I don’t give a darn what conventional doctors say about diet and MS. I’m sticking with my amazing Turmeric Tea and green juice. Greens boost methylation, incredibly important since I have the MTHFR genetic mutation, and my Turmeric Tea is fantastic too!
What’s In Turmeric Tea
The main ingredients of Turmeric Tea are turmeric and ginger. Turmeric contains curcumin which activates the Nrf2 pathway, key in reducing inflammation, and ginger, high in antioxidants and replete with anti-inflammatory properties, does the same. This tea also contains black pepper which makes the curcumin in the turmeric far more bio-available. I love using food as medicine and this drink has incredible benefits for me.
Health Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric is a member of the ginger family. Commonly grown in India, it is turned into the bright yellow spice that stains your counter tops and is often used in South Asian cooking. The turmeric root contains curcumin, a Nrf2 activator. This powerful genetic pathway turns on over 200 genes, many of which are related to detoxification and cellular repair.
What is the Nrf2 Pathway
Nrf2, or nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, is a protein that protects against oxidative damage triggered by inflammation and injury. This protein signals the body to repair itself via the Nrf2 pathway which triggers the expression of antioxidant enzymes and survival genes. However, this pathway is latent until triggered by a Nrf2 activator, which can range from fasting to exercise, to fish oil and much more.
What is Protandim
When I write about the Nrf2 pathway I get comments about a product called Protandim. It contains milk thistle, bacopa, ashwagandha, green tea extract, and curcumin. Many people ask me about this supplement and I don’t see an issue with it. I prefer to take stand-alone supplements because they come in higher doses and I can control the combinations. As of this writing, Protandim contains 675mg of their proprietary blend. I prefer to know how much of each supplement I’m taking and take different stand-alone Nrf2 activators.
What are Nrf2 Activators
There are numerous Nrf2 activators that may be taken in a variety of doses. For example, I take 500mg per day of meriva, and 300mg per day of DIM, which contains sulforaphane. These two supplements alone contain 800mg of Nrf2 activators, so I prefer them to Protandim. I also prefer resveratrol, quercetin, and alpha lipoic acid which are also Nrf2 activators.
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Health Benefits of Ginger
Ginger is another spice that is very popular in South East Asian cooking. It can be consumed in a number of ways. One of my favorites is this Ginger Licorice Tea, and still better is my low-carb Paleo Pumpkin Pie! I love eating functional foods that contain Nrf2 activators, but I also rely on supplements. I wasn’t diagnosed with celiac disease until I was 30 years old so my gut suffered from damage from gluten during a large portion of my lifetime. Eating healthy grain-free, low-carb food and getting a boost from potent supplements in a wonderful strategy for me.
Turmeric Tea
Drinking healthy teas that I make from scratch using fresh roots, herbs, and spices is another strategy that works well for me. This potent Turmeric Tea is simply three very powerfully healthy foods –turmeric, ginger, and black pepper, concentrated into a beverage. After you make it the first time and pour off the tea, you can add another quart of water to get another two servings.
Turmeric Tea
Ingredients
- 1 quart water
- 1 ounce turmeric, sliced, not peeled
- 1 ounce ginger, sliced, not peeled
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add water to a saucepan
- Add turmeric, ginger, and black pepper
- Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes
- Pour through a fine mesh strainer into mugs
- Serve
Drinking Instructions
If your digestive fire is super high you can drink this during the summer as a healthy iced tea. That’s how my family likes it. If you feel a cold or a cough coming on you’ll definitely want to sip it it as hot tea. This allows the turmeric and ginger to steam your sinuses while getting into your digestive system. Both of these methods of absorption provide a boost to the immune system.
Storage Instructions
Sometimes I make a double batch of Turmeric Tea and store it in mason jars in the fridge. It stays fresh for up to 2 days.
Healing Autoimmune Disease
During my lifetime I’ve been diagnosed with celiac disease, Hashimoto’s autoimmune thyroiditis, and multiple sclerosis. I live with and navigate these disease processes every day. The silver lining of all of this illness has been learning. Another benefit has been sharing my knowledge and helping others. While I’m sometimes sad and overwhelmed with all that’s on my plate, I’ve been able to meet all of you and have incredible people with me on this path of healing.
Knowledge, Connection, and the Path of Healing
What are your favorite hacks for healing? Leave a comment so we can all continue to grow, connect, and learn from each other in this incredible community!
