ThymelyNaturalRemedies

Health Benefits of Indian Spices: Turmeric

Six years ago, I went through a very scary time in my life. My OBGYN had diagnosed me with pre-cancer of the cervix. I felt really lost and didn’t know where to turn, My options for treatment were limited to painful procedures, biopsies, and surgery. I started to really study herbalism at this time as I was desperate to find a cure as well as keep my mind busy in order to keep my anxiety at bay. I found lots of wonderful and helpful information, I even made a friend from India who taught me about the health benefits of turmeric for treating cancer and other ailments. I started adding it to my soups, and rice regularly in order to benefit from its many beneficial properties. My story does end well by the way. I was able to make the pre-cancer go away and in the process, I discovered amazing foods I had never had the opportunity to try.

Turmeric is a popular and well-loved spice that can be grown and cultivated India, Asia, and Central America. The scientific names are listed as Curcuma Aromatica, Curcuma Domestica, and Curcuma Longa. Other more common names for this beloved spice are Indian Saffron, and The Golden Spice of Life. There is a rich history of its use in India for the past 2,500 years. It’s been around for a very long time and it’s not going away any time soon. In fact, with the rise of interest in herbal remedies, I’d say it is becoming more popular than ever. In this blog, I’d like to go over the various uses of turmeric to help heal the body.

The Benefits of Turmeric:

Anti-inflammatory properties-from Alzheimers to cancerous brain tumors
Prevention and treatment of cancerous tumors. Induces cancer cell death in brain cancer resistant to chemotherapy and radiation.
Prostate Cancer- Topical use helps fight skin cancer, prevents, stops and slows its growth.
Leukemia- Curcumin inhibits childhood leukemia cells.
Multiple myeloma- Several different cells found in multiple myeloma are found to be sensitive to curcumin.
Metastasis Prevention- Prevents the spread of cancer from its primary site of growth to other areas of the body.
Enhances Chemotherapy- Cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug used in the treatment of many different types of cancers, work well with curcumin found in turmeric. It works to suppress tumors better than Cisplatin alone.
Prevents Alziemers- There are low rates of Alzheimer’s in India among the elderly. Due to consumption of large amounts of turmeric in their diets.
Eye Health- Curcumin may be able to treat some types of retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative type of eye disease which causes blindness. Also may be helpful in treating macular degeneration.
Weight Loss- It is a dynamic and very strong tool to fight obesity and its various symptoms. It causes resistance to leptin, insulin resistance is lowered, hypoglycemia reversed, inflammation is brought down in which fat genes are stored. Signals are sent to the brain to release and start burning fat stored in the body.
Treats Skin Ailments: Turmeric is one of the herbs used to treat skin issues such as atopic eczema and atopic dermatitis. These are medical conditions marked by inflammation and irritation of the skin. Using turmeric in food and as a topical salve can help keep the skin conditions under control. It relieves symptoms with no side effects.

By now, I’m sure a lot of you are wanting to introduce or add more turmeric into your lives. Please be sure to check with your primary care physician if you are on any medications, as curcumin can interact with some medical treatments. Please go forth and experiment and learn more about Turmeric; stay tuned for my next blog about one of my favorite Turmeric recipes!

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It is our goal to keep learning and sharing about natural remedies found within our foods, herbs, spices and other types of non-food remedies in order to spread information to better not only our lives but yours as well!

**Our website is intended for educational purposes. We are not doctors and cannot give medical advice. We are not liable for any health issues you may have from choosing to follow our suggestions. It is our research paired with personal experience that we share. Please consult your doctor or naturopathic physician before starting up a new health food regimen.

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Chocolate Chia Pudding

Ok guys so I’ve been experimenting with Chia and I especially wanted to be able to share my experience with you all. Recently I posted about Chia seeds and all the wonderful benefits. To read it, please click on the link: https://thymelynaturalremedies.wordpress.com/2018/03/27/chia-seeds-so-much-more-to-them-than-chia-pets/

Today I wanted to share how easy it is to make Chia Pudding! Sometimes all you want is some pudding and it really is frustrating to find you are out of your boxed pudding from the store. Well fear not, because if you keep that superfood known as Chia in your cupboards, then you can make some very easily!

