Welcome to my April Newsletter.
Hope you are well and looking forward to Easter and the school holidays. It will be a busy month for me, but I do love getting out and about and meeting new people and catching up with my wonderful customers. So be sure to check out my list of markets at the end of the newsletter. Things are chugging along here chez Carroll, nothing new or exciting to report, though there are things that we are all working on in the background, which I will let you know about as soon as I have some concrete information – so watch this space. 😊
As I was browsing through the internet for inspiration as to what would be of interest for you all for this newsletter when I came across a very interesting video talking about how turmeric can help with both improving your gut bacteria and helping with Metabolic Syndrome. I did some further research on PubMed and WebMD and was astounded by what I found. So, over the next two months I will be doing a deeper dive into both those topics. This month my article is about how turmeric can help with improving your gut bacteria. The more we learn about the importance of our gut bacteria, the more we have come to understand that it is foundational to our overall good health, both mentally as well as physically. I hope you find it as fascinating as I did.
To tie in with that the recipe for April, is a great gut health boosting soup, now the weather is starting to get a bit cooler, and thoughts are turning to warming and comforting foods a soup is a great addition to your recipe repertoire. If you are interested there are several other soup recipes that you can find on my website at https://www.achealthysolutions.com.au
Is curcumin good for your gut biome health?
Curcumin, the active ingredient of turmeric has been used medicinally for thousands of years. Recently, with the growing interest in how the gut biome can affect the whole-body, interest has turned to this amazing spice, and how it may interact with the gut microbiome, potentially promoting beneficial bacterial strains, improving gut barrier function, and modulating inflammation, thus supporting overall gut health. The findings have been very promising.
Here's a more detailed explanation from recent studies:
Curcumin's Impact on the Gut Microbiome:
Promotes Beneficial Bacteria: Curcumin may act as a promoting factor for the growth, proliferation, or survival of beneficial bacteria in the gut.
Enhances Microbial Diversity: Studies suggest that turmeric can increase the diversity of the gut microbiome, which is linked to better digestive health.
Fortifies the Intestinal Barrier: Curcumin may help strengthen the intestinal barrier, which is a semi-permeable lining of the gut that prevents harmful substances from entering the bloodstream.
Modulates Inflammation: Turmeric’s potent anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce inflammation in the gut, which is important for maintaining a healthy gut environment.
How Curcumin Works:
Direct Interaction with Gut Bacteria: Curcumin may directly interact with gut bacteria, influencing their growth and activity.
Biotransformation by Gut Microbiota: The gut microbiota can metabolize curcumin, producing metabolites that may exert local or systemic effects.
Enhances Intestinal Barrier Function: Curcumin may help strengthen the intestinal barrier by modulating tight junction proteins, which play a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the intestinal lining.
Potential Benefits for Gut Health:
Improved Digestion: By promoting a healthy gut microbiome and strengthening the intestinal barrier, turmeric may help improve digestion and reduce digestive issues.
Reduced Inflammation: Curcumin's anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce inflammation in the gut, which is important for managing conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Enhanced Gut Barrier Function: A healthy intestinal barrier is crucial for preventing harmful substances from entering the bloodstream, and turmeric may help strengthen this barrier.
Research and Evidence:
Numerous studies have investigated the effects of curcumin on the gut microbiome and gut health. Some studies have shown that curcumin can modulate gut microbial composition, improve microbial richness and diversity, and enhance intestinal barrier function. Research suggests that curcumin may be a promising natural agent for promoting gastrointestinal health and potentially ameliorating a range of gastrointestinal disorders.
Taken from an article in PubMed – Nutrients 2020 Aug 19;12(9):2499. doi: 10.3390/nu12092499.
Gut Boosting Sweet Potato and Turmeric Soup
INGREDIENTS:
tbsp olive oil 4 cups chopped sweet potatoes
1 cup chopped onion 1 tsp minced garlic
2 tsp minced ginger 4 cups unsalted chicken stock
1 tsp Health2all turmeric 1 cup unsweetened full-fat coconut milk
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar 2 cups shredded kale or spinach
½ cup chopped cilantro for serving
Method:
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add sweet potatoes and onion. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Remove lid and stir in garlic and ginger. Sauté one minute. Add chicken stock. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 10-12 minutes longer, until sweet potatoes are tender.
Stir in coconut milk and apple cider vinegar. Turn the heat off and add kale/spinach to wilt for two minutes longer. Then add in the Health2all turmeric.
Ladle into bowls and serve hot topped with cilantro. Crispy sourdough bread would be a great addition.
Serves: 4
Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes
Taken from a recipe by: Jennafer Ashley
Enjoy. 😊
UPCOMING EVENTS
With school holidays and Easter upon us this month there are lots of extra markets and some changes to my usual markets as well, so check out below where I will be this month, and I hope to see you some time.
Saturday 5th Apr – Taste Fest, Taree – 8am – 8pm - Held in the Queen Elizabeth Park, down by the river. Great food, entertainment and market stalls.
Sunday 6th Apr – Blackhead Bazaar - 8am – 1pm. Held in the Wiley Breckenridge Park. Now there will be some changes this month due to the start of the construction of the Skate Park, hopefully I will be in my usual spot, but I should be easy to spot with my bright orange gazebo if I must move. 😊
Saturday 12th Apr - Gloucester Farmers Market - 9am – 1pm. Held at Billabong Park. Lots of great local produce and wines so, do come a long for a great day out.
Sunday 13th Apr – Forster Town Market – 8am – 1pm – Held on the green off Head Street. Hopefully the weather plays nice this month and I will see you down there.
Wednesday 16th Apr – Scotts Head Market – 3pm – 8pm Held in the oval by the caravan park. This is the first of my holiday twilight markets. Great food, music and market stalls. Well worth a visit.
Thursday 17th Apr – Hat Head Market – 2pm -8 pm – Held next to the Bowling Club. Great fun for all the family. Come along for a great night out.
Saturday – 19th Apr - Forster Farmers Market – 7am – 12pm Along the river by the Police Station.
Sunday 20th Apr – Laurieton Market - 8am – 1pm down by the river on Short and Tunis Streets.
Wednesday 23rd Apr – Scotts Head Market – 3pm – 8pm Held in the oval by the caravan park. Another great night of food, music and market stalls. Well worth a visit.
Thursday 24th Apr – Hat Head Market – 2pm - 8 pm – Held next to the Bowling Club. Great fun for all the family. Come along for a great night out.
Saturday 26th Apr – Tuncurry Market – 8 am – 1pm See you over the bridge at the John Whiley Park.
Sunday 27th Apr – Pacific Palms Market - 8am – 1pm. At Elizabeth Beach, another great market for all the family and dog friendly, so come along for a fun day out.
For those of you who can’t get to those markets all you need to do is ring me on 0406 036 845 or you can now go to my website – www.achealthysolutions.com.au and order from there, and I will arrange for it to be posted or delivered to you. The cost is the same as at the market and postage/delivery is free on all orders over $100 with a flat rate of $10 below that.
To your happiness & health,
Alison Carroll
aka The Turmeric Lady
AC Healthy Solutions
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