Turmeric is one of those cure-all ingredients that seems to have blown up out of nowhere.
This potent plant of the ginger family grows wild in the forests of Southeast Asia, and has long been a staple in Pakistani, Indian, Persian and Thai diets.
According to a recent report by Waitrose, it’s even overtaken cinnamon as the most popular spice in our kitchen cupboards, while Google searches for it are up 75% in the last five years.
Scroll through any millennial’s Instagram feed and you’ll likely spot a few riffs on the golden wonder spice; turmeric lattes, spicy rice, aromatic golden soup, but what you may be surprised to hear is that the use of the spice is being used in sporting circles.
One company making serious waves in the sports world with the use of Turmeric is professional footballer Thomas Hal Robson-Kanu.
Thomas became a fan of Turmeric following injuries in the game as a teenager and hails the spice as life-changing during his career on and off the football pitch, so much so that, in 2018, the footballer turned entrepreneur and his dad chose to launch their very own vegan drinks company, The Turmeric Co.
I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Is it just a fad or are there actual benefits to the wonder spice, and why are so many top footballing clubs and players raving about The Turmeric Co.
So why take a shot of the spicy wonder?
I took to sampling the Raw Turmeric Original, Raw Turmeric & Ginger and also the Raw Turmeric & Beetroot.
On first look into the stylish little bottle’s ingredients depending on which flavour you choose, they all contain a varying degree of ingredients: Raw Turmeric Root, 1,000mg Liposomal Vitamin C, 3,000iU Liposomal Vitamin D3, Coconut Nectar, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Watermelon.
The powerful formula contains only raw and fresh turmeric root (35 grams), carefully extracted and delivered in what we know to be a bioavailable form, making it way healthier than anything else you would find on the supermarket shelves.
Taste-wise, I have to say I wasn’t a fan (but I am a sensitive soul when it comes to these things), but I must say I was taken aback that I actually preferred the plain Raw Turmeric Original flavour shot as I was convinced I would have favoured the Beetroot shot.
Now 20+ days into using the shots I can honestly say I am using these every morning and have noticed a difference with muscle aches not affecting me so much, I’ll have to see if it keeps the cold at bay over the coming months as well.
And If you’re still not convinced here are some science-backed reasons why you should tap into Turmerics healing potential.
1. It decreases inflammation
We’re all probably a little too familiar with joint pain, with arthritis affecting about 10 million people in the UK.
Researchers have found that curcumin, the bright yellow chemical produced by turmeric, is capable of interacting with a variety of molecules involved in inflammation, easing swelling, aches and pains in the joints and muscles.
In fact, a study published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that cucurmin may be just as effective as aspirin and ibuprofen at suppressing the body’s inflammatory response.
2. It has antioxidant effects
Antioxidants are pretty important substances; they protect your cells against the effects of free radicals – unpaired electrons that scavenge the body to seek out other electrons so they can become a pair.
The damage caused by free radicals has been linked to premature ageing, a host of neurodegenerative diseases, and even cancer.
As well as bolstering the body’s natural antioxidant function by increasing glutathione levels, studies have found curcumin’s molecular structure can even neutralise harmful free radicals in the body, lessening the chances of disease.
3. It can keep the heart healthy
Heart and circulatory disease causes more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK; that’s nearly 160,000 deaths each year at an average of one death every three minutes.
Multiple studies have found that the yellow pigment in turmeric root can help to maintain the function of the interior lining of your blood vessels.
One study published in the Nutrition Research journal in 2012 even found that curcumin may be as effective in improving vascular function in post-menopausal women as a moderate exercise routine.
4. It boosts immunity
Thanks to its lipopolysaccharide content, turmeric can help stimulate the body’s immune system, helping you to avoid cold, flu and coughs.
Its antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal agents also help to bolster immunity during the winter months.
With winter clinging on a little longer than usual this year, try switching your morning coffee for a turmeric tea, to help give your immune system an extra boost.