Turmeric adorns every food it touches with a golden yellow colour. But worldwide, turmeric has become famous for its miraculous therapeutic properties. Turmeric’s chief chemical component - Curcumin, is a very strong antioxidant which gives it powerful medicinal properties.
Plant Turmeric
Scientifically named ‘Curcuma Longa’, turmeric is a flowering plant coming under the family of ginger. Native to Indian and South-East Asian subcontinent, it requires a temperature between 20 to 30 degree Celsius and a good yearly rainfall for proper growth. Turmeric’s roots (called ‘rhizomes’) will be dried raw or after boiling in water. Then, these rhizomes will be powdered to make the bright yellow turmeric powder.
Various Turmeric Products & their Benefits
Turmeric Powder
Turmeric’s rhizomes are powdered to make turmeric powder. Because of its golden yellow colour, it has been used as a colouring agent in various Asian delicacies. Being the most popular turmeric product, turmeric powder has been industrially manufactured and marketed by so many players today. Turmeric powder has also got medical and cosmetic properties. It can be applied externally as a pack or can be taken inside by combining with other foods, like milk. ‘Golden milk’ (also called ‘Turmeric milk’), which is the milk having turmeric in it has been proven to have numerous health benefits. Turmeric milk can be made by heating cow’s milk flavoured with turmeric, and adding a little cinnamon and ginger in it.
Turmeric paste can be told as a byproduct of turmeric powder. The paste can be produced by mixing turmeric powder with water or through directly grinding rhizomes. Traditionally, it has been widely applied externally alone or together with other ingredients like lemon and milk in many Asian countries.
Benefits:
Turmeric powder can soothe dry skin, can prevent acne, scars, skin pigmentation, as well as prevent inflammation, and has got antibacterial/antifungal properties. Turmeric milk increases immunity, improves memory, prevents heart ailments, and regulates blood pressure, blood sugar, etc.
Turmeric Granules
Granules have more curcumin content. Granules can be powdered using a mixie or grinder and can give numerous health benefits.
Benefits:
Compared to powder, turmeric granules will give a more natural feeling, because it can be powdered using traditional methods or through a mixie or grinder. It has also got all of turmeric’s therapeutic and cosmetic properties.
Turmeric Sand
Turmeric sand doesn’t leave the yellow colour after usage. This gives it an advantage compared to most of the other turmeric products. Many people may have an aversion to using turmeric because of this after-use yellow pigmentation. Turmeric sand will be the best option for such people.
Benefits:
This can be used as body sand, which has all the health and cosmetic benefits of turmeric, that too without leaving any yellow pigmentation! Anti-bacterial/ anti-fungal properties can cleanse the skin and protect it from infections. Turmeric sand can give relief from dryness which can bring out the natural glow of our skin.
Turmeric Strands
This is an innovative product where turmeric has been made into strands, just like saffron.
Benefits:
Just like saffron, turmeric strands can also be used in various ways. This can be added in milk to drink. Similarly, this can be used as a colouring agent and for garnishing, in cooking.
Turmeric Extract
Extracts of any herb are being made by extracting it using solvents like ethanol or water. Extracts are found in the form of tinctures, absolutes, or in powder form. There are also artificial extracts which are made by combining esters of various herbs with oils.
Benefits:
Turmeric extract can be taken orally as a medicine to treat various health issues like skin problems, irritable bowel syndrome (or stomach infections), ulcer, and to reduce pain.
Turmeric Spiced Tea
Tea powder spiced with turmeric and a little of other aromatic spices like cardamom, pepper, cloves, etc.
Benefits:
Served hot and having other spices, antioxidant properties of turmeric will be to the maximum in this form. Several medicinal benefits including prevention of arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. Also boosts our body’s immunity.
Other than this, turmeric has been used along with other components in so many medicines, cosmetic products as well as cooking ingredients. With around 3000+ publications dealing with turmeric that came out within the last 25 years, even modern medicine has begun to recognize turmeric’s importance. Turmeric has even proven to have anti-cancer properties. All these have enormously increased the worldwide popularity of turmeric generating an international market for it.