Who doesn’t like a nice cup of tea? No matter what the season is or if it is served hot or cold, tea is a great start to the day for many people, or a welcome pick me up in the afternoon tea break.
In the UK, 165 million cups of this tasty beverage are consumed every day. Britain is the second biggest tea drinking nation after Ireland.
There are different types of tea and herbal infusions. Black tea for instance, is made from the leaves of a bush called Camellia sinensis. A process called oxidation turns the leaves from green to a dark brownish-black colour. Oolong comes from the same plant but the leaves are partially fermented. The difference lies in how long the leaves ferment. Green tea also comes from the same plant, but is not oxidised. The green teas are the least processed and tend to have the highest amounts of polyphenols.
Tea and herbal infusions are, at the very least, a flavourful way of getting enough fluid into your body each day.
But is there more to the cup of tea and any actual health benefits? Yes, there is. Its benefits go far beyond refreshment and flavour. There is plenty of research showing that drinking tea can actually improve your health.
Studies have shown that teas have many medicinal values, including soothing the digestive system. Tea contains antioxidants, may reduce your risk of heart attack and stroke and help with weight loss. It also has less caffeine than coffee and when unadulterated, it is calorie free.
Though green and black teas’ benefits are very well known, there is a particular infusion that can also bring benefits to the table. We are talking about “turmeric tea”. Read on to find out more about turmeric and how it can improve your overall health.
What is turmeric?
Turmeric is a root which looks much like ginger but it is less fibrous and is more chewable, crunchy, and succulent.
The exact origin of turmeric is not known but it originates from South or Southeast Asia. India produces nearly all of the world’s turmeric crop and consumes 80% of it.
In the Indian Ayurveda system of herbal medicine, turmeric is known as strengthening and warming to the whole body. Traditional uses in India include to improve digestion, intestinal flora, to eliminate worms and to relieve from arthritis.
Modern medicine has begun to recognise turmeric’s importance, as indicated by the over 3000 publications about turmeric that came out within the last 25 years. The safety and efficacy of turmeric is well proven.
Turmeric can help to cleanse and strengthen the liver and gallbladder, to normalize menstruation, to relief swelling and promote proper metabolism. It can also be used for local application on sprains, burns, cuts, bruises, insect bites and itches.
Turmeric tea benefits
There are many delicious ways to incorporate turmeric into your diet. One of the easiest ways to take advantage of turmeric’s benefits is by consuming turmeric tea, also known as "Golden Milk Tea".
Making this tasty and comforting turmeric hot beverage which is slightly sweet, slightly spicy and extremely delicious, is a delightful way to heal, cleanse and detoxify your body and liver.
Benefits of Turmeric Tea include:
- Detoxifies the liver: Toxic overload creates an acidic internal environment and has been implicated in a number of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic fatigue, allergies, skin conditions, asthma, mental illness, hypertension, gastritis, kidney disease and obesity. A toxic overload can also contribute to more serious conditions such as autoimmune diseases, inflammatory/rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. This makes our liver overburdened, stressed and overworked trying to keep up with the onslaught of toxins that get thrown at it daily. Providing your body with liver supportive herbs and spices is a wonderful way to detox your liver. Turmeric is a powerful liver cleansing spice and will help support and detoxify your liver.
- Improves skin complexion: Turmeric tea contains antioxidants which work to protect us from free radicals, prevent ageing signs and thus help to keep our skin healthier.
- Reduces inflammation: Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties can help with all types of arthritis and other inflammatory processes.
- Helps with weight loss: Drinking turmeric tea can help keep waist circumference in check. Turmeric stimulates secretion of bile which helps break down fat. Also, the antioxidants in turmeric tea increase the body’s ability to burn fat as fuel, which accounts for improved muscle endurance.
- Reduces the risk of heart diseases: Drinking tea could help reduce the risk of heart attack. It might also help protect against cardiovascular and degenerative diseases.
- Manages sugar levels: Tea could be beneficial to people with Type 2 diabetes. Studies suggest that the curcumin in turmeric tea could help better process sugars.
- Soothes the digestive system: Turmeric tea can be good for people with irritable bowel syndrome because it is an antispasmodic. It can also calm nausea.
Turmeric Tea Recipes
Classic Turmeric Tea (Golden Milk)
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon of raw honey or lemon
Instructions
Bring four cups of water to a boil. Add one teaspoon of turmeric powder and reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the tea through a fine sieve into a cup. Finally, add honey and/or lemon to taste. Add a pinch of black pepper to increase absorption.
Turmeric Tea with Coconut milk
There are different ways to prepare this delicious and comforting beverage. We will share two different turmeric tea recipes.
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons of turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely grated
- ½ - ¾ teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch black pepper
- ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon of raw honey
- ¼ cup of coconut milk
Instructions
Fill a mug halfway with boiling water and add in the turmeric and ginger. Cover and let steep for 10-15 minutes. Stir in cinnamon, black pepper, vanilla and honey. Finally, fill the rest of the mug with coconut milk and stir. You can buy Superfood World Organic Turmeric here.
