Month: April 2019
Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin
Recently, science has started to back up what Indians have known for a long time — it really does contain compounds with medicinal properties.
These compounds are called curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin.
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.
Therefore, if you want to experience the full effects, you need to take a supplement that contains significant amounts of curcumin.
Unfortunately, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. It helps to consume black pepper with it, which contains piperine, a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2,000%.
The best curcumin supplements contain piperine, substantially increasing their effectiveness.
Curcumin is also fat soluble, so it may be a good idea to take it with a fatty meal.
Curcumin Is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory Compound
Inflammation is incredibly important.
It helps your body fight foreign invaders and also has a role in repairing damage.
Without inflammation, pathogens like bacteria could easily take over your body and kill you.
Although acute, short-term inflammation is beneficial, it can become a major problem when it becomes chronic and inappropriately attacks your body’s own tissues.
Scientists now believe that chronic, low-level inflammation plays a major role in almost every chronic, Western disease. This includes heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s and various degenerative conditions .
Therefore, anything that can help fight chronic inflammation is of potential importance in preventing and even treating these diseases.
Homemade Vegan Naan
Credit to The Spruce Eats
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon active dry yeast (1/2 package)
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 3 tablespoons soy milk
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 3/4 to 2 cups bread flour
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (or as needed for cooking, plus more to brush the top of the naan)
Steps to Make It
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Gather the ingredients.
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In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Let this stand for about 10 minutes, until it turns frothy.
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Stir in the soy milk.
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In another bowl, whisk the sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and salt with 1 3/4 cups of flour.
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Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, and stir just until a soft dough forms.
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Add an additional 1/4 cup of flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, as necessary to reach the right consistency.
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Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead it for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and pliable.
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Lightly oil the inside of a large bowl. Place the dough inside it, cover it with a damp cloth, and set it aside in a warm location. Let the dough rise for about an hour or until it doubles in volume.
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Punch down the dough, then break off chunks and roll them into golf ball-size pieces.
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Put them on a floured baking sheet, cover the dough balls with a towel, and allow them to rise again until they double in size, about 30 minutes.
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Heat a cast iron or heavy non-stick skillet over high heat. Use a pastry brush or paper towel to coat it with a light layer of oil.
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Roll or press a dough ball into a thin circle.
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Then place it in the hot oiled skillet. Cook it for 2 to 3 minutes, or until bubbles begin to form and you can see the edges start to turn brown.
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Brush the top side with additional olive oil.
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Flip it and cook it for 2 to 3 minutes on the other side.
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Repeat with the remaining dough balls, oiling the skillet between each one.