Jessica Turner The bright, yellow herb is stirring the social media pot right now. Indeed, the latest scientific research is touting it as a superfood.
Turmeric is a member of the ginger family. You can buy it fresh, but it’s more widely available in powder form.
With a warm, bitter taste, the spice has been adding colour and flavour to Indian and Sri Lankan cooking for centuries. Renowned for its healing capabilities, it’s been harvested in Asia for thousands of years.
Its active ingredient is curcumin, which lends it the vibrant colour and gives it medicinal prowess as an antioxidant.
Like other antioxidants, oral consumption of curcumin can protect the skin from ageing and fight inflammation by limiting the production of free radicals.
But turmeric has arguably won its “trending” status because skin and beauty influencers are using it topically as a beauty hack.
Biochemist and fermented food specialist Dr Mike Bridges helps us evaluate blogging trends to ensure we reap the benefits of turmeric and its hero ingredient curcumin most effectively.
For Fighting Skin Inflammation
Used topically to prevent and combat acne, turmeric is spicing up the beauty rituals of bloggers and celebrities alike.
Turmeric has an anti-bacterial effect on the skin surface (like most acne treatments) but the anti-inflammatory benefits of curcumin work at a molecular level.
Sadia’s Instagram post went viral, sparking a stream of others to try out the mix, including Star Wars actor Daisy Ridley.
Earlier in the year, Daisy opened up about her acne struggles on social media. She now documents her quest for clear skin in pictures. However, there was no further comment about her spicy experiment after the post below, so the stain factor may have outweighed other skin benefits.
“We’re aware how easily turmeric stains the skin when cooking,” says Dr Bridges. “Therefore, DIY turmeric masks are not the best source of curcumin.
“Curcumin is oil soluble too, so mixing the powder with water alone won’t cut it. For dried curcumin to be absorbed (topically or orally) oil needs to be present so it can dissolve.
“To reduce inflammatory skin conditions, it’s best to combine a range of antioxidants in good quantities.”
Thus, herbal tonics or a tea such as Pukka Turmeric Gold (a blend combining curcumin with other another antioxidants) may be more effective in combatting skin inflammation.
For Anti-Ageing
Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant.
Antioxidants have been combatting signs of ageing (such as dark circles) for decades. They protect the skin and can potentially reverse signs of ageing caused by UV damage. It’s therefore not surprising that Farah Dhukai has created an eye treatment using turmeric.
Farah received thousands of likes for her DIY turmeric treatment, but was also criticised for irritating eyes and allergic reactions.
Rather than mixing an anti-ageing turmeric mask, Dr Bridges suggests incorporating fresh turmeric into your diet.
“Curcumin needs to be stored air-tight to be an effective antioxidant. If not, it will react with oxygen and breakdown,” he cautions.
“Adding fresh turmeric to vegetable juice is a great option. Also, consume a variety of antioxidants as they all act slightly differently in the body. Carotenoids from orange coloured vegetables and betain from beetroot.”
His favourite anti-ageing juice is easy to make. Simply blend together, preferably in a low speed, twin screw juicer.
- 1 x red cabbage
- 6 x medium size beetroot
- 10 x carrots (purple carrots are best but orange carrots are fine)
- Half a bunch of celery
- 2 x green apples
- 1 x large piece ginger
- 3 x medium pieces of turmeric
For Teeth Whitening
For months, beauty bloggers have been painting their teeth with active charcoal to whiten them. And successful results have reached viral status via social media. The method also raised general awareness about natural oral health methods—the latest, and trendiest is turmeric toothpaste.
Many natural oral health techniques are age old. For example, brands like Keeko work on the principal of “oil pulling” —this ancient Ayurevedic dental method is believed to draw out body toxins and promote oral health. It involves swishing a tablespoon of oil in your mouth on an empty stomach for around 20 minutes.
Turmeric toothpaste (made by combining coconut oil with turmeric) is trending for good reason. Following Farah’s method, the paste is brushed on, left for five minutes then rinsed off.
While the toothbrush is stained yellow, teeth remain in tact and are whiter as a result. Because curcumin is both anti-inflammatory and an antioxidant, it works to remove plaque that causes discolouration.
Like typical teeth whitening “strips” the turmeric method works gradually, but is worthwhile in whitening teeth and preventing dental disease.
Dr Mike Bridges in chemical engineering and a PhD in Biotechnology. His passion is fitness, health and beauty. He has worked with many different types of fermented products and understands the technical aspects of fermentation as well as the health benefits they can deliver.
