A Tea That Fights Inflammation and Cancer

A Tea That Fights Inflammation and Cancer

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Countless medical studies have reaffirmed the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer benefits of tumeric, an ancient root long prized for its healing properties. Tumeric is used as a spice in cooking, particularly in Indian dishes. However, health experts suggest you use tumeric frequently, and drinking tumeric tea is an efficient way to increase your consumption.

Tumeric is traditionally used in Chinese and Indian folk medicine, as it treats a wide variety of illnesses. Its effectiveness may be attributed to its powerful anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. We now understand that chronic, low-level inflammation is at work in almost Western disease, including heart disease, cancer, metabolic syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease, and other degenerative diseases.

Curcumin is an active ingredient in tumeric. According to an article published on the neurology website of University of California Los Angeles:

Curcumin, is an anti-inflammatory molecule in the turmeric root, a relative of ginger. Turmeric has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal preparation and a preservative and coloring agent in foods. Curcumin was isolated as the major yellow pigment in turmeric; chemically diferulomethane, and has a polyphenolic molecular structure similar to other plant pigments (eg. extracted from grapes in wine (resveratrol), or in green tea (catechins) or in certain fruit juices (blueberries, strawberries, pomegranates etc.) This polyphenols share in common anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties with associated health benefits.

In terms of heart disease, curcumin reduces inflammation and thus improves the function of the endothelium, the lining of the blood vessels. Tumeric is also known to be an anti-diabetic and antioxidant, particularly in type-1 diabetes. It improves the metabolic functioning and reduces the risk of plaque buildup in the arteries of type-2 diabetes patients.

Tumeric is also believed to help in the following ways:

Support of the immune system
Improve with digestion
Healthy blood and liver function
Inflammation of joints and muscles
Aches and pain related to arthritis.

The island nation of Okinawa has the world’s longest average life expectancy. Citizens of this country drink copious amounts of tumeric tea.

Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Tea Recipe

Ingredients:

1 tea bag of green tea
2 cups filtered water
1/2 tablespoon of grated fresh turmeric or 1/2 teaspoon dried turmeric

Directions:

Place a tea bag of green tea in a cup and set aside. Bring two cups filtered water to a boil. Add one-half tablespoon of minced or grated fresh turmeric or one-half teaspoon dried turmeric, and simmer for 5 minutes.

Add the boiling water to the tea bag, then allow to steep five more minutes. You can sweeten the drink with honey or coconut sugar, add a slice of fresh lemon, or pour in some coconut milk.