What do French fries, a bottle of wine, and chronic stress have in common? They’re all causes of inflammation. (And you don’t want that, since inflammation is the root of pretty much every degenerative illness.)

But there’s an awesome antidote emerging—and it comes from the spice rack: turmeric.

With some promising research backing its benefits, turmeric—that very same staple of Asian and Indian cuisine—is becoming a trendy nutritional supplement. What can it do besides give your curries that signature shade of yellow?

Wellness gurus point to a megastudy that surveyed more than 700 research papers on turmeric, and concluded that curcumin (an antioxidant found in turmeric) has substantial disease-prevention powers and other benefits. Here are just some of them:

1. “It guards against cancer, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s,” says Frank Lipman, MD, who personally takes two turmeric supplements a day. The megastudy also showed turmeric outperformed many pharmaceuticals, and with almost no side effects.

2. Turmeric can do wonders for inflammation-related skin-care concerns, like psoriasis, acne, and sun damage. That’s why Nicholas Perricone, MD, adds it to his sunscreens as well as his diet.

3. And one of the most recent studies to tout turmeric’s benefits and other antioxidant spices, showed that they reduced the negative effects of high-fat meals, lowering insulin response by about 20 percent. We expect a full-on turmeric boom when word gets out about this one!

So how much turmeric should you take to help manage your stress and inflammation? Dr. Andrew Weil, who’s written extensively about turmeric, recommends 400 to 600 milligrams three times per day. (Look for 95 percent curcuminoids on the label, and for piperine, a component of black pepper, that helps facilitate absorption.) Or sip on a Turmeric Live juice, sold at yoga studios, after class.

Meet the awe-inspiring yogi in lingerie, from the Equinox video, Briohny Kate Smyth. The beautiful and controversial video, that went viral in 2 days, with 2 million views, made me want to know the real woman in the glass-walled apartment, practicing asanas with the sleeping guy in bed.

Inspiring and empowering, the video embodied strength, commitment, integrity and beauty. And for some, it triggered fear–comparing, judgement, insecurity, or even defeat–allowing the video to simultaneously serve as the perfect opportunity to get curious, rather than judge.

Here, some words from the woman, herself, on body image, healing, and the power of yoga and a daily practice of self-care.

J: What was it like shooting the Equinox video?

B: So cool. It felt great being in front of the camera and not having to be 90 pounds–for me, it was just awesome. We really had no idea how this was going to go down or that it would be so controversial or so popular. It was a one-day shoot. I got there and they gave me underwear; I usually see people in the least amount of clothing, because I’m a yoga teacher, so I didn’t think anything of it. And I know that showing the lines of the body really helps, when demonstrating yoga. The production crew had a great vision. I mentioned, in another interview, this one moment where my old ways of thinking came in and freaked out for a minute and my fiancé said, “You look beautiful.” I couldn’t let my butterflies get to me. It’s okay to have that moment, but then let it go and freak out later. So, I had a ball.

J: What is your personal experience with body image?

B: I grew up in LA from 3 to 11 and was larger, as a kid. I began singing and performing in Thailand, at 11, and I’m thankful for those experiences. But it was challenging starting out in that industry at such a young age and being half Caucasian and half Thai, because Thai women are naturally very thin. Since I wasn’t, people were telling me to lose weight and get on diet pills–targeting my baby fat in my cheeks and thighs. Not having the tools to cope, I internalized it, and figured the only way to live my life was with an eating disorder and a lifestyle that continued to ruin my body and confidence. Even then, the image I wanted to put out was to inspire women, but behind the scenes it was a different picture. To this day, I’m still not cured–I’m just healing. Anything can be an addiction–food, relationships–even yoga! These experiences have shaped who I am today; we all need a rock-bottom to create the drive to live our life to the fullest.

J: What has been your path to healing?

