No, I have not lost my mind. There is a method to my madness. Methods and madness – love it!
On my to-do list today was “pick up turmeric pills”. Why? Because turmeric is phenomenal! It contains curcumin, the properties of which are:
- anti-cancer
- anti-inflammatory
- anti-allergic
- antioxidant
- pro-immune
…which means that it is used for fighting and preventing disease, including arthritis, Alzheimers, cancer, liver disease, digestive disorders, even depression.
If you live in India, you probably have no trouble getting enough turmeric! In South Carolina, U.S.A., turmeric is not as prevalent in daily diets. So maybe supplementing, when there is a special need, is a viable option.
Then it occurred to me… I have beautiful yellow organic turmeric in my kitchen! Why spend my money and time making a special trip to buy pills? I also have peppercorns. This is one of my favorite synergy combos. Why, you ask?
Well, when piperine in pepper is combined with curcumin in turmeric, curcurim becomes much more bioavailable! Men’s health magazine says its bioavailability is multiplied by 1000%! Some sources say 2000%! So all those amazing health benefits are multiplied – whatever the percentage, I will take it!
Check out this short video for more on Turmeric – click here.
Sooooo… time for experimentation!
[warning_box]If you play with this idea at home, make them small enough to swallow! They don’t really “give” like a plastic capsule. I made a couple of mine too big and almost got them stuck in my throat! This is a great option, and has worked wonders in my family, but proceed with caution. And always consult your physician.[/warning_box]
As often stated on this blog, I am not an herbalist, or a physician of any type, so this is not a recommendation. I am merely a manipulator of food. This is an offering of an idea… upon which you can most certainly improve, if you choose. However, today, this is the most interesting thing happening in my kitchen. The only other stuff going on is asparagus blanching and egg frying.
So using what I have on hand…
The objective: getting this turmeric into an easy-to-swallow capsule, with no capsule…
If you do this at home, you may prefer to measure so that you know mg per capsule.
Some sources I found recommend 3% black pepper. (I did not weigh)
Now we need something to bind this together. I have coconut oil and honey. In the future, I will explore other options. But today, I mix in just enough coconut oil and honey to make a “dough”. And I use gloves that are too big because this is preferable to stained yellow hands.
Next. the dough gets formed into uneven goofy-looking little capsules.
This is wet and weird and will not go down well at all. Soooo… gotta roll it in something dry and powdery. Hmmm… I have unsweetened cocoa powder. Note to self: explore other options.
Then they went into the oven to dry – under 200° for about an hour. No cooking! And when I take them out of the oven, even I am wondering if maybe I have lost my mind!
But it worked! Little capsules, easy to swallow. Not too pretty, but quite effective.
So, this is not the most delicious thing I have ever made, or the prettiest, but I really like it!
I need to make a curry soon…
Be healthy!
[pinterest]
*** UPDATE ***
After this posting, I experimented with various binders and powders. We learned –
- Cinnamon burns a little going down.
- Vegetable glycerin is another option for a binder.
- Making these things is cool! but extremely time-consuming.
- If you make them too big, they can be hazardous!
So, I bought a “Pill Machine”, and I love it!!! It is easy to use. Just be sure to clean it out after every few uses. Disassemble, and air dry on a rack. Otherwise, some of your capsules may start to clog and stick.
Be sure you buy the appropriate size machine for the same size capsule. We have size “0”. I will probably invest in a larger size also.
As to capsules, I prefer a vegetable capsule. They are more costly than the more common bovine or animal gelatin version, but they provide a bit of fiber, and I do not have to worry about any potential unwanted reactions to the animal based product. They still save us a TON of money.
For some reason, I expected a bigger box… it is tiny and cute! That’s great! takes up less space.
All the parts… really this is so easy… I do work in a baking dish, in case I spill.
Within minutes of getting the Pill Machine, we have easy-to-swallow pills!
Be healthy!
[pinterest]
If you like this, please Pin, Share, and Like
[fblike]
[tweet]
Disclaimer: The techniques, strategies, and suggestions expressed here are intended to be used for educational purposes only. The author is not rendering medical advice, nor to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, condition, illness, or injury.
It is imperative that before beginning any nutrition or exercise program you receive full medical clearance from a licensed physician.