Turmeric is a spice we always keep on hand, in bulk, in our herb and spice pantry. We also keep it stored in our natural medicine cabinet. It tastes great in curries and soups and provides a beautiful color to that which it is added. Turmeric also has some incredible anti-inflammatory benefits that we should all be taking advantage of. If you are looking to increase your intake of turmeric, but aren’t sure if you can stomach a constant diet of curries, you’ll want to check out these DIY turmeric supplements (or turmeric bombs). By taking them like you would any pill, you can achieve the same beneficial results quickly and conveniently.
“Did you know there are over 7,000 studies researching the efficacy of turmeric and it’s active component curcumin?
You’ve certainly heard the anti-inflammatory benefits of turmeric touted by practitioners, blogs, and wellness publications. I believe this highly-pigmented herb belongs in everyone’s wellness arsenal, both as long-term maintenance and acute inflammation relief. Here’s a simple way to get turmeric into your day!
DIY Turmeric Supplement
I add turmeric to curries and vegetable soups on a regular basis, but, while this is certainly providing some benefit, it is not a highly concentrated dose of the herb. When I was in need of acute inflammation help, I added a couple tablespoons of turmeric in half a cup of water and gulped (or rather gagged) it down. If you’ve ever eaten straight turmeric, you know how bitter it can taste.
Now, when I feel the need for a turmeric hit, I’ll reach for these turmeric bombs. They are an easy way to get the benefits of turmeric without the bitter flavor. Even better, they contain a couple special ingredients to work synergistically with the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric.
This concept of turmeric-honey pills was recently told to me by my friend Anna Matriotti, an experienced herbalist, nutritional therapist and president of the Washington chapter of the American Herbalist Guild. She shared this tip in her presentation at the 2015 Green Gathering, an herb/wildcrafting workshop.
How to increase the efficacy of turmeric
Did you know that certain ingredients can increase the bioavailability of curcumin, the anti-inflammatory compound in turmeric? I’ve incorporated the following ingredients into the Turmeric Bombs to up-the-turmeric-ante:
- Quercetin, a bioflavenoid, inhibits an enzyme that decreases the activity of curcumin.
- Black pepper contains the potent alkaloid piperine, which has been shown to increase the bio-availability of curcumin up to 150%.
- Fatty acids have been shown to increase the bioavailability of turmeric (source).”
Leave a Reply