TURMERIC, A Daily Must For Immunity Boosting!
This little magical root is packed with all types of health benefits! In clinical studies, turmeric’s anti-inflammatory action helps to improve arthritis, gout, depression, Crohn’s disease, cystic fibrosis, hemorrhoids, colon cancer, liver diseases and more; turmeric even speeds up muscle recovery after a workout!
Now more than ever, is the time to boost your immune system and give your body its best chance to fight off any disease that may try to enter your system. Many chronic diseases today can be attributed to systemic inflammation. Inflammation, a localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes red, swollen, hot, and painful, is a reaction to injury or infection. To help resist COVID-19, the flu, a cold, and any other virus, here’s what you need to know about Turmeric:
1. Turmeric is both spiritual AND medicinal. Turmeric is used in Indian rites and rituals. In the Ayurvedic tradition, which comes from the culture in India and some parts of the Middle East, people eat turmeric at every single meal and mix it with red pepper to magnify its properties. It is a spice that has been around for 5,000 years, native to India, and cultivated throughout the tropics. Turmeric is a sterile plant that does not produce any seeds, and grows from 3 to 5 feet tall with dull but pretty yellow flowers.
In Hinduism, Turmeric powder is used to dye the robes of Buddhist priests and Indian saris. It is often referred to as Golden Goddess, because the dried turmeric roots in betel leaves are given to the fertile women during the ceremonies to bring good luck.
Turmeric is sattvic, which is the traditional yogic diet. Sattvic foods are harmonizing, calming, light and pure. They evoke these qualities within, making them ideal for spiritual enlightenment. Turmeric is one of the few spices that is sattvic (along with cumin, coriander, fennel, cardamom and ginger).
Turmeric promotes both purity of mind and body. In Ayurvedic tradition, the energetic body is comprised of chakras that are connected by a network of subtle channels called nadis. Our Pranic Body gives life to the physical body and through our breath it continuously connects us to the life force of the infinite. This allows us to feel fearless, fully alive and at one with all creation. Turmeric helps to remove the toxic build up in our panic body, allowing the kundalini (primal energy) to flow freely through the chakras. Also, in Chinese medicine Turmeric is known as Jiang Huang, to facilitate the movement of Qi (life force) to ease pain.
Although it is a highly regarded medicine in its native regions, its powerful healing properties have been largely ignored by the rest of the world.
-Rosemary Gladstar, Medicinal Herbs
Turmeric, a symbol of purity, fertility and prosperity. It gives Buddhists robes their vibrant color.
2. Turmeric and Ginger are close cousins!
They are both rhizomes, which means they have roots that grow horizontally. When you look at them, you will see they share similarities - so much so, Yellow Ginger is its alias! Go figure!
Turmeric is also known to be stronger than ginger. One animal study that investigated rheumatoid arthritis found that even though both turmeric and ginger reduced the incidence and severity of flare-ups, turmeric had significantly more anti-inflammatory and antioxidant power than ginger. Take that, Ginger!
Did You Know? Turmeric gives curry its yellow color.
3. Turmeric can treat respiratory conditions! For many centuries Turmeric was highly regarded for healing bronchitis, a really nasty respiratory condition where the bronchi (the air passages in your lungs) actually become inflamed, causing difficulty to breathe, fever and shortness of breath. Turmeric reduces inflammation in the lungs, making it an important weapon in your arsenal against viruses like the flu and coronaviruses that attack the respiratory system.
4. Turmeric is a “cleanser of the body”. One of turmeric’s most amazing actions is that it deeply detoxifies. Curcumin (Curcuma longa - Haldi) is the key healing compound found in turmeric that makes the spice so healthy for us. In Ayurveda medicine, turmeric is used to remove toxins, called aama, from the body. Aama literally means “uncooked food” and it is one of the root causes of all diseases.
Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Studies have shown that chronic inflammation in the body can lead to some serious health issues. Turmeric contains more than two dozen anti-inflammatory compounds -- six of which block the enzyme that causes pain and inflammation. Not only does it help to treat all kinds of arthritis, but it can also be used to reduce pain and swelling after surgery.
Turmeric has been proven to increase positivity and give you strength.
5. Turmeric is a brain and mood BOOSTER! It is known that inflammation and oxidative damage play a role in Alzheimer’s disease, and curcumin has beneficial effects on both. Curcumin improves the synthesis of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, a fatty acid closely linked to brain health and development) in the body. Research also shows that consuming 1-2 tablespoons of turmeric daily (600-1200 mg of Curcumin) improves memory, mood and brain power in older adults.
6. Turmeric is great for energy! Turmeric has loads of B vitamins which are important for making sure the body's cells are functioning properly. B vitamins help the body convert food into energy (metabolism), create new blood cells, and maintain healthy skin and brain cells, as well as other body tissues. Turmeric can be critical for our well-being: in addition to Vitamins B2, B3, B6, and B12, it also runs high in Vitamins A, C, D, E, K, as well as copper, iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, folic acid, phosphorus and fiber.
Turmeric is great for health, wealth and vitality!
7. All in all, Turmeric is a MEGA POWERHOUSE for immune boosting! Just ask Jamaican Raeburn Fairweather, 47, respiratory therapist at Brooklyn’s Maimonides Medical Center who tested positive for the novel coronavirus on March 17th, 2020, but quickly fought it off and returned to his critically important front line job. How? He treated himself with traditional Caribbean home remedies made with turmeric, garlic and ginger. As a medical professional, one would think he is most knowledgeable on the medicines out there to treat a virus. The fact that Fairweather included remedies made with the traditional healing herb turmeric to heal himself, instead of some over the counter drug, tells volumes on its amazing powers to stimulate wellness.