Health, Lifestyle

The Healing Power of Turmeric

Turmeric is said to be one of the most powerful herbs on the planet. It contains bio-active compounds with powerful medicinal properties, which science has started to back up. Turmeric has been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments. It is a natural anti-inflammatory and a powerful antioxidant. Turmeric contains an active compound called curcumin which has been extensively studied for its disease-fighting potential and preventative health benefits.

Curcuma longa roots Simon A. Eugster / CC BY-SA

Some of the benefits of Turmeric

  • Anti-inflammatory
  • Pain Relief
  • Blood Purifier
  • Natural Antibiotic
  • Lowers Cholesterol
  • Detoxifying
  • Improves digestion
  • Helps Fight Cancer
  • Wound Healing
  • Improves Cognitive Function
  • Skin Tonic

Recent studies have also shown that it is effective in treating anxiety and depression. It’s also great to take if you’re working out as it can decrease exercise related muscle soreness and boost muscle recovery.

There are several different ways to consume turmeric. You can add it to your cooking, juice it, or take curcumin supplements. You can also make face masks with it as it’s great for skin.

Boosting Turmeric Absorption

Curcumin is not easily absorbed by the body. To increase turmeric absorption, it is recommended you add black pepper to turmeric drinks/dishes. Black pepper in turmeric juice is delicious. Also adding fat such as coconut milk or having some nuts with eg, a turmeric shot also helps with absorption. When adding turmeric to dishes you could add fat in the form of coconut oil.

For maximum benefits add both black pepper and fat. Studies have shown that both black pepper and fat can optimize absorption significantly.

I’ve always adding turmeric to my cooking, but over the past five to six years I’ve also incorporated it into diet in other ways. I suffer with several chronic illnesses, mainly autoimmune diseases. I’m always researching natural ways to improve my health and whilst researching, turmeric kept popping up. I’ve always known turmeric had many health benefits but didn’t realise the extent. So I starting drinking turmeric juice (recipe below), I noticed improvements in my health; more energy, inflammation around my joints reduced and my skin is clearer. I also started taking curcumin supplements (see below for recommendations). I noticed more changes in my health, for example cuts and bruises healing a lot quicker than normal. To put it into perspective, the medication I take for my auto-immune diseases suppresses my immune system which causes cuts, wounds etc. to take a long time to heal. I even found I recover from colds a lot quicker than I normally would. My surgeons were also surprised how quickly my wounds healed after my surgery for endometriosis. I also suffer with brain fog and since taking Curcumin I’ve noticed improvements in my cognitive function. Consuming Turmeric daily is now part of my lifestyle.

Powerful Turmeric Juice recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 Lemons
  • 3 inches of raw Turmeric
  • 2 inches of raw Ginger
  • 1/2 Litre Coconut water
  • 1/2 tspn Cayenne Pepper

Juice the Lemons, Turmeric and Ginger. If you find the taste too strong, you can start by adding less Turmeric and Ginger and build up slowly.

Then add Coconut water and Cayenne Pepper. This makes 2 – 3 servings. Store the remainder in a glass jar in the fridge. Lemon acts as a preservative so if you prefer to drink smaller amounts as shots, this mixture will last a few days in the fridge.

Disclaimer. If you are pregnant, breast feeding, have health conditions or take meditation, always consult your doctor before taking Turmeric supplements.

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