Lakadong Turmeric

Turmeric, otherwise famous as the golden spice, true to its name has a rich, and golden history that dates back to approximately 5000 years. Though known to have originated from South East Asia, this golden spice has a rather massive fan base across the globe for its nutritional and health-aiding benefits. It is a key kitchen ingredient in Asian cuisine, especially Indian cuisine. The golden hue of Indian delicacies such as curries and the slightly bitter taste and earthy aroma can be attributed to the usage of turmeric, either in its whole or ground form.

The Secret Behind The Golden Hue

Curcumin is the key compound that is behind this golden hue and is found in a varying range in turmeric cultivated in different climates. Lakadong turmeric, a key turmeric variant from the pristine lands of Meghalaya, North East, India has curcumin in abundance. To be precise, Lakadong turmeric is proven to have 7 to 12% of curcumin content while generic turmeric has 2 to 3% of curcumin content. Given the high curcumin content, the health-aiding and culinary-enhancing attributes of Lakadong turmeric are aplenty.

The Miracle Spice

People from North East India even call this a miracle spice given its wide-scale popularity and usage over generations. Its authenticity, freshness, and aroma make it the go-to spice across the globe. It is indeed a boon for health-conscious consumers who believe in the “let food be thy medicine” motto.

So, let’s talk about what is so special about Lakadong turmeric. Though generic turmeric is cultivated in humid weather of 20 to 30 degrees centigrade, Lakadong turmeric is cultivated in a relatively cool climate. The cool climate, abundant rain, geographical landscape, soil quality of Meghalaya contribute immensely to the uniqueness of this miracle spice. Last but not least, the traditional and organic farming methods adopted by the Meghalaya farmers has retained the uniqueness of Lakadong turmeric powder for decades. Despite a plethora of turmeric variants, Lakadong turmeric has retained its uniqueness and still ruling the spice space across the globe for its abundant nutritional, and medicinal attributes.

This miracle spice has a shelf life of 2 to 3 years when stored under optimal conditions. However, it may lose its potency over time. Thus, it’s advised to purchase Zizira Lakadong turmeric with a recent manufacturing date.

Lakadong Turmeric Production: An Overview

Here are the key phases of cultivation, processing, and packaging that bring us the miracle spice from Meghalaya.

Sowing of Seeds: March-April showers enable the farmers from Meghalaya to prepare their land by clearing the weeds, bushes, and other vegetation. They plough and beat the soil to a fine tilth, make ridges and furrows and drop 2-3 seed rhizomes of Lakadong Turmeric into the pits and then cover with soil. Throughout the nine months of crop duration, weeding is undertaken at periodic intervals depending upon the intensity of weed growth.

Harvesting: December/January is the period where Meghalaya farmers get set to welcome the miracle spice. The stems and leaves show tell-tale signs of wilting, and farmers then carefully dig into the earth with hoes to lift the clusters of rhizomes, tapping them to clear off the mud. Each rhizome cluster usually carries 8-12 finger rhizomes of Lakadong turmeric.

Preserving the Seeds: The farmers from Meghalaya are particular about the seed quality for their future harvests and don’t trade them off for anything. They sort and separate the roots for consumption and selling, while the seeds are selected from the best of the lot for the next year’s turmeric cultivation.

Processing: Here comes the role of team Zizira. We take every necessary precaution to source only pure Lakadong turmeric powder for our customers. The processing team washes, dries and powders the turmeric and sends them to the accredited testing house to rule out the presence of any kind of hazards such as heavy metals like lead, adulterants like Sudan dye and chemical pesticides. The turmeric is then packaged with utmost care to be ready for dispatch.

The Myriad of Health Benefits of Lakadong Turmeric

Unlike other turmeric variants, Lakadong turmeric is known to be highly potent all thanks to its high curcumin content. Here are some top health-aiding Lakadong turmeric benefits.

