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My Indian boyfriend simply eats a heaping tablespoon of ground turmeric (all at once), usually followed by a glass of milk. I have no idea what that must taste like but he does it every day!
My Indian boyfriend simply eats a heaping tablespoon of ground turmeric (all at once), usually followed by a glass of milk. I have no idea what that must taste like but he does it every day!
Need to add a little black pepper because the peperine allows absorbtion.
1) It isn't a dietary supplement. Turmeric is a food, a spice. It's been used for over four thousand years, and is one of the oldest documented spices in use (second only to black pepper). It doesn't make any sense to extract one compound from it, concentrate that compound into pills or capsules and then promote that compound as a substitute for the whole food. No one would do that with any other food, but so many people are still unfamiliar with turmeric that the supplement manufacturers can get away with it. There is a place for curcumin concentrates as an add-on for the effective use of whole turmeric, but they are minimally effective alone. Turmeric has over 200 active and supporting constituents that act in synergy with each other, just like any other food.
2) The primary active compounds in turmeric are not water-soluble. So they aren't absorbed via the same pathways that water-soluble nutrients use. Turmeric must be consumed with a fat in order to be absorbed.
3) You read everywhere that black pepper increases absorption. This is the case ONLY if sufficient fat is available for absorption. What black pepper does is to slow the conversion of the curcumin in turmeric into less effective metabolites. This happens in the small intestine before the curcumin ever gets into the bloodstream. Slowing the metabolic process means that more free curcumin is available to be absorbed if a fat is present to allow absorption at all. Black pepper also slows the metabolism of curcumin in the liver after it's in the bloodstream, but the most important thing is to get it into the bloodstream to begin with. For that you need a fat, not black pepper.
4) Raw turmeric is very poorly digested. It's excreted before it breaks down enough for much of the active compounds to be available. Turmeric has always been cooked in the traditional cuisines of south Asia, and that's why (though the Ayurvedic practitioners probably didn't understand why it needed to be cooked). It needs a minimum cooking time of 30 minutes. Turmeric has traditionally been cooked in the process of turning it into powder, mostly for around 45 minutes, or until the starches in it are 'gelatinized' (that means they lose their rigid structure and break down into an amorphous and more digestible state)
5) Turmeric does have some medication interactions and isn't appropriate in every health condition. Any interaction that whole turmeric has will be greatly magnified with the curcumin concentrates.
6) Turmeric powder is very inexpensive, as is black pepper and most culinary oils. They're foods, which is one reason the supplement manufacturers aren't interested in selling whole turmeric. As a food, it has a far smaller profit margin than dietary supplements. But you pay for the fancy packaging, the marketing with all kinds of extravagant claims, the cost of shelf space or end cap space in the grocery and health food stores, and often for celebrity endorsements too. You can use turmeric in a very effective way by combining those simple easily available ingredients in a cooked mixture. Here is the recipe for what has come to be known as Golden Paste.
1/2 cup turmeric powder
1-2 cups water (doesn't have to be filtered or anything fancy)
1/3 cup of a healthy oil such as coconut oil, olive oil or another
3 tsp freshly ground black pepper (ground from peppercorns)
Combine the turmeric powder with one cup water in a small saucepan. Heat to boiling, stirring often enough to prevent sticking. As soon as it comes to a boil, turn the heat way down to keep it just at a simmer. Cook for another 7-10 minutes, stirring as necessary and adding more water as necessary to keep it at a medium paste consistency.
Let the mixture cool down to just warm, and then add the oil and freshly ground black pepper. Stir until thoroughly combined. Don't beat with a whisk, just stir with a spoon.
Store in the refrigerator. This will keep for two to three weeks. You can also freeze part of it if you don't think you'll use the whole thing within that time frame (and you won't when you first start having it).
Start out with 1/4 tsp twice a day in food. Wait for 3-4 days before increasing that, and another 3-4 day between subsequent increases. Turmeric increases gut motility and stomach contractions, and if you start out with too much you may have stomach cramps and/or nausea, or diarrhea. Also, turmeric stays in the bloodstream only about 4-6 hours, so little and often is better than larger amounts once a day.
If you're taking any prescription medications, please check with your doctor before adding golden paste to your diet. Or join the Turmeric User Group on Facebook. It has medical admins who can provide you and your doctor with interaction data.
I take a tumeric cucurmin supplement that contains black pepper extract. I take it after breakfast where I try to include some fat as well. It's not a miracle cure for chronic pain but I can honestly say I have many more good days than bad days now.
Turmeric is used as a dietary supplement for inflammation; arthritis; stomach, skin, liver, and gallbladder problems; cancer; and other conditions. Its a natural product. It is commonly used in Asian food.Turmeric is commonly used for conditions involving pain and inflammation, such as osteoarthritis.
One thing to note about turmeric is that there are some supplement forms that are hydro-soluble for better absorption. A PP mentioned turmeric was not water soluble. But, there are some formulations in supplement form that do absorb better.
Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
As per numerous studies, curcumin, a potent compound in turmeric, can reduce inflammation in the body. One way of increasing turmeric intake is by adding it to your dishes while cooking – which you might be doing already. You can drink turmeric tea as well – just boil four cups of water and add one teaspoon of ground turmeric. You can also add lemon or honey to taste.
Antioxidant Properties
Turmeric is known to scavenge free radicals, inhibit peroxidation, and reduce iron complex – all of which are a direct result of its antioxidant properties. And not just ground turmeric, but even its oil has antioxidant properties.
Treatment of depression
Curcumin in turmeric can also aid in the treatment of depression, tardive dyskinesia (impairment of voluntary movement), and diabetic neuropathy (21). In other animal studies, curcumin had also exhibited beneficial effects towards chronic stress.
Prevents Heart Diseases
The antioxidant properties of turmeric are known to offer cardiac protection, especially in the case of diabetes. Curcumin in turmeric also helps reduce the serum cholesterol levels, thereby contributing to heart health.
Prevents Cancer
Curcumin had exhibited anticancer properties. the curcumin in turmeric can slow cancer growth and even make chemotherapy more effective. It also protects the healthy cells from damage from radiation. Curcumin has incredible potency, speaking from the perspective of curing cancer. One metabolite in curcumin, which could be available in very low amounts in the blood post its ingestion, could still have remarkable anti-metastatic effects. Curcumin can also prevent cancer of the prostate.
Improves Immunity
he anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric can help boost immunity to a great extent. It was found that curcumin stops the recruitment of certain immune cells which, when overactive, can lead to ailments like heart disease and obesity.
Works As A Natural Painkiller
it helps relieve inflammation, turmeric can act as a natural painkiller. This is particularly true for arthritis pains . Turmeric also improves circulation, which can help eliminate pain. Simply mix two tablespoons of turmeric with water to get a paste, and apply this to the affected area.
Aids Weight Loss And Metabolism
The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric deal with this right at the beginning. This helps prevent cholesterol and high blood sugar, which also contribute to obesity. When your body is not busy fighting too much inflammation, it is easier to focus on weight loss.
Aids In Acne Treatment
The antibacterial properties of turmeric aid in acne treatment. And its anti-inflammatory properties treat the inflammation caused by pimples. Turmeric can be used for oily skin as a face wash or a face pack.You can also use turmeric milk for this purpose. Turmeric and milk have great healing properties that can help treat acne.
Helps Treat Dandruff
A mixture of turmeric and olive oil can eliminate dandruff and improve scalp health. Just mix equal parts of both and leave it on your hair for 20 minutes before shampooing.
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