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!
Karen says
Thanks for your recipe. I never would have tried this without it. I grow lemongrass in my garden so I threw some of that in as well. I also had an old orange that I sliced into it too. I used 3 oz turmeric root, 3 oz ginger, a large handful of lemon grass (about five to seven long stalks, one orange sliced with triple the water, but I threw the black peppercorns in whole. Do you think they have to be ground to get the benefit? It made a lot but this works a lot better than water so soothe my Sjogrens dry throat. I may freeze some to keep it on hand when my throat especially hurts.
Thanks again!
Elana says
Karen, you’re welcome! I think ground black pepper is best, but either way will work. So glad you are enjoying this healing recipe :-)
Pamela says
Silly question, but turmeric root stains as you mentioned, do you notice your teeth staining from this? Or what type of paste do you use to clean the teeth? I have the dentist use a gf, soy free, fluoride free pumice paste and I have similar for at home or use coconut oil with baking soda. Any additional MTHFR variance info definitely welcome!!
Elana says
Pamela, I haven’t noticed my teeth getting stained from this tea but my Dandelion Tea can leave my teeth a little bit darker. All of those stains come off when I go to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned, they use a very similar product to the one you mention :-)
Jane Zatlin says
I love Uncle Harry’s. Since using it I do not need to go in for cleaning at the dentist so often, and it is gluten free. I eat turmeric raw. It tastes like a carrot to me. I will try this tea. Good to know the pathways. Thank you.
Elana says
Jane, thanks for your comment!
Pattie says
Are there preferred grades of turmeric? I want to buy some but know from other supplements I take not all are created equal.
Elana says
Pattie, if you click on the highlighted text that says “meriva” in the sixth paragraph of this article, under the heading “Nrf2 Activators” you will be taken to the curcumin product I use :-)
Robyn. says
Whenever I am looking for a good heatlhy recipe for this or that, I always think… “I bet Elana has one” :) You always do! Many of your recipes are my go to’s! I am having surgery soon and I am going to be making this tea to sip on to help with my recovery.
Wishing you well, Robyn.
Elana says
Robyn, I’m so happy to help you out with my healthy recipes. I hope your surgery goes well and that you’ll keep me posted on how you’re doing :-)
Cynthia says
Hi Elena. Thank you so much for sharing your story and experience. I have just learned that I too have homozygous mthfr gene mutation and I also ( brain MRI shows ischemic demyelination) may have Multiple Sclerosis. The neurologist would like to do further testing to “rule out MS”. I also have MCS and I’m pretty sure I am sensitive to EMF. I must admit I am scared. I also have two young amazing boys that I am raising. This year I lost a close Aunt to Colon cancer, moved and am recently divorced, now getting back into the work force. I wasn’t expecting another stressor. However reading about your story and being able to identify with so many things that you have shared, has helped me breathe a little easier. I did recently purchase a great juicer, that cost more than my furniture, lol, but I’m very excited to be using your green juice recipes! I don’t know anyone who’s experienced some of the same things and I really appreciate learning that I am not alone in this. Thank you so much for continuing the work and for the elegant manner in which you present it. Best wishes to you,
Cynthia
Elana says
Cynthia, I was truly touched by your comment and also moved to hear about all of the similarities we share. My boys were young when I was diagnosed with MS and my father had colon cancer years ago. Then there is all the EMF toxicity that people like us with the MTHFR mutation deal with. You sound so brave and strong and that is incredibly important on this health journey, regardless of what we encounter. I hope you’ll keep me posted, my thoughts are with you :-)
Marg Merrick says
This drink is very soothing as well as stimulating- you are such an incredible inspiration Elana- may all the healing coming from your recipes come back to you one hundredfold?
Elana says
Marg, what a wonderfully sweet comment! I am so glad to be on this healing journey with readers like you :-)
victoria says
Thank you very much for this recipe, how much of this do you recommend drinking per day? And i think i read to drink it with meals or is that just if one’s stomach is a bit sensitive?
Elana says
Victoria, thanks for your comment! I would recommend speaking to your medical practitioner about how much of this to drink. I drink it on both empty and full stomach :-)
Marie says
Hi Elana,
Do you think the benefits will be the same if I peel the tumeric and ginger root?
