When you sign up for our FREE Anti-aging Digest, we’ll enroll you to our free 7 series email course “7 Essential Secrets to Longevity” which will give you seven powerful anti-aging strategies you can begin using today to live a long, healthy, and prosperous life.
Although I love making Indian food for its myriad colors and flavors, I must admit I never knew why turmeric was used in just about everything – in desserts, in chutneys, in the main course, and in the bedtime mug of milk. Now I know it’s because turmeric is the most beneficial herb you could add to any dish. It cools the stomach, purifies the blood, eliminates toxins, and aids digestion. It’s also an antioxidant. And there’s more.
Turmeric is a golden-yellow slightly bitter powder derived from the boiled, dried, powdered rootstock of a plant that looks very much like ginger. It is the flavoring agent that is most often held responsible for curry stains that don’t wash away easily. But that can be forgiven, as it lowers your risk of cancer, reduces inflammations, is used to treat asthma, arthritis, skin infections, anemia, and several other disorders.
Just as good as an external medicine, turmeric is said to be effective against many, if not all, germs that invade the body. It is used in sunscreens and gets rid of acne without leaving behind scars. It is applied over wounds to prevent infections. It is a fungicide and keeps bugs away from stored grains. Not surprising then that it is the physician’s favorite herb and the subject of several patent wrangles.
Curcumin: Concentrated Turmeric
The main constituent of turmeric is curcumin. This element has been shown to prevent several kinds of cancers in tests on animals. Curcumin can prevent a tumor from growing and spreading through the body. This has been confirmed in studies on animals afflicted with tumors in the colon, prostate gland and breast.
Curcumin’s antioxidant properties destroy free radicals that affect our cells and result in premature aging and several disorders. It strengthens the liver and rids it of toxins. And those at risk of heart diseases can incorporate a pinch of turmeric in their meals to prevent any damage to the arteries. Turmeric also lowers cholesterol levels, and does not allow clots to form in the arteries.
Anti-aging Brain Spice?
Curcumin has also been shown in animal studies to protect the brain as it ages. Asian Indians have at least half the age related brain diseases (like Alzheimer’s disease) of those in the rest of the developed world. One possible explanation is their almost daily consumption of turmeric in dishes like curry.
While curcumin is the concentrated extract of turmeric and can be purchased as a supplement, the ethnobotanist James A. Duke theorizes the synergistic effects of food are more important than just consuming what appears to be the active ingredient.
Home remedies:
Asthma: Add I teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of milk. Let this boil over a slow flame for a couple of minutes without spilling over.
Sore throat: A milk-turmeric drink can be used by those with a sore throat from a cold. If you add a teaspoon of powdered pepper to this (only if you can handle the spice), it acts as an expectorant and clears up the nose.
Intestinal worms: You will need a teaspoon of fresh juice from raw turmeric first thing in the morning. Add a pinch of salt and sip this before you eat or drink anything else.
Muscle strain: Take equal quantities of ginger paste and turmeric paste and apply it over the affected area for at least 30 minutes.
Stomach upset: After a meal that didn’t agree with you, take a cupful of yogurt. Add a spoonful of turmeric to it and eat it.
More than a million flowers make one jar of honey.
Nectar from flowers that bees gather and process, that’s basically what honey is. But, it’s more than just sweet syrup that goes well with just about anything. Packed with nutrients and useful for just about any ailment, you can’t go wrong starting your day with raw honey.
Fructose, glucose, and nectar are the main ingredients of honey. The sugar in honey is absorbed directly by our body, and converted into energy instantaneously. It is healthier than sugar beause it contains fewer calories & is nutrient rich. Weight for weight, it takes more sugar to sweeten a dish than it does honey.
Due to its anti bacterial properties, honey is used in poultices and bandages to speed up healing of wounds.
Honey relaxes the body and rejuvenates it. Anxious children and older people find it a useful and harmless sedative.
Honey’s antioxidant properties are sought after in anti-aging therapies. It makes skin supple and soft by moisturizing it. The darker the honey, the better it is for you.
Honey benefits the blood by creating stronger white blood corpuscles that protect the body.
As a restorative, it is unparalleled. Even those who experience excessive thirst find relief with just a trickle of honey.
Infections of the urinary tract, worms, asthma, cough, diarrhea, and nausea can be cured by honey.
