ICON – the UNIQUE Lives of Shirley MacLaine

Anyone familiar with bestselling author and Academy Award winning actress Shirley MacLaine knows that she’s lived a journey of many lifetimes.ULE Booklet 2014 (Calgary Pg 7)

On May 26th, Shirley MacLaine will be gracing the stage of the Vancouver Orpheum not to sing, dance, act or read an excerpt from one of her many intriguing books – but to share in stories about her own life experiences with trademark wit and candour to a captivated audience as part of the intimate “unique lives” series. 

I’ll be one of those people engrossed in hearing whatever she has to say.  Because let’s face it, even if you’re not a fan you cannot deny that it has been a life (including past lives) well lived. 

With credits too numerous to mention on a blog, let’s take a little peek into the world of this living legend:

The daughter of a drama teacher, she started out as a dancer.  She will take you down memory lane with movie and television clips from her illustrious career starting in 1955 with her first movie, Alfred Hitchcock’s “The Trouble with Harry“.

With a film career too long to mention – you’ll see clips from “Irma la Douce“, “Sweet Charity“, “Two Mules for Sister Sara“, and most recently, “Glee” and “Downton Abbey“. Not only will you hear about her award-winning film and stage career, but also her years with the “Rat-Pack“, her journey on the Camino, and her greatest passion: the spirit, mind and body.

Members of the audience will get a chance to ask Shirley questions during a question and answer session.

Five of my personal favourite films from her extraordinary career:

The Turning Point (1977), she stars as a former dancer who gave up her career to have a family. Her daughter follows in her footsteps, and MacLaine’s character is forced to confront her old dance rival (Anne Bancroft).

In 1983, MacLaine finally claimed her Oscar statue for Terms of Endearment. She plays Aurora Greenway, a woman with a troubled relationship with her daughter, in the film. Debra Winger stars as her daughter and Jack Nicholson as her love interest in this popular tearjerker. In her acceptance speech at the Academy Awards, MacLaine said “I have wondered for 26 years what this would feel like,” according to the Hollywood ReporterVanity Fair also notes that she added “I deserve this.”

Steel Magnolias with Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts. The quip that stands out: “I’m not as sweet as I used to be.” Set in Louisiana, she plays Ouiser Boudreaux, a woman who through years of turmoil and heartbreak, becomes more cynical, hardened and wiseass. But you can’t help but love her. She embodies wisdom, cynicism, sarcasm, and snarky humor…all mixed into one fabulous southern lady…how can you ask for more.

She tackled the role of one of her real-life contemporaries. In Postcards from the Edge, based on Carrie Fisher’s memoir, MacLaine plays actress Debbie Reynolds. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Reynolds gave MacLaine at least one critique of her performance. “She didn’t think I should have put vodka in the smoothie,” MacLaine said.

In 1960, MacLaine delivered one of her best performances in The Apartment. She co-starred with Jack Lemmon in this Billy Wilder classic, playing a young elevator operator named Fran Kubelik who has an affair with the company’s big boss, but later falls for Lemmon’s character.

ULE Booklet 2014 (Calgary Pg 7) So there you have it – I’ll be all over that!

Tickets: http://uniquelives.com/vancouver

 

In Praise of all Good Mothers!

 No woman should ever marry a man who hated his mother10313429_10155059982615212_7961385529892384266_n

“When God Created Mothers”

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of “overtime” when the angel appeared and said. “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And God said, “Have you read the specs on this order?” She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts…all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands.”

The angel shook her head slowly and said. “Six pairs of hands…. no way.”

It’s not the hands that are causing me problems,” God remarked, “it’s the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have.”

That’s on the standard model?” asked the angel. God nodded.

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, ‘What are you kids doing in there?’ when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn’t but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. ‘I understand and I love you’ without so much as uttering a word.”

God,” said the angel touching his sleeve gently, “Get some rest tomorrow….”

I can’t,” said God, “I’m so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick…can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger…and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower.”

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. “It’s too soft,” she sighed.

But tough!” said God excitedly. “You can imagine what this mother can do or endure.”

Can it think?”

Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise,” said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model.”

It’s not a leak,” said the Lord, “It’s a tear.”

What’s it for?”

It’s for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride.”

You are a genius, ” said the angel.

Somberly, God said, “I didn’t put it there.”

