Brenda Khan
Turmeric and ginger are flowering plants in the same family, Zingiberaceae, and have been used in traditional medicine in India and China for centuries. Turmeric is a deep, golden-orange spice that adds colour, flavour, and nutrition to foods. Ginger, meanwhile, adds a fragrant zest to both sweet and savoury foods. Both spices are widely used in natural medicine and have anti-inflammatory properties. They can be consumed in many ways, including in their natural form, as supplements, or in tea.
How to add turmeric and ginger to your diet
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Forms | Fresh, dried, powdered, tea, supplement |
| Uses | Salads, dressings, stir-fries, sauces, soups, smoothies, curries, casseroles, frittatas, dips, tea, roasted vegetables |
| Benefits | Anti-inflammatory, pain relief, nausea relief, immune boost, improved gastrointestinal motility, antioxidant, anti-bloating, anti-gas |
| Side effects | Interference with blood thinners, blood sugar-lowering medications, and chemotherapy treatments; may increase risk of kidney stones |
| Enhancers | Black pepper, oil |
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What You'll Learn
Turmeric and ginger tea
Turmeric and ginger are flowering plants that have been used extensively in herbal medicine for centuries. They are considered safe and healthy additions to a well-rounded diet when consumed in moderation. Both ingredients can be added to your diet in fresh, dried, or supplement form.
One way to add turmeric and ginger to your diet is by brewing a soothing cup of tea. Turmeric tea, also known as golden milk, is a hot Indian drink made with milk and various spices. To make turmeric tea, you can use 2 tablespoons of chopped turmeric root or 2 teaspoons of turmeric powder. Simmer the root or powder in water for about 5 minutes, and then strain the tea. You can drink it warm or cold, and add lemon and/or honey to change the taste.
Alternatively, you can purchase turmeric and ginger tea in the form of herbal tea bags. These tea bags are often caffeine-free and contain other ingredients such as licorice root, lemongrass, orange peel, and lemon peel, creating a citrusy blend. To prepare this tea, it is recommended to brew a sachet in 8 ounces of water at 200 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 to 7 minutes.
It is important to note that while turmeric and ginger are generally considered safe, they may interfere with certain medications. For example, they can interact with blood thinners and blood-sugar-lowering medications. Therefore, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare professional before adding them to your diet, especially if you have any health concerns or are taking any medications.
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Turmeric and ginger shots
To make these shots, you will need a blender, a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer, and small glass bottles. The basic ingredients are ginger and turmeric roots, but you can also add an orange for a touch of sweetness and a boost of vitamin C, and a pinch of black pepper to improve nutrient absorption.
- Chop the ginger and turmeric roots into 1-2 inch pieces and peel your orange.
- Add all ingredients to your blender and blend until smooth. Add more or less water until you get your desired consistency.
- Strain the juice using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove any remaining pulp. Press lightly on the pulp to extract the juice.
- Pour the juice into small glass bottles. Store them in the fridge for up to five days.
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Add turmeric to meals for a health boost
Turmeric is a golden-orange spice that adds colour, flavour, and nutrition to foods. It is widely used in Indian cuisine, particularly in curries, and has been used in cooking and traditional medicine for hundreds of years.
Turmeric can be incorporated into your diet in several ways to give your health a boost. It is available in fresh, dried, or supplement form. The spice can be added to salad dressings, stir-fries, sauces, casseroles, frittatas, dips, and curries. It can also be made into a tea by simmering two tablespoons of chopped turmeric root or two teaspoons of turmeric powder in water for five minutes, then straining. Honey and lemon can be added to the tea for taste.
Turmeric can also be paired with black pepper to increase the absorption of its beneficial compounds by up to 2000%. This can be done by adding black pepper to turmeric tea, or by using turmeric and black pepper together in dishes such as golden milk (combine 1-2 teaspoons of turmeric with 1 cup of warm milk, black pepper, cinnamon, and honey or maple syrup, heated for about 10 minutes).
However, it is important to note that turmeric supplements may increase the risk of kidney stones and can lessen the effects of certain medications. People with diabetes should also be aware that turmeric can lower blood sugar. Therefore, it is important to consult a healthcare professional before adding turmeric to your diet, especially if you have an underlying health condition or are taking any medications.
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Ginger's health benefits and risks
Ginger has been used for centuries to treat various ailments, from migraines to chronic inflammation and fatigue. It is a natural remedy with medicinal properties due to the presence of phenolic compounds, including gingerol, a chemical with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Health Benefits
Ginger has a positive impact on the rate at which food exits the stomach and continues along the digestive process, providing nausea relief. It can also help with painful periods, as more than 60% of women in one study felt that ginger lessened pain. It may also help with osteoarthritis pain. Ginger is also said to help with lowering blood sugar and blood pressure.
Ginger can be consumed in many ways, including ginger shots, tea, supplements, and candies. It can also be added to soups, smoothies, curries, and stir-fries.
Risks
Ginger may decrease blood clotting and could interfere with blood thinners when used in high amounts. It may also increase the risk of bleeding, especially if taken with medications that slow blood clotting, such as warfarin. Pregnant women should be cautious with ginger, as some experts believe it could increase the risk of miscarriage, especially in high doses. It is also important to consult a doctor before taking ginger supplements, especially if you are taking medication for diabetes or high blood pressure.
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Turmeric supplements
Turmeric is a golden-orange spice that has been used in cooking and traditional medicine for hundreds of years. The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin, a natural compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin is thought to have many health benefits, such as boosting immunity, reducing inflammation, and easing pain.
However, combining curcumin with black pepper can increase the body's absorption of turmeric's beneficial compounds by up to 2000%. This is because a substance in black pepper called piperine increases the bioavailability of curcumin. For this reason, some turmeric supplements contain black pepper extract.
If you are receiving chemotherapy treatments, it is important to talk to your doctor before taking turmeric supplements, and they should be avoided if you are taking certain chemotherapy agents. People taking immunosuppressive drugs, such as tacrolimus, may also experience increased side effects if they consume high amounts of curcumin.
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Frequently asked questions
Both ginger and turmeric are anti-inflammatory and can help with pain relief, nausea, and boosting immunity. They have been used for centuries to treat a variety of ailments, ranging from migraines to chronic inflammation and fatigue.
Ginger can be consumed in its fresh form or dried. It can be added to tea, soups, smoothies, curries, and salads. It can also be used to make ginger shots or brewed into a cup of tea. Fresh ginger root tea can be made by cutting the root into thin slices, adding them to boiling water, and letting them steep for at least 10 minutes.
Turmeric can be added to dishes such as casseroles, frittatas, dips, and dressings. It is widely used in Indian cuisine, especially in curries, where it adds a bright yellow color. It can also be consumed in tea, either on its own or combined with ginger. It can be added to warm milk with black pepper, cinnamon, and honey or maple syrup.
Ginger and turmeric are generally considered safe when consumed in moderation. However, they have blood-thinning properties, so they may interfere with blood thinners and blood-sugar-lowering medications. It is recommended to consult a healthcare provider before adding them to your routine, especially if you have underlying health conditions or are taking medications. Turmeric may also cause an allergic reaction in some individuals, resulting in a rash, hives, or abdominal pain.
