If you haven’t heard of the health benefits of Turmeric, you are missing out! Turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory spice that is used all over the world to help with joint pain, digestive health, and even longevity. David Buettner, author of the Blue Zones, a book documenting the areas in the world where people live longer and healthier lives by embracing a few simple but powerful habits, notes that in certain regions people drink versions of Turmeric tea all day long. This has been theorized as of the reasons people in these Blue Zones live up to a decade longer, and mostly disease-free. Turmeric is known as one of the most powerful natural antioxidants on earth. Turmeric is a prominent staple in the Okinawan diet in both food and tea, and Okinawa is one of the Blue Zones first studied in the book. So, powerful little spice working to keep people healthy in the Blue Zones, it’s definitely worth adding to your diet, right? The answer to that is RIGHT – Turmeric -I’m in!
There are so many ways to get turmeric into your food. I add it to almost any tomato or bean-based soup I make. It gives your food such an amazing flavor, and helps you use less salt (which is an unhealthy spice), and adds a healing, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory spice win-win-win!
Below is a recipe for Turmeric Tea. There are numerous versions of this tea, but let’s start with one that you can easily make at home.
- Ground Turmeric Powder:
In this case, the ground turmeric powder is an option if you don’t want to use the turmeric root. It can be tricky (and messy, turmeric root can stain anything it touches) to make the tea from the actual turmeric root, so the ground powder that you find in your local health food store is great. Watch the ingredient list – some have more sugar than they should to try to get one with a low sugar or no sugar content – just plain ground turmeric is best. - Almond, soy, coconut or regular cow’s milk (try 2% not skim).
A little fat is required to help you absorb all of the nutrients in this lovely, healing drink, and fat free anything is never recommended! - Now for the good stuff! Try one or all of these:
- A pinch cinnamon
- A touch of honey
- A sprinkle of nutmeg
- A kiss of vanilla extract
- You can try other “good stuff” that you think would make it perfect for you, just watch the sugar content. This is meant to be a healing, anti-inflammatory tea and too much sugar (even honey) will negate some of the positive effects.
Turmeric tea is an acquired taste. It’s one of those things that you might try once and think – Ok, are you kidding me? But, for those of us who love it – it’s an addiction – a healthy, warm, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, happy, cozy addiction -win-win-win-win-win-win!