Coconut Milk and Turmeric Recipe to Detox Organs and Fight Inflammation Fast

Coconut Milk and Turmeric
There’s nothing like a nice hot beverage first thing in the morning to warm up and prepare you for a new day.

Many opt for coffee or tea to get a jolt of wakefulness and although these have their own host of beneficial properties, sometimes it’s nice to go for something a little more colorful.  Some people might recommend a good blend of coconut milk and turmeric.

Have you ever heard of golden milk?
The star of this healing drink is turmeric, a rhizome in the ginger family that gives it a lovely golden hue.

A traditional Ayurvedic drink, golden milk has been enjoyed for millennia not only for its characteristically soothing warmth but for its ability to manage inflammation, improve the function of the digestive tract, and liver support.

Turmeric is a spice studied extensively and has been found to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties.

So how does coconut milk and turmeric make such a good combination?

Turmeric’s potential includes:
Antiseptic – turmeric kills harmful bacteria and speeds healing for cuts and superficial burns (1).

Analgesic – the antioxidants in turmeric reduce swelling and relieve pain. It’s especially helpful for easing the joints of arthritis sufferers.

Boosts immunity – the phytochemical curcumin in turmeric see to that.

Anti-carcinogenic – one study showed a combination of turmeric and black pepper inhibited breast cancer cell growth by fifty percent.

Promotes digestive health – a healthy gut is critical for all bodily functions. Turmeric stimulates the gall bladder to release bile, which is necessary to break down fats.

Liver detoxifier – in a study of induced liver damage in rats, curcumin supplementation was found to increase the amount of glutathione (the “master antioxidant”) enzymes, significantly reducing free radical damage.

Regulates metabolism and weight management – turmeric changes fat cells from passive to active, which your body will burn easier for energy.

High blood pressure – the Journal of Hypertension reported that a curcumin supplement combined with regular aerobic exercise improved heart function and increased muscle stress tolerance.

Memory, brain function, and neurological disorders – the Annals of Indian Academy of Neurology published a study that showed turmeric to improve memory in patients with Alzheimer’s disease:

“Due to various effects of curcumin, such as decreased Beta-amyloid plaques, delayed degradation of neurons, metal-chelation, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and decreased microglia formation, the overall memory in patients with AD has improved.”

Various skin conditions – the fatty acids in turmeric protect against radiation damage; it’s also effective in treating psoriasis, vitiligo, and skin cancer.

Lowers triglycerides – curcumin regulates low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the liver, blocks its absorption in the digestive system, and prevents oxidation in arterial linings, guarding against cardiovascular disease and hypertension.

So what are the ingredients to the wonderful coconut milk and turmeric solution?

Golden Milk
If you don’t want to eat curry every day to get your dose of turmeric, drink this instead!

Ingredients:

Turmeric Paste

• 1/4 cup turmeric powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, ground
• 1/2 cup filtered water

Golden Milk

• 1 cup coconut milk (hemp is a good alternative)
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil (virgin)
• 1/4 teaspoon (or more) turmeric paste
• Honey (raw, unpasteurized, and local if you can get it)

Instructions:

To make the turmeric paste, place the turmeric, pepper, and water in a small saucepan and mix well over medium-high heat, stirring constantly until the mixture is a thick paste.
Allow the mixture to cool before using and store in the refrigerator.
To make the milk, combine all ingredients except honey in a saucepan and cook on medium, stirring constantly until hot. Do not allow to boil.
Add honey to taste and enjoy!

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Hot New Food as Medicine Trend: The Benefits of Turmeric

A quote from Daniel Gilbert tells us: “The secret of happiness is variety, but the secret of variety, like the secret of all spices, is knowing when to use it”. Just a decade or so ago, it was hard to find anyone in your social circle that would be willing to try the natural route with many ailments you can encounter in your day-to-day medical life. Some of them are serious, and some not so serious, but as of late, many around the globe are looking for additional ways to feel better, battle depression, perhaps boost their immunity, and bolster their overall vitality without always relying on man-made chemicals. As we eagerly gleaned the web to learn more about this ancient spice, the knowledgeable folks at Dr. Axe had some good insight about the healing spice.