Here is a picture of what mine looked like when I was finished making it. Very few ingredients are needed. My son is currently making happy noises while he eats his pudding, it’s that good! Keep reading to see the recipe!

Overnight Chocolate Chia Pudding

*You can use whatever milk or sugar you prefer. My recipe nutrition info is based on a Stevia based recipe.*

2 cups of your choice of milk
6 Tbsp of Chia Seeds
2 1/2 Tbsp of cacao powder
Sweetener of your choice, such as powdered sugar, honey, maple syrup, agave, or stevia to taste

2 Tsp of Vanilla

Mix thoroughly and refrigerate over night. In the morning you will find your chia seeds have become gelatin like and expanded in size. If you aren’t making this recipe overnight, 4-5 hours soak is adequate! Enjoy, happy eating!

Chia Seeds- So Much More to Them Than Chia Pets!

Growing up I never ate Chia seeds since I had never heard of eating them. The only thing I knew about it was that it was what made those Chia Pets so adorable. I’m sure you must remember the cute animals made of Terra Cotta and you could buy the kit at the store. Put the seeds in, water and wait for the seeds to sprout! They were a lot of fun for a kid but once the sprouts died, the fun was over and now what? Is there anything more to now about chia?

I am happy to say yes, thankfully there is SO much more to those little seeds than meets the eye! They have a rich cultural history going all the way back to Aztec and Mayan times.

Originally these seeds come from Ancient Mexico, Native Americans used these seeds in many ways. They were a food source for warriors and runners alike to increase water intake, give high energy and to also provide greater endurance for athletes, scouts, and warriors. Chia means “stregnth” in the Mayan language and they were known as “runners food” because warriors would use as fuel while running long distances or during battle.

Chia comes from the mint plant family known as Salvia Hispanica. There are two different types of chia seeds. Brown seeds are grown from plants that have purple flowers. These are called black chia, despite having many shades of brown seeds. Chia plants with white flowers will produce white seeds.

Chia seeds contain anthocyanins, which are a dark colored pigment in certain plant products, like fruit, leaves, stems or seeds. The darker the color, the more anthocyanins it is likely to have. Dark colored foods, for example, such as blackberries, beets, plums, black beans, and dark brown chia seeds, are full of them.

Anthocyanins help fight:

*Cancer

*Prevents aging such as wrinkled skin

*Nuerological diseases

*Diabetes

*Bacterial Infections

Chia promotes many health benefits such as:

*Healthy skin, since it protects against inflammation and free radical damage

*Reduces signs of aging.

*Support the heart and digestive system.

*Builds stronger bones and muscles

*Linked to reversing Diabetes, since it helps balance insulin levels.

*Reverse inflamation and oxidative stress

*Regulates cholesterol and lowers blood pressure, which makes it beneficial for heart health.

*Natural blood sugar balancer, due to high fiber and healthy fats.

*Prevents metabolic disorders like insulin resistance in diabetes and dyslipidemia (excessive fat in the blood)

*Chia seeds have been seen to stop diabetes and reverse and cure the disease in rats.

*It has been discovered to reduce visceral adipose tissue aka “bellyfat” which affects metabolism of the body.

*Boosts energy and metabolism

*Rich in Fiber, Omega 3 fats, protein, vitamins and minerals.

1 oz. of chia seeds contain approximately:

*137 calories

*12.3 grams of carbohydrates

*4.4 grams of protein

*8.6 grams of fat

*10.6 grams of fiber

*0.6 mgs of phosphorous

*177 mgs of calcium

*1 mg of zinc

*0.1 mg of copper

*44.8 mgs of potassium

Vitamin and Mineral Content of Chia Seeds are rich in:

*A, B, E, and D

*Magnesium

*Manganese

*Niacin

*Sulfur

*Iron

*Iodine

*Thiamine

*Fatty Acids high in Alpha Lineolic and Lineolic acid Mucin.

