What Is It?

Turmeric is a gorgeous hued root that looks like a smaller cousin of the more familiar ginger root and is responsible for adding that beautiful golden yellow color to a lot of Indian foods well as some cosmetics.

Where To Find It?

• The easiest place to find powdered turmeric is in the spice section of your grocery store.
• I am also starting to see more stores stocking fresh turmeric in the produce section.
• I have found turmeric as a health supplement readily in the vitamins section of most pharmacies.

Health Benefits

Turmeric has been used for thousands of years for medicinal purposes. Curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric, is responsible for most of the health benefits. These benefits are further enhanced when combined with black pepper. Turmeric is frequently touted in health magazines as a useful supplement to combat many health issues. No wonder Indians have been adding a bit of turmeric powder to pretty much everything! Some benefits of turmeric are:

• Powerful antioxidant
• Anti-inflammatory
• Improves brain function
• Lowers risk of heart disease
• Fights cancer
• Helps with Alzheimer’s disease
• Alleviates depression

For further reading on the health benefits of Turmeric, I recommend Healthline.

Culinary Uses

• Indian and Thai curries use turmeric for color, paired with a number of other spices. Think Thai Yellow Curry or Mattar Paneer.
• Turmeric tea is an easy warming and healthy drink. Mix it up with other spices like ginger and cinnamon, for added health benefits.
• Turmeric latte is popping up everywhere! This is a traditional Indian cold remedy.
• Add a small bit of fresh turmeric into your favorite smoothie recipe for an easy way to start incorporating this lovely spice into your diet.

Useful tip: Be careful while handling turmeric since it does stain! For more culinary uses, check out The Spruce Eats.