The Golden Tuber Health benefits Curcumin and Turmeric ... · Thank you for downloading this e book...

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The Golden Tuber Health benefits Curcumin and Turmeric have to offer

Transcript of The Golden Tuber Health benefits Curcumin and Turmeric ... · Thank you for downloading this e book...

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The Golden Tuber

Health benefits Curcumin and Turmeric have to offer

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Copyright 2019 by __Daniel Mihalache__ - All rights reserved.

This document is geared towards providing exact and reliable information in regards to the topic and issue covered. The publication is sold with the idea that the publisher is not required to render accounting, officially permitted, or otherwise, qualified services. If advice is necessary, legal or professional, a practiced individual in the profession should be ordered. - From a Declaration of Principles which was accepted and approved equally by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved. The information provided herein is stated to be truthful and consistent, in that any liability, in terms of inattention or otherwise, by any usage or abuse of any policies, processes, or directions contained within is the solitary and utter responsibility of the recipient reader. Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly. Respective authors own all copyrights not held by the publisher. The information herein is offered for informational purposes solely, and is universal as so. The presentation of the information is without contract or any type of guarantee assurance. The trademarks that are used are without any consent, and the publication of the trademark is without permission or backing by the trademark owner. All trademarks and brands within this book are for clarifying purposes only and are the owned by the owners themselves, not affiliated with this document.

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Introduction

Thank you for downloading this e book on the health benefits of turmeric and curcumin. We wish you a happy reading experience with the hope that this book will enable you to understand and appreciate turmeric and the naturally occurring chemical “curcumin” inside it, and their use for a better health and life. Assuming that you chose to download the book for pointers on improving health, let me congratulate you on the first step you’ve taken towards a healthier life!

This ebook was written with the sole purpose of educating the public about a phenomenon that the world is only just waking up to. With countries and economies opening up, ready to learn from and benefit from each other, there is a lot of give and take happening all around us. What once used to be shunned as the third-world has now been given a hand of equality and fellowship. The ‘developed’ countries have caught up to what the rest of us have been growing and developing into.

There is nothing more open to being eclectic and cosmopolitan as the simple act of cooking. With cuisines and flavours ranging from person to person, home to home, state to state and country to country, the power of this simple act to bring more people together, and yet divide them so violently is amazing. Whatever the scene, food is a symbol of individuality, home, love, and comfort. What we eat and how we eat have changed so much, just in the past decade that many people have begun to identify themselves based on what they choose to eat. While it is heartening to see that more and more people are working towards incorporating more of nature into their lives, and their eating habits, some disturbing trends point to the fact that the relationship some people have with food is not very wholesome. Food is meant not only to fulfill our basic needs, it is also our source of energy, the fuel that enables our body to thrive, heal itself, and replenish what is missing. This sort of power is only available in what nature gives to us. Over the years people have come full circle in our relationship with nature. We started in the arms of nature, drifted away, effectively negated its

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existence, and now we have finally come running back to nature, once again. Be it nutrition, health, beauty, or any other realm, our relationship with nature has gone through the same circle. In our return to nature, we have found that what is natural seems to win in terms of benefits and lack of negative effects. In the massive interest that has erupted over the natural realm, people have found that holistic medicine is found in the healthy food we consume everyday. Wisdom that has been available for centuries is now being tried and tested and found to bear substance. Spices have been used to kick up flavors and cure ailments for a very long time. Since ancient ages, almost since man settled down with farming and started understanding the ways nature works in, spices have played an important role in the daily life. Mostly used as agents of medicinal goodness, spices were used as treatments to various bug bites, infections and allergies. The easiest way to ensure man was not affected by minor ailments was to inculcate these natural medicines in daily diet. As the food sciences evolved, taste buds developed and man appreciated the goodness of spices added to food. It was not only tastier, but also healthier and negated certain undesirable elements in natural foodstuffs. Like pulses rich in sulfur and protein would cause flatulence and asafetida helped in curbing it and improving digestion.

Spices are indeed a gift of nature to us. Turmeric is a common spice known for its bright golden yellow coloration that it gives to the food and also for the many medicinal properties that are present in turmeric thanks to the chemical called curcumin, which is a naturally prevailing compound in this tuberous spice. This book focuses on the proven medicinal advantages of turmeric which one can apply in daily life and take advantage of.