– Erma Bombeck, When God Created Mothers

I miss my mom every day!

health MATTERS: can dancing the TANGO improve cognitive function?

mind-body-spirit
imagesa79d20fb8c4aa92f6e351bed1fa80152How nice to know that aside from the sheer pleasure of dancing the tango there might be a health benefit to go along with it.  Tango may be the most passionate of all dances but it has a structure that goes along with the flow, so I consider it to be the “thinking man’s dance.”  

So I wasn’t surprised to find out that that according to the non-profit organization Dance for PD® (Parkinson’s disease), the answer is YES, it does help to improve cognitive function.

The following was written by Ruth Buczynski, PhD  for the National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioural Medicine.

Because Parkinson’s is a brain disorder, some people thought it might be uniquely affected by something like dance. So they approached the Mark Morris Dance Group in Brooklyn, New York, about creating a program for people diagnosed with the disease.

Dance for PD® has been holding classes since 2001 and has witnessed the profound positive impact it has had among participants. But most of this evidence was anecdotal.

Scientific evidence of the program’s effectiveness was just beginning to be published.

In the nearly four years since I first started following Dance for PD®, the science has caught up. I heard about a 2015 study focusing on participants, but when I went to look it up, I was amazed at the number of studies published just in the first few months of 2015 that look at the topic.

Given this wealth of studies from research facilities around the world, I had a hard time highlighting just one. So instead, let’s look at some of the most recent findings on dance as an intervention for Parkinson’s:

  • 46 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate Parkinson’s participated in Japanese researchers Hiroko Hashimoto et al’s study. They found that dance improved motor function, cognitive function, and mental symptoms. (Effects of dance on motor functions, cognitive functions, and mental symptoms of Parkinson’s disease: A quasi-randomized pilot trial. Complimentary Therapies in Medicine, Apr. 2015)
  • Researchers out of Canada and Sweden investigated the use of tango lessons to improve motor and non-motor functions of people with Parkinson’s Disease. They found that the Argentine tango can improve balance and functional mobility and are calling on larger studies to test benefits on cognition and fatigue. (Tango for treatment of motor and non-motor manifestations in Parkinson’s disease: A randomized control study. Complimentary Therapies in Medicine, Apr. 2015)
  • Irish investigators led by Dr. Amanda Clifford took ten participants and had them attend weekly Irish dancing lessons, along with a parallel home practice, over an 8-week period. This preliminary study found that Irish set dancing is feasible for people with Parkinson’s and could increase their quality of life (Is Irish set dancing feasible for people with Parkinson’s disease in Ireland? Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2015)
  • A May 2015 [epub Feb. 2015] literature review in Maturitus concluded that studies support the idea that dance can cause “substantial and wide-ranging benefits” in people who suffer from Parkinson’s, in addition to the older population in general.

One of the things that fascinated me about these studies was the sheer number of countries that are currently researching the neurological possibilities of dance for people with Parkinson’s.

This is a treatment strategy that could be used anywhere in the world.

And then, let the neuroplasticity begin.

In our Brain-Smart webinar series, we’ve been talking about practical and innovative strategies for working with the power of neuroplasticity to strengthen and heal the brain. The webinars are free to watch at the time of broadcast – you just need to sign up.

What are your reactions to using dance as a therapeutic intervention?

Sourcehttp://www.nicabm.com/ (National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioural Medicine – a pioneer and leader in the field of mind-body-spirit medicine.).

Feel-good Friday: In Full Bloom

indexIt’s here!  A remarkable Spring that’s more like a slightly cooler version of Summer….spring3

Some random photos taken with my camera phone on a walk and a bike ride.spring2spring1spring4spring6

“When spring came, even the false spring, there were no problems except where to be happiest. The only thing that could spoil a day was people and if you could keep from making engagements, each day had no limits. People were always the limiters of happiness except for the very few that were as good as spring itself.” – Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast.spring7

“Spring is the time of plans and projects.” – Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karnina

I have plenty of plans and projects to keep me occupied.  How about you?

beauty: Shea’s the one!

Shea Butter: the multi-purpose all natural Vitamin A, E & F skin cream (with SPF 6) is derived from the seed of the Shea (Karite) tree which is found in the dry arid regions of Central Africa.sheabutter1 The pits are collected to sun dry and then roasted to get it ready for the difficult work of extracting the creamy, rich solid oil by hand. This butter has an amazing amount of healing properties and softening capability. Shea butter has been used in Africa and other countries for years as it provides the skin with essential fatty acids and the nutrients necessary for collagen production.  It’s one of the ingredients used to make the “Divine Balm” for “Skin so Divine“.  On it’s own it is very rich but splendid when mixed with the other healing oils which make up this amazing balm.


