Turmeric Health Benefits

Have you ever wondered what the paste is applied to the bride and groom’s faces and arms in Indian weddings? It’s actually the spice turmeric. Turmeric is the ingredient in curry that gives it a vibrant yellow color. Actually, Indian traditional beauty secrets are handed down by ancestors to young women for skin radiance and hair removal using turmeric paste. Interestingly, turmeric has multiple health benefits and is a real power spice. Turmeric’s health benefits lie in the active ingredient curcumin. Curcumin has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, stomach soothing, and heart/liver protective qualities. It is thought to reduce histamine levels and stimulate the adrenal gland to decrease inflammation. It is often used to ease joint pain associated with arthritis. It is rich with antioxidants which are disease fighting substances that bind up free radicals (oh yes, cousin Joe that wacky guy) which are responsible for premature aging and cancer as well as destroying your marriage (see previous post on free radicals). Some animal studies even show that turmeric may benefit liver health and protect the liver from damaging toxins like alcohol (which cousin Joe definitely needs with his strong affection for Sun King). It may even harbor anti platelet activity which reduces the body’s ability to form blood clots and ultimately improve circulation. As always, you need to do your research if you are interested in taking a turmeric supplement and should check with your doctor first. However, I do have patients that have begun cooking more with turmeric and have seen some decrease in their arthritis symptoms.

Please be careful using turmeric since its deep color can stain.

Here are a few suggestions for cooking with turmeric–

1. Add it to egg salad

2. Mix brown rice, raisins, and cashews with turmeric, cumin, and coriander

3. Add it to steamed cauliflower or green beans

4. Add it to lentils

Turmeric 2 tsp:

15.58 calories

0.24mg of manganese

1.82mg of iron

0.08mg of vitamin B6

0.93g of fiber

111 mg of potassium

******One interesting tidbit is that if you add a spoonful of turmeric to the water in water-cooled radiators, it will stop leaks!

Many patients are currently taking 500mg of turmeric twice a day and claiming that it is really helping with joint pain!

I have linked an excellent article on the benefits of Turmeric HERE

Feel Free to check out Lyfebotanicals.com to learn more info on the benefits of botanicals!

You can also find excellent brands of supplements at FULLSCRIPT

Posted on March 14, 2020 by Angela in Body, cancer, Diet, disease, Exercise, Nutrition, Supplements, Weight Loss, Whole Food Leave a comment

Turmeric as an anti-inflammatory

Turmeric is a member of the ginger family and is a common spice used in Indian curries which gives them their golden-yellow color. It is a perennial herb native to tropical Southeast Asia .

It has long been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese traditional medicine as a “tonic and blood purifier” There is extensive scientific research providing support for its therapeutic effects as an anti-inflammatory. Turmeric contains the compound Curcumin which is responsible for many of its therapeutic effects.

It is an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It has a protective effect on the liver and aids in increasing bile secretion. It has been shown to reduce the developement of blocked arteries, and reduce the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease and psoriasis. ( It should not be used in high doses if you are breastfeeding).

I recently contacted a great orthopedic MD that is well-respected in the field of preventative nutrition that recommends the following supplement–you can visit his site at http://yourpersonalwellnesscenter.com

Here’s the link for this curcumin supplement

http://www.europharmausa.com/products/curamin/

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Angela in Body, Diet, Nutrition Leave a comment

Dr. Oz’s Green Smoothie Recipe

So I have a young healthy patient that suffers from terrible migraines! He travels yearly to an institute in Michigan that specializes in the treatment of migraine headaches. He takes abortive medications almost 6 days a week. Even the best specialists in the field haven’t been able to cure him of these terrible headaches. (Cue the drum roll)—He changed his diet and he has had several months of migraine free success! He started with a 1 week juice fast using Dr. Oz’s recipe. And then followed specifically with an anti-inflammatory diet. This includes no artificial sweeteners, no gluten, no dairy, and no caffeine. Here is his favorite GREEN JUICE from Dr. Oz. I rocked it out with my new juicer this weekend and am loving it. Even Sidney (13) and one of her girlfriends drank it this weekend!!!

2 cups spinach

1/2 cucumber

1/4 head of celery

1/2 bunch parsley

1 bunch mint

3 carrots

2 apples

1/4 orange

1/4 lime

1/4 lemon

1/4 pineapple

He still follows a diet that includes many fruits, vegetables and no processed foods—Who would believe that one man could cure himself of chronic pain and disease by just eating healthy! If you suffer from migraine headaches–I would encourage you to try one week of the following diet just to see if it helps. Hopefully, we will get his testimonial soon and I’ll be posting his experience and his migraine logs.

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Angela in Diet, Nutrition, Whole Food 3 Comments

Aloe Vera Magic

If we put aloe vera on painful sunburns for its soothing effects; why not drink it to soothe gut inflammation? After all, it’s just a plant. Here are some major advantages to drinking aloe vera gel or juice on a regular basis.

THE GUT:

A healthy digestive track plays a huge role in how we absorb nutrients from foods entering them into our bloodstream to fuel our cells. We have various yeast and bacteria in our gut that require a delicate balance. Aloe vera helps as a natural balancer in that it regulates the overgrowth of bacteria or yeast. This allows the bowel to absorb nutrients better, especially protein. The added benefit is that it helps transit of stool through the bowel which results in softer, bulkier stool.

THE SKIN:

Aloe vera helps feed basal skin cells keeping them healthy and functional. It stimulates fibroblast cells to reproduce faster and increase in number. Fibroblast’s job is to produce collagen and elastin which give skin its structure making it look more plump and elastic; therefore, less wrinkles and you look younger! These fibroblasts also form mesh networks over a wound which allows new skin cells to grow over and close wounds faster. Bonus!

VITAMINS:

Aloe vera contains calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, chromium, magnesium, copper, zinc, vit B12, C, E, and floic acid. Many of these vitamins can’t be stored int the body so we need to constantly replenish them by ingesting them in foods. These plants tend to grow in areas where soils are rich in minerals and its roots absorb them well in these uncontaminated areas.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY:

Aloe contains salicylic acid and plant sterols which have a natural anti-inflammatory and pain killing effects. It tends to soothe muscles, maintain healthy joints along with mobility and flexibility. Patient’s with chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome seem to claim benefits.

Superjuicer Michelle and I mix 2 oz of aloe vera juice or gel into our daily breakfast juice concoction and it has absolutely no taste. What have you got to lose to give it a try? GOT JUICE????

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Angela in Body, Diet, disease, Nutrition, Weight Loss, Whole Food Leave a comment

Be Mindful, Stay Healthy, and Always Be Yourself!

anti-inflammatory

Turmeric Health Benefits

Turmeric as an anti-inflammatory

Dr. Oz’s Green Smoothie Recipe

Aloe Vera Magic