Table of Contents
If you’re like most people, you probably love a good cup of tea. There’s nothing quite like the warm, soothing feeling it brings on a cold day. And if you’re looking for an extra boost of health benefits, turmeric tea might be just what you need.
Turmeric tea is one of the most popular herbal teas around the world. It has a long history of use in traditional medicine, and modern science has confirmed its many health benefits.
Made from the dried root of the Curcuma longa plant, turmeric tea has been used for centuries in India for its medicinal properties and is said to treat everything from liver problems to arthritis. Recent studies have shown that it may also help reduce inflammation and promote heart health.
If you're not already enjoying this herbal tea, it might be the time to give it a try.
This article will give you all the right reasons to start drinking turmeric tea. So, keep reading!
What is Turmeric Tea?
Turmeric tea is one of the healthiest and most natural beverages around the globe. It is made using fresh, dried, or ground turmeric which is immersed in water and boiled to make tea.
The drink usually comes in a yellow to orange or golden color with an earthy flavor and a spicy kick. People often consider its bitter yet sweet taste similar to that of ginger root. It might be because both, turmeric and ginger, belong to the Zingiberaceae family of plants.
Turmeric tea is super easy to make at home. You will get the best essence and benefits if you use the fresh turmeric root. However, the taste might not be that pleasant and you may have to use some additive flavors to enhance it.
An easy way out can be using packaged turmeric tea bags. They are usually available at almost all grocery stores and tea shops and can be a great delight to your taste buds.
We will get you some easy recipes in the later sections! But first, let us dig into some more important details about this magic drink!
Types of Turmeric Teas
You could discover turmeric tea offered in a number of forms on the menus of coffee shops and cafes. Although it is great on its own and has a distinctive earthy or sharp flavor, it is frequently combined with other spices and flavors to provide consumers with a wider selection.
For instance, you may have seen restaurants selling ginger turmeric tea. Well, it’s turmeric tea paired with ginger spice, that’s it! Likewise, turmeric tea pairs well with other spices like cinnamon, basil, cardamom, and nutmeg.
You can also enjoy turmeric tea mixed with other beverages like orange juice, green tea, pineapple juice, and plant-based milk (in case you don’t want a dairy one).
Some of the other common flavorings for the tea include maple syrup, honey, lemon, coconut, black pepper, etc.
Even though it can seem strange to match black pepper with turmeric tea, it actually works well with it. Black pepper provides the vitamin piperine, which aids your body in absorbing much more curcumin from turmeric. It also adds depth to turmeric's spicy punch.
Keep in mind that curcumin is the major ingredient responsible for the benefits of turmeric and its tea. However, as it is poorly absorbed by your body, moderate addition of black pepper will always be beneficial!
What Makes Turmeric Tea Worth all the Hype?
Turmeric tea is often hyped for its health benefits and it is all because of the super ingredients found in the herb naturally.
Having a long history as a popular spice for therapeutic purposes, turmeric is still regarded as one of the healthiest herbs in the world. This bright-yellow to orange root is made of the rhizome, or underground stem, of the Curcuma longa plant and is naturally enriched with an antioxidant named “curcumin.”
Curcumin is said to be helpful for a variety of diseases and is the big reason for which science (at least preliminarily) supports the herb and its hype!
For instance, curcumin has skin-cleansing effects and thus turmeric powder is utilized in several religious events in the Hindu faith where its paste is applied to the face and skin as a beautifying procedure.
Additionally, recent animal studies have demonstrated that curcumin has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory actions, and thus it is promising in preventing or improving various infections and diseases.
So, from common household to medicinal uses, curcumin is the main ingredient behind all the wonders this herb and its tea does!
Potential Health Benefits of Turmeric Tea
Here are some of the right reasons to drink turmeric tea daily! Yes, we’ll be exploring the benefits of turmeric tea now. Let’s begin.
Enhances the Immune System
A cup of fresh turmeric tea can support the health of your immune system and empower it to function properly. It is because the curcumin inside is a good polyphenol with strong antioxidant properties. It shields the body from the effects of oxidative stress by neutralizing dangerous free radicals.
Stress, if not controlled, causes a systemic imbalance that has been linked to impaired immune function as well as a variety of other diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer's.
Recent studies have found curcumin to have major immune-boosting effects that go beyond protecting against the common cold.
Anti-Inflammatory Nature
In addition to being an antioxidant, curcumin is anti-inflammatory as well. Thus, you can expect your turmeric tea to have similar effects.
It helps your body to avoid developing inflammation and thus keeps many related diseases at bay. These may include Alzheimer’s disease, allergies, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, heart disease, arthritis, and even psoriasis.