Here are 21 uses of Shea Butter 

  1. Dry skin
  2. Skin rash
  3. Skin peeling, after tanning
  4. Blemishes and wrinkles
  5. Itchy skin
  6. Sunburn
  7. Shaving cream for a smooth silky shave
  8. Small skin wounds
  9. Skin cracks
  10. Tough or rough skin (on feet)
  11. Cold weather
  12. Frost bites
  13. Stretch mark prevention during pregnancy
  14. Insect bites
  15. Healthy skin
  16. Muscle fatigue, aches and tension
  17. Use before and after strenuous exercise
  18. Skin allergies such as poison ivy or poison oak
  19. Eczema
  20. Dermatitis
  21. Skin damage from heat (hot grease while cooking, radiation treatment for certain medical problems, etc.)

http://skinsodivine.com

style: In Coco’s Closet with good cause!

Need to update your spring wardrobe? Head down to Coco’s Closet tomorrow (Thursday, May 7th) and 10% of all purchases for the day will be donated to a very good cause – the *Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Western Canada.  about-image-4 A UNIQUE, LA-INSPIRED BOUTIQUE in Vancouver’s Kits Neighbourhood.

Brochu Walker - Harrison Shrug, Stone
Brochu Walker – Harrison Shrug

Coco’s Closet offers Vancouver’s style-savvy women a fun, relaxed environment featuring hard-to-find fashions and accessories straight out of the latest magazines.child_of_wild_largeLots of Great Brands! Stop by Coco’s Closet to add a splash of LA hotness to yours!

Equipment Silk Shirt
Equipment Silk Shirt
Mother
Mother

Address: 2190 West 4th Ave (next to Purdy’s Chocolates).

MAY IS CYSTIC FIBROSIS MONTH – HELP SUPPORT SOMEONE WITH CF

*About CYSTIC FIBROSIS (or CF) in a nutshell : Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease of the secretory glands, including the glands that make mucus and sweat.”Inherited” means the disease is passed from parents to children through genes. People who have CF inherit two faulty genes for the disease—one from each parent. The parents likely don’t have the disease themselves. CF mainly affects the lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines and sinuses.

The symptoms and severity of CF vary. Sometimes there are few symptoms. Other times, the symptoms may become more severe. As the disease gets worse, the symptoms become more severe with increasing regularity.  Lung function often starts to decline in early childhood in people who have CF. Over time, damage to the lungs can cause severe breathing problems.

Early treatment for CF can improve quality of life and increase lifespan. Treatments may include nutritional and respiratory therapies, medicines, exercise, and other treatments. As these treatments continue to improve, so does life expectancy for those who have the disease. Today, some people who have CF are living into their forties or fifties, or longer.

I have a friend in her mid fifties who has CF and has had a double lung, heart and kidney transplant because of this disease.  She’s doing remarkably well, looks good and is basically a living miracle.  Because of this I try to help support the CF foundation (Vancouver chapter) to retrieve silent auction items for their yearly gala fundraising event in Vancouver. See my previous post: https://girlwhowouldbeking.com/2014/11/08/health-matters-raising-awareness-key-to-a-cure-for-cf/

FOOD: going on safari with agave

To help celebrate cinco de mayo and in conjunction with the Vancouver International Tequila Expo here are three exciting FOOD & DRINK events planned for this month – Vancouver Agave Week:food6

EAST VAN TACO SAFARI -­ Tuesday May 26th – 7pm

Have you been wanting to try a bunch of the up and coming Taco restaurants but haven’t had the time to do it right? This is the event for you! 20120315-196564-tacos-matamorosYou will start the evening at Taco Bar Gastown and then we’ll transport you to points east to enjoy tacos with tequila and mezcal pairings at Los Cuervos Taqueria, Sal y Limon (new this year!), La Mezcaleria, Tacofino Commissary, before returning to Taco Bar Gastown to end the night with…you guessed it -­ more tacos and mezcal! A unique way to spend the ULTIMATE Taco Tuesday!  Tickets: $79.95

