Turmeric
BY JACQUELINE STRAX
Turmeric, also called curcumin, has been used in Asian cookery for thousands of years. Powder ground from the dried root is an ingredient in curry. Turmeric is one of the cheaper spices and makes a vivid splash of color, so it gets heaped into low-market curry blends as fill. Not such a bad idea.
Turmeric holds a high place in Ayurvedic medicine as a "cleanser of the body" and today science is finding a growing list of diseased conditions which turmeric's active ingredient heals. Broad interest in curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects is increasing.
Researchers are examining curcumin as a possible immune system stimulator, and downregulate various proinflammatory cells, and enhance antibody responses. This activity, writes M. D. Anderson researchers G. C. Jaggetia and B.B. Aggerwal, 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. Together, these findings warrant further consideration of curcumin as a therapy for immune disorders. (J Clin Immunol. 2007 Jan;27(1):19-35).
A Little Dab
Most North Americans consume only miniscule traces of turmeric, by way of mustard lavished on meats. Bright yellow mustards like French's "classic American" contain, labels say, "no more than 2 per cent" turmeric, paprika and other spices. Mustard itself is medicinal. But that gaudy, store-bought, hot-dog-stand glow comes from curcumin, the intense yellow pigment in turmeric. And curcumin protects the stomach against tainted foods. According to University of Chicago scientists, curcumin inhibits a cancer-provoking bacteria (H. pylori) associated with gastric and colon cancer (Magad GB, Anticancer Res. 2002 Nov-Dec;22(6C):4179-81).
Today curcumin is on a margin between ancient food customs and cutting-edge medicine. In suburban cuisine it can brighten and glorify nutritious foods (cauliflower, white fish). At ballpark, beach, and food mall a dab of "hidden" curcumin helps lower risks from gorging on over-handled broiled oddments. In Asia the root and powder are used in cooking, home remedies and medicine: to gild and help preserve festive dishes and in drinks, ointments and poultices to treat sore throat, sprains, inflammation and wounds. In the lab, scientists are dosing rats with curcumin to measure its effects on cancer.
Prostate Cancer Patients Go For the Gold
Turmeric lore in recent decades drifted outwards from Asian communities to European cities like Leicester, UK. Local researchers and cancer patients listened up.
Clusters of men on Internet prostate cancer support groups (notably Don Cooley's lists) began seriously experimenting with turmeric to cope with a troublesome side-effect of androgen-suppression therapy, gynecomastia (sore swollen breasts). Then there are the turmeric warriors, who report that dietary intake of turmeric (in salads, soups and sandwiches made with fresh root) and use of curcumin paste externally brings some relief.
Still more intriguingly, University of Leicester began investigating dietary agents including curcumin for tumor-suppressing properties (Br J Clin Pharmacol 1998 Jan;45(1):1-12;update Toxicol Lett 2000 Mar 15;112-113:499-505). They observed that curcumin slows the rate at which hormone-responsive prostate cancer cells become resistant to hormonal therapy.
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic properties of turmeric and curcumin are undergoing intense research. Tests in Germany, reported July 2003,found that "All fractions of the turmeric extract preparation exhibited pronounced antioxidant activity...." Turmeric extract tested more potent than garlic, devil's claw, and salmon oil [ J Pharm Pharmacol. 2003 Jul;55(7):981-6].
Winston's Comment:
Turmeric is a very ancient herb with 4000-5000 years of history with both the Chinese culture as well as the Ayurvedic medicine in India. Today, as an average person reading all of this information, you have to be very cautious to recognize that a lot of this research is using isolates, rather than the whole plant or root.
Once, one enters the field of isolates, the supportive structures of the plant are no longer there and like many other isolates, toxicity occurs and one has to watch carefully how much one consumes before one reaches the toxic levels. This is why so many people promote whole foods, whole herbs, and not isolates.
You will now start noticing reports that turmeric has potential toxicities and you can automatically assume that when you read the details in these scientific reports, that you will find an isolate being used rather than the whole food.
Like many other articles that I have written about white sugar and white Stevia sugar, these sugars are harmful to the body because they are isolates. Yet, sugar cane and Stevia plant are highly nutritious, extremely health beneficial in their wholesome state.
So the moral of the story is, make sure that you are buying WHOLE FOOD. This is why I ferment turmeric with additional organic and inorganic trace minerals so that the unfortunate naturally occurring mineral deficiencies does not lower the medicinal properties that turmeric has.
A Health Tip:
How to Clean up Mold Correctly
Rule #1 NEVER use BLEACH!
While bleach is the most common method to remove mold, it is the most toxic.
Bleach or chlorine is a highly toxic material when bonded to any organic material, plant material, animal material, particularly your hands and your lungs. Chlorine will bond with these organic materials and form known or suspected carcinogens (cancer causing material).
