Health Benefits of Turmeric Tea
Natural plant products have been used for their medicinal benefits since the beginning of human history. Turmeric is a spice and has long been recognized for its medicinal properties. Turmeric is the root or the rhizome of the Curcuma Longa plant and belongs to the same family of plants as ginger. Turmeric plant is native to Southeast Asia. Turmeric has been used as herbal medicine for long both in Indian Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine.
Turmeric is also known as curcumin due to the presence of the polyphenol curcumin, which is the most important bioactive ingredient due to its antioxidative properties and gives turmeric its characteristic yellow colour. Traditionally turmeric has been used for many health conditions, including breathing problems, rheumatism, pains and fatigue. It is also considered helpful in inflammation, arthritis, stomach, skin, liver and gall bladder problems. It is also used for digestive disorders, to reduce flatus, jaundice, menstrual difficulties and colic.
Although turmeric has been used for centuries in traditional medicine for both prevention and cure of many diseases, many studies recently have also proven its efficacy as a potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti- microbial, antimutagenic and anti-cancer. Turmeric has been shown to inhibit cell-proliferation of cancer cells. Turmeric is also hepatoprotective, cardioprotective and hypoglycemic.
Health benefits of Tea: Tea has less amounts of caffeine as compared to coffee, it has certain chemical substances, such as polyphenols, catechins and epicatechins, which are linked to the health benefits of tea. These chemicals have strongly been tied to improved health and have been shown to improve heart health, brain health, bone health, oral health and also have anti-carcinogenic effect. Recent researches on consumption of tea have shown that tea drinkers are less likely to develop diabetes, have more regulated sugar levels and better weight management, as compared to non-tea drinkers. Tea has also been shown to reduce stress and fatigue and improve memory. In addition, it has been proven to lower the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases.
Turmeric tea- A healthy Blend:
Whole is better than the sum of its parts meaning when two beneficial products are combined together, they become much more beneficial compared to their parts. So a blend of tea and turmeric forms a complimentary blend where a compliments the other’s health benefits and also helps to enhance them.
The amount of curcumin required to provide the health benefits and protective effects is much more than can be used daily, it is beneficial to use it in many ways. Also, brewing of turmeric root or powder with tea increases the availability of its beneficial bioactive compounds.
People of Okinawa (an island in Japan) have the world’s longest life span, credit of which they give to the large quantities of turmeric that they add to their tea. Research has also shown that communities that have more intake of turmeric in tea or otherwise are also less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s.
Turmeric and tea together have an increased anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits.
The benefits can be increased by adding, lemon, honey and also pepper to this tea as these improve the bio-availability of curcumin.