COOKING & PAIRING WITH AGAVE -­ Wednesday May 27th – 7 pm

Are you interested in a complete culinary experience? We’ve paired with the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts to create a unique evening of Cooking and Pairing with Agave. You will spend the evening in the school’s kitchen with PICA’s chef instructors learning to cook a Mexican inspired meal and unique food and agave pairings. It’s hands on -­ from the preparation to the tasting. We have just 24 spots in this unique full participation event. Tickets: $120

DOWNTOWN FOOD & AGAVE SAFARI -­ Thursday May 28th – 7pm

Join us for the first ever Downtown Food & Agave Safari! We’ll be experiencing delicious food and drink pairings as we visit some of Vancouver’s top restaurants and watering holes. We start at Joe Fortes Seafood & Chophouse, and then we’ll board a trolley to culinary nirvana – exploring gastronomic delights at every stop -­ all exquisitely paired with tequila and mezcal to sip alongside the chefs’ creations! Stops at: Joe Fortes Seafood & Chophouse, Coast, Lift Bar & Grill, and Left Bank, before heading to Uva Wine and Cocktail Bar to end the night with…more culinary goodness paired with agave spirits!  Tickets: $95

To order tickets and for more informationhttp://www.vantequilaexpo.com/about_expo.php

il_570xN.433269359_gan5

The ART of FINE AGAVE – Vancouver International TEQUILA EXPO

Tequila may be a girls second best friend!tequila6tequila4

Take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lime and a shot of tequila!
Take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lime and a shot of tequila!

But with the finest of them you may omit the salt and the lime, and it will be completely genuine!  Let these spirits lift yours!

If the upcoming Fourth Annual Vancouver International Tequila Expo (VITE)
taking place on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel is anything like the one my friends raved about last year, it will be a raging success.

Joe Fortes sponsored a recent VITE media event which I was lucky enough to attend.  While I’m no connoisseur, I can attest to sampling several exceptionally smooth & outstanding varieties from a host of participating dealers. Last October I spent some time in Oaxaca, Mexico so I became more familiar with Mexcal and was delighted to find some here too.tequila2

tequila1¡Viva tequila! 

It’s a celebration of all things agave – without the blue agave plant there would be no tequila.

The Hyatt Regency event will run from 7 to 10 pm and is presented by First Majestic and sponsored by Legacy Liquor Store, the BMW Store, Joe Fortes, Sysco Vancouver, Tourism Mexico and La Mezcaleria.  This year will feature 100% agave mezcals alongside the wide range of 100% agave tequilas, including exclusive offerings not yet available in BC.tequla7

The evening will feature unique samples of Mexican food pairings by restaurants including Joe Fortes, Sysco Vancouver, La Mezcaleria and Mosaic Bar & Grille.

The Peloton de La Muerte Cocktail Competition will be a returning feature of the show, where a selection of Vancouver’s expert bartenders will have the opportunity to showcase their own agave-based creations, in a friendly competition meant to show off their versatility of agave-based spirits.

Mexcal
Mexcal Selection

Legacy Liquor Store (purveyors of premium spirits) will be hosting an onsite-liquor store for the first time that will feature products available at the show.

Tickets are on sale until they run out through Tickets Tonight.  Single tickets are $69, with a group rate of 6 people+ available for a reduced price of $59.

Not just another pretty bottle!
Not just another pretty bottle. Much more depth!

INTERESTING FACTS you may not know about Tequila:

It’s one of the most misunderstood drinks, surrounded by years of myths and legends – just another reason to love it.

To Be Called Tequila, It Must Be Produced In Mexico.  Just as true champagne must hail from France, tequila has Denomination of Origin, meaning that it has to be produced in Mexico, mainly in the western Mexican state of Jalisco. The states of Guanajuato, Michoacan, Nayarit, and Tamaulipas are also acceptable.

Tequila Is Technically A Mezcal. 

But mezcal is not tequila. Got that? The main difference between the two is the plant. All tequila must be produced using blue agave, whereas a variety of agave plants can be used to make a single mexcal batch.

If you’re scared of the worm, don’t be!  They’re found in mezcal, not tequila.  The worm, or gusano, actually originated largely as a marketing ploy.  It is the larvae of a type of moth that lives on the agave plant.

The Machete Used To Chop Agave Leaves Is Called A “Coa”…and it has circular blades. The Men Who Use The Coa Are Called Jimadors.