B: I found yoga at 15 and started experiencing the concept of self-care, for the first time. But my negative beliefs and behaviors were still present and I found support within 12-step programs like OA. They helped me recognize my responsibility in all areas of my life–I had to look inside me and understand how I create my life and my relationships. In 2004, I got pregnant, and it really changed the way I took care of myself. My pregnancy was the biggest healing process in my life; it was a clearing of the negative beliefs and allowed me to just be a mama. Healing is a daily occurrence–it happens every day. Some days are harder, and you call in the tools–affirmations, mantras, gratitude lists–anything that helps you stay present. For me, it’s turning to my practice and these tools, rather than outward, to people, for support. Practicing self-care allows you to go inside rather than become dependent on other people (and other external things) to make you feel better, creating a more sustainable path to happiness.

J: Tell me more about the power of yoga in your life?

B: Yoga was my first wake-up call for healing. When I was 15, I went to Tibet, to film a travel show, and my mother said, “You sound different. Maybe you should stay”. I had discovered an ashram there, in Nepal, and loved the level of spirituality. Any time you’re able to focus on one thing for 1 or 2 hours, it’s spiritual, especially in our culture where we’re just going and going. After the ashram, yoga became really huge in my life and I began to slowly integrate it into my daily life. Over the years, it became a ritual and routine. It held me accountable for what I did. When someone new to yoga asks me where they should start, I ask them what they’re looking for.  Their focus is usually around the physical gains, and in time, it moves beyond becoming more fit, and it creeps into every crevice of our life, becoming much bigger than we could have imagined, while connecting with a different part of yourself.

J: What’s your favorite pose?

B: Savasana. We work so hard during our practice, so that’s a time when we can really reap the benefits of all the poses we’ve just done (all of which, I love). I also love the handstand. It has really changed my practice and my life right now, boosting my confidence and creating upper body strength. The handstand keeps things fun and light–and I can practice it with my daughter, which inspires her, too.

Would you rinse your mouth out with coconut oil?

Turns out many New Yorkers are trading their Listerine for a 10-minute swish with the viscous stuff. The practice is called oil pulling and it’s a (decidedly unusual) Ayurvedic detox method.

Recently the centuries-old medicinal mouth-washing ritual has resurfaced and is getting a lot of lip service for its health-and-beauty perks.

Part of the possible allure? The cleanse doesn’t require juice delivery or even a sweat-inducing workout—just a daily rinse with coconut oil. (If you can stand it.)

WHAT IS OIL PULLING?

Scott Gerson, MD, PhD, medical director of the National Institute of Ayurvedic Medicine, describes the practice like a colonic for the oral cavity.

Swishing with a mouthful of oil “absorbs undigested and partially digested products of food and desquamated cells out of the oral cavity. These contain bacteria, a toxic substance for the body,” explains Gerson, who calls the practice by its Ayurvedic name, Gandusha.

WHAT ARE ITS HEALTH-AND-BEAUTY BENEFITS?

Wellness mavens cite beauty perks from the swish-and-spit routine, like healthier gums, whiter teeth, and glowing skin.

Kat Feldhouse, 29, a writer in Brooklyn, started rinsing with coconut oil about a month ago, after bumping into a friend who was “bursting with energy and glowing skin thanks to oil pulling.” “Within three days of trying it herself, Feldhouse started to see results: “My hands, face, and scalp were way less dry. And my gums had a rosy pink color and finally stopped bleeding after flossing,” she says.

Yvette Rose, the creator of Joulebody Kickstart Cleanse, isn’t surprised. She’s been recommending oil pulling to clients for an extra-cleansing boost, suggesting its benefits might go beyond beautification. “Any type of bacteria or inflammation in our mouths can compromise the immune system, making it work overtime to clean up everything,” says Rose. “When our immune system isn’t able to keep up, these toxins contribute to excess fat and disease.”

DOES IT WORK?

Others swear that, in addition to cleaning up dirty mouths, oil pulling has helped their digestion, hormonal issues, migraine headaches, joint pain, and even fatigue. Studies have proven oral hygiene’s link to heart disease, say these fans, so why not other ailments?

But Dr. Gerson isn’t exactly swallowing it. While he’s seen oil pulling improve tooth decay, bad breath, bleeding gums, weak teeth, and TMJ joint disease in his practice of 30 years, “there are no scientific studies yet that support the claims beyond its positive impact on oral health,” Dr. Gerson says. (Though he’s heard countless anecdotal accounts of ailments improved by oil pulling.)

