strike gold

You don’t really need rocket science to know that turmeric is good for you. It’s a universal truth, at least since the dawn of gold lattes and moonmilk. The challenge is now to crack the use of this potent spice. Nutritionists say look for one with more curcumin in it. Curcumin is the active ingredient of turmeric and scientific research shows it to have natural anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous properties. The higher the curcumin content the more effective it will be. This is what makes Lakadong turmeric so sought-after. Indigenous to the north eastern state of Meghalaya in India, Lakadong turmeric is the real deal.

Of the 11 districts of Meghalaya, Lakadong grows in a small region called Jaintia Hills and is renowned for its high curcumin content of up to 8 per cent, compared to usual varieties of turmeric with an active ingredient content of 1–3 per cent. This makes the variety of particular interest to medicine and supplement manufacturers who use higher content curcumin in their products for better efficacy. The Jaintia hills (split into east and west) produce at least three turmeric varieties – Lachein, Lakadong and Ladaw, each with its distinct identity.

It must be remembered that turmeric is a warm food and therefore might not suit everyone. If you have pitta dosha as per Ayurveda, use it in minute amounts in the beginning to see if it suits you or not.

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