Have a heart!tequila2 Only The Agave Heart Is Used To Make Tequila.

Tequila Does NOT Contain Psychedelic Properties.  Then how do you explain…nevermind!  In the mid-20th century, tequila sales spiked after California residents thought it was a psychadelic. Nope. They were just confusing mezcal with mescaline (the psychoactive alkaloid of peyote).

You Can Turn Tequila Into Diamonds.  You don’t say! Physicists at  the National Autonomous University of Mexico figured out a way to make artificial diamonds out of tequila. Sadly, the synthetic diamonds are too small to be turned into jewelry, but they can be used for an array of electronic and industrial purposes.

Serious Tequila Aficionados Generally Don’t Do Shots.  Instead,  they sip tequila from a special tequila glass or brandy snifter. That way, the agave flavours and aromas can be properly enjoyed.

A Bottle Of Tequila Can Last Unopened For Years. But really, does yours stay unopened for that long??

However, once you open a bottle, you have about one to two months before oxidation and evaporation lower the quality of the tequila and destroys the agave profile. So, you want to drink up within 3 to 6 months, at which point it becomes more like a bourbon.Tequila1

HEALTH FACTS (YES, that’s right).

Studies have shown that if consumed in moderation, tequila can cut the risk of dementia by 37%.

It also has a component that can help lower LDL levels, aka bad cholesterol.

Unlike other forms of alcohol, tequila is not a depressant.

As with most alcohol, tequila can reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 30-40%.

The blue agave plant has components that can help stimulate the immune system and fight obesity.

 Just make sure to enjoy it responsibly.

Photos: d. king

Source for facts: huffington post, Buzzfeed.com

contemplating the MASKS WE WEAR

Two weeks ago I posted about artist Judith Henry who incorporates masks as part of her mixed-media artwork compositions that explore the various roles we play. downloadShe hides behind a mask and becomes part of her canvas (above), just as we sometimes hide a part of our personality in certain settings and depending on the situation.

It got me thinking about the ‘masks’ we all wear, to what extent we tend to layer ourselves at times and the reasons why.  I don’t know the psychology behind it, but I think it’s fairly simple to explain.

In theory, ‘masks’ are a persona that we put on top of the ‘real thing.’ It is a version of our ‘true selves.  It’s not necessarily that we aren’t being authentic, but we can edit our personalities and decorate the versions we prefer to share to the world.masks-we-wear-image

Why do we feel the need to do this?

What they shield are those parts of us that for whatever reasons, we don’t like or accept; or that others need us to hide to make them feel more comfortable. Or we don’t feel comfortable telling the complete truth for fear of breaking down so we are in actuality protecting ourselves from being hurt, our pride from rejection or to keep us from looking like a complete fool. Okay, maybe it’s not so simple after all.

I’m sure that if everyone let down their complete guard to anyone who asked “how are you today” people might be surprised and not be able to fully accept or handle exactly how you’re really doing. It’s keeping a barrier of politeness and having boundaries. In other words, “not wearing your life on your sleeve” at the first introduction.

Then there are societal rules that make it easier for us to fit in so we can adapt to situations like when we’re looking for work or meeting new people for the first time. We don’t want to appear too needy or too shy but sometimes we are exactly that.  That’s just the rules of the game folks.

Interesting subject though don’t you think? 

I'm just great, thank you very much!
I’m just great, thank you very much…Sure!

Two poems on the matter:

“She had blue skin,
And so did he.
He kept it hid
And so did she.
They searched for blue
Their whole life through,
Then passed right by-
And never knew.” –  Shel Silverstein, Every Thing On It
 

We wear the mask that grins and lies,
It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,–
This debt we pay to human guile;
With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be overwise,
In counting all our tears and sighs?
Nay, let them only see us, while
We wear the mask.

We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask! – Paul Laurence Dunbar

Health MATTERS: Turmeric Root Extract Theracurmin™

Rooted in Tradition, Enhanced by Sciencecumin-690x271It was suggested to me recently that I look into Theracurmin capsules.  I already know the benefits of ingesting Turmeric and many other spices – part of the reason that I decided to make curries again was because of using the various amounts of spices required.  My aim is to incorporate tasty meals that have health benefits to boot.  Sometimes it also helps to supplement.

