Turmeric Is Terrific
Turmeric, the "golden spice", has been part of daily cooking and traditional practice in India and Asia for thousands of years. Today it's one of the most studied plants in the world: search for curcumin on PubMed and you'll find tens of thousands of research papers.
Most of that interest centres on curcumin, the main active compound in turmeric, which is a natural antioxidant. Turmeric also contains many other compounds that work alongside it in the whole root — one reason Dr Doug prefers wholefood turmeric to isolated curcumin pills.
What turmeric offers as part of a healthy diet
Turmeric is a food, not a medicine, and it isn't a substitute for treatment from your doctor or vet. As part of a balanced diet, it's a simple way to add:
- Antioxidants — curcumin helps protect cells from oxidative stress caused by free radicals.
- Everyday wellbeing for people and pets — Golden Paste and turmeric-based foods are an easy daily habit for the whole family, including dogs and horses.
- Support for digestion — turmeric has long been used in cooking to support healthy digestion.
- Flavour and colour — an earthy, warming spice for curries, soups, smoothies and more.
The catch: absorption
Curcumin is poorly absorbed on its own and cleared from the body quickly. That's why Dr Doug's approach is to cook turmeric, combine it with a healthy oil, and add freshly cracked black pepper, and to have small amounts often rather than large amounts occasionally. The Golden Paste recipe does all three.
Is turmeric right for you?
Turmeric is a common food and well tolerated by most people and pets in food amounts. Check with your doctor or vet before adding concentrated turmeric to your diet if you or your pet:
- take blood thinners, diabetes medication, blood pressure medication or antidepressants
- are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have surgery coming up
- have gallbladder problems, kidney stones or a bleeding disorder
Read more about drug interactions and side effects.
Getting started
Make a batch of Golden Paste with high-potency turmeric powder, or, for dogs, try ready-made Turmeric Dog Bites. For pets, see our guides to feeding turmeric to dogs and horses.
HAVE YOU HAD YOUR TURMERIC TODAY?