Secondly, every time you use bleach, the following occurs:
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The chlorine bleaches out the mold
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You leave a chlorine residue
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The chlorine will ATTRACT mold to that spot
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You are in a vicious cycle of using more toxic chlorine to clean out the mold that keeps coming back.
Rule #2 Break the tradition by using something that does not contain bleach.
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Substitute BonAmi™ instead of chlorinated bleach cleansers. This product is gentle, non-toxic and efficient in cleaning stains and removing dirt.
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You can use non-chlorine bleach powder (oxy-clean) or similar products and sprinkle it on the grout lines, wet it down gently with a misting bottle and let it sit for a while. This will bleach out the mold.
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Put gloves on so that you don't bleach your hands. You can also use the same non-chlorine bleach powder directly on a sponge with or without BonAmi™ to clean the surface.
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To ensure the mold doesn't come back, wipe the surface down with a grain alcohol such as Vodka.
Do not buy or use isopropyl alcohol, as this is one of the most carcinogenic materials that are unfortunately commonly used in the medical and industrial fields to disinfect tools and instruments.
For those who have prostate swelling and other more serious challenges, please call for Rest Easy Solids. This is significantly more potent and is reserved for serious inflammation type challenges. Please call for detailed information and cost.
Good, deep, restful sleep
Rest Easy™
Turmeric is one of the world's best antioxidants, and fermenting brings out much more of these antioxidant properties. Rest Easy™ is designed to help build one's immune system.
However, it is reported that it has three other side benefits:
--Some people have claimed that it helps induce a better sleep.
--Helped a few people to get over viral infections (most of them caused from mold infections or mold toxicity).
--Some people claim to feel a little bit stronger and a have little bit more energy than usual Rest Easy™ Brew
--Turmeric (the main ingredient) is one of the world's oldest & best antioxidants & liver support. We ferment the turmeric to make it more bioavailable.
--Rest Easy™ is a tonic designed to build the immune system. Because it works on balancing the body, it can help in sleep and give more energy! It seems to help in balancing hormones for either males or females.
--It is anti-inflammatory and seems to help those with allergies.
Trouble Sleeping? [When taken at night]
Most consumers get a better night sleep!
Low Energy? [When taken in the morning or afternoon]
Feel stronger. Have a boost of energy especially around the afternoon "energy-slump" time.
Inflammation? Allergies? Asthma? Candida?
Hormonal (Men & Women) Issues?
[2-4 oz. as needed or 1-4 times/day]
Menstrual Issues? Wow! For females, this can really bring fast relief! In about 10-20 minutes! [It majorly helps if one gets off artificial/diet sweeteners]
The Mayonnaise Jar & 2 Cups of Coffee
by Dr. Sam Robbins
As important I think having physical fitness and vitality is to life, MENTAL health is in my opinion, even MORE important! It's true that if you are sick, tired, injured and so forth - you just can't do much in life. If you have no energy or it "hurts" to do something, then it's hard to enjoy life as we age.
BUT, if you are mentally out of shape and depressed or not motivated and if you lack inspiration, are filled with anger, resentment and worst of all - REGRET, then life will truly be meaningless.
You want to LIVE life, not simply survive it. Make sense?
With that in mind, I will always do my best to provide you an inspirational story, thought, or just something that's helped me get through tough times. So, let's start with one of my favorite stories about:
The Mayonnaise Jar & 2 Cups of Coffee
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.
Golf Balls...
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
Pebbles...
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
Sand...
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."
Two Cups Of Coffee...
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
The "Jar" Represents Your Life
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions - and if everything else was lost and only they remained your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff."
"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you."
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal."
"Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad! you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
So, what do you think? Maybe instead of coffee, we can substitute mineral water, green tea or a protein shake instead =)
But the point of the story above is for us to pay attention to the BIG stuff in life. Most people "major in minors". Hence, most people WASTE a lot of time focusing on all the little things in life and miss the important events.
When you're on your deathbed, nobody thinks, "I sure wish I did more over-time at work". I don't want you to have any regrets. Take care of your loved ones. Most importantly, take care of YOURSELF so you have the energy and drive to take care of and give love to the people you care about the most!
With sincere appreciation & warmest regards,
Winston Kao
One of The Dawn of the New Millennium Radio Shows is on the subject on how regular flu vaccines got contaminated with the Avian bird flu virus!
Please remain alert with school vaccination programs. This must not happen and please realize that THERE ISN'T A MANDATORY VACCINATION LAW.
The schools may IMPLY, but there are always exemptions and of course, if there is a flu epidemic, your child would not be allowed to come to the school and why would you allow the child to go to school in the first place if there was a flu epidemic? |