*Rich source of antioxidants

*Orac value of 10,000 *

Vitamin E equivalents.

*37% dietary fiber

*20% protein

Since Chia seeds are so high in dietary fiber, they benefit bowel regularity and healthy stool. It helps us to feel more full even faster because they absorb considerable amount of water and expand immediately when eaten. Studies have shown they chia seeds curb hunger and suppress the appetite which can also help with weight loss.

Chia seeds also produce a geltatin like substance. This gel forming action is due to it’s soluable fiber within the seeds. It works as a Probiotic which helps to support the growth of Probiotics in the stomach.

Now that you have heard all this wonderful news about the benefits of Chia seeds I’m sure you are wanting to know how to go about incorporating them into your own diet. You can either eat them raw out of a spoon or your hand or you can mix it into your baking, yogurt, oatmeal, sprinkle as a garnish over your food as a garnish, like in salads. You can also use it as an egg replacement in baking for vegan recipes!

They can replace seeds such as poppy, flax or sesame in recipes and can be added to muffin, bread, cake and cookie dough.

Chia seeds can also be sprouted to reduce phytic acid which is better for the health of your teeth. Sprouted chia can be added to salads, sandwiches and wraps for example.

There are so many ways to use these seeds. Why don’t you try baking with them soon and see what you think about them? I certainly hope you come to love chia seeds as much as I do. Please stay turned to our blog, I’ve got more blog posts up my sleeve as well as recipes!

Coconut Oil and It’s Many Benefits

Today I would like to talk about oil pulling. Maybe you have never heard of it or you don’t know much and just don’t get it all. So I’d like to share more about this unique technique which comes from an ancient Ayurvedic medicinal practice. It is known as Kavala or Gandusha, aka what is also known today as oil pulling. There are many benefits to this practice and it’s been used for thousands of years. It was not just used in India but in many other parts of the world. In archeology, it is noted that their teeth were just as healthy as our teeth today is with modern dentistry. How was that possible when they did not have dentists, toothbrushes or toothpaste? Instead, many used oil pulling or sticks with bristles carved into it to scrub and clean their teeth. These were the prime example of eco-friendly toothbrushes. Once they were all done with it, they would just toss it aside or even throw it into their campfire as kindling, I imagine!

In this day and age, we are afflicted with many ailments and physical problems. A lot of the time, we make ourselves sick by what we eat. There are many ways to do this. Our food choices can either positively or negatively impact our health in many ways. What you eat can affect your blood and your body and this can manifest as rashy or dull skin, low energy, weight gain, acne, and so on and so forth. One way to help restore prime health is to incorporate oil pulling into our everyday routine.

Oil pulling is one of the best ways to remove oil pulling is one of the best ways to remove bacteria and promote healthy teeth and gums. It has been proven to be more affective than flossing and its one of the best ways to whiten your teeth naturally! It is an oral detoxification procedure which is done by simply swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth for 10-20 minutes. It works by cleaning and detoxifying the oral cavities in a similar way that soapy water cleans dirty dishes.

Unrefined coconut oil is largely comprised of medium-chain fatty acids, which are sent directly to the liver for energy rather than storage. This type of fat is ideal for a cleanse, since it can provide the energy needed at a time when less food is being consumed.

These same medium-chain fatty acids play a crucial role in cleansing the body from toxins. Virgin unrefined coconut oil is heralded as a natural health food, and coconut oil detox simply speeds up healing results by thoroughly flushing the entire body of toxins in a short time.

