Turmeric – is it useless? – Find the truth now!
You will have seen many posts telling you the wonders of Turmeric – Is it useless? Let’s find the truth because we want to be proactive in protecting the Bloggers health.
The Root of Diseases
“Although inflammation has long been known to play a role in allergic diseases like asthma, arthritis, and Crohn’s disease, Edwards says that Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels and Parkinson’s disease may all be related to chronic inflammation in the body.” (Source Dr. Axe)
So chronic inflammation is the bad guy. Acute inflammation is an immune response that is helpful in healing. But chronic inflammation is a whole different enemy.
Keeping with Dr. Axe, he sites these dietary items as causes of chronic inflammation.
- Corn and Soybean oils
- Pasteurized dairy
- Refined carbohydrates
- Conventional meat
- Sugars
- Trans fats
We could add stress, lack of exercise etc as other causative agents.
There are many foods and diets that are anti-inflammatory, but there is one food in particular, has had thousands of studies done on it, that may leave the rest in the dust. Do a search on the PubMed site for Turmeric studies to see the huge number of results.
You will read that the active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin. When I read this some time back I bought curcumin capsules. My husband was recovering from spinal surgery and took curcumin capsules, it was hard to gauge any effect.
Later we learned that taking the whole food with all the complementary compounds that make up turmeric were showing a wider effect as an anti-inflammatory.
A short time after using the whole food turmeric in Golden Paste my husband’s spinal operation site stopped being painful.
Golden Paste
Golden paste is an economical way to take turmeric as a whole food.
Here is the official Golden Paste recipe that originates from Dr Doug English (vet).
This is the Number One Golden Paste (GP) recipe that has been tried and tested by thousands of TUG users across the globe.
This recipe may be used for humans as well as animals.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (125 mls/60gms) turmeric powder
- 1 cup water (250 mls) PLUS 1 cup water in reserve, if needed
- 1/3 cup (70 mls) cold pressed Olive or Coconut oil
- 2-3 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
Please Note: the amount of pepper added has recently been increased (May 2016) on Doug English’s recommendations.
(This official recipe has been used with permission from Dr. Doug English)
I will show you how to make Golden Paste below. First, we will look at the ingredients of the paste.
Turmeric on its own does not absorb into our system very well at all and the benefits are limited. It is best to buy Organic Turmeric as the quality of other turmeric powders is unsure, some even remove the curcumin from the turmeric.
Oil: cold pressed Olive or Coconut oil. Turmeric is oil soluble, so oil is needed to dissolve the turmeric in the stomach and allow the body to absorb the turmeric powder. Good quality oils and preferably cold pressed organic.
Black Pepper: The addition of freshly ground black peppercorns dramatically increases the absorption of turmeric. The ingredient in black peppercorns is an enzyme called Piperine. Piperine loses its effect in powdered pepper and stale pepper. That is why the recipe requires freshly ground peppercorns. It can be pre-ground and kept in the freezer.

Note that the black pepper should be whole and then freshly ground. I did not know that until I found the original recipe.
How to make Golden Paste
After you have made this once it is super quick and easy to make.
- Put the turmeric and 1 cup of water in a saucepan and mix well, gently heat and stir for 7-10 minutes. This is a gentle simmer, the mixture will thicken keep adding a little extra water so that the consistency of a paste is maintained.
2. Turn the heat off and add the oil and freshly ground pepper. Stir briskly to make sure that the oil and all ingredients are well mixed.
I store the paste in glass jars with lids. I like to scold out the jars with near boiling water before I place the paste in them.
The paste will keep at least two weeks in the fridge. Making two jars, I keep one in the freezer to keep it fresh.
Three ways to optimize the absorption of turmeric
Adding freshly ground black pepper.
Adding good quality oil.
Heating the turmeric increases its solubility.
Tips: The powder and the paste have high pigment color and tend to stain. Before measuring the turmeric lay down a sheet of paper to catch any stray powder.
When grinding the pepper, a coffee grinder would make it easier. I just use a hand grinder. I grind onto a piece of paper with a fold mark down the middle. Grind away and then gather the grounds into the fold mark and tip it into a spoon to measure.
If the amount of pepper is too much e.g. children may not like a strong pepper taste, it can be adjusted downwards but that does decrease the absorption.

