Lady Sheena Palangan

The growing demand for natural treatments has led scientists to explore the health benefits of turmeric tea. It comes from turmeric, the rhizome or underground stem of the plant Curcuma longa. It is sometimes referred to as a “root” since it grows in the soil. It is very similar to ginger but has a deeper, more vibrant yellow in color. It has been used as a spice as well as medicine, in India, for thousands of years. Ayurvedic medicine uses turmeric for a wide variety of ailments. Recently, the component called curcumin found in turmeric has renewed medical interest in this ancient spice. So what gives turmeric its medicinal properties? According to Live Science turmeric has over 300 natural components but the most valuable one is curcumin. Curcumin has antioxidant properties as well as the ability to increase the body’s production of natural antioxidants. Curcumin extract alone is not easily absorbed into the body when taken orally. Studies have shown that if taken with fresh turmeric, curcumin absorption increases by 6.9%. Scientists were able to increase this by 40% by mixing in nanoparticles, which can penetrate cells deeper. Intensive research has been conducted to explore the health benefits of turmeric tea. Here are its most popular benefits: Health Benefits of Turmeric Tea 1. Manages Different Types of Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory disorder where “neutrophils” gather into the affected joints. Neutrophils cause inflammation that helps the body fight infection. Too much of it makes arthritis worse so they must be controlled. This is where curcumin comes in. Research shows that curcumin stops neutrophil activation, giving it promising potential for treating arthritis. In another study, turmeric tablets were given to 50 patients for three months. These were found effective in managing and treating osteoarthritis. 2. Improves Immune Function Decades of research have shown that curcumin is very potent in modulating the immune system. When viruses or other antigens attack the body, antibodies are released to fight the infection. Low doses of curcumin help to improve antibody activity, allowing the body to respond quickly to attacks. This finding is consistent with several health benefits of turmeric tea found in the various studies discussed here. 3. Helps in Cardiovascular Functions Exercise helps improve cardiovascular health by improving endothelial function. Endothelial cells are in charge of controlling blood flow throughout the body, among other things. When they don’t do their job well, it can lead to various heart issues like stroke and heart failure. Studies show that curcumin supplements produce the same effect on endothelial function as exercise. It was found that curcumin helps prevent cardiovascular diseases in healthy adults. 4. Prevention and Treatment of Cancer Various research findings have shown that curcumin helps to eliminate and suppress cancer cells. It also stops the development of blood vessels that tumors use to grow. While the evidence for turmeric as a cure for cancer is not yet sufficient, there is enough to say that the health benefits of turmeric tea make it a potent supplement. 5. Reduces Symptoms for Irritable Bowel Syndrome IBS is still incurable but studies show that turmeric can help reduce the severity of symptoms. These findings say that turmeric is a promising treatment due to these positive effects. Generally, turmeric or curcumin supplements are not a health risk to IBS patients. However, taking more than the recommended dosage can aggravate gastrointestinal symptoms. 6. Boosts Liver Health A study published in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology concluded that turmeric may help improve liver function. They found that turmeric helps to increase the liver’s ability to filter toxins from the body. Oxidative stress happens when free radicals do damage to the body. Antioxidants like turmeric help reduce or prevent this. It also increases the liver’s production of glutathione, the body’s naturally occurring antioxidant. 7. Helps Control Diabetes A study published in The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) looked into over 200 studies about the effects of curcumin on diabetes. It concluded that curcumin helps manage diabetes in various ways. The following are some of the health benefits of turmeric tea and curcumin for diabetic patients. ● Insulin resistance Insulin helps the body turn glucose into fuel. When insulin resistance happens, cells lose their ability to convert glucose. The pancreas doubles its efforts to make more insulin to help process the excess glucose. Over time it will tire out, and it will lose its ability to produce insulin. This leads to the development of Type 2 Diabetes. Curcumin has been shown to improve insulin resistance, reducing the chance for diabetes. ● Diabetic Vascular Disease Diabetes can lead to several vascular diseases that damage blood vessels throughout the body. Curcumin indicates that it actively suppresses this kind of vascular damage. ● Diabetic Nephropathy This is kidney damage caused by diabetes. High glucose levels can damage the blood filter mechanism in the kidney, leading to renal failure. Curcumin has shown multiple ways that it can help reduce the occurrence of nephropathy caused by diabetes. 8. Lung health Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of several chronic lung conditions that can be alleviated with turmeric. Turmeric has been proven to have anti-inflammatory effects. This is very helpful in COPD and other inflammatory lung diseases. Curcumin’s antioxidant properties also help rid the body of free radicals. Neutralizing oxidants helps reduce inflammation in the lungs. Aside from being an anti-inflammatory, and an antioxidant, curcumin is also a mucolytic. This means it helps lung disease patients break down and expel mucus to relieve coughing and ease breathing. How to Prepare Turmeric Tea Following are some of the ways to prepare turmeric tea: 1. Fresh Turmeric Tea Making turmeric tea from a fresh root produces a stronger and more flavorful concoction. Slice t-3 inches of turmeric root, add to a few cups of fresh water and boil. You can adjust the amount of water to suit your taste. 2. Turmeric Latte Many people like to take turmeric with milk as this also helps soothe the stomach. This soothing latte is made by simply boiling together some non-dairy milk, a little bit of turmeric powder, some cinnamon, coconut oil, a bit of vanilla and black pepper. 3. Anti-Inflammatory Tea This is a recipe recommended by an autoimmune disease patient who found this tea helpful. It makes use of turmeric powder, fresh ginger, and cilantro, along with several other ingredients that come together for a great, relaxing tea. Meghan Telpner, nutritionist an founder of the Academy of Culinary Nutrition, shares two of her turmeric tea recipes. The first recipe is a classic take on turmeric tea. This is followed by a next-level formula that boosts the health benefits of turmeric tea with other herbs and fat. She recommends adding black pepper as this helps your body absorb curcumin better. If it’s your first time to have turmeric tea, you might want to temper the flavor a little. Some people like mixing turmeric with fresh ginger. The latter makes the infusion taste better. Another trick to use turmeric tea as a base for black tea. Use it to steep your favorite black tea for a more aromatic and satisfying drink. Should you drink turmeric tea? Turmeric tea is enjoyed by people the world over and it makes the perfect addition to your health regimen. Generally, this beverage is good for everyone. It improves the immune system and is far better than synthetic over-the-counter medications. While people taking blood thinners need to consult their doctor before taking turmeric tea, generally, tea contains a lot less curcumin for it to have any notable side effects. Excessive use, usually going over 1000mg of curcumin per day, may produce flatulence, bloating and other digestive issues. In addition, the oxalate content in turmeric may produce kidney stones if you are prone to getting them. However, turmeric tea has much lower doses of curcumin so these should not be an issue. Anyone taking blood-thinning drugs like ibuprofen, warfarin and naproxen should avoid taking turmeric since it is also a potent anticoagulant.