Turmeric
Turmeric paste and turmeric powder
We have been adding turmeric into daily meals for quite a while as we heard that it was one of those super herbs that has many medicinal benefits including its ability to prevent cancer, ward off dementia and its powerful antioxidants and natural anti-inflammatory that help fight arthritis. What we weren’t aware of is that turmeric is poorly absorbed across the G.I. tract and is rapidly cleared from the blood, typically within an hour of consuming it as a result of our liver doing its job and actively removing it from our system.
We actually came across this great article from Planet Paws and whilst this is aimed at keeping you loving pets healthy it still applies to us wonderful creatures too.
As a result we have now started to make our own paste to help increase the tremendous powers derived from turmeric but it helps us save time each morning grating and making a stained mess with this super powered herb.
Check out this easy to make turmeric paste that will boost its power-punching curcumin by 2000% and make it more readily available to your body.
So how does it work?
- Piperine – They have been doing this for thousands of years in India perhaps by accident, but according to research, about 5% of black pepper by weight is comprised of a compound called piperine, which enhances the bioavailability of Turmeric. i.e. Piperine will increase intestinal absorption allowing time for the curcumin to be taken up into the blood stream.
- Coconut Oil – Curcumin is soluble in fat! The natural oils found in turmeric root and turmeric powder can enhance the bioavailability of curcumin seven to eight fold. When eaten with fat, curcumin can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lymphatic system thereby in part bypassing the liver. You can use other oils; however, apart from the other wonderful benefits from coconut oil, coconut oil is the “best” of the saturated fats.
Here are just some of the amazing health benefits of turmeric.
- Helps to prevent and perhaps even treat Cancer
- Wards off Alzheimer’s disease, curcumin may be useful in preventing and treating Alzheimer’s disease
- Curcumin boosts brain-derived neurotrophic factor, linked to improved brain function and a lower risk of brain diseases
- Many studies show that curcumin can help treat symptoms of arthritis and is in some cases more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes
- Combats inflammatory diseases
- Fights colds and flu
- Helps indigestion and weight loss
- Assists diabetes sufferers
- Powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties
- Turmeric dramatically increases the antioxidant capacity of the body
- Studies show that curcumin has incredible benefits against depression
- Curcumin may help delay aging and fight age-related chronic diseases
- Turmeric is amazing ingredient for the face, on darker skins made into a mask it will lighten the skin
- On fairer skins a turmeric mask will give you a lovely glow
- Turmeric paste mask will help eczema, rosacea, acne, skin irritations, anti-aging
Turmeric Beauty Mask
For a Turmeric beauty mask, combine 2 teaspoons sandalwood powder, 1/4 teaspoons turmeric powder, ½ cup chickpea flour with a little almond oil or ghee. Add 2 tablespoons yoghurt or milk and make a paste. It gives the face a lovely glow light a sun tan. Leave for 10 minutes. Turmeric will stain material so wear old clothes and wrap your hair away from your face and neck.
Turmeric mask has been used all the time by Indian women, Asians etc. for darker skins you can use 2 teaspoons it will brighten the skin and make fairer. If you have darker skin it is amazing, lifts the skin not yellow orange just a glow. Beneficial use for eczema and rosacea sufferers and its also anti-aging and for dark skins it makes the skin fairer.
For very white skin do not use if you do not want a summer glow although in summertime try the turmeric mask using only 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric powder in the mask.
Apply the mask evenly all over your face. A spot you don’t want to miss is under the eyes, as turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the dark circles, which form as a result of vasoconstriction (narrowing of the vessels).
Turmeric for Teeth Whitening
Turmeric is known for staining things yellow material, hands etc but it works as a whitener for teeth.
Mix 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder in a small glass bowl. Use an old toothbrush and brush your teeth. Try not to let any turmeric stain the corners of your mouth, you can put some Vaseline (petroleum jelly around your lips and mouth to prevent staining. It works we use method this all the time. You will see results straight away, although used regularly for best results.