We sincerely hope the readers enjoy this book and also consider the fact that these benefits may not work for everyone in the same way. One must be careful of the fact that certain spices and herbs are not quite suitable for one’s state of the body and if one is aware that a certain plant product does not suit them, one must avoid it promptly. Wishing you a great read!

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Chapter 1:

Getting to know turmeric

Turmeric or Curcuma longa, as the scientific taxonomy goes. It is cultivated in at least 30 different varieties in the subcontinent of India. It belongs to the ginger family in the plant kingdom. Bearing rhizomes which look quite similar to ginger, it stains whatever it touches a distinct yellow color which is quite integral to Southeast Asian culture. It is eaten fresh or powdered– that is, boiled for the good part of an hour, dried in ovens and ground into a deep yellow powder. It imparts a warm, slightly bitter, earthy taste and a distinct, mustard like smell. Certain dishes across India cannot be prepared without turmeric.

Turmeric is known as a powerhouse of potency and healing because of the main ingredient, Curcuma, which is present in high quantities in turmeric. Curcumins are fascinating compounds belonging to the family of curcuminoids. They impart the yellow colored stain to whatever turmeric touches. They have been found to do wonders for the human body.

The use of turmeric dates back nearly 4000 years to the Vedic culture in India. Being first used as a dye because of its brilliant yellow hue, the color is still a staple in the Indian textile industry. This was also its first use in the western world. The use of turmeric as a spice and as a medicine developed gradually. It was also found to be a purifier and an antiseptic compound. Considering the value of turmeric and its multi-fold use, Indians have

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incorporated the spice in their religious ceremonies, using it as a symbol of cleansing and purification. What’s more, most of the world’s resources of turmeric comes from the Indian subcontinent. At least 30 varieties of the crop are grown across the country, ranging in size, shape, color and type of plant.

Turmeric found itself being introduced into the rest of the world in traders’ ships and caravans. It has seen some very famous admirers, with the likes of Marco Polo, who mentioned and described the Indian Saffron in his travel writings. Suffice it to say turmeric has been around longer than any of us in this world.

But the discovery of the potency and power of this spice in the modern world is a recent phenomenon. For quite a while the East and its wisdom was dismissed as superstition by the rest of the world. Fairly recently, a lot of hype has been created around alternative medicine. This has developed to a fevered pitch in the last 25 years. A number of studies and a multitude of research has surfaced showing us that this spice is a wonder-drug.

Medicinally, turmeric has been used both internally – ingested in various forms for a variety of health issues like common cold, indigestion, fevers, liver trouble etc., and externally over skin for allergies, rash, or to cleanse wounds. It is considered to be a potent medicinal plant.

Here are some interesting facts you may never have heard about turmeric:

1. Erode, a town in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is the largest producer of turmeric in the world. It is, therefore, called 'Turmeric City,' or the Yellow City of India.

2. Did you know that processed mustard gets its brilliant yellow color because of the addition of turmeric?

3. Sangli in Maharashtra, India, hosts the world's largest turmeric trading center.

4. Aston University's Dr. Eric Lattman discovered that turmeric is the natural antivenom for a cobra bite.

5. Turmeric is believed to have been cultivated as early as 3000 BCE.

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6. Curcumin in turmeric has a preservative property. It is used in combination with alcohol as a preservative to store water-bearing products.

7. In the Middle Ages, turmeric was called Indian Saffron since it was used as an inexpensive alternative to saffron.

8. Turmeric is also a good source of beta carotene, ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), fiber, calcium, iron, potassium, and several other components, numbering over 300 in total.

9. Turmeric has also found a place in Chinese medicine and Japanese tea traditions.

10. People have found interesting uses for turmeric, some reporting that a leaking radiator can be fixed by mixing a tablespoon of turmeric in the radiator water.

With all this astonishing potency, turmeric warrants a more in-depth study so that we know exactly what we’re dealing with here. In this e-book, we examine the benefits of turmeric from a medical standpoint. The following chapters will examine the medical miracles turmeric is capable of, its use in beauty and daily health care practices that will ensure that we are ready to take on the adversity of illness and rid ourselves of the unfortunate ailments that we find ourselves battling day by day.

