receive 25% off. If you are not my client you can still receive 10% off! Always speak with your primary care physician before starting any new supplements especially if you are taking other medications.
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