Turmeric’s rise to becoming a superstar in the world of spices has been metaphoric!

Turmeric has been trending worldwide on social media for more than a few years now, but does the research back up the health claims?  How good is it for you, really?

turmeric plant with stethoscopeCurcumin is the main active ingredient in Turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant that can inhibit free radical cells, which are created by our busy and stressful lifestyles … and who doesn’t have one of those!?

Scientists now believe that chronic, low-level inflammation plays a major role in almost every chronic Western disease. This includes heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s and various degenerative conditions. Therefore, anything (like Turmeric) that can help fight chronic inflammation is of potential importance in the prevention, management and treatment of these diseases.

The Curcumin in Turmeric is not easily absorbed by the body so it is best to combine it with black pepper and healthy fats to enhance its bioavailability and maximise the health benefits to you. We factored that in when we invented our unique GrunTea recipes – they include lots of Turmeric and black pepper, and we advocate you use Coco Quench which is a full flavoured non-dairy milk made from organic coconuts and organic brown rice (which is a great source of the healthy fats that you need as well as tasting fabulous!)

Let’s list some of the awesomeness of Turmeric:

  • It’s an Anti inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial, as well as a natural pain reliever
  • It’s a good source of Vitamin C, Magnesium, Iron and Potassium
  • Research studies have suggested that Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound, found in Turmeric may inhibit the multiplication of tumor cells, including multiple myelomas, pancreatic cancer, and colon cancer
  • It contains beneficial essential oils such as turmerone, curcumene, cineole, and p-cymene
  • The root is cholesterol free; however, it is rich in antioxidants and dietary fibre. Together, they help control blood cholesterol levels, offer protection from coronary artery disease and lower stroke risk
  • It has been shown to offer superb support for mental clarity, inner and outer skin health, liver support, healthy joints, fat metabolism, intestinal health and healthy lymphatic drainage.
  • It has at least 10 neuro-protective actions that support healthy cognitive function
  • Turmeric can boost the brain chemical norepinephrine which supports healthy mood, attentiveness, sleep, dreaming and higher learning
  • It also boosts levels of dopamine and seretonin
  • There are over 70 pathologies that turmeric can help combat and new scientific studies on its properties are being carried out all the time

cup of GrunTeaOf course there is the awesomeness of GrunTea … with the help of Turmeric!

GrunTea is made with 100% certified organic ingredients and Turmeric makes up a whole 30% of the GrunTea brew! Our brew master has carefully combined eight different healthful ingredients; turmeric, green or nettle tea, nutmeg, cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, cloves and black pepper, plus fresh ginger and Cocquench which you add at brewing time, to create Gruntea and it’s a delicious hot drink, bursting with flavour and goodness. With a mug of GrunTea in hand, while relaxing for a quiet moment or two away from the stresses of daily life, it’s an easy way to get your daily dose of Turmeric.

Ok, now for some quirky facts about Turmeric!

  • Eastern civilisations have known about turmeric for quite a few centuries. The Harappan Civilization (or Indus Valley Civilization) actually cultivated turmeric as early as 3000 BCE. and analyses of pots discovered near New Delhi uncovered residue from turmeric, ginger and garlic that dates back as early as 2500 BCE. Marco Polo even described this spice in his travelogue, The Million, as far back as 1280
  • Did you know India is the world’s largest producer and exporter of turmeric? In fact, as much as 80 to 90% of the world’s total turmeric production comes only from India
  • Should you find yourself in King Cobra territory, and get bitten by one, you might want to remember that turmeric has been found to be the natural antivenin
  • Turmeric is often used to add the “colour of saffron” to recipes. In economic terms, in fact, the two spices are at the opposite end of the spectrum: one is as expensive as the other is cheap. In fact, turmeric is often called the “poor man’s saffron” or “saffron of the Indies”
  • A plant well known for its dyeing properties, turmeric is applied in the textile industry to dye cotton, wool and silk. Traditionally used for the yellow-orange robes of the sadhu and Buddhist monks, it was also adopted to dye the peplum of ancient Greeks worn during the Panathenaea, the most important religious feast of Ancient Athens
  • In Indian culture, the importance of turmeric goes far beyond medicine. The Hindu religion sees turmeric as auspicious and sacred. There is a wedding day tradition in which a string, dyed yellow with turmeric paste, is tied around the bride’s neck by her groom. This necklace, known as a mangala sutra, indicates that the woman is married and capable of running a household. The tradition still continues in Hindu communities and has been compared to the Western exchange of wedding rings
  • Zingiberaceae is the name of the ginger family that the herbaceous, rhizomatic and perennial Turmeric plant belongs to, in the genus; Curcuma. Scientific name: Curcuma longa. Turmeric grows in a tropical climate between 20°C and 35°C, in areas characterized by heavy rainfall. It grows particularly well in Far North Queensland, Australia
  • The turmeric rhizome takes about 10 months to grow before it can be harvested; it is then boiled, cleaned and dried in the sun. The Turmeric plant does not produce seeds and only propagates through its underground spreading rhizomes
  • And finally, where would curry be without Turmeric? India has the highest rates of prostate, breast, colon and lung health and some researchers believe that this may be due to the quantity of Turmeric consumed on a regular basis

It’s safe to say that turmeric is trending for good reason.

turmeric-rootSo with all that awesomeness of Turmeric just waiting for you, it’s time to get creative and experiment with how you can incorporate this amazing spice into your life … a great place to start is GrunTea of course! We think it’s the Best Turmeric Chai in the World!! Grab yourself a box or two now!

More Information:

https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/turmeric/

https://manyeats.com/health-effects-of-turmeric-and-curcumin/

 

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