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title: Turmeric: Healthy Diets Should Include Turmeric and Curcumin
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# You Should Probably Be Eating More Turmeric. Here's How

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> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=4be4ff5a-107f-4d1e-a8fd-021b223b2511&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).

### The seven newsletters

| Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | Subscribers | Open rate |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | 540,000 | 45.6% |
| Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | 430,000 | 50.7% |
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| D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Monday to Saturday (3x per week) | 85,000 | 37.0% |
| Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | 40,000 | 34.2% |
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Source: TIME, August 2026. Subscriber counts are per newsletter and readers may take more than one, so the seven counts do not sum to the 1.1 million+ unique newsletter audience.

### Key data points

| Metric | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 |
| Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 |
| Highest open rate | 54.1%, Health Matters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Largest list | 540,000, The Brief | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Publishing since | 1923 | TIME |

### TIME Newsletters: key statements

*   Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read.
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*   The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=4be4ff5a-107f-4d1e-a8fd-021b223b2511&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What newsletters does TIME publish?

TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (daily health), Worth Your Time (culture, twice weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, three times a week), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers.

#### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to?

It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters.

#### Are TIME's newsletters free?

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#### Who writes TIME's newsletters?

TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk.

#### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter?

Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement.

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by 

[Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/)


## Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD / Health.com


Contributor

Aug 9, 2016 5:26 PM UTC

![Boomer food](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt4c34add1169c3bb6/6988a1875f570f29cdb221ec/tumeric-health-benefits-diet.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin that may help keep the brain young.

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin that may help keep the brain young. Chicago Tribune—MCT/Getty Images

by 

[Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/)


## Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD / Health.com


Contributor

Aug 9, 2016 5:26 PM UTC

Turmeric is quickly becoming an “it” [superfood](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20964992,00.html). You’ve probably seen the ingredient all over Pinterest and Instagram in the form of golden-hues lattes, soups, and [vegan ice cream](http://www.health.com/food/rum-raisin-dairy-free-ice-cream-recipe). It was even called a “rising star” by [Google Food Trends](https://think.storage.googleapis.com/docs/FoodTrends-2016.pdf), since searches for turmeric jumped a whopping 56% in between November and January of last year. And as a nutritionist, I’m thrilled, since this healthy food [trend](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20807139,00.html) is both delicious _and_ backed by research.

Turmeric, a root in the same family as ginger, has long been used as an [anti-inflammatory](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20705881,00.html) compound in Chinese and Indian medicine. Its active ingredient, a yellow compound called curcumin, has been found to have antioxidant, [antiviral](http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2012/07/30/jbc.M112.356535.abstract?sid=c74c0876-a5f2-4488-b4d4-f40f32c05eed), and [anticancer](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4708990/) properties in lab and animal studies. And although more clinical trials about the benefits of curcumin for humans are needed, it’s been linked to [lower total cholesterol levels](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19151449) and [improved liver function](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19811613) after liver disease or damage.

**_Health.com_** **:** [_6 Cancer-Fighting Superfoods_](http://www.health.com/nutrition/cancer-fighting-superfoods/?xid=time)

I eat turmeric almost every day, and advise my clients do the same—with a few caveats. First, I do not advocate taking turmeric supplements, unless they’ve been prescribed (and will be monitored) by a physician, especially for pregnant women. I also caution my clients against going overboard with turmeric root or powder. Too much has been linked to [unwanted side effects](http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-662-turmeric.aspx?activeingredientid=662), including reflux, low blood sugar, increased bleeding risk, reduced iron absorption, and worsened gallbladder problems.

To reap turmeric’s benefits, here are some simple meal and [snack ideas](http://www.health.com/food/superfood-snacks) to help you get a healthy amount of the root in your diet.