Julie says
Do you through the ginger and turmeric out after you strain or can they be used again?
Elana says
Julie, thanks for your comment! I discuss that in the paragraph right before the recipe :-)
Tracie says
Hi Elana. Thank you for the post. I always find your blog so thoughtful. I really appreciate the research you do to inform your decisions. I have a question about the Meriva. Does it contain the black pepper compound to help with absorption? I didn’t see it on the ingredient list but I thought it was required to be effective. Thanks for your help.
Elana says
Tracie, since it doesn’t contain black pepper I add extra pepper to the meals I take this supplement with :-)
Micki says
Thank you for the reminder of the powerful properties of turmeric and the comprehensive information of it. I will try your tea recipe!
My favorite hacks for healing – when I discovered rooibos. I loved black tea but I found that my body wasn’t liking caffeine anymore. I began drinking rooibos as a substitute to black tea, and also since I liked its antioxidant benefits. Surprised that the benefits were much more than my expectations. My health improved generally ever since I started drinking rooibos daily. I’ve had cold only twice in the last 12 year’s or so. I make a large pot of high quality organic rooibos (loose leaf rooibos) in the morning, have a cup or two with almond milk. Whatever is left in the pot I refrigerate and have it as iced tea. Besides the health benefits I experienced, I just love the taste. It’s defini my and my son’s favorite kind of tea now.
Elana says
Micki, I’m in the same boat and love using rooibos instead of black tea. My Iced Ginger Chai recipe uses it:
https://elanaspantry.com/iced-ginger-chai/
Enjoy!
Elana
Bernadine says
I loved this post!
Elana says
Thanks so much Bernadine! It was one of my favorites to research and write :-)
Evie says
I love your blog!!! I love your recipes and you are my go to place to go for allergy friendly meal ideas and ingredient substitutes. I appreciate you so much!!
I happen to be one of those ppl who asked if you had heard of Protandim. I did not link my personal page because I did not want to be spammy or break any rules.
I have a favor to ask. Instead of linking someone’s Amazon, how about linking LifeVantage who makes Protandim! That would be a much better way represent the product.
Thank you!!
A loyal reader,
Evie
Elana says
Evie, thanks for your comment! All of our own affiliate links keep the lights on here. Hosting costs alone for this website are incredibly expensive due to the hundreds of thousands of visitors that come here each month :-)
Valorie says
Perhaps loyal followers would buy Protandim from your site if you were a distributor. That would help keep the lights on! Some followers may want the convenience.
A liyal follower,
Valorie
Elana says
Valorie, thanks for your comment! On my website I share my experiences with the products that I research and that I use. I have found a ton of success in using stand alone supplements that contain the ingredients of Protandim and that has worked well for me. I don’t tend to use supplements that won’t list the amounts of ingredients in them which is why I haven’t used Protandim, but if it works for others that is fantastic :-)
Lee says
Can you substitute the fresh turmeric with the powdered spice?
Elana says
Lee, I haven’t tried that so not sure :-)
Deb says
Please clarify….. The link to the black pepper essential oil warns against internal consumption…. comments state for external use only… can one use fresh ground black peppercorns? If so, how much?
Would love to try this! Thanks, Elana:)
Elana says
Deb, we’ve updated this recipe to use only ground black pepper :-)
Karin says
So glad I saw this, I have learned from the comments as well!!! I battle daily fibromyalgia and chronic pain from several abdominal surgeries. I am allergic to ibuprofen, I had to find an alternative to deal with my inflammation. I use turmeric, black pepper, cinnamon and cayenne daily in my coffee, with coconut milk and 100% black cherry juice. Additionally, I make oat bread/cake, grind my oats, no wheat flour, with these ingredients along with flax seed and 85% dark chocolate. If I miss 1 day of this treatment I suffer greatly. Peace, happiness and health to all :)))
Elana says
Thanks Karin!
Lucia says
Thanks for another great recipe , I do have one question, do you think it’s safe to drink while breastfeeding?
Best regards from Portugal .
Elana says
Lucia, thanks for your comment! I would definitely check with your medical practitioner about that :-)
Adriana says
I want to try this tumeric tea, hopefully I can notice a benefit. Thanks for the recipe!
Elana says
Adriana, you’re welcome!