turmeric tonic
Tumeric -the Super Spice!
I love to cook Indian food and have used turmeric for years when making curry. Until recently I had no idea that turmeric is exceptionally good for you. What a bonus! Turmeric is known for its bright orange color; the orange comes from a polyphenol called curcumin. Curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory and according to Ocean Robbins, author of the 31 Day Revolution, it has:
been found to have anti-cancer effects, improve liver function, protect the heart, lower cholesterol and perhaps work against cognitive decline (dementia and Alzheimer’s disease)….research has found low rates of certain types of cancer in countries where people eat 100 to 200 mg of curcumin per day over long periods of time”. (pg. 120)
David Servan, author of Anti Cancer A New Way of Life, states that turmeric also ‘stimulates apoptosis in cancer cells and inhibits angiogenesis. In the laboratory, it enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy and reduced tumor growth.’ (pg. 120)
In case you are wondering how much turmeric is good for us on a daily basis, Robbins states that “The average daily intake of curcumin in India is thought to be about 125mg – the amount found in about half a teaspoon of turmeric powder.” (Robbins, 2018, pg.120).
I have started drinking turmeric lattes (aka Golden Milk) and tonics a couple of times a week in order to increase my weekly intake of turmeric. Turmeric is definitely an acquired taste and if you are new to it, you might not like its bitter taste. Feel free to use less turmeric and more sweetener as needed.
For those of you who are new to turmeric, turmeric is a root and it looks similar to fresh ginger root. Until recently, I had no idea that I could purchase turmeric root at my local natural food store. It can be purchased in its raw form at most good grocery stores or as a powder in the spice section of the grocery store.
One more thing to add – whenever you use turmeric, be sure to add a punch of black pepper. It has been found that it is necessary to use black pepper in conjunction with turmeric to ensure our bodies can absorb and assimilate the turmeric into our system. Ideally, turmeric should also be dissolved in oil (preferably olive, canola or linseed oil) when you are adding it to food.
Turmeric Tonic
I love lemon and ginger so I immediately knew this recipe would be a winner. This tonic is great served hot or over ice.
Ingredients
4 cups of water
1 teaspoon of freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon of freshly grated turmeric
Juice of half of a lemon
Pinch of pepper
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Sweetener of choice to taste (honey, agave, maple syrup)
Creating the Magic!
Boil water in a saucepan. Add lemon juice, ginger, turmeric and a pinch of pepper and cayenne. Simmer for 10 minutes. Take off the heat and strain. Add sweetener to taste. Drink warm or over ice.
Note: Ground spices will work but the medicinal properties of the spices will be reduced. The tonic pictured was made using ground spices as I had run out of the fresh roots. The tonic made with fresh roots will be a lot lighter in color.