Turmeric has been a part and parcel of our lives since time immemorial due to its medicinal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This bright yellow-orange spice got its colour because of the presence of Curcumin and is native to India and South East Asia. This culinary spice comes from the turmeric root and is commonly used in curries and sauces.
Health benefits of drinking turmeric tea daily:
Turmeric tea includes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which can contribute to cancer prevention. Curcumin found in turmeric has also been recognized as an effective anticarcinogen, or substance that helps prevent cancer.
Strong anti-inflammatory properties found in turmeric tea helps ease inflammation and swelling in people with arthritis. It also helps in reducing painful symptoms. Curcumin has also been found effective in reducing pain in patients with osteoarthritis.
While further research is still underway, but curcumin has been found to possess properties that may help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. The antioxidants found in turmeric may prevent damage to brain cells that can lead to Alzheimer’s. Most importantly some studies have shown that turmeric can reduce the synaptic marker loss and the accumulation of amyloids linked to Alzheimer’s development.
A study has found that consuming turmeric has significantly lowered relapse rates of UC patients in remission. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic condition that causes ulcers in the lower end of the gastrointestinal tract.
Curcumin found in turmeric has been found helpful in increasing the body’s sickness fighting response. The anti-oxidants found in turmeric may be able to boost the immune system. Due to anti-bacterial properties found in turmeric, the body can fight infections too.
Studies have shown that a small dose of curcumin has been able to reduce (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. LDL can clog the arteries and also cause heart problems. Reducing LDL (or “bad”) cholesterol can help reduce the risk of developing some serious conditions, including heart disease and stroke.
Turmeric tea has been proven to prevent diabetes and help control it by reversing insulin-resistance issues and managing high blood sugar. Since curcumin help in managing blood sugar levels, turmeric tea helps in weight loss makes the spice a great fat burner. Curcumin also boosts metabolism which helps in burning more calories.
Turmeric tea is considered safe for most people to drink. Please consult your doctor about drinking turmeric tea if you have any one of the following conditions:
- inflammation of the gallbladder or gallbladder stones
- obstruction of bile passages
- stomach ulcers
- diabetes (turmeric supplements may lower blood sugar)
- on blood thinners
Making turmeric tea
Turmeric tea is very popular because of its unique but subtle flavor. Making it is very easy and it is a great way to get a dose of turmeric every day.
The following are the steps to make turmeric tea at home:
- Boil 3 to 4 cups of water on the stove.
- Add 2 teaspoons of turmeric and stir.
- Simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes.
- Strain the tea into another container.
- Add in honey, fresh squeezed lemon or orange juice, and milk to taste.
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