After finding out that I had Chondromalacia Patellae, the doctor recommended that I take a 5-day round of ibuprofen. Due to that fact that I have peptic ulcers, NSAIDs [ibuprofen, etc] are off limits for me. So I decided to try turmeric shots…
Turmeric [Curcumin] is said to have incredible anti-inflammatory properties. Both the Chinese and Indians have used it to medicinally for centuries. Not only can it be used as an anti-inflammatory but some have claimed that it helps to lower cholesterol, decrease symptoms of IBD, protect against Alzheimer’s, improve liver function, and prevent cancer.
Finding the turmeric root was challenge. The city I live in is not large and it is surrounded with lots of fast food restaurants, nothing very healthy around here. Actually, South Carolina has been on the “fattest states” list for quite a while, so I really have to search to find the foods that I am used to eating.
I ended up getting the turmeric root here but I have also heard that it can be found at any Whole Foods [although I have not been able to verify that].
To make the turmeric shot, I simply put about 3″ of washed turmeric root in my Omega 8006 juicer and turn it on!
After some research on the root, I discovered that curcumin is not absorbed by the body unless you mix it with pepperdine [the active ingredient in black pepper], so I add a few dashes of that before swigging it down. It is not really an easy shot to take, it is a little rough on the palate but give it a chance because the taste gets easier with time.
Want to give turmeric shots a try but are scared of the taste? Try some of the turmeric juice recipes below to start off with.
No-Sugar Added Turmeric Juice
- 1″ piece of turmeric root
- 1″ piece of ginger root
- 1 lemon
- 2 stalks celery
- 1 cucumber
- a few dashes of black pepper
Sweetened Turmeric Juice
- 1″ piece of turmeric root
- 1″ piece of ginger root
- 2 Granny Smith apples (or other green variety)
- 3 carrots
- a few dashes of black pepper