Turmeric, Powdered GOLD~

It's raining in my living quarters today!! I adore the rain.
  Rain is one of the many God given therapies I take advantage of ..Usually, in this beautifully set gloom, , I quickly turn on my Fireplace , Go heat up some hot drink, PREFERABLY Coffee, pop in a movie that has nearly the same setting, LIIIKKKKE , for example, Ohhh I don't know?? ''You've Got Mail!!! ''( I didnt have to think about that really, You've got Mail is my "Go to" flick). If  you have not seen "You've Got Mail" Watch it NOOOOWW!!


Pffft, See how much I love rain??? Yea , this post is supposed to be about Turmeric , I mean It is , It issss about Turmeric.. So, Ok, What is Turmeric right?! Well Turmeric is a miraculous herb that is ground and added to many dishes. Its known for its golden yellow hue that adds brilliant color to many foods. Turmeric is most popular in Asian Countries from  India to Thailand. It's most popular in Eastern Indian cooking for it's flavor and color. This is what it looks like :

 

Now that you know what it looks like lets talk about why I say its miraculous!!!  

Several years ago I attended Cosmetology school and as a cosmetologist , as many know, You have to stand on your feet a lot. One day before school I was sitting on my bed putting my shoes on... when I started adjusting my left foot I scooched over and did some type of weird pivot using my right leg, my right leg bent backwards and immediately a weird unusual pain struck!! Either way I still had to get to school. I just ignored the pain and guess what??, my knee got waaaay worse. In addition to that I had been doing hair for 14 years, Painting and doing intricate detailed work with my Accessory line HEADJYVE, so OF COURSE I had developed carpal tunnel which was a pain all in it self ... 

So here I am, half broken 

 and hardly functional which was unacceptable . The knee issue affected me highly because it hurt to work out, walk etc etc. So you know what that means WEIGHT GAIIINNN.

 All of the physical madness caused depression and anxiety. One day I was in a "funk" thinking, I am too young to have so many ailments, I laid in bed praying, asking God for help . I begged God for help!!. I prayed until I went to sleep. In the morning I woke up and still felt anxious and depressed but I kid you not, I kept hearing the word turmeric, Turmeric, TURMERIC!!

 I remembered reading something about Turmeric and depression/anxiety. So I said hey, let me see whats up with this stuff, I walked into the kitchen, took a spoon full of turmeric down with some water and in moments I felt like a new Melanie!! I decided  that Turmeric will be a daily addition. I noticed that the pain in my knee disappeared, my carpal tunnel shock decreased , my skin appeared clearer I just felt better over all!! So I decided to research this miraculous herb more, I found out I was taking a herbal POWER HOUSE! :(Via http://www.medindia.net/alternativemedicine/turmeric-powder.asp)

*health Benefits of Turmeric

The wide range of turmeric benefits come mainly from its main ingredient, curcumin. This widely researched component of turmeric is highly therapeutic and is used in various drugs and pharmaceutics mainly because of its immunity boosting and anti-oxidant properties. 

Boosting Immunity – Curcumin has a huge therapeutic value and boosting immunity is one of the most important properties of curcumin.

“5 to 8 times stronger than vitamin E and stronger than vitamin C, this antioxidant breakthrough may help boost your immunity, maintain normal cholesterol levels, and put the brakes on aging,” says Dr. Joseph Mercola about the curcumin in turmeric. 

His claims are well substantiated by various studies. For example, Jagetia and Aggarwal at the Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA, reported - "Interestingly, curcumin at low doses can also enhance antibody responses. This suggests that curcumin's reported beneficial effects in arthritis, allergy, asthma, atherosclerosis, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and cancer might be due in part to its ability to modulate the immune system."

Anti-inflammatory and Anti-oxidant Property – Free radical causing oxidative damage of DNA and proteins are associated with a variety of chronic diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases. Curcumin plays an important role in curbing these conditions. Curcumin down-regulates certain inflammatory transcription factors such as kappaB, enzymes such as cyclooxygenase 2 and 5 lipoxygenase, and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and hinders the development of these diseases.


Curcumin Protects Against Certain Liver Diseases as is evident from various studies conducted in rats. For example, a Mexican study showed that curcumin prevents acute liver damage by at least two mechanisms: acting as an antioxidant and by inhibiting NF-kappaB activation and thus production of proinflammatory cytokines. Another study published in the Fundamental & Clinical Pharmacology journal revealed that curcumin was effective in preventing and reversing cirrhosis, probably by its ability of reducing TGF-beta expression. These data suggest that curcumin might be an effective antifibrotic and fibrolytic drug in the treatment of chronic hepatic diseases.


