Benefits of turmeric tea and how to make a tasty cuppa

Over 100,000,000 cups of tea are drank every day in the UK, but have you ever tried turmeric tea? It’s free from caffeine, naturally low in calories and due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it’s great if you suffer from achy joints.

We speak to Alex Glover, Senior Nutritionist at Holland & Barrett, to find out the full benefits of turmeric tea and how you can make a delicious cuppa.

 What is turmeric tea?

“Turmeric is a spice with a vibrant yellow-orange colour and turmeric tea is made by steeping fresh or dried turmeric in water,” says Alex.

Turmeric also contains 'curcumin', which is responsible for giving the spice its bright, yellow colour. “This is a compound found in turmeric, and the active ingredient which has been well researched for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects,” says Alex.

Benefits of turmeric

1. Supporting joint health

The ingredients within turmeric have been well documented to support normal joint and bone health and could also help ease joint pain caused by swelling. For example, one study revealed curcumin was effective in reducing pain caused by osteoarthritis and other studies suggest similar benefits for people with other forms of arthritis.

2. Digestive health

Turmeric can also help ease some digestive problems. For example, studies show a potential role of curcumin in managing conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract. This includes helping to maintain remission from symptoms in mild and moderate forms of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

3. Supporting cardiovascular health

Turmeric appears to help lower LDL cholesterol. As a result, turmeric may aid circulation and improve blood flow to the heart by reducing the build-up of plaque in the arteries.

 4. Accelerating antioxidant action

Due to its potent polyphenol content, turmeric has powerful antioxidant properties that can help fight off oxidative damage to cells.

5. Supporting the immune system

Some studies show the antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral properties of the spice could help to moderate the immune system. This suggests turmeric could contribute to how effectively your immune system protects your body.

How to make turmeric tea

Making fresh turmeric tea takes no more than five minutes, using a handful ingredients, and one pot.

You will need

• 3 heaped teaspoons of ground turmeric

• 1 tablespoon of grated, fresh ginger

• Zest of 1 small orange

• Honey or agave

• Lemon slices

Method

1. Add your turmeric, ginger and orange zest to a jug or teapot

2. Pour over 500ml of boiled water

3. Leave to infuse for roughly 5 minutes

4. Using a sieve or strainer, pour two mugs of tea

5. Add honey or agave if you want to sweeten your tea and a slice of lemon as garnish

For an easy, fuss-free alternative, Alex also recommend using Twinings Superblends Turmeric Tea for a cup of turmeric tea within minutes.

Can you drink turmeric tea every day?

Turmeric contains relatively low concentration of curcumin. For context, the spice used in your tea is likely to contain roughly 3% of this active compound, so in short, you’re highly unlikely to overdose on the spice by sprinkling it into a daily tea or latte.

Is turmeric safe for everyone?

When consumed in moderation, the amount of turmeric in tea is unlikely to cause side effects. Almost anyone can safely drink turmeric tea.

However, when it comes to turmeric alone, high doses of curcumin could have a blood-thinning effect, if you’re taking anticoagulants such as warfarin. For those on blood-thinning medications, Alex recommends talking to a doctor before taking turmeric in the higher concentrations found in supplements.