As spices go, turmeric is pretty hard to miss. Its blazing yellow color truly stands out in the spice aisle. Anti-inflammatory properties also make this spice a popular dietary supplement. It’s even found its way into teas, smoothies, facials, wound creams and band aids, plus beauty products like face masks. Hungover? Turmeric gummies can supposedly ease those binging woes.
You may have also seen supplements containing curcumin, a major component of turmeric, and one of its most biologically active compounds. Both turmeric and curcumin are marketed as antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties. But there may be a difference between using the whole form of turmeric rather than curcumin alone.
Turmeric is the powdered form of the underground stem (or rhizome) of Cucurma longa, a member of the ginger family. Like ginger, you can peel and chop the fresh root, or use it dried in spice form. The vivid-colored stem gives yellow ...
