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Does Turmeric Make You Sleepy?
You might not think much about adding a pinch of turmeric to your favorite curry, but this ancient spice is something of a superfood. Here I’ll explore whether or not turmeric make you sleepy, as well as how to get more of this amazing ingredient into your daily routine.
Key Takeaways
- Turmeric has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which can help to improve sleep quality.
- Turmeric may also work by binding to histamine receptors in the brain, which can help to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation.
- Some people find that taking turmeric before bed helps them to fall asleep more easily and sleep more soundly.
What Is Turmeric?
Turmeric is a brightly colored spice, which has been used medicinally and in a culinary capacity for many years. It tends to be associated with Indian cuisine, but many cultures now use the golden root – whether as a spice in cooking or as a supplement for health reasons.
You can also use turmeric fresh – by grating the root into warm water or meals for flavor and nutrients. Turmeric – otherwise known as Curcuma longa, tends to grow in tropical regions of the world, with India producing nearly 80% of all domesticated forms.
Whilst turmeric is used for its earthy flavor and bright, vivid color, it’s also been studied extensively – with evidence revealing it has potent health benefits to offer too. Turmeric is an amazing antioxidant, and natural anti-inflammatory which is also claimed to have anti-cancer properties. (Source)(Source)
Many people use turmeric to help with conditions affecting the muscles and joints, as it has shown potential for things like arthritis and other inflammatory states. (Source)
Other people like to take turmeric as an immune boosting agent alongside Vitamin C and D. And, for most of us, turmeric can help to offer us a future-proof health aid – a ‘do it all’ spice that can help your health today, and tomorrow.
But most people don’t realize that turmeric may be able to lend us a helping hand where sleep is involved too.
Can You Take Turmeric At Night?
If you’re taking turmeric either as a tea or in supplement form, there’s something to be said for taking it in the evening. One of the reasons for this is that turmeric has been shown to lower anxiety scores, and we know that anxiety and stress when elevated, can be a trigger for poor sleep. (Source)
So making a soothing, milky drink with turmeric, or taking your supplement in the evening can be a nice way to unwind. Similarly, because turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, there may be something to be said for taking it later in the day, as this gives your body the chance to address any unmanaged inflammatory processes while you rest.
In fact, in ayurvedic medicine – they prepare a magical healing drink known as golden milk, which you might have seen popping up at a few trendy cafes recently.
This is because, whilst they lacked the medical evidence to prove it at this time, they were well aware that such a brightly colored phytonutrient could offer us so many benefits that it really had to become part of people’s daily well-being routine. Now we have the evidence to prove just how powerful turmeric really is.
Does Turmeric Make You Sleepy?
If you’ve been struggling to drift off then you’ll be happy to hear that turmeric may have some sleep-enhancing properties.
As well as reducing anxiety and quashing inflammation, you can also benefit from these ancient spices’ sleep-inducing powers. Turmeric works similarly to the antihistamines a doctor sometimes prescribes to help temporary insomnia. This means it targets a histamine receptor – and the result is better sleep. (Source)
So, while you might not have considered turmeric as a sleep aid, taking turmeric for insomnia might just be what you need to help you get the rest you crave.
Do remember though that as with most supplements, turmeric isn’t a cure-all.
Instead, it is simply a key part of your holistic health routine. It’s also super important to prioritize daily movement, quality rest, and relaxation, on top of a nutrient-dense diet.
And I’m sure I don’t need to tell you just how important stress management is for your sleep quality. But just in case you need a reminder – reducing anxiety and worries during the day, can make it than much more likely you’ll switch off at night.
So, why not take a warm bath, spend some time reading, or do some yoga poses pre-bed? Sweet dreams…
How To Add Tumeric To Your Daily Routine
There are many ways to get extra turmeric into your daily life. You can start by getting creative in the kitchen.
This means you can add a pinch of spice to dishes such as curried rice, lentils, curries, and stews. But you also grate the fresh root directly into warm water alongside some ginger and lemon.
Alternatively, you can mix turmeric powder with a little coconut oil and black pepper, before adding warm milk and a sweetener of your choice.
Of course, if you don’t like the distinctive taste of turmeric or don’t fancy staining your entire house yellow every time you cook, help is at hand.
You could instead choose to use a high-quality supplement such as Red Tonik. You’ve probably heard of green powders, well, Red Tonik is a red powder.
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This means it combines superfoods such as beets, with berries, raspberries, and other delicious delights to create a nutrient-dense, tasty blend that can be easily taken on a daily basis.
Red Tonik also contains turmeric, meaning you don’t need to like the taste of it or cook with it to gain its benefits. This makes life easier for you, whilst also ensuring you get more for your money by combining multiple beneficial ingredients together into the same, affordable supplement.
To conclude, there’s no doubt that turmeric should be a daily staple in your wellness routine. Especially now that you know it can impact how well you sleep at night whilst also reducing inflammation and protecting you against free radical damage.
So why not get started on Red Tonik today, for all the benefits of beets and more?
Julia is a health content editor and nutritionist from Norwich, UK. She has worked as a health coach in private practice and for the national health service. She undertook an MSc in nutritional medicine to deepen her knowledge.
She enjoys producing evidence-based content which inspires people to become healthier and happier.