[Latin Name] Curcuma longa L.

[Plant Source] Root From India

[Specification] Curcuminoids 95% HPLC

[Appearance] Yellow powder

Plant Part Used: Root

[Particle size]80Mesh

[Loss on drying] ≤5.0%

[Heavy Metal] ≤10PPM

[Storage] Store in cool & dry area, keep away from the direct light and heat.

[Shelf life] 24 Months

[Package] Packed in paper-drums and two plastic-bags inside.

[Net weight] 25kgs/drum

[What is Curcuma Longa?]

Turmeric is an herbaceous plant known scientifically as Curcuma longa. It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, which includes ginger. Tumeric has rhizomes rather than true roots, which are the primary source of commercial value for this plant. Tumeric originates from southwest India, where it has been a stable of Siddha medicine for thousands of years. It is also a common spice in Indian cuisine and is often used as flavoring for Asian mustards.

Green tea is made from Camellia sinensis leaves that have undergone minimal oxidation during processing. Green tea originated in China, but has become known for many countries in East Asia.
Several varieties of green tea exist, which differ substantially due to growing conditions, horticulture, production processing, and time of harvest.
Green tea contains a variety of enzymes, amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, sterols, related compounds, dietary minerals, and phytochemicals such as polyphenols, flavanols, and caffeine. Polyphenols found in green tea include but are not limited to epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin; flavanols such as kaempferol, quercetin, and myricitin are also found in green tea. Numerous claims have been made for the health benefits of green tea based on its chemical composition, in vitro studies, animal studies, and human epidemiological studies. Preliminary research on many of these claims is promising, but many also require further study to evaluate.
In 2011 a panel of scientists published a report on green tea’s claimed health effects at the request of the European commission: in general they found that the claims made for green tea were not supported by good scientific evidence. Although the mean content of flavonoids and catechins in a cup of green tea is higher than that in the same volume of other food and drink items that are traditionally considered to promote health, flavonoids and catechins have no proven biological effect in humans.
Green tea is processed and grown in a variety of ways, depending on the type of green tea desired. As a result of these methods, maximum amounts of polyphenols and volatile compounds are retained, affecting aroma and taste. The growing conditions can be broken down into two basic types − those grown in the sun and those grown under the shade. The green tea plants are grown in rows that are pruned to produce shoots in a regular manner, and in general are harvested three times per year. The first flush takes place in late April to early May. The second harvest usually takes place from June through July, and the third picking takes place in late July to early August. Sometimes, there will also be a fourth harvest. It is the first flush in the spring that brings the best-quality leaves, with higher prices to match.
Green tea is processed using either artisanal or modern methods. Sun-drying, basket or charcoal firing, or pan-firing are common artisanal methods. Oven-drying, tumbling, or steaming are common modern methods. Processed green teas, known as aracha are stored under low humidity refrigeration in 30- or 60-kilogram paper bags at 0–5 °C (32–41 °F). This aracha has yet to be refined at this stage, with a final firing taking place before blending, selection, and packaging takes place. The leaves in this state will be re-fired throughout the year as they are needed, giving the green teas a longer shelf-life and better flavor. The first flush tea of May will readily store in this fashion until the next year’s harvest. After this re-drying process, each crude tea will be sifted and graded according to size. Finally, each lot will be blended according to the blend order by the tasters and packed for sale.

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Luckily there are quite a few sweeteners found in nature that are actually quite good for health. This video looks at 4 at the healthiest.

1. Stevia

Stevia is a very popular low-calorie sweetener. It’s extracted from the leaves of the South American Stevia plant.

There are several sweet compounds found in Stevia leaves, the main ones are Stevioside and Rebaudioside A.

Both are many hundred times sweeter than sugar, gram for gram, but have virtually no calories.

Some studies in humans have shown Stevia to have health benefits.

When blood pressure is high, Stevia can lower it by 6-14%.

However, it has no effect on blood pressure that is normal or only mildly elevated.

Stevia has been shown to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics, at least short term.

2. Erythritol

Erythritol is a sugar alcohol that is found naturally in certain fruits, and also used as a low-calorie sweetener. Sugar alcohols are like hybrids of a carbohydrate and an alcohol molecule- it doesn’t contain any ethanol though so doesn’t make you drunk.

Erythritol contains 0.24 calories per gram, or about 6% of the calories as sugar, with 70% of the sweetness.

It doesn’t spike blood sugar or insulin levels and has no effect on biomarkers like cholesterol or triglycerides.

Erythritol tastes very much like sugar, although it can have a mild aftertaste. And while studies show that it’s safe, it can cause digestive issues if you consume too much at a time.

3. Xylitol

Xylitol is also a sugar alcohol with a sweetness similar to sugar.

It contains 2.4 calories per gram, or about 2/3rds of the caloric value of sugar.

Studies have shown it has some benefits for dental health, and may also improve bone density, helping to prevent osteoporosis. It doesn’t raise blood sugar or insulin levels.

But as with other sugar alcohols, it can cause digestive side effects at high doses. Oh, and it’s highly toxic to dogs, so you might want Xylitol out of the house if you have a dog.

4. Yacon Syrup

Yacon syrup is harvested from the Yacon plant, which grows natively in the Andes in South America.

This sweetener has recently become popular as a weight loss supplement, because one study found it caused significant weight loss in overweight women. While it’s promising, one study on its own doesn’t count for much.

But what makes yacon syrup stand out is the high fructooligosaccharide content, which function as soluble fibers that feed the good bacteria in the intestine.

It can help against constipation and has various benefits due to the high amount of soluble fiber. Don’t eat too much at a time though, as it may cause digestive problems.

There are several popular sweeteners that health conscious people often eat instead of sugar. This includes coconut sugar, molasses, honey and maple syrup.

In reality they really aren’t much different from regular sugar. If you are heavily overweight or insulin resistant, large amounts of any of these is not good for you.

That’s not to say they are harmful for everyone though. In the context of a healthy, real food based diet, small amounts of these natural sugars won’t cause harm.

Further reading: https://authoritynutrition.com/4-healthy-natural-sweeteners/

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Studies mentioned in video:

Study 1: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14693305
Study 2: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14681845
Study 3: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19254816