The bottom line really is that, just as the underutilization of several of our natural sources foods has led to many of these problems to have reached this epidemic level, irrespective of color or continent, it is the same source of foods that could reverse this imbalance and help us regain our own body’s immunogenic balance which is built into our systems.

One of the obvious fallout, a complete lack of balance in eating habits and a drastic change in lifestyles have created the biggest threat of all – obesity. Several of the most known spices including turmeric have been studied in the most critical of scientific spaces to emerge as a highly effective and potent remedy to address not only obesity but also cancer, dementia, and control of blood sugar.

This is often referred to as ethnobotany, a science that studies threadbare the traditional plant sourced foods and their impact on human evolution and subsequent changes in metabolism. In Indian and Chinese cooking, not only has turmeric been used for coloring gravies but also cheeses as well as for coloring regular mustard. In ancient Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, turmeric powder was used to cure inflammation, reduce liver infections and malfunctioning digestion, and also help fight clotting of blood, curing skin ailments and wounds. It is known to have proven antimicrobial action on the skin.

What is curcumin?

Clinical trials with curcumin, a chemical found in the turmeric powder, proved that this chemical has been found to have far-reaching effects on the body to combat effectively not only cancer but also diabetes, Crohn’s disease, arthritis ,all kinds of ulcerations and inflammation-related diseases, irritable bowel syndrome, uveitis, cardiovascular diseases, vitiligo, lupus, renal conditions, and immunodeficiency syndrome like thalassemia.

What has conclusively been reported through several studies on Curcuma longa, the rhizomatous ginger family perennial plant, is that there is adequate evidence now to support its high effectiveness in combating all of the above mentioned debilitating conditions.

Apart from making it part of your everyday food intake, the powder form of this rhizome can be included as a drink in your diet too. Turmeric tea is easy to prepare and maybe combined with other herbal inclusions and infusion without changing its basic qualitative aspect and effectiveness.

The presence of curcumin in turmeric is known to lessen the resistance in the body for insulin and leptin – two of the most well know causes of obesity.

So how does consumption of turmeric tea really help?

One need not always look for “pharmacolized” turmeric solutions –one of the simplest ways this golden spice can be made part of your diet is by simply making a fairly pleasant tasting tea out of its powdered form, which is easily available in all well-known spice stores. Get it from any Asian spice shop and you are sure to get the purest form.

Some Truly Authentic and Effective Turmeric Tea Recipes

It would not be an exaggeration to call them formulas as they do pack in the goodness of several highly therapeutic additions apart from turmeric power to make them a very healthy drink.

Here Is #1 Japanese Turmeric Tea

• 2 cups water, ½ tsp ground turmeric, ½ tsp ground chopped ginger, ½ tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tbsp honey, 1 lemon wedge.
• Boil water and as it begins to simmer add cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric powder and allow it to simmer on low heat for a good ten minutes.After which, you should strain it and add honey and the lemon wedge.

This recipe is also called as the Okinawa turmeric tea.

Recipe #2 The Golden Cup

• 2 cups water, an inch of grated ginger, 2 tsp ground turmeric powder, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, lemon grass tea bag or fresh lemongrass, 6 pepper corns, pinch of sea salt.
• Garnishing – orange or lemon slice, honey, a little lemon juice.
• Boil water with cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, orange slices, and pepper corns. Simmer for 10–15 minutes and when you turn off the heat add the lemon grass. Steep for three minutes and strain into a cup. Add lemon juice, honey, and a lemon wedge on the glass.

Recipe # 3 Golden Milk

So those of you who prefer to tone down the smell and the spiciness of turmeric which could be slightly,overpoweringly acrid, here is a creamier version.

• 2 cups milk (dairy), soya or almond (any), 1 teaspoon turmeric, ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder (you could use a stick too), a small piece of ginger, a tsp of honey, a pinch of cayenne powder, a pinch of black pepper powder.
• Blend in milk and all the other ingredients in blender till smooth. Boil for 3 to 5 minutes. Strain and drink warm or hot as you please.

Recipe# 4 Turmeric Tea with a Twist

Simply repeat all of the ingredients of the basic tea like 1 tsp of turmeric powder in 2 cups of water. Add ginger powder, cloves (about 4), a crushed cardamom, and cayenne pepper and then boil. After simmering for 10 minutes, strain and add honey. Cardamom is another top immunity booster and high in antioxidants that combines famously with turmeric.

