Page 20 - Florida Sentinel 1-11-19

Health
New Year's resolutions don't have to be big to be mighty. Small changes can yield big mind, body and spirit transformations. Try these mini resolutions!
1Light More Candles
Candles have healing properties, so light them up! Stock up on some of your favorite scents and store them in various rooms around your home. When you're feeling down, fill your space with smells that bring you peace.
2Watch Less TV
Put that remote down more often. Save your days in front of the TV for one night a week and spending more time away from the tube gives you more time to do the other things you love.
3Give Yourself A Guilt-Free Day
Want another slice of pizza? Craving another scoop of ice cream? Girl, treat yo' self! Have a guilt-free day where you enjoy the eats that make you happy. Just promise not to do it excessively! Draw the line, and your waist line will be just fine.
4Take a Mental Health Moment
Sometimes you just need five minutes, so take them! Whether you're at work, out and about, or at home with the kids, find a quiet corner and take a few deep breaths just for you. The quiet time with your mind is just what you need to protect it.
5Dance More Often
Never turn down the chance to stop and take a solo dance break! Turn on your favorite feel good song, blast it, scream those lyrics and dance your lit- tle heart out. Get those endorphins up and get your body moving.
A relative of ginger, this vivid yellow-orange spice is common in Indian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern cooking. It's also been used as medicine in places like India for centuries to treat issues such as breathing problems. Lately, turmeric has been touted as a super food that can fight cancer, ease depres- sion, and more. Find out what turmeric can -- and can't -- do for your health.
DEPRESSION:
Several compounds in turmeric may support your health. The most well-known of these is curcumin. Scientists are excited about curcumin's potential to ease depression and help antidepressants work better. But so far, research re- sults have been mixed.
PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME:
A recent study that followed women for three menstrual cy- cles in a row found that cur- cumin supplements helped ease PMS symptoms. A study on muscles from guinea pigs and rats suggests that turmeric could bring relief from men- strual cramps, too.
TYPE 2 DIABETES:
Because curcumin can help fight inflammation and keep blood sugar levels steady, it could be a useful tool to prevent or treat type 2 diabetes. One study fol- lowed 240 adults with prediabetes and found that taking a curcumin supplement over 9 months low- ered their odds of developing dia- betes. Research is ongoing, but a lot of the studies so far have been on animals, not people.
HIGH CHOLESTEROL:
Research on turmeric's ability to protect your ticker has been mixed. Some studies have found that turmeric can lower LDL "bad" cholesterol, while others concluded that the spice has no effect. Scientists continue to look into the heart-protective possibil- ities of turmeric. One small study found that turmeric can help ward off heart attacks in people who have had bypass surgery.
VIRAL INFECTIONS:
The next time you're under the weather, you may want to sip some turmeric tea. Curcumin might help you to fight off a variety of viruses, including herpes and the flu. (But most of the research on this was done in a lab, not on people.) Keep in mind that turmeric is only about 3% curcumin, and your body does- n't absorb curcumin well, so the occasional cup of tea won't be a cure-all.
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