Many studies have found curcumin to ease the symptoms of these diseases and lessen the distress they cause. So, if you are suffering from any of these, you may want to include turmeric tea in your diet today.
Relieves pain and lifts your mood
It is not necessary that turmeric tea is only for unhealthy or diseased individuals. It has many benefits for the healthier ones too.
If you had a tiring day at work and want to relax, turmeric tea can be a great treat in the evening. The curcumin inside has been reportedly effective at reducing the pain and tension in the muscles.
If you have woken up lazy and are looking for a mood booster in the morning, turmeric tea will be a great option to sip on. One study suggested that the anti-inflammatory characteristics of curcumin may also benefit the general population's mood, focus, and working memory.
Ensures Healthy Skin
We have mentioned before that turmeric can be applied to the skin as a beautifying agent. It is because curcumin is often linked with enhancing the complexion and texture of the skin.
Some early evidence suggests that curcumin can be a good oral and topical treatment for a variety of skin issues. Acne, psoriasis, and facial photoaging were some of the tested concerns during the studies. And curcumin was proven to alleviate their symptoms and ease the signs significantly.
So, how about enjoying a turmeric mask with your evening cup of turmeric tea?
Turmeric masks are very popular among women and are a common household remedy among Asian people for healthier skin. But if you don’t want to apply it to your skin, you can expect similar benefits from turmeric tea.
Liver Protection
The antioxidant potential of curcumin empowers it to reduce the oxidative stress inside your body and thus it is often linked to the protection of various organs, especially the liver. A few research studies conducted on mice suggest that curcumin slows down the progression of liver diseases and prevent the organ from injuries.
Considering the vitality of the organ, turmeric tea may be the best and the most natural way of protecting your liver.
Improves Metabolic Health
In terms of overall metabolic health, curcumin's impact on decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation has broad ramifications. According to studies, curcumin's characteristics may help lower blood pressure and blood sugar levels as well as encourage losing weight and combating obesity.
Although much more research is required to discover how and to what degree curcumin can cure metabolic disorders, the scientific community generally agrees that the substance appears to be promising in that regard as well.
So, this can be another good reason to sip on turmeric tea.
Elevates brain function
There are many studies that link curcumin and neurodegenerative diseases positively. Many of them have found that moderate consumption of turmeric or curcumin boosts the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
BDNF is one of the major hormones in the brain which is responsible for the enhanced growth of new neurons and thus helps to fight a variety of degenerative processes in your brain.
This is probably why turmeric tea is a refreshing start for a day.
Is Turmeric Tea Safe For All?
Now that you know the health benefits of turmeric tea, it is good to know if it is safe to consume it or not. Here is what you need to know.
When eaten in moderation, turmeric tea is generally regarded as safe for the majority of individuals. However, some individuals should exercise caution when drinking turmeric tea or, in extreme situations, refrain entirely.
It is still unknown whether turmeric extract at doses greater than those typically found in food is safe for those who are pregnant or nursing. As a result, if you're expecting or nursing, it's advised to limit your intake of turmeric.
Also, curcumin has caused allergic responses in small numbers of people.
It is good practice to consult your trusted healthcare practitioner before consuming turmeric tea if you are on heavy drugs or medicines. It is because much evidence suggests that curcumin can potentially react with medications like anti-depressants and blood thinners.
If you concern is, "is turmeric tea medically reviewed?" You can check out the plethora of information from the National Library of Medicine, which has a ton of data on the positive effects of turmeric and more specifically curcumin.
Some Easy Recipes For You
As promised, here we are with some easy recipes for making turmeric tea. If you are safe to drink it, as per the above criteria, you can definitely try them and enjoy it!
For fresh turmeric tea, cut an inch of the fresh whole turmeric into smaller slices and add it to a cup of water. Let the water boil and sit for 3-4 minutes. Strain the mixture and enjoy your tea.
For dried turmeric tea, use dried or ground turmeric around a ½ tablespoon and add it in a cup of water. Let the mixture boil and sit for 5 minutes. Stir well and enjoy.
To brew turmeric tea, take 4 tablespoons of dried turmeric or cut a 4-inch slice of fresh turmeric and add them to 4 cups of water. Let it sit in the refrigerator for a day and then strain it with a cheesecloth and enjoy.
To enhance the taste of your tea, you are free to add any kind of additives and sweeteners, if you are not on a weight loss diet.
Final Thoughts
Turmeric is a very healthful spice and thus should be included in your diet. There are many ways to do so.
You can simply add turmeric powder to your food or consume some high-quality turmeric supplements. However, if you are looking for something more convenient and tastier, turmeric tea is the best option to go for!