How to eat golden paste
There is no set dose as it is a whole food and each person will have different needs and absorption.
Dr. Doug suggests starting with 1/4 teaspoon and to take it with food.
He says it is more important to take a small amount more often than one large lot. He suggests taking it up to five times a day.
I will warn you that the taste is not bad but it is not real good either. I put half a teaspoon full in my mouth and then take a mouthful of water to wash it down. This is then followed with my meal or whatever I am eating at the time.
When should you see results? Some report results in just a few days. Others see results after two weeks. For the dementia patients, it may take several months.
If there is a mechanical problem like a worn out hip joint or a protruding spinal disk, no amount of anti-inflammatory will take the pain away.
You will find much more information for humans and animals on the Turmeric Life website.
Dr. Doug’s 6 favorite benefits of turmeric in humans and animals –
Skin health, arthritis, immunity, dementia and liver detoxifier
Remarkable results reported after the use of turmeric in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Check this out on GreenMed Info, it is also on PubMed.
Depression
– trials showed that absorb enhanced curcumin was just as effective treating depression as Prozac and with no side effects.
The study team concluded that this “is the first randomized clinical trial that clearly highlights that curcumin may be an effective and safe agent when used as a modality of treatment in patients of MDD [major depressive disorder].” (Source Life extension mag.)
Turmeric – is it useless?
I think we have answered that question well. Finding that turmeric used with the right ingredients to optimize absorption is very effective. The many studies and trials have found as many as 600 benefits of turmeric.
Side effects and safety
Turmeric Life website has a discussion page on reported side effects of turmeric.
More ways to be proactive in protecting the Bloggers health
Blogging is a health hazard. Those at the most risk are bloggers without young children. Bloggers who work in an office and come home to blogging. Those who do not work outside the home who are serious bloggers putting in the hours necessary to get ahead.
The huge risk factor is the sedentary nature of working long hours on a computer. I wrote on this subject giving many ways to overcome the effects of blogging on health.

It is a well-known fact that has recently been confirmed that aerobic type exercise not only improves brain function, but it can reverse brain shrinkage. I don’t know about you, but I find that good motivation to keep moving.
Summary
- The huge benefits of including turmeric into your diet.
- Combining turmeric with the right ingredients to have it absorb into the body to relieve chronic inflammation. Studies are finding chronic inflammation is the root cause of a large number of diseases.
- Keep moving to combat the sedentary nature of blogging and the inflammation and diseases it causes. Authorities are now saying that a sedentary lifestyle causes negative effects as bad as smoking.
Do you think that turmeric in Golden Paste would be worth trying to relieve some of your chronic inflammation?

Dear Blogger remember to move it, move it.
Join us – we uplift and encourage each other –
Enjoy these interesting posts


