Shine the Light

the lightShine

Pendant lights have been around for a while, but the options today are certainly not like your Grandma’s chandelier. Here is some inspiration to encourage you to shake things up by combining traditional design elements with new pendant light ideas. Often the results turn out better than you ever could have imagined.

By Melissa McCance

TUMERIC

It’s More Than a Spice!

If you’re a curry fan, you’re already familiar with turmeric. Derived from the root of the curcuma longa plant, a member of the ginger family, turmeric’s major active component is curcumin which gives the spice it’s strong orange-yellow color. Turmeric has a pungent, potent, earthy flavor and be careful if you’re using it as a food ingredient. Due to the curcumin, it stains!

Turmeric can help with a number of health problems, and research is ongoing to determine how it can be used for a variety of conditions. The main areas of benefit are:

Inflammation. For people with chronic conditions involving inflammation, taking turmeric may help keep things in remission. However, it’s not likely to help during an active flare-up.

Improving memory. In people without dementia, studies have demonstrated that taking curcumin twice daily over a period of months helped improve memory performance.

Pain reduction. Some research has suggested that turmeric extract might potentially reduce pain due to osteoarthritis but further study is needed.

Free radicals. Turmeric has antioxidant benefits and may protect us from free radicals by neutralizing them.

Lowering the risk of heart disease. The same antiinflammatory and anti-oxidation properties that help with other conditions may help reverse the process of heart disease.

Cancer prevention. There haven’t been a lot of studies, but some have shown that curcumin may inhibit cancer growth and development. [PLEASE NOTE: these studies are not conclusive and curcumin should not be considered a “cure” for cancer!]

Depression. Some studies have shown that curcumin may ease the symptoms of depression and help antidepressants to work better. PMS and menstrual cramps. A study that followed women over three cycles showed a lessening of PMS symptoms while another study indicated its potential to ease cramps.

If you decide to supplement with turmeric, remember that more isn’t always better. Herbs have a toxic level just as over the counter or prescription medication does. A good general dosage level is 500 mg twice daily, but up to 1,000 mg per day is usually fine.

Do consult with your physician before adding turmeric to your daily supplement regimen. Some people have issues with bloating, and there’s some concern it could interact with blood-clotting medications. It should also be avoided if you have gall bladder disease. Absorption of the beneficial properties can be enhanced if you take it with heart-healthy fats like oils, nuts and seeds, or avocado.

If you prefer not to use supplements, you can get some of the benefits of a turmeric boost by including it in eggs, muffins, soups, smoothies, stews, rice, roasted vegetables and other foods. Turmeric is available in the spice section of most supermarkets and natural food stores. If you locate the fresh root, keep it refrigerated in an airtight container. Peel and then chop or grate to add to your recipes.

Sources: Cleveland Clinic, “7 Health Benefits of Turmeric,” 2021, https://health.clevelandclinic.org/turmeric-health-benefits/ (accessed September 13, 2022) Sabrina Felson, MD, reviewer, “Health Benefits of Turmeric,” WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-turmeric (accessed September 13, 2022)