Cool down this Summer with Some Homemade Turmeric Ice lollies- Great For An Antioxidant Boost

Sue Bedford (MSc Nutritional Therapy)

Turmeric has been part of ayurvedic medicine for centuries and has been researched extensively in relation to it’s health benefits. Turmeric possesses strong antioxidant properties that have been linked to lowering the risk of infections and disease.

It is especially well known for the active substance found within it – Curcumin, which is a type of chemical compound, of which there are several, known as Curcuminoids. Curcumin is what makes Turmeric be known as a ‘functional food’. Meaning that it has a potentially positive effect on health beyond basic nutrition.

One of the most powerful aspects of Curcumin has been found to be the ability to control inflammation.

Excess inflammation is known to be the root cause of a variety of imbalances and diseases in the body. Several reproductive disorders are accompanied by chronic inflammation, which can significantly reduce the ability to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Some of which are:

• poor sperm and egg quality

• uterine fibroids and ovarian cysts

• endometriosis

• polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

• pelvic inflammatory disease

• early menopause (premature ovarian failure)

• poor sperm and egg quality

To help reduce inflammation try to include as many of these other anti-inflammatory foods in your daily diet too: berries, dark leafy greens, blueberries, pineapple, celery, beetroot, cruciferous vegetables, wild salmon and oily fish, coconut oil, fermented vegetables and probiotic foods.

Turmeric ice lollies

Ingredients (per ice lolly mould)

1 turmeric tea bag (available from most major food shops or health food shops)

100ml of milk of your choice (or enough to fill your lolly mould)

2 teaspoons of local runny honey

To make:

Add the turmeric tea bag to the milk in a small pan. Place on the hob and heat gently for 5 minutes. Remove the teabag and stir in the honey. Allow to cool and then pour into your ice lolly moulds and place into the freezer until frozen (increase amounts as required depending on how many lollies you wish to make and the size of your lolly moulds). Enjoy!

You could also try adding some fruit of your choice to your lollies too!

Does turmeric help boost fertility?