Turmeric Benefits & Uses

Turmeric is a perennial member of the ginger family botanically known as Curcuma longa. The rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the ginger family Zingiberaceae is valued for its gorgeous subtle flavor, distinct yellow color, and powerful aroma. Native to Southeast Asia, turmeric is prized as a dye, medicine, and food. Here are some reasons this root is beloved worldwide.

Colorful

Compounds in turmeric called "curcuminoids" are responsible for turmeric’s bright color, and from its bright yellows, to rich golds, to deep oranges, turmeric is pleasing to the eye. This is why turmeric is used as a decorative dye of textiles, in paint, in food, and on skin.

Healthy

In Sri Lanka and in ayurvedic medicine, turmeric is hailed for its values as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent. Turmeric is likewise lauded in East Asian medicine, including traditional Chinese medicine. Similarly, in India, turmeric’s used for skin, upper respiratory tract, joints, and digestive system disorders. And in the West, the golden spice is promoted as a dietary supplement for various conditions, including arthritis, digestive disorders, respiratory infections, allergies, liver disease, depression, and more. In short, health experts both traditional and modern agree: turmeric is good for you!

Offering benefits to the body and brain, many of turmeric’s benefits come from its curcumin — a substance with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Curcumin boosts levels of the brain hormone BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which increases the growth of new neurons and may help fight various degenerative processes in your brain. This means turmeric has the potential to improve heart health and help prevent Alzheimer’s and cancer.

Delicious

Earthy, peppery, gingery — subtle yet complex — turmeric is a cooking staple throughout Asia and beyond. Enhancing dishes with its warm color and unique flavor, from seafood and poultry to lentils and root vegetables, it’s hard to find an ingredient turmeric doesn’t pair well with!