HOW I USE TURMERIC TO HEAL INFLAMMATION AND NOURISH MY BODY INSIDE OUT.

Also called as ‘holy powder’ in India, turmeric is a powerful spice that contains curcumin. Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory, great for anyone struggling with inflammatory conditions. It has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat various health problems because of its therapeutic properties. Amongst its many beneficial and therapeutic properties, turmeric’s ability to fight inflammation is by far its most significant benefit which is why I am a little obsessed with it.

It's easy to add turmeric into our diet to take advantage of curcumin's many health benefits but one of the main challenges we face is its low bioavailability (rate of absorption in the body). With its numerous benefits, I like to make sure I am getting the most out of this healing spice.

Here are a few ways to boost the bioavailability of Turmeric so you too can get the most out of this spice.

• Consuming turmeric in its whole food form (fresh or dried).
• Adding ground black pepper to it - this increases the bioavailability of curcumin by 2000% (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  /pubmed/9619120).
• Consuming it along with healthy fats - Turmeric is fat-soluble and for our body to fully absorb the compounds, we need to include a fat source (raw goats milk, almond milk, ghee, coconut oil etc). When consumed with a healthy fat, the body directly absorbs curcumin into the bloodstream.
• Heat - Adding heat to turmeric can increase its absorption.

Here are a few ways I like to add turmeric to my foods through the day.

• In my cooking - curries, sautéed vegetables, oven roasts and even to homemade popcorn!
  *Be sure to add black pepper
  *Be sure to add a healthy fat.
• Morning Smoothie

  I add organic ground turmeric powder to my smoothie. To increase bioavailability, heat coconut oil and mix turmeric into it before blending or use avocado for healthy fat.

• Vegetable Juice

  I sometimes add raw organic turmeric to my fresh juices. I include a pinch of ground black pepper.

• Night time Turmeric Tea (Golden Milk)

  Turmeric Tea is an ancient ayurvedic recipe that is loaded with anti-inflammatory goodness. I love to have this before bed as its warming, healing and wonderfully nourishing. I also find it’s a great way to tackle sugar cravings at night. There are many variations of this recipe online. The one I am sharing with you is my grandmother's recipe that I grew up drinking regularly.

  Recipe here Anti Inflammatory Turmeric Tea