Turmeric Smoothie Recipe

With just a spoonful of the vibrantly-colored spice turmeric, your Shakeology smoothie can become even more powerful. Turmeric contains the phytonutrient curcumin, which is best known for giving curry powder it’s bright yellowish-orange hue. But it has also been revered for centuries in Asia for its medicinal properties, many of which are now being validated by modern science.

Case in point: Research shows that curcumin can help reduce inflammation. People often turn to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) like ibuprofen to alleviate the pain, muscle soreness, and inflammation that often arise after intense exercise or demanding physical work. But NSAIDS can have a host of unwelcome side effects, including cardiovascular complications to gastrointestinal distress. As a result, researchers are looking into curcumin as a potential way to fight exercise induced inflammation without the risk of heart burn, ulcers, strokes, and even heart attacks that are associated with NSAID use.

Curcumin might also be able to reduce muscle damage and pain in the 48 hours following exercise (a condition known as delayed muscle onset soreness, or DOMS), according to a recent study in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. If your muscles have ever ached a couple of days after a workout—causing you to wince when getting out of a chair or reaching for something on a top shelf—your familiar with DOMS. Being able to reduce that pain, or avoid it altogether, has implications beyond just comfort; indeed, it can help you recover faster between workouts and boost your performance during them.

Need another reason to add turmeric to your smoothie? Its mild, slightly bitter, floral flavor will help mellow the sweetness of Vanilla Shakeology, giving it a soothing, slightly exotic taste. It’s a win-win no matter how you look at it.

Read more about how turmeric can ease muscle soreness and improve athletic performance.

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