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IF you’re looking for a quick and easy way to get your skin glowing, you may want to turn to your spice rack.

Turmeric is commonly used to add colour and flavour to dishes like curries.

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But beyond its culinary charm, the vibrant powder has also been used in traditional medicine for centuries.

Its main active ingredient, curcumin, has been found to reduce inflammation and promotes collagen production – hello plump skin and less wrinkles!

Turmeric’s antimicrobial properties can also help prevent acne breakouts and other skin infections.

Dr Trevor Cates, from skincare brand The Spa Dr, said: “You can consider it [turmeric] the granddaddy of anti-inflammatory spices.

“Its effects are so powerful that it may also help with joint pain.”

To get more curcumin into your system, Dr Cates suggests brewing up a cup of turmeric tea.

He starts with four cups of water which he brings to the boil before adding one teaspoon of ground turmeric and reducing to a simmer for 10 minutes.

Then, he says, strain the tea through a fine sieve into a cup, and add honey and/or lemon to taste.

He adds: “[You can] experiment with the ingredients and flavorings until you find a combination that suits your taste.

“You can also experiment with freshly grated turmeric for a more vibrant flavour.”

Another way to get more turmeric into your system is by sprinkling a little on your food. Veggies and meat are all delicious with a little curcumin added.

And with a jar of ground turmeric from Aldi costing as little as 75p, it works out as a very cost-effective skin booster.

But be warned – while you can also mix turmeric with milk or water and apply it directly to your skin, it may stain if you leave it on too long.

Beyond your skincare and helping with joint pain, some lab studies on cancer cells have shown that curcumin also has anti-cancer effects.

It is being argued that it is able to kill cancer cells and prevent more from growing with “promising” results in clinical trials.

But Cancer Research UK says larger studies are needed. 

The organisation adds: “At the moment there is no clear evidence in humans to show that turmeric or curcumin can prevent or treat cancer.

“We don’t know how safe curcumin is when used for medical reasons. So far, research studies seem to show that it causes few or no side effects.

“But we don’t know much about the side effects of taking it in large amounts to treat or prevent cancer.

“So, if you use curcumin for reasons other than cooking, talk to your doctor first.”

McCloskey, whose last Ireland start came against Italy in February 2024, is expected to partner Jamie Osborne in the midfield in Saturday’s Test against Georgia.

Osborne, 23, is known as one of Ireland’s most versatile players. He can play at either inside or outside centre and started at full-back and right wing against Wales and France in this year’s Six Nations.

“Jamie’s been great. He’s the kind of guy that slips into any position fairly well,” said McCloskey.

“You can play him anywhere over the backline and he’ll do a great job. We’ve had a good combination going there the last couple of days.

“He’s physical, he’s got all the skills and everything you’d want in a rugby player. I’m sure he’ll go on and get a lot more caps under his belt over the next 10 years.”

As for himself, McCloskey wants to use the Georgia and Portugal games to stake his claim ahead of a glamorous autumn programme that includes Ireland’s rematch against the All Blacks in Chicago and a home Test against double world champions South Africa.

That means impressing O’Connell, who he played against in the old Pro12 days.

“Ulster sent down the biggest B team of all time because it was a dead rubber at the end of the season and Munster had their best team out,” McCloskey recalls of Ulster’s 19-17 win at Thomond Park in May 2014.

“I remember it very well. Michael Heaney scored a try, they were trying to get to second and we were fourth, couldn’t go up or down, it was back in the Pro12 days and we got the win, I think it was my fourth cap.”

Perhaps he mentions it to O’Connell when the towering Irish icon brings us McCloskey’s age?

“No, but I like to think he knows it. I’m trying to get picked this week!”