Anti-inflammatory: Inflammations are the body’s natural way of fighting against external agents. And, given today’s fast-paced, and sedentary lifestyle, the surge in environmental pollution, chronic inflammations have become quite common. Since ancient times, turmeric has acclaimed a key position as an anti-inflammatory agent for preventing, and managing inflammations. And, this attribute of turmeric still holds true in today’s time as well. The orange-hued pigment curcumin is the key behind the turmeric’s robust anti-inflammatory properties. There are certain studies and research that cite its efficacy. The best part is that turmeric can be consumed in whole, or ground form, can be consumed with food and applied externally as a paste to aid in fighting inflammation. Unlike other pharmaceutical medicines, turmeric does not have any side effects or risk factors.

Antioxidants: Antioxidants are referred to as the compounds in food that are known to help prevent cellular damage by free radicals. Free radicals are scavengers in the body that may negatively impact the cells if they go unchecked. Under optimal health conditions, the human body naturally removes normal levels of free radicals. However, the surge in pollution when combined with an unhealthy diet, and inappropriate lifestyle choices may increase free radicals in our bodies quite significantly, which can further lead to most modern lifestyle diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, asthma, arthritis, psoriasis, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, etc. Free radicals are the ones to blame, so we definitely want to keep them in check.

Antioxidants play a pivotal role in removing the free radicals whilst, at the same time, enhancing the natural antioxidant abilities of our own body. This can even slow down the ageing process, whilst keeping numerous illnesses at bay.

Turmeric is said to be a plant-derived spice with one of the highest levels of antioxidant power. Studies reinstate that the curcuminoids in turmeric are very effective at finding and neutralizing free radicals. It is also thought that turmeric can help to prevent the development of free radicals up to a certain extent. Thus, the regular use of turmeric in our daily lives (preferably along with other healthy lifestyle choices) can put us on track towards overall better health, and well-being.

Anti-depressant: Turmeric and depression may seem like an odd match. However, you would be astounded to discover the robust capabilities of turmeric in preventing the onset of depression and in its optimal management. As we have already covered earlier in this article, turmeric is proven to be rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. These two attributes go a long way in keeping oxidative stress at bay, which is known as a key cause of depression. At any time, it’s the ultimate substitute for antidepressant medications. Depression-preventing medications come with their own set of cons, side effects, and risk factors. Long-term use of antidepressants may even impact other body organs. Amidst all this, turmeric is the ultimate choice as it is a natural spice and does not have chemical additives and thus doesn’t have side effects. Thus, a regular dosage of turmeric is recommended by healthcare and nutrition experts to keep the depression blues at bay.

Vital for Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention: Compared to the past decade, there is an ever-growing trend in neurological disorders, especially Alzheimer’s. A buildup of a protein called amyloid-beta is the prime culprit behind Alzheimer’s. So, you might be wondering about the connection between Alzheimer’s and turmeric. Well, here comes the role of the curcumin compound in turmeric. Studies have shown that curcumin has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and clear the accumulation of amyloid-beta and thus can be beneficial in preventing the condition altogether. Besides, curcumin is also known to reduce neurotoxicity caused by metals in the brain, which is a common factor for Alzheimer’s condition.

Here’s a quick list of other key health-aiding attributes of Lakadong turmeric.

• Turmeric is known to promote healthy joint function and thus is vital for the body’s mobility function
• Who does not dream of glowing and blemish-free skin? Well, turmeric is the secret! Turmeric powder can be mixed with water or rose water to form a thick paste, which can be used as a face mask to enhance the skin tone
• Turmeric is known to encourage a healthy heart function
• Well, the contribution of turmeric in boosting memory is undeniable
• Turmeric is known to support the digestive system’s function effectively
• Apart from being an external cleansing agent, turmeric is also known to help to cleanse the liver
• It has antimicrobial properties
• Turmeric is widely known to help prevent ulcers
• When it comes to keeping the blood pressure under check, turmeric makes an excellent choice. A pinch of turmeric in a daily diet works wonders.
• It helps lower the ‘bad’ cholesterol level in the body
• Bid goodbye to menstrual pain, and irregular flow with a tablespoon of turmeric
• Studies cite that turmeric is known to prevent the onset of and manage certain cancer variants rather efficiently

Organic or non-organic: what to choose?

