The Benefits Of Turmeric
Ever wondered about the benefits of turmeric? We've put together some tips and tricks for your health and skin care routine!
Natural plant products have been used for thousands of years for various reasons. Medicines derived from plants have played a huge role in the healthcare of many cultures.
Turmeric comes primarily from the forests of South East Asia and has been used for almost 4000 years in India. The Indian culture use it as a culinary spice and it holds religious significance for them.
The knowledge of benefits it provides has travelled world wide and is now used for several purposes from skin care to health care. What better way than to nourish your body from the inside out!
Health benefits of Turmeric
There has been a wealth of study on the below points. This powerful turmeric spice can provide some fantastic health benefits, including:
- Anti-inflammatory compounds (relieving pain)
- Increases Anti-oxidants
- Improves brain function
- Lowers risk of heart disease
- Fights depression
- Aids in digestion
Turmeric for your skin
On the other hand, more recent research on turmeric has had us all getting excited, with proven results on anti-aging and anti-inflammatory powers. It's been proven to naturally detoxify the liver resulting in clearer skin, as well as amazing hair and health.
There are remarkable benefits of turmeric for skin care. See why this ingredient has become one of the worlds most popular search terms and why so many skin care brands are using it in their products.
Turmeric is a great ingredient to be used in home-made face masks that can be used to cure a number of skin problems.
Here are a few magical ways in which you can use turmeric powder for gorgeous and radiant skin.
Turmeric helps in exfoliation
Turmeric is a great natural exfoliator and helps in removing dead skin cells. Mix 1 tablespoon oatmeal, 1 tablespoon powdered masoor dal, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder and some milk or rose water to form a paste. This exfoliating face pack will leave your face clean and soft.
Turmeric delays signs of ageing
Turmeric contains curcuminoid pigments which help the body in synthesizing antioxidants. These antioxidants protect the skin cells from free radical damage and can even slow down the signs of ageing like dark spots, fine lines and wrinkles. The active ingredient curcumin promotes the healing and brightening of the skin.
See below for our amazing face mask recipe.
Turmeric cures stretch marks
Turmeric has the antioxidative power to penetrate and improve the function of the skin membrane cells, which will help prevent and treat stretch marks.
A mix of turmeric, saffron and lime juice can be used to get rid of stretch marks. Apply the paste on the area, let it sit for 15 minutes and then wash off. Repeat this every day until you see that the marks become light.
Turmeric reduces scars and heals wounds
The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric work on your pores and calm the skin. Turmeric is also known to reduce scarring and heal any kind of wounds faster due to its antiseptic qualities.
Mix a pinch of turmeric with 1 teaspoon of besan or gram flour. Apply it on the affected areas and let the paste dry for at least 25 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water.
Turmeric treats dry and cracked skin
Turmeric can deeply hydrate and revitalise skin while alleviating symptoms of dryness. It naturally speeds up the process of removing dead skin cells to reveal healthy and soft skin, and protects the skin cells from further damage.
Have you tried everything to treat cracked heels? Now, try turmeric and you won't be disappointed. Mix some coconut oil with turmeric powder and apply this paste on your cracked heels or dry skin and then wash off after 15 minutes. You skin will feel relieved and soft.
Turmeric cures acne
Turmeric is proven very effective against acne and redness due to its anti-bacterial properties. It helps in destroying the acne-causing bacteria and also removes the excess oil from the skin.
Mix ½ teaspoon of turmeric with 2 teaspoons of sandalwood and some milk to make a paste. Apple it all over your face and leave it to dry. Wash off and then repeat few times in a week to see results.
Recipe for homemade turmeric face mask:
Are you wanting that gorgeous young glow and clear complexion? Try our home made face mask recipe.
From our research, there are many variations for the recipe, but below you will find the basic recipe. Some add chickpea flower to thicken the paste or a little bit of lemon juice which helps to lighten the skin.
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric
- 1 teaspoon of raw organic honey
- 1 teaspoon of natural yoghurt
Optional ingredients to add: a few drops of tea tree essential oil if you suffer from acne.
Put turmeric into a little bowl. Add honey (honey can be used to prepare other homemade honey face masks that you can make at home). Then add yogurt. You can adjust the amount of yoghurt to make the paste more or less thick, but make sure it’s a firm paste that will stick to your face. Turmeric is a dye and it can stain anything, so you don’t want it dripping off your face.
Face preparation
Wash your face with running water and remove all makeup. If your hair is long, tie it up in a bun. Wear a T-shirt you are not too attached to, in case it gets stained.
Application of the Turmeric Face Mask
Apply the mask evenly all over your face. A spot you don’t want to miss is under the eyes, as turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce the dark circles, which form as a result of vasoconstriction (narrowing of the vessels).
If you have any mask leftover, you can save it in the fridge for a few days and use it the next time.
Let the mask dry on your face. Leave it on for about 20 minutes and then wash it off with cool water. Dry your face gently with a towel.
Best way to eat turmeric
When it comes to working on the inside of the body, turmeric has several ways in which it can be consumed. There are several delicious recipes including turmeric in food and drinks.
For us, nothing beats a latte or a tonic. Check out our favourite easy turmeric recipes below.
Turmeric Latte Recipe
Ingredients
350ml almond milk (or your preference of milk)
1/4 tsp ground turmeric
1/4 tbs cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbs maple syrup
grind of black pepper
Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and whisk constantly over a gentle heat, ideally with a milk frother if you have one. Once hot, pour into mugs and sprinkle with a little more cinnamon to serve.
Turmeric Tonic Recipe
One of our favourite recipes is for a turmeric tonic. If you are feeling down, or sick, need to destress, need help with digestion or have an upset stomach this recipe is for you!
Ingredients
1tbs fresh turmeric
1 tbs of fresh grated ginger
1 whole lemon
1-2 tbs maple syrup
1 pinch cayenne pepper
3 cups filtered water
Instructions
To a small saucepan, add turmeric, ginger, lemon juice and leftover lemon rind, maple syrup (optional), cayenne (optional), and filtered water. I personally didn't think it needed any sweetener, but sweeten to taste.
Bring to a simmer (not a boil) over medium to medium-high heat (3 minutes). Then turn off heat.
Set a small strainer over serving glasses and divide between two mugs. If the tonic is too potent for you, dilute with more hot/warm water.
Store (strained) leftovers in the refrigerator up to 2-3 days. Reheat on the stovetop until just warm. ENJOY!!
If you prefer to buy a pre-made turmeric tea, there are plenty on the market and you can find them HERE.
How to increase the absorption of turmeric
According to scientific studies, turmeric and its comprising curcumin have a low absorption rate, meaning our bodies struggle to access and metabolise it. There are ways to increase your bodies absorption into the bloodstream by using these few little tips:
- Add pepper
- Eat it with good fats (ie avocado, coconut oil)
- Eat it with purple foods (ie berries, beetroot)
If you're looking for a more in depth look at the science behind turmeric activation check out this post on Healthy Holistic Living on boosting the power of turmeric.