Let us see the science backed medicinal benefits of this compound in the following chapter.

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Chapter 2:

The medicinal benefits of turmeric

Turmeric gives food a nice, delectable yellow color but it is not just the color which is attractive; the varied health benefits turmeric provides are amazing too. Let us look at the top 10 proven health benefits of using turmeric in some form.

1. Anti-inflammatory properties:

Inflammation is understood as the swelling up of a certain area of the body, where the said area becomes red and hot with or without pain (mostly painful) as the body’s reaction to infection or disease. It is a symptom of disease as well as a defense mechanism for the body. By increasing blood flow to the affected part and increasing its temperature, the body tries to counter the infection and kill pathogenic bacteria which are causing the infection. Short term inflammation is fine, it actually destroys the infection but chronic inflammation can cause a variety of problems like persistent pain, tissue damage, auto-immune disorders etc.

Since inflammation is so painful, modern medicines try to kill the symptom by administering drugs which deal with the swelling only, not the actual cause. This can be a bad strategy to follow.

Turmeric is understood and studied to have the power to effectively deal with chronic inflammation. It is found to play a crucial role at the molecular level and prevent complicated reactions from occurring and ultimately stops inflammation.

NF-KB is a molecule which travels to the cell’s nucleus and activates the genes responsible for inflammation. Curcumin present in turmeric has been found to block the release of this molecule and thus avert inflammation. The biggest application of this phenomenon is for the plethora of western

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degenerative conditions like cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, metabolic syndromes etc.

This property of curcumin renders turmeric useful in a number of other realms as well, including beauty treatments for skin, hair and scalp.

2. Antioxidant capacity:

We are all aware of the fact that the human body ages and this process accelerates as oxidative damage happens in the body. They say anti-oxidation helps put the brakes on the ageing process. This seems true because oxidation releases free radicals in the body and these molecules are nothing but damage causing factors for the DNA and cells. The damage caused triggers faults and problems and the mechanism of the body starts degenerating. The more rapid this process is, the faster ageing occurs.

Turmeric is the wonder drug which slows down ageing by providing curcumin in the body. This molecule neutralizes the free radicals as well as promotes the secretion of the body’s anti-oxidation enzymes. This two way action is the best for slowing down ageing and maintaining the functioning of the body.

3. Boosts Neutrophic Factor:

Modern day science is making progress manifold and it has been found that the brain cells or neurons, which were earlier understood to not divide and multiply after childhood, have been found to not just divide but also make new connections in certain areas of the brain.

Brain Derived Neutrophic Factor is the hormone responsible for the growth and multiplication of the brain cells. The lack of this hormone has been linked to the brain disorders like Alzheimer’s and depression.

Curcumin has been found to help the secretion of BDNF and can reverse the effects of ageing on the brain function too. There is a whole area of study expected in the effects of curcumin on memory. But the take away from this

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discussion would be that turmeric is helpful in the generation of new neurons and boosts brain function by allowing growth in the brain.

4. Diabetes:

Diabetes is the epidemic of the century – the classic lifestyle disorder is actually a group of diseases which result in high blood sugar. The cycle of hormone secretion, sugar metabolism and kidney function is so distorted as one aggravates the other and gives rise to a whole lot of issues in the body. Since the body tends to adjust itself to the changing internal environment, all the organs are affected and the final result is very poor health.

Turmeric is found to lower blood glucose and also negate the effect and resistance towards insulin. The magazine “Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology” houses articles on how curcumin has helped curb type 1 diabetes. An article in Biochemistry and Biophysical Research Communications brought to light the results in an experiment on curcumin suppressing the glucose production in the liver. It is quite a potent drug – almost 400 times more effective than a common diabetes medicine called MetFormin. Turmeric also improved metabolism and helped the diabetic body avoid deposition in the arteries.

5. Helps improve heart function and minimizes risks of heart diseases

Heart disease is one of the deadliest. It is estimated that 30 percent of all people that die every year have died because of cardio- vascular disorders. Heart troubles rank as the highest in this section of diseases.

