My Experience with the Health Benefits of Turmeric: "That Magic-Orange Paste!"

Plus Recipes: Turmeric Ginger Lemonade Smoothie & Turmeric Shots

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Turmeric has gotten a lot of the rage on all the health blogs and magazines, but for a good reason. It has strong anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce inflammation in the body. You can find typically find turmeric (curcuma) in a lot of Indian dishes (curries or soups), but now, almost any juice bar has a turmeric juice or lemonade. I am big fan of turmeric ; it's spicy, very flagrant and always makes be feel better after I have eaten foods that don't agree with me, or that I shouldn't be eating. I hate to jump on the bandwagon here, but I can't help myself. Next to cardamom, turmeric is my favorite spice, so its only makes sense to add a turmeric smoothie to my collection!

Despite the recent attention to turmeric, the claims of any holistic remedy can be debated and you should always do your research first. But I am huge fan, largely because of what I have learned and I have witnessed first hand.

TRUE STORY: When I was in the 7th grade, my family and I were eating out at an Indian restaurant in Phoenix, AZ. After dinner, we were hanging in the parking lot waiting for my Dad to wrap up his conversation with the owner--yes, my father was always the last person to leave a place and spark up a 30 minute conversation with a stranger on the way out.

We had one of those old-school vans with the sliding doors (not like the fancy upgraded vans with the automatic door controls, this was the 90s' people :-).
I was standing outside the van, waiting for my dad and giving him the 'c'mon daddy lets go evil eye,' when suddenly, here comes the van door, sliding swiftly and crushing my hand!! Yes, my brother wasn't looking and slammed my hand in the door. It took a while to get it out and while it was incredibly painful, as any preteen would do, I made a HUGE, dramatic scene in the parking lot, more than what was warranted... I mean, it was just 3 days away from Volleyball tryouts and now my season was ruined!!

The owner of the restaurant came over with my dad, handed me some ice and told me to stop "worrying sweetheart, just have your mom make a turmeric paste, wrap it with a wet cloth and you'll be fine." And so, my mother did just that when we got back to Tucson. Long story short, I wrapped my hand religiously with that ikcy, orangey paste for the next few days. AND JUST like MAGIC, the swelling went down in 2 days. My hand was yellow and orange for a bit, but Volleyball try outs went well. I made the team again that year, and my older brother didn't feel so bad after that. At the time, I didn't really care to know what was in that "magic-orange paste," or why it worked. All I knew was that it worked and things were back to normal. #lifeofamiddleschooler. I actually completely forgot about this story until a few years ago when I came across turmeric again in some health magazine. And then it clicked, and I fully understood just how powerful this herb was.

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Now a days, I just put turmeric in my curries or smoothies. When I am sick or have a soar throat, I drink turmeric milk or tea and it typically cures it up pretty quickly. I also find that when I feel bloated, or have gone off my normal clean diet, either during vacation or on one of my cheat days, eating turmeric dishes and drinks helps calm my digestive system. Integrating turmeric more into my diet, has also calmed my adult acne breakouts, which I struggled with for years.

Whether you want to use turmeric to treat a sprain, reduce inflammation, or just indulge in a tasty drink, this smoothie hits the spot. Below is my version of a turmeric lemonade recipe. I add tangerine or orange to cut the intensity and bitterness of turmeric and to also balance on the acidity of the lemon.

​Turmeric Ginger Lemonade Smoothie Recipe (Tangerine, Lemon, Apple)
Serving Size: 16oz smoothie

• 8 oz coconut water
• 1 apple
• 2 tangerines (or 1 orange)
• 1/4 cup fresh Turmeric
• 1-2 lemons squeezed
• 1/2 inch piece ginger

Below is a recipe for turmeric shots, which are great for those post holiday/cheat meals, big nights outs, or when you want to build your immune system.
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Turmeric Detox Shots
Serving Size: makes approximately 5, 3 ounce shots

• 6-8 oz distilled water*
• 1/4 cup fresh Turmeric
• 1/2 lemon squeezed
• 1/2 inch piece ginger
• 3 oz of apple cider vinegar
• 1 oz of chamomile tea

*If you want something sweeter, you can also substitute with 1/2 coconut water

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