Thank you,
Elana says
Marie, I don’t do that because it’s more work and you lose part of the ingredient :-)
John says
Elana, are you familiar with Pubmed.gov? Are you familiar with the peer reviewed studies re Nrf2 and that 1 product you seem to disagree with people using but which you linked to an Amazon sales site – specifically that it has been proven in at least one of those studies that the synergistic formulation of the five ingredients results in an 1800 % increase in the overall effectiveness in increasing Nrf2 activity verses each of those products in any volume by themselves?additionally, there are now 24 studies peer reviewed and published in major publications by renowned research facilities that are presented at pubmed.gov Plus the actual patents which can only be given If the product has been proven to do what those patents indicate.. FYI, the company that produces that product enforces rigorously the shutdown of the sale of that product on any other platform other than its own system. I have personally seen and many others have seen that those products that are sold on Amazon eBay Etc have been proven to often NOT be the actual product, in look or in content, even to the point of being capsules instead of the little yellow pill. And people run a real risk of serious health damage by buying a knock-off product. Additionally how can someone be selling the real product below the cost that everyone else pays whether customer or distributor who purchase the product legitimately from the manufacturers website? You do a major disservice to your audience by supporting such unethical and potentially seriously damaging sales.
Elana says
John, thanks for your comment. As I stated above, I have no issue with anyone taking this supplement. I simply prefer to take stand alone supplements, not proprietary blends, but if it works for you and others that is fantastic. I agree with what you mention about amazon and am unlinking this product to it since you have pointed out that the manufacturer does not authorize its sale there. Thanks so much for mentioning that :-)
Sonja VanErdewyk says
Love your website Elena but unfortunately you are not fully educated on Nrf2 activation. As a critical care nurse, biohacker using Protandim for 6 years, and lover of fresh green juice, I feel compelled to educate everyone.
It has been already proven by scientific research that Protandim Nrf2 is the most potent Nrf2 activator in the world. Dr. Joe McCord (the father of antioxidant medicine)found, during his research to formulate Protandim Nrf2, that the specific proprietary blend (5 herbs) that he used was 1800% more effective than the ingredients alone. Just because you take a higher amount of turmeric or another herb or combo does not mean that you are getting more Nrf2 activation. Protandim Nrf2 has 7 patents and 24 peer reviewed studies on pubmed. See link below.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=protandim Does your blend have any scientific studies or patents? In addition, the National Institutes of Aging (an arm of the National Institutes of Health) did a 10 year longevity study on Protandim Nrf2, Resveratrol, Turmeric, green- tea, and fish oil. They found that Protandim Nrf2 synergizer was the only product to extend the quality and quantity of life in male mice!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgbUveTs41Q&sns=em Turmeric alone is not more effective, period. You could still take Turmeric at a different time of day for more pain relief but you will not get the same effect taking it alone. I myself used to take turmeric but with the creation of Protandim Nrf2, why would I want to continue taking something that isn’t as effective? You can not just take a bunch of separate supplements and think just because you are taking higher doses that you are activating that pathway better. One would have to eat over 10# of broccoli to get the same effect as Protandim Nrf2 and of course, this would probably make you very ill and would be impossible to do. Wouldn’t you rather take something studied and patented?
For health’s sake, make sure to get educated and watch this video about the most potent Nrf2 activator in the world- http://www.biohackingyourbody.com.
Elana says
Sonja, thanks for your comment! I don’t feel comfortable taking supplements with proprietary blends, but if that works for others that’s great. We’re all different. Per your comment that I would need to eat 10# of broccoli, I wouldn’t ever try that due to the reasons you list. That’s why I take DIM and personally believe in supplements that contain sulorophane. I’m so glad that you have found a supplement that works for you!
Sonja says
Why don’t you feel comfortable taking supplements with proprietary blends? Protandim is proven to work and be the most potent Nrf2 activator and if you took it, you would actually see more benefits than what you are doing. Sulorophane doesn’t not have the same Nrf2 activation. You supplements do not activate Nrf2 in that same percentage. There are lots of people with neurological issues getting huge benefits from Protandim Nrf2. I too have MTHFR variation, among a couple other gene variations, but have great glutathione levels which helps immensely with neurological issues. When you take Protandim Nrf2 it actually increases your Glutathione by 300%!!! I hope you will reconsider this. It would be great for you. I appreciate all your wonderful recipes and hint. Blessings.
Elana says
Sonja, thanks for sharing your thoughts!