There are so many stories out there about why you need this superfood or that superfood and billions of supposed benefits for anything you want to find on the internet. How much of this is true or backed up by scientific evidence? How much of this is simply hogwash? There's really no way to know but when it comes to Turmeric, I can tell you that some of these supposed benefits are real because I've experienced them myself. Most importantly, the anti-inflammatory benefits of taking it.

Four years ago I was experiencing crippling pain in my wrist sometimes stretching all the way up to the inside of my elbow. This pain would start almost immediately after I started to use my computer which as someone who was blogging and writing / typing recipes daily, I couldn't afford to have happening. I went to a muscle doctor and had tests done to determine if something like tendinitis or tennis elbow were to blame but the results came back negative leaving me feeling desperate for a solution. That's when my boss turned me onto Turmeric capsules claiming that they might be able to help me. After doing some research I decided to start taking them and in all honesty, within a month all of the pain I was experiencing had disappeared. 

 To this day I continue to take my turmeric supplements. Was it all just a coincidence or was this miraculous orange spice to blame for my sudden healing? I truly attribute it to the turmeric and with that being said, I want to dive into a few reasons you should be taking turmeric supplements every day!

2. Fighting Free Radicals

Oxidative stress in our bodies is a leading root cause of developing illnesses like cancer. Curcumin in Turmeric has been studied for its anti-cancer properties because of its ability to target and fight free radicals in our body's. Curcumin not only fights free radicals but also boosts our body's own immune systems to better fight off these free radicals.

3. Fighting off Diseases related to Age

Once again, curcumin has proven to be effective in helping to prevent / treat so many age related diseases. Alzheimer's, heart disease, arthritis, these diseases have all shown to promising results when ti comes to curcumin. Although much more studying is needed to definitively say that this is the case, studies have shown that curcumin has the ability to aid in all of these areas. With arthritis, the anti-inflammatory properties have been shown to help reduce the pain and muscle tension associated with different forms of arthritis. In the case of brain and heart related illnesses / diseases, curcumin once again has been shown to help prevent the degeneration of these organs through the fighting of free radicals and oxidation.

4. Skin boosting benefits

The antioxidants in turmeric are currently being studied for their benefits in helping keep the skin healthy and prevent things like rosacea, acne, and sun spots. 

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KFC in the United Kingdom is officially test running a completely vegan chicken burger this month setting off a wave of excitement AND negativity throughout the vegan community. Announcing the Imposter Burger, coated in those famous herbs and spices and slapped between a bun with vegan mayonnaise and lettuce, KFC will test it out for an entire month to help determine whether this is something that should be rolled out across the chain. With all of these fast food restaurants partnering with big name vegan companies like Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods, Quorn etc., it appears that things are moving in the right direction but there's still controversy. 

Secondly, the question of whether purchasing these vegan items contradicts with those very same ethical beliefs. On one hand, you are showing support for the idea of these companies taking steps in the right direction by finally offering vegan products and catering to a market that it growing rapidly. On the other hand, your money is going to a company that still sources animals from factory farms which pollute the environment rapidly and houses their animals in horrendous conditions. So how do we win in these situations?

KFC is only the latest in the United Kingdom to join in on the vegan market. Every fast food chain is reflective of the country it is based in and offers options to cater to the markets in particular areas. For example, when I was in Belgium, the McDonalds had a hefty vegan menu that included vegan nuggets that were delicious and a wonderful vegan burger that could've fooled me into thinking I was eating meat. Back in Canada, the McDonalds has little to no vegan options while places like A & W, Burger King, and Harvey's have been offering veggie burgers for a while now. In fact, A & W and Tim Hortons both have recently joined up with Beyond Meat to offer breakfast sausage sandwiches for vegans and vegetarians alike. As I said, the market is what calls for the options offered at every chain but it is wholly evident that the vegan market is growing and these companies are picking up on those opportunities.

The more options these places are offering means that less meat is being produced and consumed. The mroe innovative these products become mean the more people that are willing to try the vegan versions of their favourite fast food items. All of this will work towards the goal of reducing the planet's meat consumption in favour of vegan products which is ultimately the goal is it not?

I believe we will continue to see the rise of the vegan offerings at our favourite fast food restaurants because the fact is, this market will continue to grow exponentially as it already has demonstrated. The future is definitely vegetarian and vegan.

What do you guys think?

HAPPY VEG

Although fruit is a nutritious way to get your sweets fix, there are some fruits that are notoriously higher in sugars than others. Consuming fruit is a great way to get antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins, but which ones should you eat carefully and in moderation? Let's take a look.