Organic products are gaining ground as more and more people are becoming health-conscious. When it comes to turmeric, organic, naturally sourced Lakadong turmeric is your best bet compared to non-organic turmeric. Non-organic turmeric is processed with bits of pesticides, and other chemical additives to artificially enhance the colour, aroma, flavour. However, Lakadong turmeric is known to be devoid of any such additives and is sourced from the industrially-untouched pristine lands of Meghalaya, which is widely known for its climate conditions, and rich flora, and fauna. Zizira is your one-stop destination for purchasing Lakadong turmeric online as it brings the natural turmeric from the farm to the consumer’s doorstep by eliminating intermediaries.

Lakadong Turmeric Usage

Here are some of the key ways to use Zizira Lakadong Turmeric powder.

Turmeric Tea: Have you heard of the health benefits of turmeric milk? Not an avid fan of milk? Well, you can make the most of turmeric’s benefits with a cup of turmeric tea. It’s fairly easy and quick to brew one. All you have to do is add 1tsp of Turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp of Black pepper powder to a cup of boiling water. Consider adding 1 tsp of virgin coconut oil, 3 slices of raw ginger and cinnamon for enhancing the flavour. Stir them together slowly for a few minutes and you are all set to enjoy your cup of turmeric tea.

Toothpaste for teeth whitening: Are your teeth losing their natural whiteness? Teeth yellowing may occur due to inappropriate brushing techniques, and a host of other health reasons. The good news is that you can pause your research on branded products for teeth whitening. Instead, just head to your kitchen, find a pinch of turmeric and rub it on your teeth. Leave it for a few minutes, then rinse it off with lukewarm water for maximum benefits.

Face mask: Get ready for your bridal shower for this ancient uptan, which is otherwise known as turmeric paste. You can use organic turmeric paste to fight pimples and breakouts. And, the regular use of turmeric externally can also clear acne, scars and inflammation. It is a great exfoliator and gives a youthful glow to your skin. So, get ready to dazzle the world with your nourished, youthful skin.

Soaps and shampoos: Turmeric soap can be interesting to make. You can add turmeric and other natural ingredients like calendula, coconut, lemongrass, amla and others. These are beneficial for the hair and help cleanse your skin.

Heal bruises: If you are suffering from a black eye, bruises or swelling, consider applying a very basic turmeric paste to your eye. Notice a big difference within an hour, especially in terms of reduction in the swelling.

Pests repellent: Turmeric is a favourite food for us, but ants and other pests hate it. They avoid it and totter around it. To repel pests, especially ants, simply sprinkle turmeric powder around the corner, or anywhere near the ant traces.

Golden milk: Infuse turmeric in boiling milk along with other spices like cinnamon, black pepper to extract the goodness of curcumin in the turmeric. Black pepper helps the body to absorb curcumin better.

Golden honey: Turmeric is used to prevent certain illnesses like the flu and cold. Mix turmeric powder and raw honey for a perfect Golden Honey remedy.

Turmeric cake: If you love baking, you should try baking turmeric cake. It is a simple and delicious cake to bake especially if you are a vegan. Make turmeric leaf cakes by steaming rice with grated coconut, rice and jaggery wrapped in turmeric leaves.

First aid for pets: Organic turmeric is known to be useful for cuts or gastrointestinal disorders in your pets.

Why Choose Zizira for Lakadong Turmeric?

Zizira is regarded as one of the most sought-after Lakadong turmeric suppliers in India and rightfully so. Here’s why.

• The raw rhizomes of Lakadong turmeric are directly sourced from the farmers by eliminating intermediaries. Thus, there is no risk of adulteration.
• The rhizomes are triple-cleaned to ensure quality turmeric powder and other blends
• During the processing phase, no chemicals or additives are used to enhance the colour, flavour, or aroma of Lakadong turmeric
• Team Zizira follows stringent food safety testing, and periodic audits to ensure premium quality turmeric blends for its end customers
• All turmeric products available at Zizira are 100% authentic, organically-grown, and carefully picked, processed, and packaged
• By encouraging local farming, Zizira strives to create and promote sustainable livelihood solutions for the farmers in North-East state, India