Turmeric actually comes from the root of the Curcuma longaplant, which is boiled, dried, and then meticulously ground down to the powdered form you find it in at the store. The Chinese and Indian cultures had the most knowledge of how to use it and the benefits of the spice, and for many years in medieval England, the health benefits of the spice were not understood. The flavor is a bit like ginger, and can be found in many curry dishes in places such as the crowded streets of Bombay and the lush green districts of Darjeeling, where the Himalayan Railway rushes hurriedly amongst the hills.

The chemical compound curcumin is where much of the very powerful healing elements of Turmeric lie, and one very important study by the NCBI found that it has very far-reaching antioxidant properties. Outside of the holistic health community, it has taken quite a bit of time for medical practitioners in the Western world to agree with the benefits the spice has, but the discoveries are fairly amazing. As of late, there have been thousands of scientific articles that clearly outline the benefits of use, and one of the most Earthshaking was that it actually had the power to cure bladder cancer cells. The spice was used by the Chinese to cure infections and many other types of dental inflammations, and here are some other benefits of its use:

The ability to battle cancer:studies have shown that around 2,000 milligrams of curcumin inhibited the enzymes that promote cancer in subjects who were already affected by head and neck cancer.

The ability to kill fungus:It’s not just athlete’s foot that thrives on fungus: candida, other skin infections, and jock itch are all products of fungus that can be very uncomfortable. Turmeric and nutmeg have been found to be the most powerful in the fight against fungus when weighed up against 20 other common spices.

Destroying cells that cause lung cancer:Many who never have even used tobacco products still get lung cancer, and it can be very devastating when you first get the news. Some are surprised to learn that turmeric has been proven to destroy the cells that eventually band together and strike one down with this condition.

Increasing lifespan:This is one attribute that many talk about! It seems these days that everyone is wondering what they can truly do to live longer. Studies have shown that Turmeric not only corrects a key step in the citric acid cycle and helps to release additional energy, but also permanently corrects the morphogenetic process.

Lowers blood cholesterol levels:After giving mice 10% Turmeric extract, it was noted that on the 15th day of a 60-day study, their levels of cholesterol had dropped significantly. While it can vary from individual to individual, this is still quite a breakthrough trait for the spice.
If you just ingest Turmeric by itself for the health benefits, you can mix it with a little bit of black pepper; this helps the body absorb it at a faster rate. We know it may seem strange that this additive to a food from faraway lands has this many health benefits, but it does! Also used for toothaches, colic, jaundice, and general hemorrhage, this is one spice that some say is nothing short of a miracle. Everyone should do their own research before taking the plunge and ingesting Turmeric daily, but we sure were curious about this powder’s powerful potential.

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Turmeric Benefits for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer affects the ovaries that are situated on either side of the uterus. This cancer is not easily detectable until it has spread to the abdomen and pelvis. Once it has spread, it is difficult to treat and usually proves fatal. Unfortunately symptoms of ovarian cancer often mimic other conditions. Some of them are – abdominal pressure, bloating, pain, pelvic discomfort, persistent gas, indigestion or nausea, constipation, frequent urination, loss of appetite etc.
Some factors may increase the risk of contracting ovarian cancer like family history, gene mutation, increasing age, women never being pregnant or previous cancer of the breast, rectum, uterus or colon. Pelvic examination, tissue testing and ultrasound are some ways to detect ovarian cancer and treatment consists of chemotherapy and surgery.

Turmeric & Ovarian Cancer

The usage of turmeric and its chemical compound curcumin is not unknown for it is popularly used as a spice and for medicinal purposes in many Asian countries. Researchers are conducting studies on the various benefits that curcumin offers in protecting the immune system and fighting different types of cancer.

According to studies turmeric can interfere with molecular pathways which are responsible for cause and growth of cancer. I have already discussed this in my previous article on Cancer. Here are some of the studies which are done to explore relationship between turmeric and ovarian cancer.

In a 2007 report on the in-vitro research on ovarian cancer, it was concluded that curcumin mayturmeric for ovarian cancer offer therapeutic benefits. These were test tube studies when specific cancer cells were targeted. When curcumin and chemo were given together, it was found to be less drug resistant. Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory agent that can inhibit COX-2 enzyme, therefore benefiting various cancer therapies. Further human studies are required.

Studies have found that when ovarian cancer cells receive pre-treatment from curcumin they seem more vulnerable to chemotherapy. The delivery could be in the form of turmeric nano-particles that make the cancer cells less resistant to chemotherapy. This pre-treatment with curcumin also means that lower doses of radiation and Cisplatin are required to suppress proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. This helps patients suffer from fewer side effects and lesser toxicity.

