Turmeric: taking a hint from the east

Everyday, there are hundreds of questions we may ask ourselves that go answered. Do black holes exist? What's for dinner? Where does mustard get its yellow color from? While I can't answer the first two questions for you, I can tell you that American mustard gets its color from a little something called turmeric. If you haven't heard of it before, I'm going to give you some insight into this amazing spice that may have you making it a go-to ingredient in your meals.

Coming from the ginger family, turmeric has been used for thousands of years for its healing abilities. It's main component, curcumin (not to be confused with cumin), is an antioxidant that gives turmeric anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown that intake of curcumin can help ease joint pain, swelling, and digestive problems, and may also ward off free-radicals that induce cancer. Not only that, but according to Greatist, curcumin could be beneficial for those who already have cancer since studies have shown that it may boost the effectiveness of chemotherapy and defend healthy cells during radiotherapy. Curcumin may also be able to fight against liver diseases and help improve memory of those with Alzheimer's. Since turmeric is commonly used in curries, researchers believe that this could be the reason for the low rate of Alzheimer's disease amongst India's elderly population.

In an article from The New York Times, Anahad O'Connor makes mention of a study published in The Journal of Alternative Medicine in which it was found that curcumin can ease pain just as well as ibuprofen. Amy Jirsa stresses this point further in an article from MindBodyGreen, saying that turmeric can bring immediate pain relief to heartburn, mouth sores, and sore throats when gargled with warm water and salt. She includes a note about using turmeric in moderation, for overuse can lead to stomach distress. Though much information has been gathered from the studies conducted on turmeric, research is still being done on the spice's capabilities.

Curcumin can be bought in supplement form, but if you're interested in a tastier way of intake, you can add turmeric into juices, rub it onto meats and fish, or add it into your own curries. If Indian food isn't your thing, I've included some less traditional (as well as more traditional) turmeric recipes below:

Southwestern Tofu Scramble

Indian-Spiced Stuffed Eggplant

Cheesy Vegan Quinoa Casserole

Tandoori-Spiced Chicken

Turmeric Juice

Nutty Sweet Potato Soup with Harissa and Spinach 

Vegan Indian Cauliflower Mash

Fresh Herb and Lemon Bulgar Pilaf

Kale, Carrot, Celery, Apple, and Turmeric Root Juice

Frozen Yogurt Sundae with Spiced Nuts

If you'd rather not cook a full-out meal, consider sprinkling some turmeric into low-sodium, pre-made soups from the grocery store or onto cooked vegetables. Since the majority of my meals are far more simplistic than the recipes above, I know I'll be doing just that!