Tea with turmeric: useful properties and recipe for cooking

Turmeric is known to most people as a spice that has a bright yellow or yellow-orange color and a slight bitter taste. Often seen as part of a spice mixture, it is responsible for giving a beautiful golden color to a dish. But in many Asian countries, it is not only added in cooking, but also used as the main ingredient in a hot beverage. Turmeric tea has many beneficial properties, helps to cope with various ailments, maintain immunity, eliminate toxins and detoxes from the body.

Tea with turmeric can be drunk as an ordinary drink, starting your day with it, or used as a means of traditional medicine to improve health, improve immunity, cure colds, fight some inflammatory processes. It should be noted that in small quantities turmeric has almost no contraindications, but taking it in large quantities can already have a negative impact on health.

More and more people choose this "golden" drink to treat certain diseases, it can replace some synthetic drugs. Fresh turmeric root or powder can be used to make tea. Also, the drink is not only used for the prevention and treatment of diseases, it is part of diets and weight loss programs. The components contained in it allow you to control appetite, improve and speed up the digestive process, and prevent the accumulation of fat tissue. Sometimes it's enough just to drink tea in the morning to always stay in shape and feel a burst of energy.

Composition and calories

This popularity of turmeric as a natural remedy is due to its unique composition.

1. Many studies note that the main therapeutic effect of the spice lies in the natural yellow dye curcumin. This substance helps to activate the protective functions of the body, which are responsible for normalizing metabolism, removal of toxins and other harmful substances from the body. It also helps to fight inflammatory processes. Curcumin is a natural antibiotic, so a drink with turmeric is an effective way to fight colds. Studies have also revealed curcumin's ability to fight cancer cells. It is curcumin that is often included in synthetic medicines that are used to treat many diseases.
2. The essential oils, important minerals and vitamins in the spice also help support its strong therapeutic effect. Phosphorus, iron, iodine, calcium help regulate metabolic processes in the body, are responsible for normal heart function and good condition of blood vessels.
3. Choline helps protect cell membranes from destruction and prevents their damage, reduces blood cholesterol levels. It also acts on the nervous system as a calming agent, is involved in the normalization of weight.
4. Vitamins C, K, B group participate in strengthening the protective functions of the human body, improve the condition and elasticity of blood vessels.
5. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that destroy cells and cause their irregular division. They can not only protect against the formation of cancer cells, but also help maintain youth and beauty.

Often turmeric tea is used as a weight loss tool. The reason is not only the useful composition, but also the low calorie content. In 100 grams of the product contains 325 kcal. To make a cup of aromatic healing drink, it is enough 0.5-1 tsp. spice, which is 5-7 grams of product. As a result, the caloric value of one serving is negligible. Of course, the final figure will be influenced by the way the tea is prepared and consumed. If it consists only of turmeric and water, the caloric value will be minimal, with the addition of new ingredients, regular tea, honey, it will increase.

How to choose the right turmeric for tea

To get the most benefit from turmeric tea, you need to choose a fresh and quality product.

When buying the root, you should pay attention to its appearance. It should be dense, elastic, not shriveled or wilted. A fresh root has a thin skin, it can be damaged by a fingernail. The color of the product depends on the variety and place of growth. Wild plants have a less intense hue.

If you plan to buy turmeric powder, preference should be given to sealed factory packages. This way the product is better preserved. In this case, there is no possibility to test turmeric for compliance with all the requirements, so it is better to buy the product from a proven manufacturer, whose quality is trusted. When buying powder in bulk, you should pay attention to the fact that it does not have lumps and remains crumbly.

It is worth checking the product and for freshness. Quality turmeric root or powder has a bright spicy aroma. To feel it, the turmeric powder should be rubbed with the fingertips, and the root should be peeled. If you began to feel the spicy smell, everything is fine, you can buy it, but if there is no fragrance, you should refuse to buy it. Most likely, the product has been lying on the counter for a long time.

The powder should be stored in a dark place with a constant temperature and in an airtight package. The root can be put in a container and kept in the refrigerator in a special compartment for vegetables.

Useful properties of turmeric tea

Tea with turmeric has a wide range of useful properties. It helps to maintain a normal state of all systems of the body, triggers metabolic processes, removes toxins and free radicals. The drink has a beneficial effect on the heart, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, increases immunity, helps to fight arthritis and other diseases of the joints.

For women

A turmeric-based drink helps maintain women's health. A natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory helps fight many negative processes of the female reproductive system. The substances contained in the spice alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. The oestrogen contained has a beneficial effect on the female body during menopause.

It is worth remembering that turmeric thinens the blood, so your periods may be more abundant.

For men

Healing drink allows you to improve male health. Because of its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial action, it is used to treat certain types of male infertility or to maintain prostate health.