Curcumin in turmeric helps reverse heart disease processes and strengthens the endothelium, which is the lining of blood vessels. It is the endothelium which makes sure there is no deposition or plaque formation in the blood vessel and there is no clotting, obstructing the function of the vessel. If the endothelium is dysfunctional, one suffers from irregular blood pressure and lots form, aggravating the heart problems. Studies show that curcumin

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benefits the cardio vascular system as effectively as exercise does, and another study stresses that it is as good as the medicine Atorvastatin.

Curcumin shows a great response in studies conducted on heart patients prepping for surgery and the risks they are prone to become 65% lesser. Turmeric indeed makes the heart beat better!

6. Cancer treatment

The word cancer evokes very disturbing images in the mind, let alone the fact that it is a disease on the rise and it is very difficult to get rid of it completely. The treatments commonly used are extremely painful, complicated and there are many instances where they can go wrong and become lethal too. Cancer is ferocious, and human race is too timid for it. But turmeric is a gift we have been endowed with and it can possibly control the wild cell division cancer causes.

Curcumin can stop blood vessels forming in the cancerous tumors causing their death and this has been shown in lab on animals. The studies on how effective it is exactly in humans is yet to happen, and also, one does not yet know if it there can be a dosage for the same but there are clear signs that turmeric consumption helps avoid cancers of the digestive system.

7. Effect on arthritis

Patients of arthritis can tell you what hell they go through on a regular basis. The inability to move around and be comfortable in one’s own body is tough to deal with. Arthritis is a painful inflammation of joints and can cause a great deal of trouble.

It has been shown that turmeric is anti – inflammatory, so any such problems can effectively be curbed by use of turmeric. Especially for rheumatoid arthritis, the impact of curcumin has been shown to be even better than regular medicines used for its treatment. In a study using BCM -95, a

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curcumin product, it was clearly demonstrated how it was better than diclofenac, a typical drug used for the treatment of Rheumatoid arthritis.

8. For the battle against depression

Depression is a brain and psychological disorder which gets worse as the hormones begin siding with it. The patient is generally given Prozac but it is not the ultimate drug to have and can still not help the patient come out of it.

Curcumin has shown promising results in helping to curb depression. If the patients in the test group took Prozac as well as curcumin or turmeric, the results were far better than anything else. This shows that turmeric is helpful to treat a person with depression.

9. Treating Alzheimer’s

Touted as the next big disaster to deal with in the coming future, Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neuro-degenerative disorder which makes the patient forget even the important and crucial details like one’s name and family. The earliest symptom is short term memory loss.

No good drugs are available yet, and the best form of treating something is to not let it happen at all. Turmeric helps brain activity and function to stay proper for longer and thus it can be said that curcumin is responsible for maintain brain function and avoiding Alzheimer’s disease in the first place.

10. Topical application

Skin is the largest organ in the body and also exposed to outside atmosphere, making it a wear and tear prone organ. Infections and scrapes and wounds and bacteria are trying to pry it open and skin is the first line of defense – it is turmeric which has anti – bacterial properties making it an ideal ingredient

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for a healthy skin. Traditionally, turmeric has been an important part of treating skin problems both medicinally and cosmetic.

To sum up, using curcumin in the form of natural turmeric or tablets can make one healthier and sturdier to fight against various diseases and infections out there. But, more importantly, the versatility of this simple spice comes in knowing that it is potent enough to defend the body against ailments as serious as cancer. When the answer to our toughest problems lies all around us in nature, we need to question why it is that we moved away from the power of nature in the first place. A lot of pointed questions need to be asked and addressed in this manner so that we take a cold, hard look at what we have done with our lives, and the world we live in.

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Chapter 3:

Turmeric for beauty

Let’s move onto something a little less depressing: beauty!! The world is going through a period of awakening. People are waking up to the truth about what they are eating, drinking, and putting on themselves. In the world of beauty the focus is finally shifting away from the powder and the paint and turning full-circle - we are going back to where it all began: nature!