Here is an article by Dr. Michael T. Murray for living naturally which explains the benefits of this natural product.Profiles

The root of the turmeric plant (Curcuma longa), a member of the ginger family, has been used in India for thousands of years as the principal spice in curry and as an Ayurvedic medicine for supporting the body’s natural inflammatory response system. A century ago turmeric’s primary active compound, curcumin, was isolated. This valuable natural compound gives turmeric its vibrant yellow color and its medicinal qualities. An explosion of scientific research, literally thousands of studies, with curcumin has deepened and expanded our understanding of curcumin’s unique health effects in supporting many body functions. While much research has documented curcumin’s effects, most research has focused on in vitro (test tube) or animal studies. The big shadow over curcumin is that in humans its oral absorption (bioavailability) is quite low and once it is absorbed it is rapidly changed to other compounds or broken down. Clinical studies show that amounts as high as 12 grams of curcumin powder failed to significantly raise blood levels. To address this issue of poor bioavailability, a number of processing techniques have been developed to enhance the absorption of curcumin. Natural Factors Curcumin Rich Turmeric Root Extract contains Theracurmin, a natural turmeric extract preparation with by far the highest absorption profile.

What is Theracurmin?

Theracurmin is an all-natural preparation that utilizes advanced techniques to reduce the particle size of curcumin then disperse it with a very unique natural suspension to dramatically increase its solubility. The result is a dramatic increase in the absorption of curcumin compared to all other commercial forms tested, including other enhanced forms of curcumin. At equal dosage levels, Theracurmin produces blood levels in human and animal studies that are 30-40 times greater than regular curcumin.

 Theracurmin Increases “Free” Curcumin

Theracurmin is the only curcumin preparation to demonstrate a clear dose response. What this means is that even small dosages of Theracurmin increase blood measurements of curcumin and as the dosage Turmeric Root Extract Theracurmin™ Highly Bioavailable Curcumin increases so does the blood level. This increase is linear, meaning that it increases in the blood in a parallel fashion to the dosage. This absorption profile is extremely important as the effectiveness of curcumin within the body requires achieving effective concentrations. Theracurmin is able to achieve necessary concentrations within the body that are not likely to be easily achieved, if at all, with other curcumin preparations. In addition to being poorly absorbed, curcumin is rapidly metabolized in the liver. When measuring levels of curcumin in the blood during absorption studies the value of curcumin is based upon total curcuminoids including metabolites. The only product form that has shown to actually increase the free curcumin form is Theracurmin. As free curcumin is significantly more active than the metabolites, it is extremely likely that Theracurmin is not only better absorbed, but it also produces additional benefits compared to other supplemental forms of curcumin.

What Are The Benefits of Theracurmin?

What research has continually documented is that curcumin is highly pleiotropic, meaning it exerts multiple actions. Foremost is curcumin’s ability to influence many factors involved when normal inflammatory processes get out of balance. It has also demonstrated significant effects in preventing the accumulation of compounds associated with premature aging. For example, beta-amyloid is a compound linked to aging in the brain. It is kind of like a biochemical scar in brain tissue that reflects damage due to inflammation. Curcumin is showing great promise in preserving brain health by preventing the accumulation of beta-amyloid. However, in order for this benefit to be realized, it must be absorbed. Here are some of the other benefits shown with curcumin: • Potent antioxidant • Supports the body’s natural inflammatory response system • Promotes the liver’s ability to detoxify.

 How Much Theracurmin Do I Need?

The suggested usage of Theracurmin based upon current clinical evaluation is 150 to 300 mg per day. Although this amount is significantly lower than many other forms of curcumin, keep in mind that the amount of curcumin you take is not as important as how much you absorb.

Dr. Michael T. Murray is one of the world’s leading authorities on natural medicine. He has published nearly 30 books, including the best-selling Encyclopedia of Healing Foods and The Pill Book Guide to Natural Medicine. He is chairman of Dr. Murray Natural Living, Inc. and director of product development at Natural Factors, which produces a line of vitamins and supplements. He is a graduate and faculty member of Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington.

Here is my healthful morning TEA with TUMERIC recipe:20150501_094849

Squeeze a few slices of lemon & fresh ginger into a mug and pour very warm to moderately hot water over top. Add about a tsp. each of cayenne pepper & powdered tumeric,   Sprinkle a bit of dried cinnamon and add a tsp. of honey. Mix, drink & enjoy.