Another Miracle Spice

I often talk about turmeric and I certainly have blogged about it over the last couple of years.  Something happened recently though that made me want to bring it up again.  About a week and a half ago I spent hours and hours cleaning out my garage, moving furniture around and rearranging the attic.  Needless to say, an extreme amount of physical labor was how I spent my weekend.  Mind you, I love physical labor.  It’s great for working the muscles that we don’t get to at the gym.

I must admit however, although I love physical labor, I have had back surgery.  Therefore, I tend to overdo it sometimes and end up with some back pain.  I realized immediately that I might be in for some significant pain so I increased my daily dosages of turmeric.  I make sure every single day that I take turmeric.  I take it for many reasons, but on Sunday I decided to double my dosage.  I usually combine turmeric with cod liver oil or extra virgin olive oil, and then I eat some healthy fats with it i.e. walnuts, almonds or Brazil nuts.  Well, when I decided to increase the dosages, that meant that I combined half a teaspoon of turmeric with a little bit of oil three times a day.

Well, it is a known fact that turmeric is an anti-inflammatory and a fantastic one at that!  I decided to blog about my experience with turmeric this week because, and believe me when I tell you this; I have absolutely zero back pain!  There are many natural remedies for pain, but boy, oh boy, this is a good one.  Turmeric, which is a spice from India and has been around for centuries, has many beneficial qualities such as:

•  Boosts your immune system against stress
• Maintains a healthy digestive system
• Supports healthy bones and skeletal system
• Supports healthy blood and liver functions
• Maintains normal cholesterol
• Is 5 to 8 times more powerful than vitamin E and vitamin C

As you can see, this miracle spice is extraordinary; I keep tons of it in the house so that I never run out.  One of my most favorite benefits of all is that it maintains great elasticity in the skin, and is, of course, a great anti-aging product.

Hey listen, don’t be afraid of turmeric.  It is quite innocuous.  In fact, feel free to sprinkle it on whatever you wish, cook with it, or just make a paste and swallow as I do.  Oh, and please, if you keep as much of it in the house as I, keep it in the freezer.

Are You Sick of Being Sick? Boost Your Immune System

Since so many of us seem to suffer with colds and flu, I have decided to dedicate today and the next few days on how to stay well.  Today will simply be tips and advice on how to boost your immune system.  The next several days I will commit to sharing recipes with you that are sure to boost the immune systems of you and your family.

Some of the Most Important Ways to Keep Your Immune System Strong

• Sleep, sleep and more sleep.  Your mothers told you, your physicians told you and now I am telling you; you cannot fight off colds and flu unless you are rested.
• Ensure that you are getting all the necessary vitamins and nutrients that your body requires.  If you opt to take supplements please be careful to read the ingredients on the bottle.
• Are you eating enough garlic?  Garlic is fantastic for the immune system, my family and I eat a ton of fresh garlic every day.  Almost every meal that I make includes garlic except of course, my oatmeal.
• Ginseng is also great for the immune system, in fact there are many herbs and roots that are great for boosting the immune system.
• Shiitake mushrooms, these nifty little mushrooms are great for the immune system; in fact several of the recipes I will provide you in the next few days will include them.  Many people tend to throw out the stems.  The stems are a little chewy, I like to use them but you don’t have to.
• Dandelion greens, these are extraordinary for the immune system.  I know they’re bitter folks, so toss them in your salad or throw them in your soup.
• Something else that I have done for many, many years…a warm cup of water with the juice of one lemon every morning.
• Are you getting enough sunlight?  Don’t go nutty here folks, I’m not talking about laying out in the sun for hours.
• Become a social butterfly…well, not really.  But you should remember that socializing with friends and family is great for the immune system.
• Trouble with sinuses….?  You may want to reduce your dairy.  Many people find after severely reducing their dairy intake, their sinus problems tend to go away.
• Exercise, exercise, exercise.  A little cardio and a little strength is all I’m asking folks.  If you can’t get to that, walk your dog!
• Lots of H2O.  I’m still surprised constantly at how many people do not get enough water.
• Faith is the most important and easiest way to keep your immune system strong.  Trust in God to keep you healthy.

These are some of the things that have kept my family healthy and I hope they help you and your family.  As promised, the next several days I will be providing you with recipes that are sure to keep you and your family in tip-top shape.