It can act as a vehicle for other medicines. In fact, it helps herbal medicines reach the deeper tissues.
9 Everyday Uses for Honey
Aging: Slow down the ravages of time by adding honey to your food and your beauty regime. Honey helps digest food, is healthier than sugar, and has a calming effect on the entire body. It erases fine lines, scabs, blotches and tanned skin, and makes your skin more youthful. Rubbed on joints with other oils, it can relieve you from aches and inflammations.
Fatigue: Sports enthusiasts and even those who work all day, turn to honey-laced drinks to increase physical stamina, boost the immune system, and rejuvenate the body.
Constipation: A tablespoonful of honey with warm water when you start to feel uneasy, or as soon as you wake up, is a great remedy for constipation. If you have no option but to eat out and want to protect your stomach, try to incorporate a dessert with a dollop of honey.
Menopause: The onset of menopause brings with it discomfort all over the body and the joints. Honey can be used to reduce the pain and strengthen your immune system. Add it to your tea, just before you drink it. Do not boil honey in water.
Skin: Mix egg yolk, a teaspoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of honey and make a thick paste that you can apply over your face, neck and hands. Or mix honey with unboiled milk to de-tan your skin. Let the paste dry over you, although it will feel very sticky. Wash it off after about 15 minutes with warm water.
Chest complaints: Honey is the best known remedy to treat phlegm congestion. Add it to an infusion of ginger root or cinnamon powder and drink it while it is warm. Buckwheat honey is a proven cough suppressant.
Eyesight: Add a tablespoonful of honey to a glass of carrot juice to help your eyes fight fatigue.
Blood pressure: Add a teaspoonful of garlic juice to two teaspoons of honey to control your blood pressure.
Weight loss: Add two spoonfuls of honey to one spoonful of lemon juice in warm water and drink it before you start your day. The heat generated by the combination detoxifies your body and reduces fat.
Watch how to make an energizing honey drink and see tips on how to store honey.
Jute has been grown for food since 6000 B.C. and was reportedly eaten by Cleopatra for its health and beauty benefits. In recent history however, it has been relatively unknown for its range of culinary and health benefits. Instead the fiber-rich stem of the jute plant has been dismissed as just a source of for bags and ropes.
In part, the reason for this probably lies in the fact that this food with its tender leaves is so commonly grown in many parts of the world that it had no commercial value as a food product. But maybe the Egyptian people knew a secret. This member of the mallow family is considered a staple in Egypt, where it is called malukhiyah.
Today, in many parts of Asia, Africa and in the Philippines, jute leaves, also called saluyot, or Jew mallow, have been heading the list of anti-aging miracles. By far, one of the most nutritious and rich sources of calcium, beta carotene, and vitamins C & E, jute leaves are a healthy addition to soups and stir-fry veggie dishes. Like the consistency of okra when cooked, jute leaves are similarly sticky and are added to soups, sauces, and stews to thicken the dish.
Anti-aging Benefits of Saluyot
Jute leaves contain almost all of the nutrients needed by humans. But, the most important benefit of the leaves is their high antioxidant property, primarily in the form of Vitamin E. These antioxidants combine with free radicals that cause problems like arthritis, hardening of arteries, heart and kidney ailments. Among the many benefits, saluyot contains:
Vitamin A, which aids in repairing the body’s cells and improves eyesight
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid, which improves circulation and helps lower the risk of cataracts and other eye disorders
Vitamin E, which slows down the aches and pains associated with aging, holds infertility at bay, and increases stamina
A high percentage of calcium, which contributes to strong teeth and bones.
Eating saluyot regularly helps control blood pressure & cholesterol, and lowers the risk of asthma, cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Dried saluyot leaves can be made into a tea believed to cure headaches, dysentery, stomach aches and ulcers
Saluyot can be added to any soup you make: chicken, beans, pumpkin and so on. It could also be stir-fried and eaten with rice or noodles. The longer it is boiled or fried, the more sticky it gets, so do not let it stew for too long.
Saluyot Recipe:
Ingredients:
1 cup jute leaves, washed and finely chopped
1 cup pumpkin leaves, washed and finely chopped
5 bitter eggplants, washed and finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. Ground coriander seeds
Add enough water or chicken broth for cooking the ingredients without sticking
Mix the ingredients in a pot and simmer for about 15 minutes on a low flame.
