Turmeric May Help Fight Viruses. Here’s 10 Ways To Take It

5 years ago | Nutrition

By Joy Stephenson-Laws, J.D.,Founder

I know. Summer 2020 is not exactly the summer that we all hoped for. Wearing face masks has become the norm, and you might be feeling disappointed if you’ve had to cancel trips and parties.

You might also be feeling anxiety about the possibility of contracting COVID-19, but you can be proactive by taking care of your immune system and eating foods that potentially have antiviral properties.

One of these foods is turmeric.

Also called ‘Indian saffron,’ turmeric is an aromatic spice and one of the ingredients used to make curry powder. Other than being a great flavoring agent, turmeric is praised for having immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties.

The main substance in turmeric is curcumin, which is a polyphenol (a plant compound). And according to a recent study, curcumin may help fight off certain viruses.

The study, which was published in the Journal of General Virology, found evidence which suggested that curcumin “...can prevent Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) - an alpha-group coronavirus that infects pigs—from infecting cells. At higher doses, the compound was also found to kill virus particles,” according to this recent Medical Xpress report that discusses the study.

Tumeric may play a role in protecting your immune system.

Furthermore, “Curcumin has been shown to inhibit the replication of some types of virus, including dengue virus, hepatitis B and Zika virus. The compound has also been found to have a number of significant biological effects, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities.”

Sure, this all doesn’t mean that consuming turmeric is a sure way to protect yourself from getting COVID-19, however, anything that has the potential to keep you healthy and fight off any pathogens that may compromise your immune system is great.

And honestly, it’s really fun to explore new ways to incorporate healthy foods, herbs and spices into your life. We also have more time on our hands to do this now. So here are 10 ways to take turmeric.

Turmeric iced tea. Iced tea is one of the best summer beverages out there. Change it up a bit, and try this anti-inflammatory lemon ginger turmeric iced tea. Lemon and ginger are also known to have immune-boosting properties.
Hot turmeric tea. Try a cup of hot turmeric ginger cinnamon tea after dinner. This could also help aid in digestion, relieve congestion and stop that evening sugar craving you may battle.
Turmeric lemonade. Lemonade is also one of summer’s best beverages. Cool off with some ginger turmeric lemonade.
Have a smoothie with turmeric. This orange turmeric smoothie is rich in vitamin C, a very critical nutrient for immune system health.
Roast some veggies with turmeric. I think we should eat vegetables daily, multiple times a day. If you are getting bored with just some good old salt and pepper, add some turmeric. Roast up a veggie medley with some fresh grated turmeric. You can also use ground turmeric, but fresh is always best in my opinion.
Make some homemade mustard with turmeric. This would taste great on turkey or black bean burgers.
Have some turmeric rice. Go for brown rice! This would make a great side dish. And as always, with plenty of veggies!
Add turmeric to your eggs. I know this may sound odd, but you may find that using spices you don’t normally use in foods you regularly cook very rewarding. Try this omelette with turmeric, oregano and chives. Oregano and chives also have potential health benefits.
Have some soup with turmeric. This ginger and turmeric carrot soup would make a great lunch paired with a salad. I love making soups and storing them in the freezer so that I always have healthy meals readily available.
Make a marinade with turmeric. Marinating lean proteins with healthy marinades is a great way to keep on top of healthy, immune-boosting eating. Try this lemon turmeric marinade.

As always, consult a competent healthcare professional before including new foods, spices and herbs into your diet, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have any existing health issues.

There are also turmeric supplements available, but you should speak with your doctor before including any kind of supplement into your proactive healthcare regime.

Enjoy your healthy life!

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