3 ways to harness the benefits of turmeric

Turmeric has had a lot of media attention over the past couple of years. Although the spice has long been used in eastern medicine, in the west it has in the past largely been relegated to the kitchen cupboard – occasionally brought out to brighten up a curry or a stew.

More and more of us are now aware of turmeric's myriad of health benefits. It's main active ingredient, curcumin, is a strong anti-oxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, that fights inflammation at a molecular level. Turmeric can be used to treat everything from acne to inflammatory diseases, and is even believed to help protect against chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. 

It's a good idea then, to include more turmeric in a healthy lifestyle, and you don't have to stick to curry to gain the benefits of this super spice.

1. Start the day with a latte or smoothie

A growing trend among health conscious hipsters, why not start the day with a turmeric latte, tea or smoothie. Make a paste from turmeric powder and boiling water (or grate the fresh root if you can find it), and add it to nut milk or water with a healthy sweetener, a dusting of cinnamon and some black pepper for a delicious morning wake up.

You can also add the powder to your fruit smoothie, to give it an extra health boost.

2. Try a face mask

You don't have to eat turmeric to feel the benefits. Used by Indian brides for centuries as a beauty treatment, a turmeric facial can help treat conditions like acne, dry skin and eczema. Just add turmeric and honey to some milk or yogurt, and use as a face mask for glowing skin.


3. Get creative

While turmeric is of course a fantastic addition to an Indian curry, there are plenty of other dishes you can make with this versatile spice.
Try sprinkling it over roast vegetables or scrambled eggs, or add it to rice next time you're cooking. With so many health benefits to be felt, it's worth including turmeric in your food wherever you can.

Three top superfoods for feeling great in 2017

There are so many wonderful benefits that can be felt once you start introducing superfood powders to your diet, and there's no need to wait and wonder about the ones you've never tried as it's easier than ever to buy superfood online, particularly with sites like Detox Trading. The following three have been selected as they have the power to propel you through a cold January and leave you feeling energised and nourished.

1. Camu Camu powder

Camu Camu powder is a powdered form of the Camu berry, a Brazilian superfruit. This wonderful tasting powder packs sixty times more vitamin C per serving than an orange. It contains up to 1180% of your recommended daily allowance of this important vitamin per single teaspoon. There's no better time to top up on vitamin C than in winter, and especially after the Christmas and New Year festivities in which your health may have taken a back seat. Moreover, the taste of this pink powder is deliciously sweet and sour like sherbert, making it easy to keep your levels topped up. For more info on camu camu powder, check out this video.

2. Bee pollen

Another fabulous tasting natural product, bee pollen has, historically, been used for many ailments - from improving intestinal health to restoring blood cells - but it also provides considerable protein, B vitamins, vitamin E, fatty acids and amino acids amongst other nutrients. In fact, bee pollen has been called a 'complete food' due to the mighty nutritional punch it packs, which is great for giving you a boost and seeing you safely through winter.

3. Turmeric powder

Finally, a warming and flavoursome spice with medicinal benefits that have been recognised in Asian cultures for centuries.

Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful compound which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Curcumin is best absorbed by the body alongside fat, so to get the full benefits of turmeric you can add it to an oily snack or whip up a turmeric 'latte', using nut 'milk' and adding cinnamon for a gorgeous sweetness. It could also pay to add a sprinkle of black pepper, not only for the warming effect but also because it contains the compound piperine which aids the absorption of curcumin.

With these three superfoods, you'll beat those January blues in no time!

Deluxe Hot Chocolate Recipe from Detox Trading

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