In this context, turmeric becomes a one-stop solution to a multitude of beauty problems ladies are facing the world over. With the turn of the decade men have also found a number of uses of this potent drug, and they’ve gone all out in using the drug-like compound to benefit from its beautifying properties. Kitchens that had never heard of the earthy spice are stocking up on it, and finding that it works wonders. Here are a few of the numerous ways in which turmeric can be added to your next beauty regimen.

1. Vanishing drug

Known for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric adds yet another prize to its collection in being able to remove or significantly fade scars and speed up wound-healing on the skin. This is especially beneficial for those who are looking to reduce stretch marks and post-acne scars, or other marks they are looking to get rid of. It is advised, though that a skin test is performed before a turmeric skin mask is applied.

2. Sealing cracked heels

For those with unhappy heels that have gone through a lot of stress with no particular benefit found in store-bought medication, turmeric could be the answer to those hapless cracks or broken skin that never seem to go away. In fact, with proper usage, turmeric can be used to treat dry skin patches as well.

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3. Equalizer

Turmeric has been used since ancient times, especially in Indian and Chinese culture for its skin lightening properties. Used in combination with a few other ingredients, turmeric is known to enhance the natural glow of the skin, remove dead skin cells, reduce tanning, and even equalize patchy skin, or skin with uneven skin-tone.

4. Happy Smiles

Those with sensitive teeth know that every day is a struggle and the pain and agony of having is never too far away.

Well, not anymore! With a simple routine of gently massaging turmeric paste into your teeth and gums every day, you could get rid of sensitivity in your teeth and also end up with a brighter smile in the process - turmeric is known to whiten the teeth and lighten tones when used in the right quantities, in combination with the right ingredients. Read the up-coming chapters to know how to use turmeric to treat sensitive teeth and whiten them in the process.

5. Hair Health

Our hair is one of the greatest factors that could make or break our look. With changes in the environment, stress, bad lifestyle habits and a ton of other factors battling against the healthy growth of hair every day, turmeric comes as a lifesaver. Instead of piling on a ton of compounds that would only work against the problem, using turmeric in our hair-care routine may be a sure-fire way to fight this battle against bad hair - and win. Curcumin inside turmeric helps the body to lower the presence of the DHT element which is responsible for unhealthy hair loss in both men as well as women. Turmeric is also able to keep the scalp healthy and promote hair growth from the follicles. It cleanses dandruff and hydrates the scalp so that hair is nourished and strengthened from the inside out.

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These are only a few among the various benefits that turmeric can be used for in our daily lives. Read on to find out specific instructions and recipes for how to use turmeric medicinally as well as cosmetically.

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Chapter 4:

How to use turmeric

With the multitude of ways in which turmeric benefits the body, it goes without saying that it is a good idea to incorporate the golden spice into our daily lives in simple ways. Here are a few ideas you can try out.

Using turmeric in cooking

This is probably the easiest way in which turmeric can make an appearance in your everyday life.

1. It can be used as a condiment in curries and soups. This not only enhances the color and flavor of the dish, giving it a warm, earthy undertone, it also enables the body to absorb the benefits of the spice in small, beneficial quantities, and you also ensure that any sort of harmful substances inside the other ingredients are neutralized, to a large extent.

2. If you’re a fan of watching recipes on YouTube, you will have noticed that this super-spice is making a glittering debut appearance in a number of food experiments and make-overs, and people are loving it. Turmeric is being used in unusual, but beneficial ways to spice up smoothies, oatmeal recipes, porridges, desserts and drinks. A new idea or recipe is literally just a click away.

3. In many places in India, the whole turmeric root is finely diced and made into a scrumptious curry. The warm, tangy undertone of the root is balanced with the sweetness of raisins and sauteed onions. It is a staple winter meal with warm chapatis, believed to warm the body and keep the body free of disease-causing germs.

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4. Turmeric tea is made by boiling a teaspoon of turmeric in a cup of water until the liquid reduces to half the quantity. A few mint leaves are thrown in towards the end. Sweetened with a little honey, this tea is deliciously soothing and quite beneficial for any stomach ailments, promoting hair growth, and general good health.

5. A glass of warm water with a squeeze of lime, a tablespoon of honey and a pinch of turmeric consumed on an empty stomach is promoted as a very effective remedy for weight-loss in the East. It is also reputed to keep away the common cold and cough.