Curcumin Prevents the Development of Type 2 Diabetes in people who have prediabetes. This has been shown in a Thai study published in the journal Diabetes Care where the researchers found that people with prediabetes who took capsules containing curcumin were less likely to go on to develop type 2 diabetes compared with people who didn't take the curcumin capsules. The reason, says Drew Tortoriello, an endocrinologist and research scientist at the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center at Columbia University Medical Center, is that turmeric lessens insulin resistance and prevents type2 diabetes. Curcumin, however, is not readily bioavailable; it makes sense to regularly add turmeric powder to the food even for people who are not prediabetic.


Curcumin Helps Promote Weight Loss and reduce the incidence of obesity-related diseases. The inflammation associated with obesity is due in part to the presence of immune cells called macrophages in fat tissues throughout the body. These cells produce cytokines that can cause inflammation in organs such as the heart, and islets of the pancreas, while also increasing insulin resistance in muscle and liver. Scientists believe that turmeric suppresses the number and activity of these cells, and help reduce some of the adverse consequences of obesity.


Turmeric Improves Rheumatoid Arthritis, according to a study by Chandran and Goel at Nirmala Medical Center, Kerala. The researchers also found that curcumin treatment was safe and did not relate with any adverse events. 


Treating sprains and swellings with a pinch of turmeric powder, lime and salt is an age-old home remedy practiced throughout India.

Turmeric powder is an effective home remedy for chronic cough and cold and throat irritations. 

Curcumin in turmeric has a potential role in the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study published in the Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology. Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration together with declining activities of daily living and behavioral changes. Various effects of curcumin, such as decreased Beta-amyloid plaques, delayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant property, improve overall memory in Alzheimer’s patients.


• Researchers from Cancer Biology Research Center, South Dakota, claim that curcumin may be an effective chemopreventive and therapeutic agent for cervical cancer prevention and treatment. They found that curcumin treatment suppresses cervical cancer cell growth by altering the HPV-associated molecular pathways in cervical cancer cells.


Turmeric Powder Uses 

Apart from therapeutic uses, turmeric is also used as an important spice, in beauty products and in spiritual ceremonies.

• In India, turmeric is used in almost all curries and gravy dishes. It gives a rich color and a unique flavor to the food.

• Turmeric is a well-known preservative. Scientists from Gujarat found that adding turmeric to paneer (cottage cheese) extends the shelf life of paneer up to 12 days.

• Turmeric is a great pesticide. Sprinkle turmeric (powder) water near all the entry points of your house to ward of insects, ants, and termites.

• Women in India use turmeric in skin products such as creams and body scrubs to boost the glow factor.


• Turmeric has an important place in Indian weddings. Turmeric paste is applied to the bride and the groom as part of the haldi ceremony just before the wedding to give them fresh glowing skins and to ward off the evil eye.

• Turmeric is considered a symbol of purity, prosperity, and fertility. 

• Turmeric water is poured / offered to the gods in the temples as a part of Hindu ritual called Abhishekam.

• The color yellow is considered sacred and auspicious in India. The cloths dyed in turmeric are considered pure.

• Drinking turmeric tea daily may well increase your life span, suggests Dr Andrew Weil. Adding one teaspoon of turmeric powder to 4 cups of boiling water, simmering it for 10 minutes and adding honey to taste can do the trick.


• Adding turmeric to meat can reduce the levels of cancer causing heterocyclic amines (HCAs) by up to 40 percent, according to researchers from Kansas State University.

Side Effects of Turmeric

Turmeric is safe and without side effects when used optimally. People with turmeric sensitivity can have mild stomach upset or diarrhea. 

• Use turmeric with caution if you are pregnant.

• Turmeric can make gall bladder problems and GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder) worse.


• Turmeric can slow blood clotting and might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery, BTW.

Now let me add DO NOT BUY THE CAPSULE TABLETS !! They are overly processed instead , purchase some organic powder or root and use that!  

Here is a link to Organic Turmeric if there is none available in your area : https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/search?page=1&q=turmeric+powder&utf8=%E2%9C%93 ( copy and paste link)

Also, since Turmeric is a blood thinner, which can be positive, but do not take if you are on blood thinners or 7 days before surgery or after surgery. 

DISCRETION: If you are on any medication do not add this medicinally to your diet unless you are advised or given the "ok" by your professional health care provider****




In conclusion I'd say take a chance with it! You don't have to take it in the same way I do. You can add a teaspoon to your juice, smoothie, tea etc etc.  I'm the "straight forward" get to the point type of girl so I take a plastic spoon of it and gulp it down with some water.

  ENJOY TURMERIC FRIENDS -Melanie xo~