Turmeric for kids: Benefits and Nutrition

Benefits & nutritional value of Turmeric & How to include Turmeric in your child's diet

Among the Indian spices, turmeric is the most trending because of its antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and healing properties. According to Ayurveda, turmeric balances all the “doshas” or faults, cleanses the blood, removes toxins from the body, enhances digestion, keeps the nervous system healthy and the skin glowing. 

Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric’s uses and benefits are mostly because of a major component called curcumin, the main active ingredient in the spice. This makes Turmeric a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties.

1. Helps in Digestion- Add turmeric to your child’s diet to help the process of digestion. It also gives relief from bloating.
2. Prevents Inflammatory Bowel Diseases- Curcumin in turmeric can stop Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis and other inflammatory bowel diseases. 
3. Natural Pain Killer- Curcumin also reduces inflammation, and enables the adrenal gland to produce more cortisone which is a natural painkiller.
4. Balances Cholesterol Levels- LDL cholesterol is the bad cholesterol present in our bodies. Turmeric reduces this bad cholesterol by stopping its oxidation process, thus minimizing the risk of heart diseases.
5. Enhances the Skin- Thanks to the antioxidant properties of curcumin, turmeric helps heal wounds and reduce inflammation. Applying a paste of milk and turmeric on baby gives soft, glowing skin.   
6. Cures Morning Sickness- Mild/diluted forms of turmeric had in small quantities can cure morning sickness and fight nausea. 
7. Immunity Builder- Turmeric attacks the harmful chemicals in the body that harm the healthy cell and the cell membranes. So, it helps boost immunity.

4 Benefits of Turmeric for kids according to Ayurveda

1. Healthy respiratory system

Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic, and hence great for asthmatic children. Boil a cup of milk with 1 teaspoon of turmeric in it and give it to your child once a day. It will remove mucus and relieve chest congestion, allowing the child to breathe easy.

2. Disease-free skin

Turmeric helps battling against common skin infections like rashes, acne and itching. You can mix honey and turmeric and apply the paste on the site of the infection. To treat fungal infection in children, mix one teaspoon turmeric powder with one teaspoon Aloe Vera and apply it over the infected area.

3. Sharp Brains

A research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that people who consumed turmeric regularly had better cognitive functions. Turmeric can help the developing brain of children and boost academic performance.

4. Active Senses

Turmeric decongests the nasal tract and stops nosebleeds. Mix ghee with turmeric and apply on the inner lining of the nose. This helps clear the sinuses and restores the sense of smell. For relief in conjunctivitis, take one part turmeric and mix it with 20 parts clean water. Dip a clean cloth in this solution and cover the eyes. This will keep the eyes healthy, clear and pain-free.

How to add Turmeric to your Baby’s Diet

Now that you know the benefits, here’s how to add turmeric to your little one’s diet. Ensure that your child has been introduced to solid foods.

• Turmeric Milk: Add just a pinch of turmeric powder to a small cup of milk. Add some sugar as needed. If your baby is less than 1 year of age, avoid sugar.
• Soups: Add a pinch of turmeric to the soup preparation. Keep in mind to bring the soup to a boil before you cool and feed it to baby.
• Khichdis/ Dals: Add just a tiny bit of turmeric as the traditional recipes of khichdis and dals have a little turmeric already in them.
• Mashed and pureed foods: You can also add turmeric to baby foods like carrot puree, tomato puree and mashed potatoes.
• Chicken- If your baby has been introduced to chicken, add a pinch of turmeric to it while cooking. 

Nutritional Facts

What makes turmeric a wonder spice is that it is nutritionally rich for one and all! It’s equally helpful for an elderly person suffering from arthritis and a child with asthma. A tablespoon of ground turmeric offers 29 calories, nearly a gram of protein, 2 grams of fiber and 6 grams of carbohydrates. It contains minerals such as manganese, phosphorus and potassium.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database, one tablespoon of turmeric powder contains:

29 calories

0.91 grams (g) of protein

0.31 g of fat

6.31 g of carbohydrates

2.1 g of fiber

0.3 g of sugar

That same 1-tbsp serving provides:

26 percent of daily manganese needs

16 percent of daily iron

5 percent of daily potassium

3 percent of daily vitamin C

Wow!

When to Introduce Turmeric to Baby’s Diet

Please keep in mind that feeding turmeric in any form to new born babies is not safe. You can only feed it to infants after they start consuming solid foods. We would recommend adding turmeric to your child’s diet from when he/she is 6-9 months old.

Have an interesting turmeric tip for kids that we somehow missed out? Do share it with us so we can share it with everyone else!

Some frequently asked questions have been answered below for you!

You ask and we answer!

Q.1  Can I give turmeric to my child? (Vimmi Singh, Chandigarh.)

Turmeric in its powdered form is safe for children and a great addition to their diet, but not necessarily needed daily.

Q.2  Can toddlers eat turmeric? (Mukti Sarin, Noida.)

Yes! A small amount of turmeric at a time is totally safe for your toddler. It's a great spice for palate training your little one to be an adventurous eater.

Q.3  Is turmeric safe to take daily? (Pooja Nambiar, Indore.)

Turmeric is safe for most people when consumed in amounts found in food. But turmeric can have side effects when taken in large doses.

Q.4  What is turmeric good for? (Namrata Shah, Mumbai.)

Turmeric contains a yellow-colored chemical called curcumin, often used to color foods and cosmetics. Turmeric is commonly used for conditions involving pain and inflammation, such as osteoarthritis. It is also used for hay fever, depression, high cholesterol, a type of liver disease, and itching.