Turmeric for Joint Pain & Arthritis
Turmeric may be exotic to some but it's a common rhizome like ginger, from the same family (Zingiberaceae), grown and eaten for 1,000s of years.
It's a spice that is used extensively in Asian cooking, particularly in India and the sub-continent. A very common ingredient used daily in most curries, as well as included in all American mustards - it gives it that distinctive yellow colour.
Turmeric’s deep-orange pigment is famously used to colour Buddhists monk's bright robes. As well as a being perfect textile dye, it's an effective anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-microbial. Both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine includes lots of turmeric, as it is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and has anti-ageing properties; it is truly remarkable, and has outstanding and wide-ranging benefits.
The Golden Spice
A piece of turmeric (Curcuma longa) with Dr Doug in the background.
Curcumin, (Curcuma longa has the most curcumin), a component of turmeric that has been researched and is recognised as an anti-inflammatory. There have been a number of studies examining the benefits of adding turmeric to people's diets with joint pain or arthritis. Chronic, low-level inflammation, is also known to be a contributor to many common Western diseases; this includes heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s and various degenerative conditions.
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties have been compared favourably to anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical drugs (NSAIDs – e.g. Ibuprofen) but without side effects.
Curcumin, the main active ingredient in turmeric, is also a very strong antioxidant. Curcumin neutralises free radicals on its own, then stimulates the body’s own antioxidant enzymes. Oxidative damage is believed to be one of the mechanisms behind ageing and many other diseases. The daily inclusion of turmeric in the diet helps to fight damage to cell membranes within the body and offers the body greater immunity to illness and disease.
To read more on the benefits - Click HERE
A spoonful of Golden Paste
Despite the long list of turmeric’s benefits, the bio-availability (the amount available to be absorbed into the body) is minimal without assistance. Fortunately, Dr Doug has done a lot of research on how to enhance turmeric’s bioavailability. You can unlock turmeric’s powerful healing potential with just 3 basic ingredients in 10 minutes of home cooking - click HERE to learn how to make GOLDEN PASTE