Add a little bit of spice to your pumpkin recipes with this delicious and nutritious Turmeric Pumpkin Chocolate Bread. Reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and combat stress and adrenal fatigue with just one slice. Who knew that dessert could be this healthy!
You might be a bit apprehensive about adding turmeric to your pumpkin bread, but have no fear. This less-known ingredient has been known in Asian medicinal preparations for years, but it has lagged behind in the west. Turmeric is not just an ingredient added to Asian curries. It is a member of the ginger family and has been used as a natural medicine across Asia for hundreds of years with good reason. It is a powerhouse, packed with antioxidants, anti-inflammatories, and cancer-fighting properties. Plus it gives everything a golden summer color which is very inviting, just like in this Turmeric Pumpkin Chocolate Bread.
Why Add Turmeric?
Let’s first take a look at the many benefits of turmeric. Most prominently used in India, turmeric is often taken to fight indigestion, colds, throat infections, and reflux as well as used externally to combat skin infections and rashes.
The compound in turmeric that gives it all its powers is curcumin. Curcumin has anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting properties. It also contains many antioxidants which fight free radicals and prevent cell membrane damage. Here are a few more turmeric benefits:
Pain relief: Doctors and their patients noticed that turmeric relieved their pains. Turmeric can help relieve arthritis pain and common everyday pains like muscle soreness and headaches. Around 800 mg is recommended for pain relief.
Anti-inflammatory: Studies by the Arthritis Foundation show that turmeric has the ability to reduce inflammation in arthritic patients. The results were so clear that the Arthritis Foundation recommends that those suffering from arthritis take 400 to 600 mg of turmeric three times a day.
Fights free radicals and cancer: Turmeric, more specifically curcumin, has natural properties which can help combat the development of cancer and fight free radicals. Curcumin has been found to help prevent cancer development. Diferuloylmethane, which is found in curcumin, shows anticancer effects on cancer cells.
Improves digestion: You will find turmeric in many Asian dishes, especially curry, because it is both delicious and good for your digestive system. It can help reduce reflux, indigestion, gas, gut inflammation, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Improves liver function: The antioxidants found in turmeric have shown to improve liver function. Therefore turmeric can give relief to those who suffer from liver issues.
Relieves stress and adrenal fatigue: Turmeric has so many benefits including boosting the immune system, reducing inflammation, and healing the liver, plus it’s packed with antioxidants. All these properties help the body to heal and reduce the effects of stress and adrenal fatigue symptoms .
Where & How
At your local health food store, you can find turmeric in the whole root form, in powder form, as a liquid, in pills, or as a tincture. It is a natural root and therefore does not require a prescription. It can be bought at the pharmacy, at the health food store, the Asian grocer, or found in your local supermarket.
The easiest way to ingest turmeric is by cooking with it, just like in the Turmeric Pumpkin Chocolate Bread recipe below. You can make smoothies, curries, tea, cakes, and bread with turmeric powder. Though it is a little bitter, the flavor still goes with everything.
If you have any health concerns, consult a doctor before taking turmeric.
Drawbacks of Turmeric
Turmeric has many amazing health benefits. However, there are a few possible side effects of taking large amounts of turmeric that you should be aware of:
Turmeric can aid in digestion, but too much of it can cause stomach pain or cramps.
Research shows that turmeric acts as a blood thinner and therefore can cause easy bleeding. So if you take blood-thinning medication, you should not take large doses of turmeric.
If you are pregnant you should not take large amounts of turmeric. As you might have heard, a spicy curry can bring on labor and this is because of the ingredient turmeric.
Consult your doctor if you have further questions about side effects.
The Turmeric Pumpkin Chocolate Bread Recipe
Now for the long awaited Turmeric Pumpkin Chocolate Bread recipe. This bread is easy to make, is vegan-friendly, soy-free, gluten-free, and sugar-free.
Ingredients A:
1¼ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup maple syrup
½ cup almond milk
3 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
1 tsp lemon juice
½ cup coconut sugar
Ingredients B:
1 tsp turmeric powder
2 cups oat flour
2 tbsp cocoa powder
2½ tsp baking powder
⅓ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
3 tsp cinnamon
Ingredients C:
½ cup chocolate chips
3⅓ tbsp cocoa powder
½ tsp vanilla extract
2⅓ tbsp warm water
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Instructions:
Pre-heat the oven to 365 degrees F.
In a large bowl mix together Ingredients A wet ingredients – pumpkin, maple syrup, milk, coconut oil, lemon juice, and sugar, until the sugar has dissolved. If the coconut sugar does not dissolve, add a little warm water.
In another large bowl, combine Ingredients B, dry ingredients – turmeric, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
Pour the wet mixture into the dry and mix well. The mixture should be thick, like muffin batter. If it is too thin, add some more oat flour.
To a clean bowl, add Ingredients C, the cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and water. Mix together, and then swirl it in with other dough along with chocolate chips.
Take a 8.5 by 4.5 inch or 9 by 5 loaf pan and pour in the batter nice and evenly.
Sprinkle additional chocolate chips on top of the batter.
Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Serve immediately or store, once cooled, for 4 days in the fridge.
Conclusion
Have you preheated the oven yet? This Turmeric Pumpkin Chocolate Bread is not going to bake itself! As you can see, turmeric is a healthy and natural way to help restore your body from stress. It reduces inflammation and boosts detoxification, protecting your cells from damage. Curcumin also has the ability to help boost adrenal gland function. So if you suffer from adrenal fatigue or stress, then you should definitely try turmeric as a way to better your overall health and help you to fight illness. Just remember to consult your doctor first!
