To age well, good eating habits (mindful eating) have to be established in our lifestyle. Eating the right food can benefit our health and mood as much as exercising.
I try to cook most of the week because it is more economical but also I know what goes in my food for the family. I love cooking with new ingredients that can benefit my health and also my skin as I age. I recently fall in love with “Turmeric”. Turmeric is an essential spice for Indian cuisine and can be found in powder format on the supermarket shelf with other dried herbs and spices, but we also might find raw turmeric in the fridge section (salad or fresh herb section), which looks like ginger but has a bright yellow colour. The bright yellow colour is coming from Curcumin. This yellow colour in Turmeric (Curcumin) has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.
These are the proven benefits of Turmeric
1. Curcumin is fat-soluble, which means it breaks down and dissolves in fat or oil. Combining turmeric with high-fat meals might not be a bad idea.
2. Curcumin is a natural inflammatory compound. Inflammatory compounds are incredibly important in helping repair damage in your body. They can help prevent heart disease, cancer and metabolic issues.
3. Turmeric is well-known for fighting against the cold just like the ginger family.
4. Curcumin can help improve your memory. “Researchers think that the reduction in brain inflammation and Curcumin’s antioxidant properties can lead to improved the ability to think and reason.”
It certainly sounds like a super ingredient - It is beneficial to health so it is now available in tablet form. We can include this Turmeric in many dishes too. One of my favourites recipe is Tandoori chicken. It is low in fat, high in protein and is full of favour. Tandori can be cooked on a BBQ grill, frying pan, or oven baking. It is easy to prepare in advance and the cold leftovers are sooooo yummy.
Super Yummy and Healthy Turmeric Tandoori chicken
This recipe is for 3-4 people.
Ingredients
Chicken breast 650g
Coriander powder 2 Tbsp
Gala masala 2 Tbsp
Turmeric powder 2 Tbsp
Garlic 2 gloves
Ginger
Low-fat Greek yoghurt 2 Tbsp
Lemon Juice 2 Tbsp
Salt/Paper
Method
Cut chicken breast into 3cm cube size and put in the bowl.
Finely chop garlic and ginger ( I used a cheese grater for ginger
Add all ingredients into the chicken cube and mix.
4. Leave the marinated chicken bowl in the fridge for 2 hours.
5. Put the meat onto skewers. I like putting them on skewers as they make a good looking plate and I feel like it tastes better.
6. Hit the frying pan and cook until the chickens turn a brown colour. I put them into the oven for 5 mins to make sure the meat is cooked through.
7. Serve with naan flatbread and my version of spinach Aloo Saag. Aloo Saag also contains many Turmeric powders as well as several other great spices
SKINCARE with Turmeric
Turmeric is good to eat but also good to put on our skin.
We don’t have to buy expensive face masks to improve your skin. We can make it at home easily from the pantry.
My husband has very dry skin - it can be dry and flaky with red spots as the season is changing. I found that this Turmeric mask helps his skin to calm down and improves his skin tone. Do it in the evening and you will find your skin feels good in next morning.
1. Clean your face well with gentle cleansing facial soap
2. 1 tsp Milk, 1 tsp olive oil or jojoba oil and a Pinch of turmeric mixed well together.
3. Applying on your face and neck with a brush and leave for 10~15 mins. (Using Brush puts the mixture evenly)
4. Wash with warm water. Follow up with moisturiser (or aloe vela essence)
The images show how it improved my husband's skin after the turmeric face pack.
As you can see he has dry spots around his nose and cheeks. After applying the Tumeric pack, his dry red spots are more moisturised and less aggravated. Do this 2-3 times per week. You will see your skin tone is improving.
Turmeric could leave a powerful stain on your clothes and any surface so take care.