The Tea on Turmeric

Are you experiencing chronic pain, heartburn or indigestion? Are you on a weight loss journey and need a little extra help? Are you fighting cancer, experiencing fatigue, battling with skin problems, or need a boost in mood or mental health? Or do you just want to learn more about the health benefits of turmeric? Yes?! Well, this post is especially for YOU!

INFLAMMATION is the primary cause of chronic pain in most people. When I refer to inflammation in this post it isn’t necessarily swelling, but more so an inflamed or chemically “irritated” state. When our bodies are in systemic inflammation, we might have one part of our body that hurts or multiple, general constant pain, or somewhere in between that. No matter where you fall on the gradient (if you do), there is a holistic way to combat inflammation without detriment to your GI tract or gut health. Have you ever taken an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication for pain, but end up with nausea or stomach discomfort as a result? I too have experienced that more times than I’d like. Well friends, there is a holistic approach for that. First, I want to leave a tidbit with you. A lot of the inflammation that we experience is from the inflammatory factors in the foods that we eat—processed foods and sugar. This includes animal products. So, eating more unprocessed whole, plant foods is a direct way to help with and/or prevent inflammation and decrease pain.

DIGESTION is integral to your state of balance. I’m sure you know an out-of-balance gut IS NOT enjoyable (i.e. indigestion, heartburn, gas, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, etc.). That said, many of the pharmaceutical drugs that are prescribed/used for improving gut function alleviate the symptoms, but there is a loss of nutrients being absorbed and a decline in proper gut health that accompanies that relief. Your gut is important to many other parts of your body. It even tells your brain what to do! I want to leave you with one other tidbit to ponder on. Pre-COVID-19, how often did you wash your hands and use hand sanitizer? Probably nowhere near as often as you do now. Don’t feel embarrassed, just take a moment to APPRECIATE your gut; because it continuously PROTECTS you from millions of germs and bacteria that you unknowingly ingest from food, your hands when eating, and even swallowed mucus! Your gut is your first line of defense and therefore needs its own TLC. So, we must take care of it. It’s the only one we have!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The gut releases serotonin—a neurotransmitter (message to the brain) that improves your mood.

TOXIFICATION. The liver is vital to detoxing your body and maintaining good health. Happy liver = Happy LIVER (healthy liver = you living happily). Your body systems revolve around the liver, but the liver doesn’t play a one man’s game. The gallbladder, colon (intestines, gut), kidneys, lymphatic system, and skin are closely and meticulously interdependent; and work together to remove toxins from your body. So, your liver needs TLC too! But, how do you know if you need to be detoxified? 

Common symptoms of toxicity are:

• Skin problems (acne, dull skin tone, rashes, eczema, sensitive skin)
• Dark circle underneath the eyes
• Bad breath
• Asthma and allergies
• Migraines
• Autoimmune disease
• Cancer
• Fatigue
• Depression, anger, frustration, brain fog
• Frequent urinary tract infections and/or dark, sparse urine
• High cholesterol, hypertension, swelling/water retention

These symptoms are not end all be all, and may not exactly pertain to you. This is just a short list to help you determine when it’s time for a clean up on aisle “full body”.

Turmeric for INFLAMMATION

• Renowned anti-inflammatory
  • Inhibits many inflammatory markers, including COX-2, without the side effects associated with NSAIDs and pain relievers (i.e. ibuprofen, acetaminophen)
• Antioxidant—repairs cell damage from free radicals
  • Free radicals are unbalanced cells in the body that can cause cancer
• Can relieve chronic pain (i.e. Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis)
• Cardiovascular Benefits
  • Thins the blood, improves circulation, prevents heart disease

Turmeric for DIGESTION

• Stimulates digestion (production of stomach acids needed to break down food, encourages passage of food through GI tract, and promotes bowel movement)
• Detoxifies (keep reading for more details)
• In some cases, alleviates heartburn or reflux
• Regulates weak or excessive appetite and weight
  • Supports weight loss and curbs cravings for sweets
• Decreases feelings of fullness, constipation, slowed digestion, poor nutrient absorption, indigestion

Turmeric for TOXICITY

• Stimulates liver detoxification
• Protects and heals the liver
• Lowers cholesterol (most of your body’s cholesterol is produced by your liver)

Additional Benefits of Turmeric:

• Fights CANCER
• Alleviates depression
• Makes healthy food more appealing!!!
• TASTY!

How to use Turmeric:

• Ya’ll I sprinkle turmeric on EVERYTHING. Sometimes you can’t even taste it!
• Turmeric can be used in teas, vinegars, coffee, meals (stay tuned for recipes), supplements (i.e. capsules).
  • Tea: You can purchase turmeric tea in your local grocery stores and whole food stores. You can also make homemade tea by adding turmeric powder to water and boiling it. Turmeric is also great when added to other teas.
  • Check your local grocery and/or whole foods store for supplements (see your doctor before taking supplements or adding turmeric to your diet)
• Compliment turmeric with ginger and/or cinnamon.
• Turmeric is a spice, so be sure to “sprinkle” lightly, taste, and add as needed.

General tips to improve inflammation, digestion, and liver function:

Go for regular walks, meditate, sleep, yoga, deep breathing, spend time outside (Vitamin D is a blessing in disguise!)

DISCLAIMER: Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your diet. Also, the effects from turmeric can take weeks to months for improvement in pain and inflammation. However, you may notice small changes prior to that time frame.

Let’s LIVE Healthy + Well—Mind, Body, and Soul, together!

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Published by Jalecia Faison, CHC

Certified Holistic Health and Wellness Specialist | Student Physical Therapist | Health and Wellness Blogger View more posts