Turmeric seems to be everywhere these days. Whether it’s Instagram posts of fancy turmeric lattes, bottled drinks infused with turmeric in fitness and yoga studios, or even during business meetings.
Indeed, this golden drink has taken over our world in terms of trending everything that has to do with wellness and health.
Some have even taken a step further into creating their own little nighttime or morning ‘ritual’. And why not? It has been proven time and time again just how marvelous this spice can be for our body and mind.
But it’s not just random individuals praising its power; there have been those who are at the center of youth, health, and beauty who have also said ‘hats off to turmeric’.
Some of which include Nourished, the wellness Journal, New York’s El Ray café (which takes credit for creating the recipe you will see below) and Goop!Zhaoping Li, M.D., Ph.D., chief of clinical nutrition at the University of California, LA confirmed that turmeric has a very strong anti-inflammatory effect. She works on extending the disease-free years, since everyone gets stacked with health problems the older they get.
She also says that low-grade inflammations are your body’s response to either diet or environmental stressors. It is exactly these seemingly harmless inflammations which are the ‘stepping stones’ to everything we’ll have to combat in the future when it comes to our well-being.
Currently, she’s working on studying curcumin, the working compound in turmeric, as well as its connection to the microbiome. There’s also a collaboration with the psychology department of the university when it comes to examining the effects of one’s cognitive function.
But, according to recent research, this polyphenol seems to help with more than just inflammation. It also shows neuroprotective, anticancer and antioxidant properties.
This all coming from a nutrition scientist at Oregon State University’s Linus Pauling Institute, Barbara Delage, Ph.D.
However, she says it’s worth mentioning that most of these findings are based on in vitro and animal studies. Because of your body’s metabolizing enzymes, bioavailability can present an issue.
The conclusion to this? If one consumes a healthy daily diet comprised mostly of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, then that is the true golden ticket to ingesting the correct phytochemical mix.
Luckily, the homemade tonic you’re about to discover, along with, let’s say, El Rey’s obsessed over-kale salad – is just the right amount you need.
Turmeric Tonic, a la El Rey
Even when one looks back in history, this famed spice has been used in all kinds of potions and elixirs for maintaining both one’s beauty and vitality.
But it’s not like it’s not a tasty beverage either. Taste plus health, what more can one ask for?
It can also be used as a natural energy drink, thanks to its refreshing, ‘pick me up’ properties. One little tip before we unveil the recipe. It’s best to add some ghee or coconut oil to this drink in order to further activate the compounds and help with better absorption.
Also, it is your choice how much turmeric you’d like to add, depending on personal preference. But if you ask our humble opinion, the stronger the tonic, the better!
What you need:
- Two tablespoons fresh turmeric (grated)
- One tablespoon fresh ginger (grated)
- Two cups of water
- One cardamom pod
- ¼ a cup of raw honey
- One tablespoon chamomile flowers (dried)
- One fresh lemon
- Coconut water or sparkling water
How to make it:
1. Use a vegetable peeler to peel the ginger and turmeric, than grate it into a medium-sized saucepot. Then proceed by removing the seeds from the cardamom pod (after you’ve opened its shell) and adding them in a pot.
Next, add the water and let it all simmer for a total of 10 minutes.
2. Your next step is to combine the honey and chamomile flowers in another pot and gently warm them for better infusion. Do this step while the other contents are simmering.
3. Now just strain the two mixtures by using a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer. Set it aside to cool for a while. Both of these mixtures may be kept in refrigerators for up to a week.
4. For one serving, combine one third a cup of the turmeric ginger elixir, half a tablespoon of chamomile honey, the juice of ½ a lemon, and coconut or sparkling water for extra hydration!
Where to find decent quality turmeric root? Your best option is your local specialty grocery or Chinese grocery. As for the other ingredients such as coconut oil, ghee or dried chamomile leaves, those are easily found at local specialty or health markets.
Now that you know how to make it, enjoy your tasty and super healthy turmeric tonic!