THE TAKEAWAY

It looks like oil pulling gets the same results as (chemically laced) mouthwash in the oral-care department, plus the possible perk of glowing skin. Why not try it since you’re already using it for cooking and baking?

How to do the mouth-washing detox rinse

In Ayurvedic medicine, sesame oil is the solution of choice for this mouthwash detox method that’s reemerging in New York City wellness circles for its health and beauty perks.

But for a less pungent and decidedly more palatable experience, try a tablespoon of coconut oil. Spectrum’s Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil ($7.99) is an organic option with a nice flavor. (And it’s great in cooking and baking, too.)

Swish it in your mouth for about 10 minutes, working your way up to 15 or 20 minutes, once a day. Focus on pulling, pushing, and drawing it through your teeth without swallowing it. Then spit it out.

Proponents says that rinsing before breakfast, on an empty stomach, produces the best detox results.

And it might go without saying, but brush your teeth per usual after you’re done. Prolonged contact can cause tooth decay.

A recipe from my friend, Kat Feldbouse’s, yummy Brooklyn kitchen. This is a favorite because it’s packed with energy-boosting, plant-based protein with a Mexican twist and it’s one of those super easy one-pot-meals, great for pre-cooking and having on-hand for a few days, saving time in the kitchen + a way to maintain healthy eating habits with a busy schedule.

1 c black beans (soaked and cooked)
1 c quinoa
3 purple potatoes, quartered
1 medium purple onion, chopped
1 piece of kombu seaweed
1 bay leaf
2 tbs coconut oil
5 c filtered water
sea salt to taste
Avocado + salsa to top

Directions:
Soak beans overnight for 6-12 hours in a bowl of filtered water. Drain, rinse and cook in 3 c filtered water, bringing to a boil first and simmering for about 90 minutes. Add kombu seaweed to increase digestibility and a bay leaf for flavor. Add a couple of pinches of salt 10 minutes before finishing cooking. Rinse quinoa and add to 2 c filtered water, bringing to a boil, and simmering for 20 minutes.

In a pan, add oil, potatoes, onion and sea salt. Cook on medium heat for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are cooked through. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Serve with sliced avocado and salsa.

Recipe: Best Red Sauce Ever

I love making a big batch of this sauce and serving it with pasta for dinner and again in the morning with eggs.

1 box crushed or strained tomatoes
1 carton of organic mushrooms, sliced
1 red onion, chopped
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbs olive oil
1 tsp oregano (and any other herbs you like)
Red pepper flakes to taste
Sea salt to taste
Parsley to top

Directions:
Add minced garlic to a heated pan with half of the olive oil. Once it’s fragrant, add the chopped onions, sea salt and red pepper flakes. Stir for a couple minutes and add mushrooms. Stir for another couple minutes until everything is marinating and saucy. Add the box of tomatoes and lower to a simmer for 20 minutes.

Recipe: Raspberry Almond Pancakes

2 c organic spelt flour
2 c organic almond milk
1/2 c organic almonds
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch of sea salt

Directions:
Mix dry ingredients together, adding the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, sea salt. Chop almonds into shavings and add. Add almond milk until desired consistency is reached. Top with warmed maple syrup, fresh raspberries and almond shavings.

(Optional*) Fresh Whipped Cream

1 c organic heavy cream
1 tbs confection sugar
1tsp vanilla extract

Directions:
Using an electric mixer, set on highest speed mixing the cream and sugar until fluffy peaks form. Add vanilla at the end and mix until combined.

*This recipe is wheat-free and vegan. If you’d like to keep it that way, you can skip the whipped cream or make cashew whipped cream.

Secret’s out–even though this superfood is ancient, maca is now coming out of hiding and making a splash–in the bedroom. Add a dash to your morning oatmeal and find out why it’s going to rock your world in my story for Well+Good.

