Year: 2023

The wonders of Turmeric and Bentong Ginger

Turmeric is well-know for its many theraoeutic benefits with its many health properties including as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. Many studies have been conducted on the benefits of curcumin in turmeric.  Curcumin is not easily “absorbed” by the body and the way to improveits bioavailabilty to our body iby combining turmeric with black papper where the piperine enhances the absorption of the curcumin.  It is widely-used in ayurvedic and traditionak medicine,  Based on studies and research, some of the benefits are:

• As a potent antioxidant, it can neutralize free radicals which tend to impact important organic substance such as fatty acids, proteins and DNA.  Free radicals causes oxidative damages to our body which negatively impacts our body aging and causes other diseases.
• Some studies show that curcumin can increase brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which plays a part in memory and learning.  More studies are being done to determine its potential in treating Alzheimer’s disease and other degenerative brain diseases.
• The main benefit of curcumin when it comes to heart disease is improving the function of the endothelium, the lining of your blood vessels.  One of the major causes of heart disease is when there is a dysfunction in the endothelium making it unable to regulate blood pressure, blood clotting, and various other factors.
• In various studies, curcumin has been found to affect cancer growth and development by contributing to the death of cancerous cell, reducing angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels in tumors) and reducing metastasis (spread of cancer).  Further studies continue to be done.
• Helps the body to recovery from muscle injury.  In a study amongst athletes, it was found that athletes who consumed it recovered faster than those who didn’t.

There are many types of gingers but my favorite is Bentong ginger.  The main component that provides the most therapeutic benefit is the gingerol.  Ginger has been fond in many studies to be an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and other health benefits.  As more research is done on ginger, some of the benefits include:

• Being an anti-inflammatory, it helps to reduce swelling or inflammations of joints and muscles can can be helpful for those with arthritis and osteoarthritis and  swelling of joints or muscles.
• Some studies show it can curb growth of cancer cells like colorectal, gastric, ovarian, liver, skin, breast, and prostate cancer and more studies are being carried out.
• Ease menstrual cramps
• Lowers “bad” LDL cholesterol
• Ginger is loaded with antioxidants, compounds that prevent stress and damage to your body’s DNA. They may help your body fight off chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diseases of the lungs, plus promote healthy aging.
• Helps with digestion and relieves indigestion.
• Helps counter nausea.

It is with these benefits in mind that I decided to produce our Bentong Ginger and Turmeric with Black Pepper with the aim of making it easier for me to add to my daily diet and using whole foods as a medicine or health therapeutic supplement.  Using chemical-pesticide and herbicide free fresh ginger and turmeric that are dehydrated and turned into a powder form, ground black peppers are then added into this mixture to produce our Dehydrated Bentong Ginger and Turmeric with Pepper.  No additives, preservatives or fillers are added to it, leaving it in its pure forms.

When I decided to produce this mixture, I wanted to make it easy to consume it and as a painless way of adding it to my daily diet.  Another key consideration is how to dry it.  I dehydrated it as it ensures maximum nutrients preservation compared with other ways of drying and at the same time is more hygienic, not exposed to contaminants and consistent drying without dependence to weather.  There are many ways to use this powder mixture for consumption:

1. Using 1/4 teaspoon per cup, I add hot water and sweeten it with honey as my first drink for the days.  I drink it warm and it is a delicious warm drink to start my day, loading my body with the therapeutic benefits.  I drink this as my first hot drink of the day and last hot drink at night on days when I plan or was physcially-active.
2. Adding it when cooking rice and making a flavourful rice.  For additional flavour, you can add virgin coconut oil too making it a quick way to make nasi lemak kuning.
3. Using it as a seasoning for various proteins such as beef, chicken, fish which can then be cooked in various ways.
4. Adding it to stir-fry vegetables.
5. Adding it to coconut milk-based gravy such as in masak lemak kuning, curries and lontong.
6. Create a salad dressing by adding the mixture to olive oil or other salad oils and adding lemon or lime.  You can also add other seasonings like honey, mustard and salt – sea or mountain salt is my preference.
7. Alternatively, you can put it in a capsule is you prefer to pop pills.  I don’t do this because I prefer to enjoy my food then taking it as a medicine.

On a personal note, I have been drinking the ginger and turmeric mixture over the past 4 years.  Having the mixture makes it easy for me to

consume it as well as take it along with me when I travel, whether domestically or internationally.  When I travel abroad, my first drink in the room is the ginger and turmeric drink.  It is a nice warm drink to have especially during the colder months.  It has also helped me to recover from painful, muscle injury due to wearing the wrong shoes and walking long distances over uneven, cobblestone roads and paths for several days although it took longer to heal than it would have if I had gone for steroid treatment but it was my choice to avoid steroids and strong painkillers. It was an exercise in helping my body heal it self naturally supported by “whole food”s.

Bottomline: I love this mixture and the simplicity of incorporating it into my daily life.