Easy Ways to Add Turmeric to Your Diet

Curcuma longa, better known as turmeric, is bright yellow and has a bitter taste. Herbalists believe its active ingredient, curcumin, has many health benefits, including the treatment of digestive and liver problems. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes this could be because curcumin acts as an antioxidant, neutralizing dangerous oxides produced during metabolism, and aids in the production of bile, helping the body's digestion of fat. According to the UMMC, "Turmeric may have promise for fighting infections and some cancers, reducing inflammation, and treating digestive problems."

Turmeric Powder
You can find turmeric in powder form in the spice isle of the grocery store. Turmeric's bitter taste makes it a tasty addition to sauteed and steamed vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower and onions, advises The World's Healthiest Foods, a website created by the George Mateljan Foundation. Toss in olive oil, and voila, you have an easy, nutritious side dish. You can also add turmeric to sour cream or your favorite dips and serve it with fresh vegetables for parties. Give soups and rice dishes a warm, bright color and flavor by sprinkling this golden powder as a garnish. Turmeric is especially complementary to egg dishes, such as egg salad, frittatas and omelets.

Mustard
Baseball games, backyard barbecue, camping--you can usually find mustard at all of these venues. This common household condiment actually contains the illness-fighting ingredient, turmeric, which gives mustard its bright yellow color and bitter flavor, reports UMMC. Add mustard to egg salad, burgers, marinades and dressings for extra nutrition. At your next cookout, pack your own yellow bottle of nutrition and even offer some to a friend.

Indian Curry
Key to Indian cuisine, yellow curry includes several spices such as turmeric. Used to flavor sauces, meats and soups, curry can add variety and flare to common dishes. When spicing your next dish with curry, feel free to add extra turmeric for a stronger flavor and increased nutritional value. Curry is often cooked in combination with basmati rice, raisins, cashews, ginger and coconut milk, according to The World's Healthiest Foods. Spice up your next vegetable side dish with this yellow mixture, and add lentils for additional fiber.

E100
Ever wonder what makes certain cheeses yellow or what gives butter an off-white hue? Some food producers use curcumin, derived from turmeric, as a golden-yellow coloring additive for butter, cheese, canned beverages and other products. When looking for curcumin on the nutrition label under ingredients, look for the name of E100, according to the website Allergy and Health Information.