In Pregnancy

In pregnancy, turmeric tea can help keep a mother healthy, especially during the seasonal flu and colds. After all, pregnant women are often not allowed to use many medications so as not to harm the fetus. Curcuma is a natural antibiotic and has an anti-inflammatory effect, supports the immune system and increases the body's resistance to harmful influences. Also, expectant moms often have digestive problems. Turmeric tea can help normalize the gastrointestinal tract.

But it should be used with caution. In the first trimester, turmeric should be avoided altogether. It increases the tone of the uterus, which increases the risk of miscarriage. It is also necessary to limit the use of the drink in the third trimester, so as not to provoke early labor. During this period, the concentration should not exceed 1-2 grams per day. But in the second trimester, an infusion with turmeric can help maintain the health of the mother and the fetus. Again, it is worth remembering not to exceed the daily dose, which is 1 mug of tea per day or 5 g of turmeric per day.

It is also worth consulting your doctor. If there are contraindications (liver disease, gastrointestinal tract, poor blood clotting) it is worth to give up this infusion.

When breastfeeding

Tea with turmeric during breastfeeding can benefit or harm. It should be remembered that the introduction of any new product, including spices, should take place gradually. The mother needs to monitor the reaction of the baby and her body. If there are no contraindications and no allergic reactions, you can drink a cup of flavored infusion once in a while.

It has a positive effect on the outflow of milk, especially important for those women who have stagnation. The drink will serve as a prevention of mastitis. Also turmeric increases the immunity of the mother and child, improves digestion.

For children

The question of at what age can be introduced into the child's diet different spices, including turmeric, remains controversial. Particularly conservative experts forbid adding the spice until the child is 6 years old. By that age, his or her digestive system is fully formed and he or she can try new foods. Other experts say that it is acceptable to prepare drinks based on turmeric for a child from the age of 2 years. After all, it has an anti-inflammatory effect, helps to resist colds and other diseases.

It is worth remembering that the first thing you need is the absence of contraindications. It is also important to be careful and at the first stages to introduce turmeric tea into the child's diet gradually, observing the dosage.

When losing weight

Tea with turmeric is often used as a means of weight loss. The reason lies in the fact that the spice allows you to adjust the digestive organs, control appetite, normalize metabolic processes in the body. Also turmeric prevents the accumulation of fat and promotes its breakdown.

Recipe for a cocktail for weight loss: in a glass of water add ½-1 spoon of spice, green tea, some ginger and a couple of drops of lemon.

But you should not get carried away. It is enough to drink one cup in the morning before breakfast to feel the positive effect, combined with the observance of the basics of proper nutrition and with normal physical activity.

Harms and contraindications

Despite the impressive list of useful properties, a drink based on turmeric can cause harm to the body if a person has a personal intolerance to the product or contraindications.

It should be noted that in small quantities this spice is practically harmless for all people. If you get carried away with its use, do not control the amount of tea consumption per day, it is possible to harm even a healthy body.

First of all, to limit the use or altogether refuse tea with turmeric should people who have gastrointestinal tract diseases are in the acute stage. Turmeric increases the internal secretion of the stomach, intestines, also the liver, gallbladder and pancreas. It can worsen the condition if there are problems with these organs. Therefore, it is better to refuse the drink during an exacerbation of an ulcer, in the presence of intestinal colic, gallbladder and liver stones, the probability of blockage of the bile ducts, pancreatitis.

It is also necessary to exclude turmeric for people who have low blood clotting or who take blood thinning medications to prevent blood clots. Turmeric has the same effect as aspirin. It is also worth restricting it to people suffering from acute anemia. It prevents the absorption of iron from food in its entirety.

It is not always recommended to drink tea with turmeric for pregnant women, especially in the first trimester. The spice increases the tone of the uterus, which can cause fetal loss. In any case, you should not start taking turmeric during pregnancy, if before that it was not part of the diet. But first of all, we mean here its use for medicinal purposes, not as a spice. In the second case, its concentration is extremely low and can not cause significant harm.

Because the effects of the spice on the development and health of newborns have not yet been fully studied, most experts recommend that breastfeeding mothers refuse to drink turmeric or limit its consumption during breastfeeding. And for children under 2 years of age, it is not recommended to include it in their diets.

You should give up turmeric for those who have diabetes and take medications that lower blood sugar levels. The spice has a similar effect, which can cause a strong decrease in sugar and lead to a severe condition.

It is also not recommended to use turmeric for medicinal purposes, including tea based on it to those who have serious liver, gallbladder and kidney diseases. Choline can cause stone formation.

If a person is healthy, he can safely include turmeric tea in his daily diet. If you have a medical condition, you should consult your physician before starting to drink this drink on a regular basis. Do not forget about the need for moderate consumption of such tea.

