Growing Turmeric In Aquaponics

Video of our Turmeric growing in our aquaponics system

Growing Turmeric In Aquaponics

I never thought a root crop like turmeric would grow in an aquaponics system. We’ve had bad luck with many other root crops due to the constant water saturation. But, turmeric has been a pleasant surprise. It thrives in aquaponics systems and been productive enough to supply us fresh root for salads and lots to dry, powder and store.

It’s simple to get started. All you need is a fresh root that’s starting to make growth nodules. If you leave it in the cupboard, much like a potato, it will start trying to grow. Once it has growth nodules, take the root and split it up into pieces.(depending on how many nodules you have) Bury it one inch down in your grow media and it’ll take off.

After a 1-2 weeks, you’ll see small stalks coming up. Wait a month or 2 and harvest the roots as you need them. Just be sure to replant a small piece each time you take some and you’ll have an infinite supply.

What Are the Benefits of Turmeric?

Turmeric is considered a spice and is the main component of Indian curry powder. It gives that distinctive flavor as well as the orangeish color to Indian food. But, it doesn’t stop at chicken curry and fried samosas! Turmeric may harbor one of the most effective, naturally occurring, anti-inflammatory compounds. A plethora of high-quality studies have shown that turmeric has significant benefits for the body and brain.

Many of these benefits come from its main active ingredient, curcumin. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant. Research suggests that curcumin can help in the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia. It may also help in the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, thereby enhancing recovery and performance in active people. Individuals who don’t have the ability to grow Turmeric in its raw form, may instead look for effective supplements like below.

Curcumin and the Brain

Curcumin been shown to increase BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) in animals and also increase the levels of serotonin and dopamine in humans. There’s ongoing research in it’s effectiveness treating Alzheimer’s related issues. There may be good news on the horizon because curcumin has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and because we know that inflammation and and oxidative damage play a part in Alzheimer’s disease, curcumin seems like a good candidate for research. In addition, curcumin has been shown to to clear up the amyloid plaques that are thought to be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease.

Curcumin Vs. NSAID’s

Curcumin’s strong anti-inflammatory properties, make it a common alternative to more common NSAIDs used to combat pain and inflammation. In fact, it’s so potent that some studies have shown it to match the power of some common anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, without the negative side effects. Studies also demonstrate that turmeric may play a role in preventing and treating arthritis, a disease characterized by joint inflammation and pain.

How TO make Curcumin More BioAvailable

Curcumin is poorly absorbed into your bloodstream. In order to experience the full effects of curcumin, its bio-availability needs to improve. Or you’ll need to eat ton of Turmeric and walk around with a bright orange cheetoh mouth all day.

The trick is to consume it with black pepper, which contains piperine. Piperine is a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin. Piperine works by inhibiting drug metabolism. For example, the liver gets rid of foreign substances by making them water-soluble so that they can be excreted. Piperine can inhibit this process so that curcumin is not excreted as fast. Infact Piperine has been shown to increase the bio-availability of many supplements. Most curcumin supplements contain piperine, and this makes them substantially more effective.

Curcumin is also fat soluble, which means it breaks down and dissolves in fat or oil. That’s why it’s recommended to take curcumin supplements with a meal that’s high in fat. So, if you’re on some crazy #vegan #mcdougalldiet with zero fats, be sure to keep this in mind.

So…..I highly suggest growing turmeric in your aquaponics system. But dirt works great too.