30 thoughts on “Turmeric – Useless? Get the truth!”
I tried tumeric in a couple of forms for a few months, but I did not find relief from imflammation. My knees might have been too far gone. I had a knee replacement. I have been seeing a nutritionist and have cut our corn and soybeans and their oils, as well as chemicals, and wheat. I am also taking collagen. It seems to be working, I am feeling good and losing weight. I do think that taking meds is not the answer and that there is too much harmful stuff in our food.
Michele recently posted…When Life Gives You Lemons…Consider it Free Fruit
Your right Michele, turmeric cannot heal degenerated joints. It sounds like your nutritionist is right on the job, you are fortunate to have found such a good one.
There is a place for drugs but if we can avoid them we are better off. So good to hear that you are progressing so well.
I’ve heard a lot of good stuff about turmeric around the traps Kathleen – especially in regard to gut health and also with depression. I think anything this easy is worth a try to see if it works for you.
Leanne recently posted…Life Lesson from my Cat #8 ~ be Self-Contained
Thanks for the wise thoughts Leanne. If we can avoid drugs, good. If we can’t, use them properly and get off them as soon as we can.
I just added some turmeric to my green tea (not a fave mind you, but we are out of coffee and I am on the desperate side of things). I often add it to smoothies and that is okay-ish. I am trying anything I can to battle inflammation in an effort to feel better. I also am gluten free for the same reason. Thanks Kathleen for this great post! #BloggersPitStop
Lisa Pomerantz recently posted…*Botox Brief: No more smiles for me, and it is Awesome!
Sorry to hear that you are having a tuff time of it. Turmeric is not the best of flavors 🙂 Just remember that unless turmeric is in the company of a good oil and black pepper, like you would get in a curry dish, it will not absorb into your system to relieve inflammation. That is why the golden paste is so convenient.
Great idea, Katherine! So glad you shared the huge benefits of turmeric. Can’t wait to try this miracle recipe! Pinning and sharing!
I have heard a lot about tumeric the past year or so and I have tried to cook with it a little more. I am now challenged to come up with some new recipes!
Such an informative post Kathleen. I love your investigative approach to your blogs. So much information out there to assist with health. Thanks for writing about Tuneric which I have never used and also the Golden Paste recipe
Sue recently posted…Over the Moon Link Up #28
it’s always nice to know when you can swap out a drug with a zillion side affects for something that is natural and healthy. I will have to try this out, see if i can get some relief!
Millie recently posted…Mega Summer to Remember Giveaway!
Kathleen, this is such an informative post! I agree with Sue, btw, you do a great job researching your posts! I have never tried tumeric, but after looking at the inflammation points on your graphic and realizing I am fighting every single one of them, I want to try it. I am currently working through a process of elimination for a few issues, but I see this in my near future (current round of eliminated items will be over next week, with no sign of improvement). Thanks for sharing this useful information!
You’ve provided a lot of valuable information, Kathleen. Terrific research to support the use of turmeric. It’s not something I’ve tried, but it’s good to know that it has proven benefits.
Beverly recently posted…Social Boost Monday # 13
I have never turmeric, but I’m a firm believer that chronic inflammation should be dealt with natural products.
If our body is already under tons of pressure by the inflammation, we shouldn’t add even more with (heavy) drugs.
Thanks a lot for the explanation, Kathleen.
Debbie Rodrigues recently posted…Why You Need To Have a System To Be Successful
You’ve got me really curious about turmeric, Kathleen – especially the results on Alzheimer’s patients. I’m going to further investigate the link you provided. My mother-in-law suffered from this form of dementia and I wish we could have done something early on when she started showing signs besides the usual medical treatments out there. This disease is so dreadful and is a major concern for those of us as we age.
This was very insightful. I had heard about the benefits of numeric before but this was a thorough explanation about the research and findings. Thanks!
Bill recently posted…Top 10 Money Tips from Around the Web – June 2016
I never heard of turmeric before. I always learn so much from you Kathleen. Thanks for sharing another insightful post.
This is definitely worth trying! Thanks for sharing.
Good article. I have read a lot about the benefits of turmeric myself, and have been adding a little to smoothies and other meals here and there. But I keep forgetting, and it may also not be getting properly absorbed, so I like the idea of the golden paste. I will definitely make some of this myself.
Fred recently posted…Everything You Need to Know About the Parlor Guitar
I think you all right.I want to say that this post have some great helpful topic.We should we need to
follow all instruction from this post .Thanks for sharing and most welcome to our Health and Lifestyle Blog.
Health and lifestyle recently posted…What Is A Paleo Diet & Is It Right For You?
Thanks for sharing you link with me, Would you mind if I added to my post https://bestoflongislandandcentralflorida.blogspot.com/2016/09/anti-inflammatory-and-healing-turmeric.html?
That would be fine Linda, I hope it helps. I have this paste every day and it does make a difference.
Kind regards,
Kathleen
Turmeric is Really Good for Health.
I was amazed to find out just how many benefits there are to taking turmeric, whether it be easing arthritis symptoms, preventing Alzheimer’s and cancer or boosting the immune system. Its particularly good at reducing inflammation as mentioned in your article. Just like in the article I recommend Turmeric that can be easily absorbed.
Simon Hough recently posted…Top Rated Electric Callus Remover