Turmeric is the ultimate health spice, indicates a new study at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center. It’s being evaluated for its ability to soothe skin disorders like psoriasis, calm the nervous system and PMS.

And, even fight cancer because of its active ingredient, curcumin, which works as a powerful anti-inflammatory.

It provides you with these whole-person benefits:

Supports your healthy joint function

Promotes your radiant skin

Helps improve your digestion

And so much more…

Thousands of years ago, people in India and China used the spice. In fact, some stories suggest usage dates back 10,000 years in India when they say Lord Rama walked the earth.

And the ancient Polynesians carried turmeric with them on their incredible voyage across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. Today, Hawaiians still use this spice — known to them as Olena.

While in China, Marco Polo in 1280 AD recorded information on turmeric in his diary:

“There is also a vegetable which has all the properties of true saffron, as well the smell and the color, and yet it is not really saffron.” And,

So, turmeric has been used as a substitute for saffron (an old world spice) in Europe for over 700 years. One of the main healthful ingredients in turmeric is curcumin. Curcumin can potentially benefit you by:

*   Promoting your immune system

*   Helping you maintain your healthy digestive system

*   Supporting your healthy bones, joints, and overall skeletal system

*   Helping you maintain cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range

*   Promoting your healthy blood and liver functions

How turmeric and curcumin provide antioxidant nutrients

I believe antioxidants are your body’s #1 way to neutralize free radicals and help you potentially slow down the signs of normal aging. The antioxidant content within turmeric comes from active compounds called curcuminoids.

These curcuminoids deliver antioxidants that may be:

• 5 to 8 times stronger than vitamin E — and also stronger than vitamin C
• 3 times more powerful than grape seed or pine bark extract
• Strong enough to scavenge the hydroxyl radical — considered by many to be the most reactive of all oxidants*

So how can you get more of it into your daily diet? Turmeric has a stringent tart flavor and it’s the spice that gives curry powder its characteristic bright yellow color.

However, using it in small amounts in your favorite recipes is easy since it comes in powder form. Add a teaspoon the next time you make chili or sprinkle some on a fresh mango with a squeeze of lime, then throw it it on the grill. Or, this weekend, have a movie night and served spiced popcorn.

Spiced Popcorn

Makes 4 cups of spiced popcorn

4 cups popped, unseasoned popcorn

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon sweet chili powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon onion powder

2 tablespoons melted trans-fat free margarine

Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir or toss until well combined and serve. Store in an air-tight container for up to 5 days.

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Yours truly, Polly – Organic Gardener