27 Aug Turmeric Ginger Lemon Tea

Posted at 00:00h in Recipes by

Turmeric is enjoying its well deserved status as the darling of the “superfood” world for many reasons, and not just because it will stain your fingers and countertops. The abbreviated list of potential benefits includes:

  • Powerful anti-inflammatory
  • Reduces symptoms of depression
  • Reduces sensations of chronic pain
  • Powerful antioxidant
  • Reduces rate of cognitive decline
  • Anti-microbial benefits
  • Assists fat metabolism
  • Facilitates wound healing
  • Liver protective

My take on superfoods is that I don’t expect miracles from a single food with a single dose. I do, however, believe in “stacking the deck” in your favour, and that including a variety of superfoods or nutrient-dense foods in your diet is a good place to start. I know, too, that I feel better when I swap out wine gums for goji berries. 😉

As I’ve said in class many times, 100 calories of wild blueberries is going to deliver a much larger and broader range of nutrients than your favourite variety of chips, calories aside.

I enjoy tea, especially in the evening. It’s part of a ritual that celebrates the end of a day and ushers in a new one. I enjoy, too, the opportunity to sneak in a few “nutrient-dense” ingredients in to my evening brew.  Some of my favourite cookbook authors, such as Meghan Telpner and Jae Steele, first introduced me to turmeric tea, and this blend has been inspired by them.

My friends who dabble in Traditional Chinese Medicine have also told me that the liver is most active between 1:00 am and 3:00 am. Given that turmeric is reported to have liver protective qualities, it has been suggested that drinking a tea with turmeric may be especially beneficial consumed before bed.

Turmeric Lemon Ginger Tea

1/2 teaspoon organic turmeric powder
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
1 1/2 – 2 cups filtered water
Honey or maple syrup to taste
Freshly ground black pepper

Combine turmeric, ginger, lemon juice and cardamom with filtered water in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 5 – 10 minutes, being careful not to bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add honey or maple syrup to taste and add a few twists of black pepper, which is said to enhance the bio availability of turmeric. Enjoy and sweet dreams!