THE MOST POTENT, POWERFUL SPICE ON THE PLANET

May 01, 2018 Dr Daryl Gioffre

The food we are going to talk about today is so powerful, so potent, and so important to the history of our world, I could write a whole book about it and still have more to say.

Its disease-reversing capabilities alone are worth your time to find out a little more about this spice and whether or not it’s right for you, either in cooking or as a supplement.

In fact, I would go so far as to say that one day, we might realize that the cure to cancer has been under our noses all along, and once we harness its power, we could eradicate this disease that causes so much illness, sadness, and death.

So what is this powerful food that might just cure cancer one day (and you certainly want to incorporate into your DAILY life to bullet-proof yourself)?

Turmeric, the yellow spice popular in Indian cooking.

Let’s dive in and learn more about this potent ingredient.

What is it?

Turmeric is the main spice used in Indian curry dishes, and it comes from a plant grown in India and surrounding Asian countries.

Known as the “Indian saffron” because of its distinctive yellow color, its use dates back at least 4,000 years as a staple of traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurvedic medicine.

Today, India still consumes 80% of the world’s turmeric, but it’s also used in African and Jamaican cooking due to the centuries-old spice trade.

Benefits

The subject of thousands of peer-reviewed studies, turmeric’s health benefits are well-documented.

One of the often-misunderstood aspects of turmeric is the combinations in which you consume it.

For example, eating turmeric along with black pepper increases its efficacy by 2,000 times!

Consuming it along with healthy fats like coconut oil or avocado may increase its absorption by 30-50%.

Health benefits of turmeric include:

Fighting inflammation – The importance of this cannot be overemphasized. Inflammation is the root cause of most diseases, including cancer, heart disease, and arthritis, so the fact that turmeric is among the most effective anti-inflammatory agents in the world, much more effective than NSAID anti-inflammatories like Advil, is eye-opening.

Scientists are on the hunt for a more bio-available form of turmeric, but in the meantime, ingesting it along with black pepper is a good step.

Likewise, turmeric appears to be as effective or more effective than drugs that treat rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, according to preliminary studies.

Last but not least, the inflammatory process associated with obesity is lessened with the use of turmeric.

Slowing/preventing blood clots – The active chemical in turmeric, curcumin, reduces platelet aggregation, which cuts the risk of clot formation.

Reducing cholesterol – In another boost to heart health, turmeric is comparable in effectiveness of treating high cholesterol to dangerous statin drugs like Lipitor (without the scary side effects).

Complimenting cancer treatment – Although much research still needs to be conducted in this area, studies have shown curcumin can kill cancer cells in certain types of cancer (breast, bowel, skin, and stomach). It also increases the effectiveness of cancer treatments like chemotherapy for all cancers.

Reducing diabetes symptoms – Studies have shown that type 2 diabetes patients benefit from curcumin in several ways – activating the enzyme that reduces insulin resistance, potentially lowering blood glucose levels, lowering inflammation associated with diabetes, and reducing diabetic neuropathy pain symptoms.

Helping patients with Crohn’s, colitis, gastritis, and IBS – Studies show that taking turmeric for bowel disorders is as effective or more effective than commonly used medications. More research is needed to determine the exact relationship between gut health and turmeric.

Reducing symptoms of depression – According to one study, curcumin is equally as effective at treating depression as Prozac! And with fewer side effects (see below for more on side effects).

Keeping the brain young – Curcumin protects against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease and promotes brain health in general.

Glowing skin – Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric helps flight skin problems like acne and psoriasis, speed healing time, and promotes a lustrous, youthful glow.
Pain relief – Patients benefit from the natural painkillers in turmeric for pain related to burns, wounds, diabetes, arthritis, sciatic nerve, and more.

Drawbacks and Precautions

Unlike prescription medications that rival its power, turmeric is almost side effect free.

With that said, always talk to your doctor to make sure it does not interfere with any medications you are taking, particularly NSAID’s (non-steroid anti-inflammatories), aspirin, and warfarin. Pregnant women should also consult their doctors, as turmeric has been known to induce contractions.

Mild side effects that can occur with high doses of turmeric include: Itchy rash from skin exposure, nausea, diarrhea, lowered blood pressure, and increased risk of bleeding.

Plus, in the powder form it STAINS, so be very careful when using around clothes you don’t want to ruin (unless you like yellow spots), or even your glassware.

How to Use Turmeric

My favorite recipe for taking advantage of turmeric’s power is Acid Crusher Detox Tea, in part because it utilizes black pepper to make it more potent.

Anytime you make a curry dish, you’re eating turmeric along with the blend of spices that make up curry powder. Make sure you’re using coconut oil in any recipe and give your finished dish a grind of black pepper to maximize absorbency.

You can also take turmeric in supplement form. Look for one with black pepper or healthy fats added to make sure you’re getting the benefit of the turmeric.

Turmeric is one of the main spices included in Alkamind Daily Greens, so that you’re getting a daily dose of the most powerful spice on the planet, along with 26 other nutrient-packed foods like wheatgrass, dandelion, beets, collard greens, and our proprietary sprout blend.