Turmeric is a versatile wonder spice that has been in use for hundreds of years in Asian cooking and by herbal medicine. This brightly colored spice is related to ginger, and is used frequently in curries and similar foods requiring lots of spice. The major health benefits of turmeric are related to its potent antioxidant ability, which has even been investigated and confirmed in scientific studies.
In fact, there is promising research that shows turmeric may play a key role in preventing cancer, as it shows immense promise in suppressing development of certain types of cancer, as well as providing support to established drugs used to treat various cancer conditions. Consider adding it to your juices for these massive benefits:
- Increases Levels Of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor – Think of this as a sort of growth hormone that functions in the brain, allowing neurons to multiply, and forms new connections, helps you preserve memory and function better cognitively. Persons with Alzheimer’s or even depression have been noted to have low levels of BDNF, thus turmeric is a very likely aid.
- Reduces Risk Of Heart Disease – Turmeric helps to improve the elasticity of the blood vessel internal wall, as well as reducing levels of artery clogging plaque, decreasing the likelihood of heart attacks, strokes, or even ischemia.
- Reduces Symptoms Of Joint Pain And Arthritis – thanks to its potent anti-inflammatory effect, suffers from joint pain may notice measurable relief in symptoms.
- Cancer Prevention – Numerous studies have shown curcumin, a compound found in turmeric to have substantial benefits in reducing risk for cancer.
How To Use? Fresh turmeric can be juiced along with your other fruits and vegetables. Alternatively, you can add 1 or 2 teaspoons of the dry spice to 1 glass of juice daily to 1. It will dye your beverage slightly yellow but a small price to pay for bountiful health…right?
Ginger – If you grew up with your grandma, you undoubtedly know the merits of adding ginger to your food… but maybe not the convenience of adding it to juice or smoothies! In fact, if you suffer from any intestinal issues, or heartburn, ginger will quickly become a go to in your arsenal, and no- it’s not acidic, as people believe. This wonder-spice can help you out in a pinch with the following:
- Reduces Nausea Or Vomiting – If you suffer from chronic acid reflux, quite often nausea accompanies it. Consuming a little ginger, either juiced in fresh form or grated into a powder and added to your finished juice blend will help.
- May Improve Blood Sugar And Decrease Risk Of Heart Disease – This is a relatively new area of study, but appears very promising. Over the course of a 12 week study, daily consumption of 2 grams of ginger daily delivered massive improvements in blood sugar levels, along with markers for cardiac health. The more markers you are positive for, the higher your likelihood of having a serious cardiac event in the coming years.
- Helps Treat Gingival Disease – How about swishing around your juice in your mouth before drinking? As weird as it sounds, that’s exactly another way to juice the benefits of ginger (pun intended). Ginger inhibits the growth of bacteria implicated in the development of oral disease, so maybe can be utilized instead of Listerine, who knows?
How Much Ginger Should Be Added To Juices? If you’re going to be juicing the ginger root itself, a 1 inch sized piece is sufficient. However, if you will be grating and adding it directly to juices, half of a teaspoon is sufficient. Ginger may seem extremely spicy to some, so if required start with less and gradually build appreciation for the taste.
