Last Updated on June 9, 2021 by Sindhu
Let’s see how the Indians use turmeric to get the most benefits out of it.
Turmeric (Curcuma longa) is a rhizome (root) with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties which is native to India.
It looks similar to ginger and galangal. They all belong to the same family, Zingiberaceae
Even though it is a part of many Southeast Asian cuisines, it plays a significant role in Indian food and culture. The yellow color of turmeric is seen in many Indian dishes, including curry.
Thanks to modern research, the West has started recognizing its health benefits. Now it is quite popular in the form of Golden milk, Golden latte, supplements, and teas.
Depicting the color it gives to the dishes, it is also called Indian saffron or Golden spice.
The Indian way of using turmeric
Indians have been using turmeric for many centuries. Unlike a few other spices which were introduced by other countries, turmeric is entirely native to India.
Turmeric is used in two forms. The fresh rhizome, which looks almost like ginger and the second one being a powder (made from boiled and dried rhizomes).
The fresh rhizome is generally grated or chopped and made into pickle with oil tempering. Whereas powder is used in curries or mixed with FATS (milk, oil, ghee) along with BLACK PEPPER.
Also, the leaves of the turmeric plant have a lot of health benefits, and they are used to steam food. That way the food absorbs the flavor of the leaves.
Importance of fat
Curcumin the main compound in turmeric, which gives it the yellow color is fat-soluble. Especially when you are talking about the powder form.
The traditional Indian dishes use turmeric powder during the tempering phase i.e, heating a bit of fat or oil like ghee, coconut oil and then adding turmeric to it. This ensures that the Curcumin is dissolved in the fat and is easily available for the body to absorb.
You might think, why not add it to water and drink it. But that way, it just passes through your gut without being absorbed by the body.
Many studies have also shown that, when large quantities of turmeric powder are taken in supplement form without fat, it can cause anemia. Because it has an iron-binding ability when passed through the gut. That causes iron depletion in the body, especially ferritin.
Importance of black pepper
Almost all Indians know about Turmeric milk, also called as haldi doodh in Hindi. It is made by adding turmeric powder to full fat whole milk along with black pepper.
Piperine which is present in Black pepper increases the curcumin absorption by almost 2000%. And yes studies have proved that.! Since there is only 3% curcumin available in turmeric, this is the best method, without worrying about turmeric overdose.
In contrast to popular belief, chilis are not native to India. They were introduced to Indians by the Portuguese in the second half of the 15th century. Before that, black pepper was the main source of heat in most of the dishes.
So when you are using it with a combination of black pepper, even half a teaspoon of turmeric a day goes a long way without having any side effects.
Topical use of turmeric
The powder is made into a paste and used topically by many Indians. This is because of its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
As there are many types of turmeric available, the one used for cosmetic purposes is generally Kasthuri turmeric (Curcuma aromatica). This has a pale yellow color and is different from the one used in the cooking.
Many Indian festivals and customs are incomplete without it, as turmeric is considered auspicious. Applying turmeric for brides and grooms before the wedding is just one of them.
Other names
Turmeric is known as haldi in Hindi, pasupu in Telugu, manjal in Tamil, arisina in Kannada, mannal in Malayalam, haluda in Bengali, halada in Marathi, haladi in Punjabi.
Keynotes on turmeric usage
- It is believed that many samples of turmeric have a significantly high amount of lead in them. So it is always best to go for organic turmeric powder or rhizomes.
- High amounts of turmeric supplements, especially in the form of powder, cause anemia by depleting ferritin levels in the body. The addition of fat may help prevent that.
