WWB’s ‘Beauty Food’ of the Week: TURMERIC
Ideal Find in a Bottle: Turmeric Alive
WWB’s ‘Beauty Food’ of the week is an all-star super spice and is emerging today as one of nature’s most powerful healers. Once called a poor man’s saffron because of its deep yellow hue, Turmeric is now considered ‘Indian Gold.’ If you have been eating Indian or Pakistani food, you are sure to be familiar with it. This powerhouse spice owes it preventive and curative powers to its active ingredient ‘curcumin’ which is rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents. If you follow my Beauty Food section, you will notice a theme. The foods that pack the highest anti-oxidant agents are excellent for your skin. Many skin conditions occur due to inflammation in the body and often your skin is the first organ to tell you that you need to cool the fires in your body.
Long before the science and research, “turmeric’ was used by ancient cultures as a beautifier. Did you know it came from the beautiful flower plant featured above? It is deeply rooted in Indian and Pakistani wedding traditions and is prepared especially for the ‘brides to be.’ The woman closest to the bride applies a beauty paste using turmeric to her face and body. It is known as Uptan or Ubtan and prized for its cure-all skin benefits. You don’t need to get married to appreciate the skin clearing powers of Turmeric, see the ancient recipe below and enjoy a radiant glow for any occasion! Listed below are just a few of the skin benefits when using turmeric. You can learn more about this spice and many other spices in this great book ‘Healing Spices’ by Bharat B. Aggarwal, PhD. This book can be your ‘spice bible’ and I highly recommend you add it to your wellness library.
~Truly Herself, Lauroly
Wrinkle Reducer
Skin Brightener
Facial Hair Reducer
Acne Treatment
Ancient Beauty Mask ( Uptan/Ubtan)
Ingredients:
2 tbsp of gram flour (besan)
A pinch of turmeric (haldi)
A pinch of ground sandalwood
2 tbsp of rose water
2 tbsp of milk
Directions:
1. Mix all of the ingredients together to create a paste that’s a bit yellowish in color.
2. Apply it to your face and keep it on until it dries (15-20 minutes).
3. Rinse off with warm water.