Lightly sauté garlic with ground coriander in a tablespoon of olive or coconut oil and add at the end. Salt to taste.
Where to Find Saluyot
It is recommended that you buy organically grown saluyot, as you would any other vegetable. But, because the leaves wilt quickly after picking, you’re not likely to find it in your local grocery or even farmer’s market in the US. Although you most certainly would in the Philippines or Egypt.
Saluyot Noodles
In the Philippines, a form of veggie noodle supplemented with saluyot has been developed to combat nutritional deficiencies. Products include canton and instant cup noodles and may soon be available in specialty stores in the West.
Grow Your Own Wrinkle Buster
Saluyot Harvest in Philippines
Although some jute plants produce bitter leaves and are not considered edible, we managed to find a seed source for an edible variety of saluyot at Nichols Garden Nursery in Oregon.
Although it can be found in the wild in many soil types, it grows best in nutrient rich soils. Saluyot doesn’t tolerate drought, so be sure to water it at least weekly during dry weather. It will produce best in warm weather and the leaves should be picked frequently to encourage new tender growth. As fall approaches you can pull the entire plant and hang it to dry. The dry leaves can either be used for tea or added to soups during the cold months.
Add some saluyot to your kitchen garden and grow your own wrinkle buster. You might even want to experiment making your own facial masks and tell your friends you’re using Cleopatra’s Secret.
One of the most common problems with aging is the onset of chronic disease. Yet, with just a few adjustments in our lifestyle, diet, and habits, we can avoid them altogether. While there is certainly lots of attention being paid to diet these days, what we do after we eat is nearly as important as what we eat.
Your mouth is the gateway to your body. And you should have a sentry constantly on duty there. Even healthy mouths are home to a wide range of bacteria. Some are beneficial but most are harmful if they wind up in other areas of our body. If you don’t rinse away leftover food from in between teeth, the resulting bacterial & chemical reactions can lead to gum disease, weak teeth, and even mouth sores.
How Poor Oral Hygiene Affects You
Oral hygiene is grossly underestimated. Bad breath isn’t just annoying, it can be indicative of gum disease that could lead to heart disease, stroke, or cancer.
Several studies show links between gum disease and heart disorders, stroke, and even cancer. What is emerging is a definite link between poor oral hygiene and serious diseases.
One theory is that unhealthy gums lead to infection and the harmful bacteria get into your bloodstream and weaken your immune system, wreaking havoc all over your body, including your heart.
Closely allied to this theory is the idea that the bacteria enter the bloodstream and attach themselves to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries leading to constrictions & even clots. This means your heart doesn’t get all the oxygen and nutrients it needs resulting in a weakened heart and maybe even a heart attack.
Any problem with your gums starts this way: Plaque builds up, leading to swollen gums that start to bleed. Plaque build up happens if you don’t rinse your mouth well enough after a meal or don’t brush & floss right or often enough. Other contributors are eating or drinking too much processed food, sugar, or consuming too much caffeine or alcohol.
Apart from wrong diet, the other causes of gum disease are: chronic illness, high stress, glandular disorders, blood disease, smoking, and deficiencies in vitamin C, calcium, folic acid and niacin.
Daily Action Plan
Brush and floss correctly. Eat mouth-friendly food. Avoid sugar whenever possible, but if you do consume it, brush afterwards. Use a soft-bristled brush (many dentists now recommend a sonic electric toothbrush) at least three times a day, and floss at least daily. Don’t know how? Take a look at this video:
Action Tips
Avoid: Mouthwashes that contain alcohol, artificial colors or flavors. Toothpaste containing Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and saccharin.
Eat fruits like apples that automatically clean out your mouth
Get plenty of Vitamins C, A, E, and B, potassium, calcium, selenium, zinc, phosphorus, iron, and magnesium. A quality multivitamin will help accomplish this.
Avoid too much sugar, candy, processed juice drinks, and syrups
Change toothbrushes every 2-3 months
Rub Vitamin E oil on inflamed gums and use aloe vera based pastes to sooth painful gums
Fatal error: Call to undefined function: get_sidebar2() in /nfs/c06/h01/mnt/88002/domains/antiaginghacks.com/html/wp-content/themes/antiaging/footer.php on line 1
