In today's heavily polluted and over-intoxicated world where GMO's, pesticides, toxic plastics and dangerous chemical elements such as lead, mercury, fluoride, chlorine, arsenic and god knows what else is part of each human beings everyday lives to some extent - it feels important to take to the small measures one can to protect our bodies.

Eating organic, drinking filtered water and avoiding processed and manipulated foods is a good start, but to add some real natural "medicine" to the equation is an added weapon in your body's fight against unnatural enemies. Super foods, as they call it, come from mother nature and they are extremely nutrient dense, meaning they provide a much higher dose of health benefits for their weight compared to other fruit, vegetables, herbs, greens and nuts. Super foods is also a successful marketing term for the health industry to sell more overpriced products (companies cashing in on people's fears and insecurities can be found on each side of the coin), but there are some natural treasures that has proven for centuries to have a positive effect on human health.

Turmeric, is one such golden star. This yellow herb/spice, indigenous to Southeast Asia and cousin to Ginger, is as you might know, widely known and appreciated for its culinary use. All those wonderful Indian curry dishes are dyed and flavored by this root. Equally, the spice mix you all know as curry (powder), has a main base of turmeric hence the warm, deep mustard colour.

This powerful root, packed with antioxidants which is of major help in protecting our cells against free radicals, has long been used in Chinese and Indian medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions including eczema, infections, liver problems, anemia, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, hemorrhage, flatulence, toothache, bruises, chest pain, fungal infections, colic and the common flu.

As a herbal concoction it lowers cholesterol, thins the blood and fights clotting. Due to these beneficial properties, it is said about the turmeric that it helps prevent strokes and heart attacks. In its successful antioxidant fight against free radicals, it is also believed that a higher consumption of turmeric has good effect in slowing down aging, preventing and combating growth of cancer cells, and even avert Alzheimer's disease. Both the Alzheimer and the cancer medicine industries are enormous so there are as many articles speaking against natural medicine as there are ones that speak for it. Companies that make billions on us being sick does not want us to know about or rely on cheap, natural remedies. So it is like always up to each one of us to choose which side to believe in and act according to what we feel seems more legit. 

As I have seen the positive effects of healthy, natural, organic, non-manipulated foods in both myself and others, I choose to feed my body with all the good that comes from mother nature. So as part of my regular morning ritual consisting of a large green and fruity smoothie or a warming bowl of oatmeal/nuts/fruit, I also drink a cup of hot water with a teaspoon freshly grated turmeric or a teaspoon ground turmeric. 

 

In its pure form curcumin (the potent yellow/orange pigment of turmeric) is poorly absorbed by the human body (curcumin is insoluble in water and the human body is mostly made up of water), that is why mixing it with some sort of oil is crucial to benefit from it the most. Coconut oil is the lighter, sweeter option, but I sometimes go with olive oil too. To take it one step further, experts say that Piperine, the active ingredient in black pepper, boosts the bio-availability by 2000% so add a few turns on the peppermill to let the nutrients become better available to your body and have them work in their most effective ways. I like adding some grated ginger and a few drops of maple syrup for extra flavor. You could definitely boil up almond milk instead of water for a more creamy concoction. They say two drinks like this a day will help your immune system tremendously. Always make sure you use organic turmeric and ginger to avoid the negative effects of pesticides.

 

Just one of those little things one can make oneself used to and which could show dramatic positive effect on your health if made regularly.