A few great turmeric beauty-pack ideas

1. Here is a simple skin perfecting mask that can be applied at regular intervals to get rid of large pores, help clear and smoothen the skin, and make the skin appear fuller and plumper.

Gently heat up a teaspoon of honey and combine it with half a teaspoon of turmeric and a teaspoon of milk or yogurt in a bowl. Mix thoroughly.

Wash your face and pull the hair back and away from the face. Apply the paste onto your skin and relax for around 30 minutes, or until the mask has become dry. Using wet fingers, gently scrub the turmeric away using circular motions to have the mask double as an exfoliant. Please remember to wear gloves when using turmeric, since it may stain slightly.

2. Another way to incorporate turmeric into your beauty routine is to add a pinch of the powder to any other face mask you use. In combination with natural ingredients like coconut or almond oil, honey, lime, yogurt, etc., turmeric is able to both enhance the natural glow of the skin, as well as reduce inflammation, get rid of dead skin, act as an antiseptic and rejuvenate and tighten skin to keep it young and elastic.

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3. Mix a pinch of turmeric with coconut oil to make a paste that can be applied on cracked heels. The turmeric will help to heal the cracks and also soothe and hydrate the hard skin on your heels.

4. A daily dose of turmeric mixed with a pinch of saffron and lime juice is a miracle stretch-mark remover. Use the paste daily until you see the results. This paste can be used to remove blemishes from any part of the body.

5. A pinch of turmeric mixed with two teaspoons of sandalwood and enough milk to create a thick paste can be applied on the face to put up a winning fight against pimples and acne. The anti-microbial properties in turmeric cleans the skin and soothes it, thus effectively making the skin-environment unsuitable for the growth of acne-causing germs.

6. For a power-packed exfoliating scrub, mix half a teaspoon of turmeric with a tablespoon of oatmeal, a tablespoon of powdered red lentils (masoor dal), and some milk or rose water to form a cooling, exfoliating paste. This is a great natural exfoliator, removing excess dead cells, detoxifying the skin, and also removing blackheads and excess oils from the skin. The oatmeal and turmeric will also serve to hydrate the skin and keep it supple.

Using turmeric for weight loss

Here are four highly effective ways to use turmeric in tea for weight loss.

1. Turmeric and ginger tea: Bring one-and-a-half cups of water to a boil. Add a dash of turmeric and a quarter-inch piece of fresh ginger root.

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Let it simmer for a few minutes. Take it off the flame, cover and keep aside until it reaches room temperature. Strain and drink this tea everyday to see great results. Ginger works with turmeric to regulate blood sugar levels and suppress inadvertent hunger pangs, so that you remain fuller after each meal for longer.

2. Turmeric and mint tea: Follow the same procedure above. You have the choice of either adding the mint leaves once you take the tea off the flame, or replacing ginger with mint leaves in the tea. This is a refreshing drink and can be had either cold or hot. It helps revitalise the body, encourages conversion of fat into energy, and adds fibre content in your daily intake.

3. Turmeric and cinnamon tea: Follow the same basic procedure to prepare turmeric tea and replace the ginger root with a tiny piece of cinnamon, or a small pinch of powdered cinnamon. This tea increases metabolic rate of the body, increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin, and works as a great antioxidant drink.

4. Turmeric and honey: Honey can be used to sweeten any of the above teas, but deserves a unique mention for its ability to work with turmeric to aid weight loss by satisfying cravings for sweet things, and by reducing inflammation and bloating.

Using turmeric for general health and immunity

Turmeric can justifiably be called a wonder spice. In this section we discuss how this root can be used to boost immunity and fight the flu.

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In the spirit of tea-making and DIY help, here is a wonderful immunity boosting tea you can enjoy for a powerful, potent blast against the inevitable flu virus. It is a delicious and warming drink, perfect for the coming winters.

Bring around 3 cups of water to a boil and put in half inch of ginger, 2 teaspoons fresh grated turmeric root and one small piece of cinnamon. Cover and simmer for several minutes and strain. Drop in 1 chamomile tea bag and 1 echinacea tea bag and let it steep for five minutes. Remove the bags and add a quarter cup of freshly squeezed orange juice and 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Sweeten with honey or maple syrup and enjoy!

