Adding turmeric to your pancake batter is one of the most unique ways to pack more health into your breakfast, and by pairing it with cinnamon, you can create a nutritionally superior version of the average flapjack. Turmeric and cinnamon are a powerful duo and adding them to your pancakes will give your breakfast a vibrant golden color and an anti-oxidant boost.

This recipe is inspired by one of our favorite vegan blogs, Produce on Parade. You can follow Katie’s full recipe by adding 1 cup of canned pumpkin to get your pumpkin fix!

These pancakes are a healthy and easy way to feed lots of family and friends over your eventful holiday weekend!

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups white or wholemeal spelt flour

• 2 tbsp coconut sugar

• 1 tbsp ground flaxseed

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• 1 tsp ground turmeric

• ½ tsp ground cinnamon

• ¼ tsp table salt

• 1 ½ cups nondairy milk

• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

• 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

To serve

• ½ tsp vegan butter

• Drizzle of maple syrup

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Once mixed, gradually whisk in the remaining wet ingredients until smooth.

2. Heat a cast iron pan over medium to high and coat with coconut oil. Once hot, pour batter onto skillet, using approximately 1/4 cups for each pancake. Cook until edges begin to dry, then flip and cook the other side until golden. Repeat with remaining batter and serve hot with maple syrup and vegan butter. Makes about 8 pancakes.

3. Enjoy!

Loaded with healthy fats, powerful antioxidants, and inflammation-fighting adaptogens, this raw vegan chocolate-beet cheesecake featuring Copper Cup Red latte mix checks off all the health boxes. Most importantly, though, it’s lick-the-bottom-of-the-pan delicious!

Ingredients

Crust

1/2 cup raw almonds (or your preferred nut)

1 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar

1 tbsp coconut oil 

1 tbsp cocoa powder 

Filling

1 scoop or sachet of Copper Cup Red latte mix 

1 cup raw cashews, pre-soaked and strained 

5 tbsp almond milk (unsweetened vanilla or plain)

3 tbsp maple syrup or agave nectar

3 tbsp coconut oil 

Pinch of salt 

Instructions

Crust

Combine all ingredients together in food processor. Pulse to mix. 

Press into an 8” pan and place in fridge to chill.

Filling

Combine all ingredients together in blender. Blend until smooth. 

Remove pan from fridge and pour filling in. Smooth until even. 

Place in fridge for 3-4 hours or overnight.

Channel your inner Pop Eye morning, noon, or night with this protein power smoothie featuring Copper Cup Supergreens latte mix. Pro tip: do a bicep flex as you gulp for optimal enjoyment.

Ingredients

1 scoop or sachet of Copper Cup Supergreens latte mix

1 cup fresh or frozen spinach 

1 banana

1 cup blueberries 

1 serving of your preferred protein powder

1 cup water or milk 

1 cup ice (optional)

Instructions

Add all ingredients to blender. Blend to desired consistency. Sit back, sip, and enjoy!

Elderly people in India have the lowest incidence of Alzheimer’s in the world—only 1%. Scientists believe it is turmeric, a staple of the Indian diet, that causes such a low rate of the disease.

Ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine have used turmeric to treat a variety of ailments, from colic, to menstrual irregularities, even flatulence. Now modern medicine is finding that turmeric could prevent and even treatment Alzheimer’s disease.

Before we look at some of the research, let’s take a second to ask: What is it that makes turmeric so healthy anyways and how to consume it?

Bioavailable Curcumin

The answer is Curcumin. Curcumin is the compound in turmeric that researchers are finding evidence could be responsible for the treatment and prevention in Alzheimer’s disease. Many people think they can just eat turmeric by itself to get its benefits, but really, curcumin is not bioavailable unless consumed with piperine (the active element in black pepper), and fat. Think about it: why do Indian curries often include black pepper and always butter? They're making their curcumin bulletproof! That is why Copper Cup turmeric latte contains black pepper and fat-rich coconut milk powder.

Now the Science

In 2002, scientists at UCLA studied the effects of curcumin on elderly rats. They found it suppressed oxidative (toxic) brain damage and reduced beta-amyloid, a protein that clumps up into a plaque in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. The rats who took turmeric supplements also performed better in maze tests. A second study by the same group of scientists found doses of turmeric reduced beta-amyloid buildup, and lowered inflammation and oxidation.

A separate study in 2009 demonstrated optimized turmeric extract, enriched with both curcumin and turmerones (another compound of turmeric), performed better at inhibiting the aggregation and release than of pure curcumin alone.

Three years later, in 2012, scientists administered curcumin to groups of fruit flies exhibiting Alzheimer’s symptoms through genetic manipulation. The flies who received in lived up to 75% longer and maintained their mobility compared to flies who did not receive the curcumin.

Studies continue to research the interaction between properties of turmeric and the proteins linked to Alzheimer’s disease, including a 2017 study in Naples designed to isolate and monitor these interactions.

Conclusion

What it boils down to is promising findings that the properties of turmeric act as anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatories and, specifically, clearers of the beta-amyloid proteins that are a prominent characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease.

Sources

Bone, Kerry. "Turmeric and prevention of Alzheimer's disease. (Phytotherapy Review & Commentary)." Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Nov. 2002, p. 154. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A93736450/ITOF?u=sfpl_main&sid=ITOF&xid=ba593c78. Accessed 11 Mar. 2018.

"Findings from University of Naples Federico II Reveals New Findings on Alzheimer Disease (Investigating the Neuroprotective Effects of Turmeric Extract: Structural Interactions of beta-Amyloid Peptide with Single Curcuminoids)." Health & Medicine Week, 20 Jan. 2017, p. 782. Academic OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A477565922/AONE?u=sfpl_main&sid=AONE&xid=33ae66a3. Accessed 11 Mar. 2018.

"HerbalScience Research Demonstrates that Optimized Turmeric Extract Inhibits Amyloid-Beta Accumulation, a Hallmark of Alzheimer's Disease." Biotech Business Week, 14 Sept. 2009, p. 99. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A207560365/ITOF?u=sfpl_main&sid=ITOF&xid=304f2300. Accessed 11 Mar. 2018.

Joychandra, O., and Varkung Valte. "A review--probable mechanism of action of curcumin for the treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD)." Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences, vol. 2, no. 2, 2013, p. 133+. Academic OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A362849683/AONE?u=sfpl_main&sid=AONE&xid=5cef9836. Accessed 11 Mar. 2018.

"Research Brief: Curry stems progress of Alzheimer's disease." GP, 13 Oct. 2006, p. 02. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A152695294/ITOF?u=sfpl_main&sid=ITOF&xid=02dbe2b6. Accessed 11 Mar. 2018.