The 5Spice Golden Turmeric Tea: aromatic, flavorful and antioxidant rich
Spices and why you should include more in your diet.....
Our ancestors whether they knew it or not experienced more health from eating a variety of plant based foods like a variety of legumes, beans, grains, vegetables and fruits, but their diets also included numerous herbs and spices! Whether added to dishes, made into teas, transformed into medicinals our ancestors consumed greater quantities of herbs and spices. Spices, those wonderful aromatic, flavour enhancers that most people, have all forgotten about since salt, sugar and fat became the new flavour players in virtually all dishes.
If you follow any type of healthy eating research, science has and is discovering more and more the role plant-based substances play in protecting our health and this includes spices- all of them.
So why spices and what are spices?
Here is how Merriam Webster defines spices:
"...any of various aromatic vegetable products (such as pepper or nutmeg) used to season or flavor foods." [1]
What you don’t read in the definition is that spices contain a wide array of antioxidants and phytochemical that offer numerous and differing protective, preventative and/or therapeutic effects against various diseases like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, dementia and aging in general. In some instances, they also exact certain properties that will have a positive effect on another.
Take for example, turmeric. Turmeric indirectly helps hormones. Since curcumin, the active component in turmeric has been found to be helpful with liver detoxification; when the liver is healthier, it is more effective in clearing out excess estrogen and toxins, which leads to better overall health. Individually, these spices have been studied for their effects on specific disease. For example, cinnamon for diabetes; curcumin for cancer and inflammation. A study on ginger revealed that the active component in ginger was helpful in balancing hormones and dealing with polycystic ovaries and male fertility.
Put them together in a absolutely flavour filled drink and you have a powerhouse of antioxidant activity!
Given that all culinary spices have healthful attributes we should look at increasing our intake dramatically to reap the benefits of using not only food, but spices specifically as a natural form of food medicine! That is where the “5Spice Golden TurmericTea” comes in! What better way to take in five spices in one go!
Here is just a highlight of some of the research findings held by each spice:
1 Cinnamon (Ceylon)
Cinnamon is known for it's immunomodulating, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It is also well known for its research on diabetes and insulin regulation.
2 Turmeric
Turmeric in the last few years has had significant attention for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cancer uses. Also been used for headaches, bronchitis, common cold, respiratory infections, fatigue and fever, liver detoxification among many other uses.
3 Ginger
Ginger is another spice that has been used medicinally to aid with digestion, but it also has beneficial effects on the upper respiratory tract infections, cough, bronchitis and treating stomachaches, inflammation and hormones.
4 Cardamon (Green)
Cardamon has pleasant aroma, aids in not only freshening breath but helps reduce various forms of oral bacteria. It has also been studied to show anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and potential anti-cancer properties.
5 Black Pepper
Piperine, the bioactive compound in pepper has been studied to be anti-inflammatory, said to help with nausea, headaches and poor digestion. Couple pepper with turmeric and it enhances the absorption of curcumin, the bioactive component in turmeric.
This tea has healthful properties for both men and women for a variety of reasons!
Want to add an additional flavour boost? Make it muddy!! See Pro tips below for how!!!
See References below for more information.
The 5SpiceGolden TurmericTea
Preparation: 15 minutes
Servings: 3-4 cups
Ingredients
2 1/2 cups of water
1 1/2 tsp of grated fresh ginger (peeled)
1/2 tsp of grated fresh turmeric (peeled)
1/4 tsp of ceylon cinnamon, powder or 1/2 of a cinnamon bark
1/4 tsp of green cardamon powder or 3 green pods crushed
1/8 tsp of ground pepper (a pinch)
1 1/2 cup of plant mylk (soy, almond or oat)
Preparation
peel both the ginger and turmeric
turmeric can be staining so watch where on what surface you are grating the turmeric on
if using fresh whole cardamon- crush them with a mortar and pestle to release oils
if using cinnamon bark, crush the bark also
place all spices in a pot with 2 cups of water
bring to a boil then lower to a simmer for 8 -10 minutes
add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of plant mylk and simmer for additional 2 -3 minutes
turn heat off and allow to steep for additional 5 minutes
strain spices and serve
sweetener optional
serve hot or allow to cool and serve with ice for a refreshing summer drink
ProTips/Prep
if you opt to use soy milk (preference to unsweetened), research is showing the many beneficial effects of soy consumption and important protective or preventative work on various hormones. Other plant based milk that work well in this recipe is almond and oat.
top drink with a sprinkle of cinnamon to add extra flavour!
if you like ginger, take it up to 2 tsp
for added spice benefits, add 1 tsp of crushed fennel seeds
Chill drink in fridge serve with ice and/or coconut whip for a festive drink!
see referenced research below for more information
Make a “Muddy Golden Turmeric Tea”
for additional flavour and a energy boost add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of your favourite black coffee to the full mix or 1- 2 tbsp of coffee to a cup or more, to personal preference along with your choice of sweetener.
make coffee in advance, refrigerate and use as needed.
top with a sprinkle of cinnamon
“Steam rises from a cup of tea and we are wrapped in history, inhaling ancient times and lands, comfort of ages in our hands.” - Faith Greenbowl
If you would like more drinks like this, check out "Golden Turmeric Shake"
Reference Access: May 30, 2022
[1] Spice Definition: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spice
Paper: Scott, Keith MD. Medicinal Seasonings. BookSurge Publishing. 2006.
Ginger and Turmeric: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21476200/
Disclaimer: The information, including but not limited to text, graphics, images and other material contained on this website are for educational purposes only. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. This information is not intended or making any claims as a treatment, a cure, nor diagnosis. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking any new health care regimen, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read. Always do your own research. Research is only as current as date of publication and is subject to changes.
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