Turmeric

Make sure you’re only drinking certified organic herbal tea. Organic will allow the nutrients of tea to enter your body unaltered, without the side-effects of pesticides working against its cleansing properties.

Toxins from pesticides sprayed on nonorganic teas detract from the healing and cleansing properties of the teas that have been used for throughout history. Human pesticide consumption has been linked to short-term health issues such as headaches and nausea, and in some cases to more serious conditions of infertility, endocrine disruptions and even cancer. The only way to ensure you’re not exposing yourself is to drink only organic ☺

☺ Organic tea farms use compost, plants and organic matter to provide essential ground cover and fill the soil with nutrients to allow sustainable, fertile land for many harvests to come. This natural soil brings the organic tea plants to life; rich with minerals, amino acids and vitamins. Organic herbal tea is literally the world’s healthiest vitamin water, with varieties such as green tea, chamomile and yerba mate containing antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation, combat cell damage and have been linked to reducing the risk of cancer and diabetes.

When making tea use loose leaf and always cover the cup so that the volatile oils don’t evaporate.

Tumeric (curcumin) is a member of the ginger family and is thought to have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Curcumin also neutralises free radicals and helps the body create antioxidant enzymes. However, the medicinal properties of curcumin cannot be utilised effectively due to poor bioavailability caused by rapid metabolism in both the liver and intestinal wall - in short, the body struggles to absorb the medicinal properties of curcumin. For example, anyone who has eaten turmeric will experience a slight increase within the blood stream; though this will be temporary as the liver is actively work to eliminate it.

Pepper (piperine) is responsible for the pungency of black pepper and has been used in forms of traditional medicine for centuries; and it also helps the body absorb things it usually suppresses, such as curcumin. Therefore, when black pepper is mixed with turmeric the natural metabolism process is suppressed and your body's ability to absorb increases dramatically.. It doesn’t require a lot of piperine either, even just a little pinch of pepper, say 1/20th of a teaspoon, can significantly boost levels.

An alternative method known to increase curcumin absorption is to eat it witha source of healthy fat, such as coconut oil. As a result, curcumin can be directly absorbed into the bloodstream through the lymphatic system, thereby in part bypassing the liver.

However tumeric is not for everyone -those who are pregnant, have gallstones, or are susceptible to kidney stones should moderate their consumption.

To add more turmeric to my diet, I like to make a homemade golden paste - which is a combination of turmeric, black pepper, coconut oil and water, or golden milk - turmeric, almond milk and raw honey. You can easily find a recipe online. Golden paste/milk can be added to various dishes to add flavour, such as yogurt, smoothies, curries, rice, soup and frittata, or taken on its own.