"Let Food Be Thy Medicine" -- Time for "Tea"
In this post, I’d like to talk about one of my current favorite “teas”. This beverage recipe is quick to make and has a short ingredient list that offers beneficial anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, digestive, and immune-boosting qualities. Let’s start with the ingredients and I’ll explain why you should incorporate each into your everyday diet:
Image courtesy of: http://thehealthytart.com/ginger-tea-natural-cold-remedy/
Raw turmeric (1 inch piece)-
Possibly the most potent anti-inflammatory herb. The journal Oncogene published results from laboratory tests that suggest turmeric is more effective at relieving inflammation than Aspirin and Ibuprofen. In fact, turmeric has been the subject of over 5,000 peer reviewed and published biomedical studies that have indicated 175 distinct beneficial physiological effects.
Raw ginger (1 inch piece)-
High in Gingerol, a substance that is anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic. Ginger also helps aid digestion and can settle an upset stomach
Lemon peel and juice of one whole lemon-
Lemons and limes contain a substance called D-Limonene that is a potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. D-Limonene also has the potential to activate liver enzymes responsible for detoxification. It should be noted that the liver is the organ most responsible for fat metabolism so taking care of the liver may aid in fat loss!
Black pepper (1/8 teaspoon) -
We use black pepper in the recipe because the essential oils found in pepper help with the absorption of the other nutrients
Red (cayenne) pepper-
This is optional but I like it because it opens up my sinuses and may speed up the metabolism. A dash will do.
Raw honey (2 teaspoons)-
Highly anti-biotic and may help if you have allergies. If you don’t have raw honey, agave nectar, brown rice syrup, or stevia will work just fine. Feel free to leave this out if you don’t want a sweetener in your tea.
Start by slicing the raw turmeric and ginger into thin rounds (note that you do not have to peel either). Using a vegetable peeler, peel the outer rind of the lemon. It’s important that you use a peeler for the lemon and not just a knife because we want to separate the yellow skin from the white pith. The pith is very bitter and we don’t need it in our tea. Once peeled, slice the lemon in half.
Place the ginger, turmeric, lemon peel, black pepper, and cayenne into a pot and add 3 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil and let it continue to boil for 10 minutes. Next, strain the tea into a large container using a strainer that will catch the roots and lemon peel. This tea should be bright yellow. Allow the tea to cool for 5 minutes or so before adding the juice of ½ of the lemon and the raw honey. If you’re going to use raw honey, it is very important to let the tea cool for 5-10 minutes because the high heat may cook the honey enough to destroy some of the health benefits.
In my opinion, this tea is the perfect way to start any day. The ingredients set your body for reduced inflammation, increased metabolism, and improved digestion. Perhaps more importantly, this tea will give your body anti-oxidants and anti-carcinogens that may help fight off common infections like the cold and flu. I would encourage you to boil the tea fresh every day and drink before breakfast on an empty stomach to maximize the potential health benefits. To make this easier, go ahead and slice all of the ingredients ahead of time and store them in your fridge. That way you can quickly prepare the water and drop the prepared ingredients in a pot in the morning and let everything steep while you go about your business.
Yours In Good Health,
Nick Doleys
