If you’re a lover of Indian food, chances are you’re already familiar with turmeric. This spice is what gives curry its yellow hue, but there’s definitely more than meets the eye to this superfood. Though recently, trendy products like turmeric-infused water and tea have become popular options for health food enthusiasts, the spice has a long history in India and southeast asia as a natural remedy for inflammation, irritations and poor digestion.

It’s native to India, where it’s been used medicinally for over 4500 years. In fact, investigation of pots found in ancient ruins revealed the use of turmeric even then, both in food and as medicine. Though you’re probably most familiar with turmeric in the form of a powder, this form was not widely available until the 1700s. Turmeric’s oldest form is as a root, similar in appearance to ginger, often ground into a paste or chopped roughly for use in the kitchen. To this day, turmeric remains significant in Indian and Hindu culture, both as a popular natural medicine and a cultural token that’s sometimes part of wedding ceremonies.

So, turmeric’s always been an effective natural remedy, but only with modern science can we understand what makes it so potent. It’s curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, that gives turmeric its anti-inflammatory and all-around-amazing powers. Curcumin’s not just a topical, soothing agent - it actually targets inflammation on a molecular level. It’s also shown to reduce the production of two enzymes the body produces which can cause inflammation.

Why is this important? Inflammation isn’t just related to difficulty in mobility - internal inflammation is a key factor in many common diseases, like heart disease, digestive problems, brain illness, and even cancer.

If your pet does have mobility problems, though, turmeric is an amazing and all-natural treatment option. In a 2012 study, patients with rheumatoid arthritis were given either prescription medication or a dosage of curcumin as treatment. The curcumin group not only showed a greater degree of improvement, but did not suffer side-effects associated with the prescription option. Though these findings are currently being researched in greater detail, this study is a landmark in proving that natural medicine can sometimes outstrip newer types of medication.

As science continues to unveil the powers of this remarkable plant, it seems clear that it will continue to be a holistic health mainstay - there’s also evidence it can be used as a natural antiseptic and skin conditioner, lowers cholesterol, helps control diabetes, slows the progression of neurodegenerative disease, and more.

The moral of the story? No matter how you incorporate it, turmeric is a powerful natural ingredient that contributes to whole body health. That’s why you’ll find it in six of our Optimum Combinations pet foods for dogs and cats.  

For improved mobility:

• S8: Sound Balanced Wellness Large Breed Adult Natural Dog Food with Turmeric and Salmon Oil
• S10: Nutram Sound Balanced Wellness Senior Natural Dog Food with Turmeric and Salmon Oil

For improved immunity:

• T22: Total Grain-free Turkey, Chicken And Duck Natural Cat Food with Turmeric and Flax Seed
• T24: Nutram Total Grain-free Salmon and Trout Natural Cat Food with Turmeric and Salmon Oil
• S2: Nutram Sound Balanced Wellness Natural Puppy Food with Turmeric and Pomegranate
• S7: Nutram Sound Balanced Wellness Small Breed Adult Natural Dog Food with Turmeric and Pomegranate

Wondering if turmeric is right for your pet? Find your Nutram Number here!