It has recently gained quite a bit of popularity in the US as more and more people learn all the wonderful benefits of this ancient activity. Some of the many benefits of Oil Pulling are:

Oral Health

Treats tooth decay
Kills bath breath (halitosis)
Heals bleeding gums (gingivitis)
Cavity Prevention
Strips away harmful bacteria
Whitens teeth

Overall Health

Prevents heart disease
Reduce Inflammation
Soothes dry throat
Heals skin problems, acne, rashes ect
Promotes a clear complexion
Less dehydration
Reduces bloating, and helps with the loss of water weight

Here are just four types of conditions virgin coconut oil can combat during a detox:

Candida

In modern society, candida overgrowth is almost an epidemic. More people are experiencing systemic candida, when the problem spreads throughout the body and causes a myriad of unpleasant side effects. A virgin coconut oil detox is completely void of sugar and other carbohydrates, which effectively starves off all candida in the system. People who suffer from candida will notice many conditions improve or disappear after a virgin coconut oil detox, including sugar cravings, fatigue, eczema, acne, repeat sinus infections and poor concentration.

Fungal infections

Often connected with candida, repeat fungal infections like ringworm and jock itch are linked to an imbalance of bacteria and fungal organisms in the body. The lauric acid and caprylic acid in virgin coconut oil are antifungal, so a virgin coconut oil detox is an effective way to cleanse the entire system of fungal growth. Many people with fungal conditions report a complete recovery within the cleansing period.

Digestive conditions

A virgin coconut oil detox can help banish digestive conditions like irritable bowl syndrome (IBS) and leaky gut syndrome by restoring health and balance to the digestive system.

Viruses

Lauric acid, which is found in abundance in virgin coconut oil, is converted into monolaurin in the body, which has strong antiviral properties that can protect against and even destroy lipid-coated viruses like herpes and influenza.

The best kind of virgin coconut oil to use to detoxify is organic, raw extra virgin virgin coconut oil. This type of oil should be completely unrefined, expeller- or cold-pressed, unbleached and not deodorized. This ensures you are getting the maximum natural benefits from your virgin coconut oil.

There are three kinds of oils you can use for oil pulling:

1. Coconut Oil

2. Sesame Oil

3. Olive oil

How to perform oil pulling:

The best time to oil pull is first thing in the morning right after you get up. You will want to do this immediately before you drink or eat any food or water. The reason for this is because some people tend to feel nauseated from oil pulling after eating and they end up not continuing with it. Take one tablespoon of your prefered oil and swish in your mouth for 10-20 minutes. To start with, take it slow and do only 5 minutes, and work your way up to 10 minutes. And continue with this regimen till you can do it for 20 minutes at a time. It can get very tiring on the mouth. And for some, the texture makes people nauseated. I heard of one lady saying that she could only do it for about 5 minutes at a time and would spit out the oil and put another table spoon in for another 5 minutes until she reached her desired amount of swishing time.

Once you are all done, spit it out into the toilet or the trash can. The reason being is because, this oil was used to detox your body. It is now full of toxins and you do NOT want to be swallowing this and putting it all back into your system. Make sure you do not spit this down your sink drain as it can cause plumbing problems esp with coconut oil it hardens when it cools down. You can then brush your teeth and rinse your mouth out with mouthwash or rinse with salty water to get the oily feeling out of your mouth.

Maybe you are wondering why oil pulling should be done on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. The reason for this is because digestive enzymes in your saliva help the body to break down food and absorb nutrients. Oil pulling when done on an empty stomach will trigger you mouth to release huge amounts of enzyme-containing saliva.

You can do this as often as necessary, usually once a day in the morning is enough. Some people do this everyday and others do it every 2-3 days. Take it slow and do it as often as you are able until you can do it daily. Many people start to see results within a month or two, in their skin, full body and oral health. Why don’t you give it a try today and see for yourself?

The best place to find coconut oil is in the health food section of your grocery store. You can also get it at a natural health food store, or even online. Be sure to choose organic, (non-GMO verified), unrefined coconut oil, since it hasn’t cooked away all the raw health benefits available in its natural state.