A lot of my online consultations right now are with people and animals suffering from Spring congestion, allergies, sinus problems, sluggish digestion, weight gain, lethargy and foggy mind. All these are signs of an imbalance in the Kapha dosha which rises in Spring. I also find the healing, warming properties of tumeric very beneficial all year round and a wonderful addition as we in the southern hemisphere head into winter,
Don’t know what your pet’s dosha is? Take the quiz here.
Of course, I always recommend a cleanse early Spring time š
However, another great way to alleviate these symptoms is to use spices in your food and in your animals live species appropriate diet ( throw away kibble because it is the #1 cause of cancer, diabetes, obesity, seizures and allergies amongst other ailments in pets today.)
Spices not only add flavour to our food, but also aid digestion by kindling our digestive fire (agni). Ayurveda teaches us that it is undigested food that is the bedrock for all dis-ease in the body and mind! Therefore, keeping our digestive fire working well is necessary for optimal health and spices ensure that we’re digesting our food properly.
Spices are a wonderful gift from Mother Nature and have amazing healing properties and medicinal benefits! Here’s just a few of these healing spices and their benefits:
- Cinnamon regulates blood sugar and the metabolism of fats and sugars. It also relieves cramps.
- Ginger stimulates and enhances digestion and is a natural anti-inflammatory.
- Turmeric (curcumin) is an anti-inflammatory with a subtle quality to enter the joint space, reducing arthritis and inflammation, alleviating pain, and strengthening joints and tendons. It treats gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and much more. Studies have shown that curcumin helps prevent cancer by reactivating the tumor suppressor genes!
Known as the āspice of lifeā in India, turmeric seems to be considered at the moment as one of the most powerful herbs in the world. Its health benefits have been analyzed in thousands of studies apparently and most everyone seems to agree that including turmeric to your diet can prevent or improve the symptoms of various diseases like cancer, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases, neurological diseases and so on.
For example, laboratory studies have shown that curcumin, which is the most studied component of turmeric, āis able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing. It has the best effects on breast cancer, bowel cancer, stomach cancer and skin cancer cellsā.
Another study regarding one of the diseases most affecting our modern society shows that ācurcumin is 400 times more potent than Metformin, a diabetic drug, in improving insulin sensitivity which can help reverse Type 2 Diabetesā. This is of particularly interest for me, as I have been recently diagnosed with PCO (Polycistic Ovary System), which among other things, increases the insulin sensitivity and the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. To help against it I have been taking Metformin for several months now, but knowing that I could improve the symptoms of PCO with the help of something so natural as turmeric is amazing.
To make golden tumeric milk or tumeric paste click on the links below for my favorite recipes.