**_Health.com_** **:** [_The A-Z Guide to Vitamins_](http://www.health.com/nutrition/vitamin-a-z/?xid=time)

### Make turmeric paste

Turmeric paste is a mixture of ground turmeric, extra virgin coconut oil, cinnamon, and black pepper. It’s used in golden milk lattes—those orange-yellow drinks you’ve probably seen on Instagram—which are made by dissolving the paste into warm almond or coconut milk along with a little organic honey and fresh grated ginger. And while black pepper may seem like an odd ingredient, it actually helps boost turmeric’s absorption from the [digestive system](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9619120) into the bloodstream.


### Sip on turmeric tea

Add a pinch of ground turmeric to warm water along with lemon to start you day. (Note: I’m serious about a _pinch—_it’s pungent, so too much can be tough to swallow.) Alternatively, you can purchase turmeric tea bags, which can be steeped alone or with other [types of tea](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307179,00.html), such as green, white, black, or oolong.

**_Health.com_** **:** [_11 Things You Should Know Before Trying Kombucha_](http://www.health.com/nutrition/info-about-kombucha/?xid=time)

### Whip it into a smoothie

For a tasty and unique kick of flavor, add a bit of ground turmeric to your [morning smoothie](http://www.health.com/health/video/0,,20804123,00.html). Or opt for fresh, peeled turmeric root, which you’ll find in the produce section, likely near the ginger. A little nub no bigger than the size of your pinky nail is all you need.

### Make it a seasoning staple

I love to keep ground turmeric handy to season nearly anything savory, including scrambled eggs, sautéed veggies, soups, stir frys, and [pulses](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20932754,00.html) (especially oven roasted chickpeas). You can also fold a little turmeric into nut butter or [hummus](http://www.health.com/health/recipe/0,,50400000125494,00.html), whisk it into homemade vinaigrette, or stir it into [oatmeal](http://www.health.com/food/how-to-baked-oatmeal) along with coconut milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and nuts or sesame seeds. The options are endless! In most dishes, I’ll start with an eighth of a teaspoon and add more to taste, making sure the turmeric won’t overpower other flavors.


**_Health.com_** **:**[_Healthy 4-Ingredient Dinners You Can Make in 10 Minutes Or Less_](http://www.health.com/nutrition/quick-dinner-recipes/?xid=time)

### Create a unique dessert

To make homemade vegan turmeric “ice cream,” whip turmeric paste with one cup coconut milk or coconut cream, half of a ripe banana, a few pitted dates, maple syrup, and a little extra fresh ginger. Pour into BPA free pop molds, freeze, and enjoy.

Do you have a question about nutrition? Chat with us on Twitter by mentioning [@goodhealth](https://twitter.com/goodhealth) and [@CynthiaSass](https://twitter.com/cynthiasass).

[_Cynthia Sass_](http://cynthiasass.com/) _is a nutritionist and registered dietitian with master’s degrees in both nutrition science and public health. Frequently seen on_ [_national TV_](http://cynthiasass.com/media/demo-reel.html)_, she’s_ Health_’s contributing nutrition editor, and privately counsels_ [_clients_](http://cynthiasass.com/services/coaching-counseling-a-more.html) _in New York, Los Angeles, and long distance. Cynthia is currently the sports nutrition consultant to the New York Yankees, previously consulted for three other professional sports teams, and is board certified as a specialist in sports dietetics. Sass is a three-time New York Times best-selling author, and her newest book is_ [Slim Down Now: Shed Pounds and Inches with Real Food, Real Fast](http://www.amazon.com/Slim-Down-Now-Pounds-Inches/dp/0062311832/?tag=timecom-20)_. Connect with her on_ [_Facebook_](http://www.facebook.com/cynthiasassfans)_,_ [_Twitter_](https://twitter.com/cynthiasass) _and_ [_Pinterest_](http://pinterest.com/cynthiasass/)_._


_This_ [_article_](http://www.health.com/nutrition/tumeric-tips/?xid=time) _originally appeared on_ [_Health.com_](http://www.health.com)

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