Did you know that the secret to better health probably has been sitting in your cupboard? Isn't it great when a common ingredient has so many health benefits plus has a low cost? That ingredient is Turmeric.

Turmeric is a spice that has been used in India for thousands of years. It's what gives curry its yellow color.

Turmeric contains compounds called curcuminoids, of which curcumin is the main active ingredient. It is a powerful anti-oxidant as well as an anti-inflammatory. Chronic inflammation results in disease. By eating foods that reduce inflammation you reduce you are building a wall against future disease.

There are numerous other benefits not covered in this article, such as improving mood and brain capacity as well as potential prevention of other chronic diseases such as arthritis and heart disease. While a lot of these claims are subjective, it is our opinion that having turmeric in the diet will yield positive benefits over the long term.

You can take turmeric a number of ways. Supplements, adding to food or drinking turmeric tea. It is important to note that by itself, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. That changes if you consume black pepper with it, which adds piperine, a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000%. Curcumin is also fat soluble, so it is a good idea to take it with a fatty meal.

Our research has shown a good sweet spot is to take at least 1 teaspoon of turmeric a day for overall well being. If you are treating a chronic disease or other health issue, higher dosing may be required. We recommend that you research the ideal dose for your situation. Unlike some other supplements, there doesn't seem to be an issue with overdosing like green tea extract, but it still makes sense to take what is reasonable.

Drinking a 16 ounce cup of turmeric tea and sprinkling some on one of your meals per day should easily get you that minimum.

Most turmeric teas are herbal in nature and therefore there is no caffeine. Check the tea label just to be sure, but the turmeric tea itself can actually enhance your sleep via it's mood improving properties.

Option one is the DIY method, which means using turmeric powder and combining it with other ingredients. While this may be fine for some, it can be messy and time consuming. Another option is to use pre-blended teas that are also loaded with other beneficial herbs an ingredients.