Turmeric Lemon Tea
OK folks, so this one is quite an oldie and a goodie. By now, you've probably heard all of the wonders that turmeric has to boast, right? It's anti-inflammatory properties, as whf.com shares:
"Curcumin is thought to be the primary pharmacological agent in turmeric. In numerous studies, curcumin's anti-inflammatory effects have been shown to be comparable to the potent drugs hydrocortisone and phenylbutazone as well as over-the-counter anti-inflammatory agents such as Motrin. Unlike the drugs, which are associated with significant toxic effects (ulcer formation, decreased white blood cell count, intestinal bleeding), curcumin produces no toxicity."
Ah yes...the sweet sweet smell of zero toxicity and side effects. Amazing how mama nature knows how to help, huh? What's more, adding a big ol' squeeze of lemon helps aid in detoxifying the body, helps boost vitamin C and despite the fact that a lemons are acidic (in terms of the flavor they add to food), the effect on our bodies is alkalizing - which is a very very good thing indeed. Lastly, in this delicious cocktail of health, I like to add a hit of cayenne pepper - also a wonderful source of vitamin C + B, cayenne pepper contains capsaicin - a compound that may also help with pain-relief and inflammation.
Today I've made this healing elixir because I recently had a not-so-fun trip to the oral surgeon to check on an implant, and it needed to be cleaned up so as to prevent future infection around the site. 3 shots of novocaine and a bunch of stitches later had me feeling swollen, slightly traumatized, and puffy. Now, about 24 hours after the procedure, I've been drinking this wonderful golden liquid and it's helped immensely with swelling and with pain.
That said, the secret of, this magic drink, is you can drink it anytime and it's AMAZING for skin health. Seriously....if you want glowing skin, drink this. It is actually typically one of the first things I suggest to my health consulting clients as a way to start healing the body from the inside out. Plus it often helps digestion, helps to manage inflammation issues, and helps us release excess weight. Yes to all of the above! Happy turmeric lemon 'tea'-ing and happy glowing!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder (or a 2 inch chunk of fresh turmeric root and blend ingredients together)
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- pinch of cayenne (optional)
- teaspoon of honey (also optional)
Directions:
- Blend or mix ingredients together with 1 1/2 cups steaming or room temperature water. Enjoy! :)