For this study, ovarian cancer cells resistant to Cisplatin were pre-treated with turmeric and this was followed by exposure to radiation or Cisplatin. Then colony formation and MTS (biochemical cell) assays were examined to determine the effect of curcumin on cancer cell growth. The curcumin that was administered was a special nano-particle formulation that was conjugated specifically for cancer cells with monoclonal antibody. Results showed that pre-treated cancer cells required lower radiation levels and lower doses of cisplatin to inhibit growth. Apoptosis (cell death) of cancer cells occurred after pre-treatment. The conclusion was that pre-treatment with turmeric increases chemo/radio sensitization of ovarian cancer cells resistant to cisplatin via multiple molecular mechanisms. Hence, using curcumin could provide therapeutic benefits for patients with ovarian cancer.

Another study was conducted to demonstrate that curcumin could inhibit transcription factor NF-kB, therefore suppressing angiogenesis and inflammation. An orthotopic murine ovarian cancer model was used to study the benefits of turmeric in this study. The study was performed on laboratory mice. It was found that curcumin suppressed proliferation and activation of NF-kB in vitro. In vivo dosages of 500mg/kg were found sufficient to suppress NF-kB, decrease angiogenic cytokine expression etc. There was a 49% and 55% reduction in tumor growth in the 2 in vivo curcumin models compared with control group. When curcumin was combined with docetaxel, there was 96% and 77% reduction in tumor growth compared to the control group, therefore showing its benefits for ovarian cancer.

Based on these studies role of turmeric in ovarian cancer looks positive and promising.

Dosage

General dosage (not only for ovarian cancer) of standardized curcumin powder is 400-600mg thrice daily. You can also take cut root – 1.5-3g daily, fluid extracts – 30-90 drops daily or dried, powdered root 1-3g daily. The specific dosage for each illness can be prescribed by a doctor.

Precautions

Turmeric is safe when used it in appropriate doses. When taken in excess, it can cause nausea, indigestion, diarrhea or dizziness. Pregnant women can suffer from over stimulated uterus or menstrual bleeding and must avoid turmeric supplements. Those with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), bile duct obstruction or gallstones, those on diabetes medication or taking anti-coagulation drugs must avoid turmeric supplements for their conditions could worsen. Turmeric could slow clotting of blood, hence those undergoing surgery must refrain from using turmeric for a few weeks before and after surgery.

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Medicinal Benefits of Turmeric Root

Turmeric root looks similar to ginger and belongs to the same family of spices. You may know it as a yellow-orange powder that's used as one of the spices in curry. Even though the current research on turmeric and health involves mostly lab animals, not people, one of turmeric's components, curcumin, is popularly credited with providing individuals several health benefits, from reducing minor inflammation to inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.

Anti-carcinogenic

Knowing that turmeric has been used for centuries as an anti-inflammatory in certain societies and that inflammation plays a role in cancer development, researchers at the Department of Experimental Therapeutics, MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas decided to study the effects it would have on cancer cells. Their research revealed that curcumin, a component of turmeric, suppressed the spread of breast cancer cells to the lungs in mice.

Anti-inflammatory

In the book, "Turmeric: The Genus Curcuma," the authors refer to research that indicates turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory. They claim that turmeric oil and curcumin exhibit potent anti-inflammatory effects. Oral administration of curcumin in instances of acute inflammation was found to be as effective as cortizone.

Diabetes Preventive

In one study published by the National Institutes of Health, researchers at the Columbia University Medical Center Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center found that curcumin treatment of obese mice reduced inflammation and diabetes.

Deepak Chopra, in "The Chopra Center Herbal Handbook," recommends that anyone with adult-onset diabetes include turmeric in his daily diet.

Heart Support

According to the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers studied the effects of turmeric's curcumin on the hearts of rats. Researchers gave laboratory rats curcumin and then operated on their hearts to make them susceptible to heart failure. They submitted another group of rats that didn't receive curcumin to the same procedure.

The curcumin not only prevented heart failure, it also reversed heart enlargement in the first group of rats.

Cold Remedy

In the "Chopra Center Herbal Handbook," Deepak Chopra recommends mixing turmeric in coriander or cinnamon tea to treat colds, the flu and fevers. You can also sprinkle the spice on a teaspoon of honey and take it to stop coughing.

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