Reference links:

• http://naturalsociety.com/turmeric-a-superfood-secret-for-healthy-fat-loss/
• http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/Turmeric
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3535097/
• http://www.prevention.com/weight-loss/herbs-and-spices-for-weight-loss
• https://www.undergroundhealth.com/lose-10-pounds-just-1-week-incredible-turmeric-tea/
• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92752/
• http://allrecipes.com/recipe/242148/ginger-turmeric-herbal-tea/
• http://nutritionstripped.com/turmeric-tea/

Taken regularly, turmeric tea will help reduce chronic or low level inflammation caused by oxidized lipoproteins, uric acid, glycation, elevated blood sugar, and the general metabolism that is a continual process in the body.

Chronic inflammation puts you at risk for all sorts of health issues, diseases, and the accompanying pain. The curcuminoids in just one cup of turmeric tea taken daily will modulate several pathways that contribute to inflammatory processes.

Besides its other health-edifying and antioxidant qualities, turmeric tea has the added benefit of potentially boosting weight loss. So drink up!

How to Prepare Basic Turmeric Tea

Turmeric tea is not actually a tea because it’s not made from the leaves or buds of the Camellia sinensis plant. It’s an infusion in which boiling water is poured over the turmeric (fresh or dried) and allowed to steep for 7-10 minutes. The hot water renders the nutritional properties from the root and provides many more times the benefits of traditional tea.

Note: If you are trying to alleviate severe chronic pain due to inflammation, use a standardized turmeric extract that includes high amounts of curcumin instead of fresh turmeric, which contains only about 3% by weight. Add a bit of black pepper to enhance absorption.

Curcumin is also fat soluble, so enjoy some healthy fat along with your tea (for example, avocado, banana, olive oil, nut oils, or coconut), or simply add whole fat milk or a fermented milk product such as kefir. Many people like to add a pat of pure pastured butter to their turmeric tea. This makes a flavorful, rich hot drink!

You will need:

• 1/2 cup dried or fresh turmeric, grated
• Boiling water
• A 1-quart jar with a tightly fitting lid, sanitized

Directions

Place the turmeric in the jar and pour the boiling water over the turmeric to the top of the jar. Cover the jar loosely with the lid until the infusion has cooled a bit, then tighten the lid.

Let the infusion steep for 4-10 hours, then strain. You can make the infusion at night so it’s ready in the morning! Store in the refrigerator and discard after 3 days, or use any leftover to make turmeric milk or paste, or use it in soup.

Note: Before filling the jar with boiling water, temper the glass by adding about 1 inch of water first and swirling it around so the glass heats up slowly.

You can add as many of the following ingredients as you like to make a delicious turmeric chai:

• Black pepper (aids bioavailability)
• Honey
• Cardamom
• Ginger
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Molasses
• Milk
• Coconut sugar
• Butter

How to Prepare Basic Turmeric Milk

You will need:

• 1/2-1 inch piece of turmeric, grated
• 8 ounces of organic or pastured milk
• Ginger (optional)

You can use any type of milk: soy, coconut, almond, rice, or any other type.

Directions:

Place milk and turmeric in a saucepan on medium low heat and bring to just before the boiling point. You don’t want to scald the milk.

Strain the milk into a mug and allow to cool slightly to drinking temperature.

To use as a facial wash, soak a clean washcloth in the mixture and apply to the skin. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Recipe 2: Golden Milk

You will need:

• 2 cups milk, any type
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp honey, raw unheated, unfiltered
• Pinch freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp ginger powder or freshly grated ginger root
• Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/4 tsp. cardamom (optional)
• 1 pat butter (optional)

Directions

Blend all ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth, then pour into a saucepan and warm slowly over medium-low heat for 3-5 minutes. Do not boil.

Pour into a mug and enjoy immediately!

Turmeric Tea for Weight Loss

How does turmeric tea work to boost weight loss? Simple. Excess weight creates chronic or low-grade inflammation. This is like a continual fire in the cells. Because of its strong anti-inflammatory properties, it can help diminish excess weight-related inflammation and boost fat burning by suppressing the inflammation messages cells receive. By changing the way fat, muscle, pancreatic and other cells receive these messages, curcumin can help curb insulin resistance, high blood sugar and other metabolic conditions that are the result of obesity. When your body isn’t fighting inflammation, it functions properly and you’ll begin to lose weight.

Recommended dosage:

Drink 2-3 cups of turmeric tea daily, either hot or cold. For this application, it’s recommended you use curcumin extract to make your tea.

Prepare your tea by pouring boiling water over 1 teaspoon of curcumin extract per cup of tea, then add you favorite ingredients such as honey or milk. You do not need to let the tea steep.

Please note that taking turmeric drinks should not be expected to act as a stand-alone remedy for weight loss. A balanced healthy diet and daily movement will go a long way to helping you regain your natural weight.

Precautions

Although there is no real evidence that turmeric or curcumin is harmful during pregnancy, it’s best to check with your doctor or midwife if you’re pregnant.

Turmeric can stain clothes, counter tops and skin, so use caution when preparing your teas and drinks.