Many people endorse the benefits of turmeric milk. A nightly routine of taking a glass of warm milk with a pinch of turmeric and a tablespoon of honey is known to improve sleep, fight against flu and cold symptoms, and restore digestive health in many cases, among many other benefits.

Using turmeric for hair repair

Topical application of turmeric paste on the hair and scalp can help reduce scalp conditions and hair damage, and is even said to rejuvenate and revitalise the hair with careful and consistent application. A gentler alternative to turmeric paste is mixing a tablespoon of turmeric in a bottle of water and spraying the resulting mixture over the hair. Let it sit for about 10 - 15 minutes. Massage your hair and scalp gently before rinsing the mixture off. Another way to use turmeric on the hair is to mix it into your regular shampoo and rinse off as usual.

Regular intake of turmeric milk has also been said to promote hair growth. For those who are intolerant to dairy products, replacing milk with either a dairy-substitute, or even water is a good idea.

In essence, however you decide to use turmeric, its combination with the right kind of elements and its intake in the right amount at the right time will enable you to reap the manifold benefits of this natural element, thus benefiting your health, beauty, and your overall well being.

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Chapter 5:

A pinch too many?

As with anything else, too much of anything can be a bad thing, no matter how beneficial or helpful. The same applies to the use of turmeric. While this spice has a truckload of benefits, and while it is obvious that consuming it could vastly improves one’s quality of life, there is a level of caution that one has to exercise in the use of turmeric. After all, it is something that might be compared to a potent drug.

So how much turmeric is good (or bad) for you? As many health experts agree, there are 200 milligrams of curcumin in a teaspoon of fresh or ground turmeric. It is generally agreed that around 500 milligrams of curcumin a day is a good dose to fight inflammation and promote gut health. That number could be quadrupled to fight chronic pain.

While studies have shown that the consumption of turmeric at much higher doses did not affect the health of the subjects, it was found that some people did suffer from digestive problems, headache, nausea, and even skin allergies. So it is always advisable to start with smaller doses and gradually build up from there.

The intake of curcumin capsules is a good option to control dosage, but most experts agree that adding the spice in sufficient amounts to foods and beverages is the best way to consume the compound.

Another factor to be wary of is the way in which manufacturers advertise the presence of turmeric in so called health drinks that are loaded with sugars and preservatives. The combination of turmeric or curcumin with these other compounds may have the reverse effect and actually compound inflammation and weight gain. The best alternative would be to buy natural turmeric in root or powder form from a trusted source and consume it in sufficient quantities. One pro-tip that experts recommend remembering is that turmeric is best absorbed into the digestive tract when it is coupled with pepper. So adding a pinch of pepper to food or beverages that contain

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turmeric is a smart way of ensuring that the benefits of the spice are effectively reaped.

To sum up, there is no evidence to suggest that continuous intake of turmeric can be harmful in any way. But as with all food, beverage and medical products, it is wise to use caution when using turmeric, since it has been known to cause allergic reactions in certain skin - and- types, people with sensitive digestive or other systems.

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Concluding thoughts

It is heartening to note that people are finally waking up to the benefits of going natural. With the world and the environment around us spiraling out of control because of the way our habits have changed the world around us, it is high time we take a serious look at our choices and habits. Our decision to change will enable us to grow in so many different ways and open up so many different worlds of opportunities for learning and growth. Turning back to nature is the biggest step we have taken in the right direction. It is a decision that will support our efforts to return our world to the state it was in before it started to decline.

Our foray back into nature will bring us face to face with all we’ve been looking for and we will realize that we’ve just been looking in the wrong places. Turmeric seems to sum up that last statement perfectly. While we have been busy trying to perfect the right formula to get rid of our illnesses, blemishes, and lack of health, turmeric has been waiting to be found, used and appreciated for thousands of years. It is a compound that can be used in pinches and snuffs to solve problems ranging from acne to chronic pain, and even cancer - without any fear of adverse effects. The world of spices has been a world that has existed for centuries, and now we know why. The wisdom of the ancients lives on in these fruits of nature and they continue to nourish, strengthen, heal and grow, just as they’ve been doing for thousands of years.