HERBS AND SPICES have a long and storied history of medicinal uses. Roots such as ginger, barks such as cinnamon, and so on, have been used for thousands of years to help holistically treat various ailments in the body.
Today there’s one spice that’s suddenly getting lots of attention, and for good reason. One of my top five favorite spices, turmeric, has incredible flavor and I, too, have just recently discovered its powerful, powerful health benefits.
History Of The Spice
Historically, turmeric has been used as a healing remedy for a variety of ailments as well as for industrial purposes, most commonly as a textile and natural food dye. It’s flavor profile is warm, earthy, and slightly peppery / spicy. It’s a beautiful golden yellow and can be purchased in the produce section, representing a root similar to ginger, or as a ground powder in the spice aisle of your grocery store.
The medicinal properties of turmeric include a high level of nutrients, anti-inflammatory compounds, antioxidants, and phytonutrients that have been researched extensively with positive response.
Why Runners Should Care
There’s a specific (and the primary) compound in turmeric called curcumin. Curcumin is an antioxidant, and a powerful one at that. You can thank curcumin for the medicinal benefits of turmeric and it’s main role is to help decreased inflammation.
As runners, we have a tremendous amount of inflammation. Inflammation, caused by a flux of free radicals in the body, can stem from a number of different things including diet, lifestyle choices, digestive issues, and chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. Exercise is also a natural cause of free radical production.
There are a number of different foods you can start to incorporate into your diet to manage inflammation on a daily basis, but turmeric is a simple one and a really powerful one at that.
Start adding turmeric into your day and you will see a noticeable improvement in stiffness, soreness, and overall well-being. Basically, you’re going to feel great!
How To Use Turmeric
For savory eats, try grating turmeric it into soups, roasted veggies, salad dressings, eggs or hummus. Turmeric imparts great flavor into sweeter dishes too. You can add a chunk of it into a morning smoothie or into a bowl of oatmeal.
Fresh turmeric root can be purchased in the produce aisle of your supermarket. It looks like ginger and will keep in your refrigerator for a solid week+. If fresh isn’t an option (which it isn’t always) dried turmeric works too.
Finally, you can opt to take a turmeric supplement daily.
Have you tried turmeric before? How do you fight inflammation?