How to cook turmeric tea: Recipes

There are a lot of recipes for preparing the healing drink. It can be the classic way, which does not include a large number of ingredients. Or, on the contrary, a recipe that allows you to add spices and other products to taste, which will not only improve the taste of the tea, but also increase its useful properties.

The classic way of making it

The easiest way to make the health-improving "golden" drink is the classic method. All you need is turmeric and water. Usually powder is used, as it is easier to find and purchase, but you can also take the fresh root of the plant.

To make 1 cup of tea you will need to boil 250 ml of water. In a mug put 0.5 tsp. spice and pour hot water. Then cover and let stand for 3-5 minutes. It is better to drink tea hot or warm, so turmeric fully reveals all its beneficial properties.

In Asian countries, the healing drink is not infused, and heated over low heat for 10 minutes. You can also choose this variant.

Another classic way of preparing a fragrant drink is a recipe using black pepper. Heating the spice and this combination allows the useful substances to be better absorbed by the body. Therefore, black pepper plays here the role of the product, not only giving spice, but also an assistant to get more benefits from the drink.

To prepare the second version of tea with turmeric, you need to do the same manipulations, boil water, pour it 0.5-1 tsp. spices, add a little black pepper to taste, allow to infuse and drink.

Tea with the addition of ginger

A fairly popular recipe for turmeric tea with the addition of ginger. Ginger is a related plant to turmeric, so adding it increases the usefulness of the drink and helps boost immunity during colds.

The method of preparation is also quite simple. It is necessary to take 0.5 tsp of turmeric and 0.5 tsp of ginger. You can use powder or cut off a piece of fresh root. But you should take into account that ginger, as well as turmeric, in its fresh form have a stronger flavor. You need to pour the spice mixture with a glass of boiled water. Leave it for 3-5 minutes, then you can drink it.

To the drink based on turmeric, you can add honey or lemon to taste. This way is suitable for those who can not drink the usual infusion, they need sweeteners or additional flavors. It is not necessary to add sugar. This will greatly increase the caloric value of the tea, but it will reduce its useful properties. It is also worth remembering that honey in hot water loses some of its useful properties, so it is better to wait until the drink cools down a bit.

Drink with turmeric and spices (cinnamon, cloves)

To improve the taste and give a hint of spice, you can use a recipe for making tea with the addition of cinnamon or cloves. These spices will give the infusion not only a pleasant aroma, because they are also natural sweeteners without increasing the carbs and act as flavor enhancers.

The method of making such a drink remains the same, but a small amount of ground cinnamon or cloves is added to the turmeric before brewing.

Infusion with turmeric based on black or green tea

You can also prepare the drink together with your favorite kind of tea. It can be black or green.

It is necessary to boil 200 ml of water. In a cup or teapot put 1-2 tsp. of your favorite tea, add 0.5 tsp. turmeric, pour hot water, cover and let infuse for a few minutes. You can also add honey or lemon. It should be remembered that the water temperature when brewing green tea should be lower, about 80-85 degrees.

Tea with turmeric in milk

Those who want to try the real drink of Asian countries, you should prepare tea with turmeric on the basis of milk. To do this, you need to pour 200 ml of milk into a pot, you can dilute it with water if it is too greasy. Add to it turmeric, you can also use your favorite flavoring spices such as ginger and cinnamon. Put the pot on medium heat, slowly heat the mixture for 10 minutes. It is not necessary to allow a strong boil. This infusion can also be used to prevent colds or during their treatment.

Recipe of tea with turmeric for weight loss

For those who want to lose weight, you can use the method of preparing a drink with the addition of cayenne pepper and honey. But before this it is better to consult a doctor. Cayenne pepper is very hot and can provoke exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases.

To prepare you will need to pour 1 tsp of turmeric powder, 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper, 1/4 of ground ginger into a mug. Pour the mixture with boiled water, let it steep for 5-7 minutes. After adding a little honey.

How to drink turmeric tea correctly

It is better to start your day with this drink. An hour with turmeric will wake up the body, start the metabolic processes, contribute to the secretion of the digestive organs and prepare them for the intake of food. In 30 minutes you can have breakfast. It is also allowed to drink tea during meals. But here it is worth remembering that turmeric reduces the absorption by the body of iron, which is contained in some products.

It is not recommended to drink tea at night. It has a tonic effect, which may cause sleep disorders, and also will not allow the body's systems to prepare for rest. This will turn into bloating, constipation and other intestinal problems.

You should not get too carried away with this drink. It's enough to drink one cup a day to get all the useful substances and feel the beneficial effects on the body. Excessive consumption can only lead to problems in the work of internal organs.

It is recommended to drink the infusion while it is warm. So the body will get the maximum benefit from the drink.

Photo of turmeric tea