The golden spice that’s your golden ticket to health.

Turmeric has been a little slow to build hype here in the States. Maybe that’s because it’s primarily grown on other continents. Or maybe it’s because that signature yellow can leave a serious stain. (Anyone else out there with highlighter-colored cutting boards? Just us? Okay.) But it’s time to put this spice on everyone’s radar because it packs a serious punch. 

If you’ve ever had curry, you’ve probably had turmeric. But its uses extend way past that. At least, they should. Its active ingredient — curcumin — is a powerful healing agent and pain reliever. 

What the heck is curcumin?

Wait, I thought we were talking about turmeric. What’s with this curcumin thing? First, let’s get this straight: curcumin and cumin are not the same. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric, and it does serious work. It can:

• Reduce inflammation, including arthritis
• Relieve pain
• Block free radicals and stimulate your body’s antioxidant defenses against them, preventing cancer and other diseases
• Support liver function
• Reduce your risk of heart disease
• Boost brain function and reduce your risk for certain brain diseases
• Minimize symptoms of depression
• Spur digestive healing

Yeah, not bad. 

So should I start munching on turmeric roots?

Here’s the thing. Powdered and fresh turmeric are a healthy — and flavorful — addition to way more than curry. You can blend turmeric into a smoothie, season your veggies with it, make golden milk lattes, or use it to give your rice a pop of color and flavor.

But turmeric is only about 3% curcumin by weight. So if you really want to reap the benefits, try a turmeric extract. Or, if you want a grab-and-go way to get curcumin into your diet, try our ready-to-drink protein shake in Turmeric Ginger. 

Boom. You just fought disease and inflammation in your body. Look at you go!