Other than its beautiful taste, turmeric is well-known as a strong anti-inflammatory agent. It has been added to foods and used as a supplement to treat conditions like flatulence, jaundice, menstrual issues and hemorrhage. Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. It is a naturally occurring chemical compound that your body benefits from when you consume turmeric tea. Below are a few ways to prepare some delicious and soothing turmeric tea.
Turmeric-ginger tea
This is particularly ideal if you are having a cold. You can add some milk and honey to sweeten it. Start by boiling some water with turmeric and ginger then wait for it to cool down lightly before adding some milk and maple to taste. A 1/8 teaspoon of ground cardamom can add extra flavor to this ginger tea.
Benefits of ginger and turmeric tea: Ginger has high levels of antioxidants so it can really help to boost your immune system. The powerful antioxidants that are present in both ginger and turmeric can help to reduce free radicals in the body that cause disease. Turmeric and ginger also work hand in hand in helping to relieve the symptoms of indigestion and increasing the absorption of food. Ginger is well known to help prevent nausea and vomiting. You can drink it before travelling if you suffer from nausea due to motion sickness. You can also drink this tea to prevent bloating after eating too much.
Turmeric-lemon tea
For some reason, lemon juice blends pretty well with turmeric and ginger. All you need is some boiling water and honey to taste. You can also top it up with cayenne to make the tea sweet and tangy. This is perfect for a cold morning.
Benefits of lemon and turmeric tea: Lemon is one of the best ingredients to include in a tea. To start with, lemons are packed with vitamin C which not only boosts the immune system but also helps in faster wound healing and also preserving the teeth and bones. Lemons contain bioflavonoids which are known to fight the growth of cancer cells. Drinking lemon and turmeric tea can also help to reduce inflammation and other symptoms of arthritis.
Turmeric and black pepper tea
Probably the healthiest turmeric tea you can ever prepare, this one allows you to get the most of curcumin; the active ingredient in turmeric. When turmeric is combined with black pepper curcumin is better absorbed in the body. Simply add some freshly ground black pepper with ground turmeric, lemon and some honey to taste then stir and drink.
Benefits of black pepper tea: Black pepper and turmeric when mixed together can help in improving skin health, digestion problems and is very good for the stomach. Black pepper contains a powerful ingredient known as piperine which is what helps to improve the absorption of other nutrients. When used with turmeric, piperine helps to improve the absorption of curcumin.
Turmeric with milk
If you like milk in your tea, you can always prepare a warm and creamy cup of turmeric tea. Almond and hemp milk are great alternatives and you can add some coconut oil and cinnamon to make it spicier. Instead of using honey, add some maple syrup to taste. Make sure you mix all the ingredients, leaving out the maple syrup, in a saucepan and heat it until it’s warm.
Benefits of turmeric milk tea: When combined with milk, turmeric can be used as a face mask or lotion because of the way it helps to improve skin health. Turmeric and milk has often been used to treat diarrhea and indigestion. However, it is recommended that low fat milk is used if trying to treat diarrhea.
Turmeric ice tea
You can always take your turmeric drink cold. All you need is some 3 cups of coconut water, a few slices of fresh ginger and 1 lime. You can add turmeric, cardamom and honey to taste. Simply combine all these ingredients in a sealable container and shake them well. You can put the mixture in the refrigerator overnight and serve it chilled the next morning.
Benefits of turmeric iced tea: Drink this tea on a sunny day if you want to hydrate well. Research has also shown that tea can actually help to boost oral health. Tea changes the pH of your mouth helping to prevent decays and cavities. Unlike beverages like sodas that you may want to drink to hydrate and cool off, iced tea does no damage to your tooth enamel.
There are many other ways to incorporate the benefits of turmeric in your diet and enjoy its rich flavor. You can try out turmeric tea with any of the ingredients mentioned above for their health benefits as well as rich flavor.
Author Bio:
Maggie Martin is Ph.D. in Cell Biology graduate. She is very passionate about healthy living and has been writing about Food and Healthy Lifestyles. When she is not busy, she takes interest in a variety of things such as lifestyle, food, health, herbal medicine, and the benefits of turmeric. Follow her on Twitter @Maggiemartink