1 c organic whole rolled oats

1/2 c fresh fruit or dried fruit (I’ll choose whatever fresh, organic berries are available, otherwise dried fruit)

1/3 c milk (if you’d like to add, use almond, hemp, coconut, rice or organic whole milk)

1/3 c nuts

1 tbs raw honey

1 tbs maca

Aimée, 32, a health-conscious web designer living in downtown Manhattan, has been spiking her boyfriend’s smoothie with a nutritional supplement. Not with wheat germ, but with Maca. “We’ve both noticed a serious boost in our energy—which is great for my yoga class because I like a fast-paced vinyasa flow—and the romps in the bedroom have been a serious perk!”

Due to its growing popularity as a “vitality enhancer,” Maca is no longer an ancient, ignored superfood. It’s busting out of the history books, popping up on smoothie menus, and appearing in Manhattan kitchen cupboards.

Yvette Rose, founder of Joulebody Kickstart Cleanse, says it’s a better pick-me-up than caffeine. She sprinkles it over her morning oatmeal or adds it to a smoothie. “It’s really easy to add to food, and you’ll notice the benefits almost instantly,” she says.

Just what are those benefits? Peruvian women have long attested to Maca’s super powers in the bedroom (like for 2,600 years), and have been using it for fertility, libido, and treating PMS and menopausal symptoms. New York women are giving it a go, too.

Contemporary nutrition calls Maca an adaptogen, meaning it improves balance in the body where it’s needed or normalizes it under stress. But then Maca goes one better by promoting endurance, energy, stamina, as well as erections and sperm count (especially in rats). And some studies show that Maca is a mood and immunity booster. Name a New Yorker who doesn’t need that?

Want to try a modicum of Maca for you or, er, a friend? Start with one tablespoon of the organic root powder, using a well-known organic brand like Navitas Naturals. You can bump it up to two tablespoons after a couple weeks.

A quirky thing about superfoods like Maca is that their efficacy is sometimes higher when used inconsistently, so try using this one a few times a week rather than making it a daily ritual.

It’s the Year of the Dragon! Bring on happiness and prosperity.

This smoothie follows a Chinese Five Elements recipe for happiness. (We’re still working on the smoothie recipe for prosperity.)

In Five Elements theory, each season corresponds to an element (winter is water), as well as a color, organ, and specific foods recommended for health.

Winter calls for extra TLC for the kidneys, and the color is a deep blue.

So this smoothie relies on antioxidant-loaded blackberries, blueberries, and dark leafy greens that are considered great for sluggish kidneys and energy this time of year.

A superfood bonus comes from Chia seeds, which contain the highest amount of plant-based Omega-3 essential fatty acids. The seeds also help combat depression thanks to their fiber, and have a serving of protein for vital energy.

And a splash of coconut milk lends creaminess, which we all know is happy-making.

Recipe: Year of the Dragon Smoothie

2 leaves of swiss chard
1/2 c organic frozen blueberries
1/2 c organic frozen blackberries
1 Tbsp raw honey
1-2 Tbsp Chia seeds
1 c coconut milk

The holiday glitz can leave your body on the fritz.

But there’s a delicious solution—and it’s only a blender away.

The Healthy New Year Booster Smoothie! It’s packed with the best ingredients to cleanse, alkalize, and rejuvenate you in a flash.

You could call this smoothie a hangover helper. But it’s really more than that because it doesn’t just fix you up—it boosts your digestion, energy, and even your healthy (or missing) glow.

Here’s how it does it:

It contains a dash of the master cleanse (lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and maple syrup), which kickstarts the cleansing process—and adds some heat. Kind of like a fruit-acid peel, you’ll feel this one tingling!

Daikon radish (you can find it at Whole Foods) is said to help break down fats. White roots and vegetables like daikon also have a suds-ing affect in our bodies and scrub out our digestive system.

Kale is for the poor over-loaded liver. It also boosts mood and adds a healthy winter glow to your skin with its super-dose of antioxidants.

And use some organic apple juice as a natural, seasonal sweetener.

Let’s toast to a healthy fresh start!

THE HEALTHY NEW YEAR BOOSTER SMOOTHIE

Combine the following ingredients in a hearty blender or Vitamix.

4 kale leaves
1 medium daikon radish
1 Tbsp maple syrup
1/8 Tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 cup apple juice
Juice of half a lemon
5 ice cubes