Turmeric and You: Traditional Recipes for Better Health

Turmeric Latte

Ready to explore turmeric for your everyday use? Here are some tips.

Where to buy:

Always buy organic turmeric powder. I prefer “24 Mantra Organic” and “Organic Wise” brands available in Indian grocery stores and online. Feeling adventurous? Make your own powder using this recipe.

You can find organic fresh turmeric root in Jimbo’s, Sprouts or most health food stores. Yellow turmeric is preferred to white turmeric.

How to use:

Turmeric powder is insoluble in water. So it is best mixed with some kind of fat, preferably ghee for most of the recipes. Black pepper can improve turmeric bioavailability as well.

Use fresh turmeric root in smoothies and juices. Don’t use more than one inch piece per cup to avoid bitter taste.

Recipes and proportions:

• Turmeric latte – There are many different recipes on the Internet, but here is my traditional recipe. Boil one cup of whole milk. Add one-teaspoon ghee and half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and mix well. You can add brown sugar or honey for sweetness.

• Mouthwash/ gargle – add one-fourth teaspoon turmeric powder to one cup of hot water. Use as mouthwash or for gargling.

• Toothache Serum- mix half a teaspoon turmeric powder with one teaspoon honey. Apply to teeth and gums and leave overnight.

• Cuts and scrapes - press half a teaspoon of turmeric powder directly on to cuts to stop bleeding.

• Sunburns – make a paste of one-teaspoon turmeric powder with one-tablespoon coconut oil or aloe vera gel and apply to affected area.

• Face mask – mix one-teaspoon turmeric powder with one-teaspoon honey and one-tablespoon yogurt. Apply to face and neck and leave for 20 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water. Be careful as it can stain your clothes.

• Tadka/ phodni – This a hot oil tempering to use in any curry. Heat one to two tablespoons of ghee or oil. Add one teaspoon of mustard seeds. Turn the heat off when the seeds start crackling (hence the name ‘tadka’). Add half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and mix well. Follow your recipe to make rice, stir-fry or curry using this tadka. Do not use olive oil for tadka, as it will burn due to low flash point. Peanut oil or coconut oil is preferable.

Try these recipes and feel free to give me some feedback on how you like them.