tumeric | | Nutrition News

Curcumin Black Pepper Combo Concerns

by Gurumantra | Feb 8, 2016 | Medicine, Supplement

In the quest to boost absorption of curcumin, some experiments have been done using a combination of curcumin and black pepper (piperine).

One of the challenges using this combo is that piperine is contraindicated with many prescription medications because it negatively alters drug metabolism.

With the majority of the U.S. population taking some prescription drug, casual experimentation can have unintended consequences. A new study has shown piperine actually reduces the health benefits of curcumin.

Researchers have found the addition of piperine negatively impacted curcumin’s blood sugar balancing and reduction of oxidative stress. It also caused abnormal elevations in liver enzymes .

Further Reading: Herb-Drug Interactions: A Literature Review

Ease Aching Joints With Golden Milk

by Gurumantra | Dec 2, 2013 | Recipes, Yoga

One of the preferred dietary enhancements recommended for beginning yoga students or senior citizens, is a wonderful tonic made with tumeric. It’s called Golden Milk.

When Nutrition News’s editor Siri Khalsa was the editor for the Kundalini Research Institute, she was accountable for our Spiritual Teacher’s (Yogi Bhajan) lectures getting transcribed and published. She was also lucky enough to have him actually prepare food for her on occasion.

Yogi Bhajan loved food and believed in its healing capacity. He was always sharing his healing recipes with us. Golden Milk was given to us to help our yoga students who suffered from severe stiffness. I first remember hearing about it when I had a football player who was in a lot of pain while teaching his body yoga stretching. Students loved the recipe and so did a lot of us.

Two recipes follow: One is the original recipe, published in From Vegetables, With Love
(1989 ) by Siri Ved Kaur Khalsa. The second is from a YouTube video of Dr. Arjan Kaur Khalsa teaching how to make Golden Milk. It’s fun to watch and what I love about it the most is her innovation to cook up a half cup of turmeric paste and then use it as need to make Golden Milk.

Yogi Bhajan’s Golden Milk — 1 serving

1/8 t turmeric (we are accustomed to turmeric and I use up to 1/2 t)

1/2 c water

1 cup milk (YB used cow’s milk but suggested any kind could be used. We used to make our own almond milk.)

2 T almond oil (optional)

honey

Boil water turmeric over medium high heat for 8 minutes. The turmeric will turn a deep rust red. This, along with the fat/oil in recipe, enhances the uptake of the turmeric.
Meanwhile, bring milk and almond oil to boiling point in a separate pan.
Combine the two mixtures and add honey to taste.

I seldom use any sweetener but honey and buy desert honey. In our recent issue “Bee Healthy”, I shared info from The Honey Revolution-Restoring the Health of Future Generations, that honey can actually balance glucose in the body and that people with diabetes can safely eat up to 5 tablespoons a day.]

Here’s the video and the link. I think you will enjoy it. We did.