Take Your Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice known for its earthy flavor and bright yellow color. The compound curcumin is responsible for that sunny hue, but it’s known for having numerous medicinal properties, too.

A Spoonful Here And There

If you’ve never cooked with this spice before, here are some quick tips on where it tastes best:

› Add it to scrambled eggs or frittatas. The flavor (and color) won’t be overwhelming.

› Spice up your rice. Turmeric adds color and flavor to boring white rice, pilafs or quinoa.

› Toss it with greens, sprinkle onto kale chips or use it to season roasted vegetables.

› Spoon some into chicken or vegetable soup.

› If you don’t like the flavor of turmeric, blend it into a smoothie. If you love it, make a tea by simmering milk, honey and turmeric together on the stovetop.

Dealing with arthritis or joint pain from inflammation? Turmeric has been used as an anti-inflammatory aid in China and India for centuries. One study published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine even found turmeric extract to be as effective as ibuprofen in relieving pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis.

Although there’s no evidence eating turmeric is effective against cancer, in a lab setting, curcumin has been proven to interfere with cancer cell growth, shrink tumors and even boost the effects of chemotherapy in animals.

A 2012 study found curcumin supplements delayed the onset of type 2 diabetes in patients who were considered prediabetic. Researchers chalked it up to the compound’s antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties.

Those same properties could explain why, in another study, curcumin was found to reduce the chance of heart attack among bypass patients by up to 65 percent.

Aromatic turmerone is another powerful little compound in turmeric and has been shown to promote repair in stem cells in the brain. The study was performed on rats, but the stem cells in question are a type found in adult human brains and are the same type affected by stroke and Alzheimer’s.

REMEMBER, if you’ll only be eating turmeric in small amounts, stir in some black pepper. Curcumin does not easily absorb into the blood system, but the pepper’s piperine compound will increase its absorption significantly. Mix 1/4 cup turmeric with 1/2 teaspoon pepper in advance, and store in a jar to make it easy. You can also purchase curcumin supplements online, but consult your doctor before adding them to your regimen.

Brush Musts

Brush Up Dry brush your way to softer skin and a healthier you.

Although dry brushing is typically offered as a detoxing spa treatment, you can do it yourself and enjoy the same results. Here’s how it works and

Body Benefits

Your skin’s cells start to stick together in your 30s, giving off a lackluster appearance according to Dr. Tina Alster, director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery. Dry brushing can brighten your skin’s appearance by removing dead skin cells. But that’s not all. Dry brushing also encourages healthy circulation and boosts the lymphatic system’s function to rid the body of toxins. All the extra blood flow gives you a shot of energy, too.

“The light pressure against your skin and the direction in which you brush helps move lymph fluid into the lymph nodes so this waste can then be eliminated,” says Robin Jones, spa director at Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas.

Dry brushing may also help those with keratosis pilaris—a skin condition that causes small bumps to appear on the backs of arms and legs. Brushing away dead skin cells helps smooth the skin’s feel and appearance. But, as with any new skincare practice, talk to your dermatologist first.

Brushing Basics

The trick is to brush lightly. It should feel soft and relaxing, and you should never see any marks on your skin. Brush in the morning to take advantage of its energy boost. Here’s how it’s done: dry brush to wash away the dead skin lotion afterward.

1. Work from your feet up, brushing in long strokes toward your chest—that’s where your lymphatic system drains.

2. Brush in a counter-clockwise motion on your stomach, and don’t forget your back.

3. For your arms, start at your hands and brush upward.

4. If you choose to dry brush your face, do it only once a week in lieu of other exfoliators.

Purchase a dry brush with medium-soft bristles, and consider buying a separate brush made specifically for your face. From long-handled brushes to bath mitt ones, there’s a brush for everyone. You can find them on amazon.com and at most health stores.