turmeric – Stylishly Zen

Beautifully Zen -Volition Tumeric Brightening Polish Review

Published on January 31, 2019January 31, 2019 by soreiyaLeave a comment

There are a few things in life that I could honestly say that I am obsessed with:

Travel? Check!

Food? Double Check!

Interior Design and Architecture? Absolutely!

Turmeric? Without a doubt!

Now obviously my turmeric obsession is completely different then all of the others, and I realize that it is a bit of an odd one to have. But the truth is that I have been interested in the benefits of turmeric since I was a child. When I was younger, my mum and grandmother introduced me to the idea of exfoliating with a paste that had turmeric in it to help to achieve beautiful, glowing skin. Frankly, I would do it everyday if it didn’t leave my hands and nails a bright yellow hue. Even before I started studying nutrition, I was aware of the benefits of including turmeric in my diet, needless to say turmeric has been a staple in my pantry and on my plate for many years. (You can read about the benefits of turmeric here)

A few months ago, I was wandering the aisles of Sephora when I came across Voliton’s Turmeric Brightening Polish. Despite the fact that I has never heard of the brand or this scrub, I immediately grabbed a bottle and headed to the cashier to pay for my new found discovery.

Having used this scrub periodically over the past few months are here is my honest review:

Volition is a cool beauty company that make products thought up and created by real people just like you and me. If you go to their website, you can vote on beauty ideas suggested by regular people and they develop the product. In my opinion, the idea of creating a turmeric exfoliant is brilliant and had I been aware of such a company, I would have voted for this product myself.

The packaging, like all of Volition’s packaging includes a little introduction and picture of the person that came up with the idea for this product – I love that they get credit for their great ideas! Other then that, the packaging is nothing out of the ordinary but I will say that the rose gold coloured cap on the bottle is pretty.

Fragrance – there is no scent making this product idea for people with sensitivities with highly fragranced products

Texture – this is where I was disappointed. The bottle states that this product is for face and body but the texture is quite grainy. The exfoliants are quite large which I find are better suited to use on the body as it would be too harsh to use as a facial scrub. I like to use it as an extra scrub step when my skin needs a little extra attention and follow it with a good moisturizer.

I really wanted to love this product especially since it contains my favourite all star miracle spice, but unfortunately I can’t honestly say that I do. It is effective as a body scrub but there are many others on the market that work just as well and are less expensive.

Stylishly Zen rating – 2.5/5

I hope that you have a beautiful day! XXS

The Nightcap You Should Be Drinking

Published on October 26, 2016October 25, 2016 by soreiya7 Comments

Golden milk has had a surge in popularity over the past few years within the wellness community, but it has been used within Indian culture for centuries. Historically known as Haldi ka Doodh (directly translated it means turmeric milk) it has been used to maintain good health and treat various ailments throughout the years. Haldi ka doodh was often suggested when someone caught a cold in my house growing up, but it never sounded appealing and I somehow (thankfully) managed to avoid having to drink it.

A few years ago I came across a recipe for golden milk which was an updated (translation: more delicious) version of haldi ka doodh and I was intrigued by the many benefits that it was reported to have including being a powerful anti-inflammatory, improving brain and memory function and better immunity. The benefit that stood out the most for me was that it was a cure for insomnia. While I was sceptical that this drink would be the miracle sleep potion that I had been searching for, I had spent enough sleepless nights tossing and turning that I was willing to try anything. Truthfully, golden milk did not send me into dream land for the next eight hours like I had been hoping but it was delicious and very relaxing and that was a start.

Over time I have fine tuned my own golden milk recipe and it has become a tasty part of my wind down ritual before bed. Filled with healthy fats and warming spices this drink is as comforting as it is delicious. While drinking golden milk doesn’t guarantee a good night’s sleep, it is a delicious, healthy and relaxing beverage that can be enjoyed at any time or the day.

Golden Milk Recipe a la Stylishly Zen

Yields: 1 serving

Ingredients:

1 cup unsweetened almond milk

1 teaspoon coconut oil (virgin, cold pressed)

1 teaspoon raw honey

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1/4 ground cardamom

pinch of black pepper

sprinkle of cinnamon

Heat the almond milk, coconut oil, turmeric, cardamom and black pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat stirring occasionally until heated through (just under a boil). Pour into a mug, stir in the raw honey and sprinkle with cinnamon.

Enjoy!

Let’s Talk Turmeric

Published on October 25, 2016October 25, 2016 by soreiya4 Comments

Superfoods is the buzziest of buzz words in the world of nutrition, and one of the most popular of the bunch is turmeric. Renowned as a powerful natural anti-inflammatory this brightly hued herb has been used in Asian cultures for centuries.

Turmeric’s popularity has reached new heights over the past few years, but what many people don’t realize is curcumin a polyphenol found in turmeric is the real superhero. Curcumin has potentially disease reversing properties, in studies it has been observed to regulate inflammation, decrease cancer risk, support detoxification and suppress oxidation that has been associated with high blood pressure and several types of cardiovascular disease.

Many studies and people believe that the benefits of turmeric surpass the effects of certain drugs including anti-depressants such a Prozac, many pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs, diabetes drugs and cholesterol drugs and steroids.

Turmeric is now being studied extensively on it’s potential to improve chronic digestive problems including inflammatory bowel disease (IBS) and Crohn’s disease, arthritis symptoms and cognitive function.

So what does all of this mean for you? While you should never replace medication with a natural herb without consulting your doctor or a medical professional, turmeric is a great addition to your diet. Turmeric can easily be added to various dishes and seasonings and it is also available in pill form for those who prefer to supplement their diets with it. Two things to remember when including more turmeric in your diet:

Turmeric is fat soluble – this means that it dissolves in fat. Taken without fat, your body will not reap the full potential benefits of it. This is why turmeric is best taken with meals.
Black pepper helps to increase the bioavailability of turmeric by 1000%.

Unless taken in extremely high doses Turmeric has no known side effects. Potential side effects include:

-nausea

-diarrhea

-increased risk of bleeding

-uterine contractions in pregnant woman (it’s best if pregnant woman avoid supplementation)

-increased menstrual flow

Overall Turmeric is the real deal in the world of superfoods and nutrition but, like everything in life moderation is key. I love to add turmeric to my eggs, sauces and tea for an extra antioxidant boost. What is your favourite way to include turmeric in your diet? Let me know in the comments below

I hope that you have a fabulous day!

XXS