Raw and ground turmeric on wooden surfaceIt might seem like every day brings a new foodstuff to add to your diet with the promise of added health and vitality, but the truth is that the best dietary supplements can lie in the most unexpected places. The news that they are packed full of goodness can leave us both surprised and wanting to kick ourselves for not having made the realization already. Turmeric is one such example – chances are you don’t consider this spice, heavily used in Indian cuisine, for much beyond adding a splash of natural yellow coloring to curries, sauces and dressings. But the truth is that turmeric is packed with more health benefits than you could shake a stick at, which make it well worth incorporating into your eating habits.

Turmeric is hailed as a superfood, and has antioxidizing properties as well as being believed to protect against Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. It can help bolster your immune system so that you can keep colds and other ailments at bay, it helps with smooth digestion, it purifies the blood, and it can even help give you a clearer complexion.

Turmeric is also credited as a remedy for skin wounds, obesity, itching and swelling; it’s these anti-inflammatory properties that mean it’s also helpful in reducing post-workout soreness. In fact, turmeric’s health-boosting abilities are so profound that tests have shown the curcumin compound it contains is capable of prolonging the lifespan of roundworms, fruit flies and mice.

The best news of all is that it’s simple to add turmeric to your diet – here are just a few ways to build it into your life:

• Drink it as tea – add a teaspoon of ground turmeric to a pot of boiling water, then simmer, strain and add honey or lemon.
• Flavor milk with it – boil half a teaspoon of ground turmeric in a cup of milk and add honey to taste.
• Blend a turmeric elixir – boil turmeric root in water and then blend the resulting syrup with ice, honey, ground turmeric, lemon juice and cayenne pepper.
• Gargle it – gargle on a mix of a couple of teaspoons of ground turmeric, hot water, and salt, in order to relieve sore throats.
• Spice up your eggs – add extra flavor to your fried eggs by sprinkling with sea salt and ground turmeric, and serving with the perennially popular superfood kale, itself sautéed with turmeric.
• Use it as a marinade – roast turmeric-and-olive-oil-marinated cauliflower for 30 minutes, and garnish with lemon zest and cilantro.
• Eat more curry – turmeric is at the heart of many Indian curry recipes, making this a great way to get your regular intake.
• Use it everywhere – add it to the liquid when boiling rice, pasta or soup; sprinkle it over roast potatoes; stir it into your favorite salad dressing.
• Take a supplement – turmeric supplement capsules are an easy way to get your dose of this vitality-boosting spice.

Turmeric isn’t just for eating, either. It makes a great base for an anti-aging face mask that will leave you with radiant skin – just mix a teaspoon of your new friend together with three tablespoons of natural yogurt, and a couple of spoonfuls of either ground oats if you have dry skin, or rice flour if you’re of the oily persuasion.