Turmeric for your Teeth!

Turmeric...the bright yellow spice used in Asian recipes, and is the basis for almost all Indian dishes, might stain everything it comes in contact with -- but surprisingly it will WHITEN your teeth! Swear to God.

 

Turmeric amazes me. Not only do I love to use it in cooking (legumes should be cooked with turmeric to make them easier to digest), but I have used it as a supplement for years. This golden root has helped me to combat joint pain since I was a kid. And on days that I feel particularly uncomfortable I will make myself "turmeric tea" putting a teaspoon of organic turmeric powder in hot water with a squeeze of lemon juice and sometimes a chunk or two of ginger. In Laos I would make a paste of ground turmeric root and some water, massaging it into my joints before entering the steam hut. And now I am using this potent-bit-of-goodness to whiten my teeth. In Ayurveda it is recommended to gargle with salt water in the morning mixed with a scoop of turmeric, which is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. In India there is turmeric is so many products that you buy....from hair shampoo, lotion and toothpaste. The more that I educate myself about health, healing and our environment, the more I turn into one of those people. I threw out all of my lotions and potions, cleaning products, and toiletries. My cabinet now consists of a few essential oils, Coconut Oil, turmeric and baking soda. I use these to wash my body, my face, and my counters. I moisturize my body, my face, and my lips with coconut oil. I have added "oil pulling" to my morning routine, and in addition to cleansing my nasal passageways with the Neti pot, I gargle with a turmeric/salt/water concoction. And yep - I brush my teeth with a sprinkle of turmeric. The thought of putting chemical strips in my mouth to whiten my teeth is frightening. Putting chemicals on my skin to get it "clean" is terrifying. Afterall, our skin absorbs everything on the exterior and it enters our bloodstream. Go ahead, read the back of your lotion bottle right now...can you pronounce more than half of the ingredients? Probably not. And each of those is going into your body. You will save your money, save your environment and save your health by simplifying your cupboard. I promise.

Drink To Your Health!

Last nights yoga flow was called Spring Cleaning...a flow with lots of kundalini breath work and twists to cleanse the body of toxins. At the end of class I presented everyone with a cup of Turmeric Tea, and it was delicious! Several people asked for the recipe for this healthy drink so here it is, along with a bit of information about Ayurveda and our bodies.

"According to Ayurveda, good health is dependent upon our capacity to fully metabolize the NUTRITIONAL, EMOTIONAL, and SENSORY information that we ingest. When our digestive energies, known as "Agni" are robust, we create healthy tissues, eliminate waste products efficiently and create "Ojas". Ojas is the basis for clarity of perception, physical strength, and immunity. If our agnis are weak we have an abundance of "Ama". Ama are the toxins that our body cannot process, which will result in allergies, congestion, headaches, low energy, and chronic pain. "

Turmeric Tea Recipe:

2 cups water

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (or fresh ginger, zested)

juice of 1/2 a lemon

1 tablespoon maple syrup

Bring the water, turmeric and ginger to a medium high heat and allow it to steep for 10 minutes. Strain and then add lemon juice and maple syrup. Enjoy.

Turmeric Nutritional Benefits:

• known for its anti-inflammatory properties
• natural antiseptic and antibacterial agent (can be used on cuts and burns)
• natural liver detoxifier

*There are many many more benefits, but I thought I'd keep it short and sweet and list the most important :)