Turmeric Drink Health Benefits
Originating from South Asia, The Health Benefits of Turmeric
Coffee has certainly evolved from its conventional and traditional beginnings. There was a time when a run-of-the-mill latte was considered a bit ‘posh’, but nowadays, the latte has reinvented itself. You might have read our previous insights into the seemingly meteoric rise and health benefits of matcha - you may even have tried a matcha latte yourself at your favourite coffee shop, or make matcha drinks at home. However, there’s another latte trend sweeping the speciality coffee scene and that’s turmeric. Here we explain why and provide some insight into why you should definitely give turmeric drinks a try.
The use of turmeric in drinks isn’t a new thing. Originating from South Asia, turmeric and milk is a stable drink in the Indian culture due to its array of health benefits. Communities would drink it for its positive impact on wellbeing, often being used to treat coughs, fevers in children, and even in the treatment of cancer. It, therefore, seems that the trend was well and truly set long before Western society adopted it into the so-called ‘hipster’ culture. In fact, it wasn’t until 2015ish that the turmeric latte rose to fame. Google reported that searches for ‘turmeric’ increased by 56% between November 2015 and January 2016.
So, why put turmeric in coffee, or any other drink for that matter? Well, let’s discuss some of the benefits:
1 Turmeric visual appeal
This seems like a superficial one but it’s true that we eat with our eyes. One of the striking characteristics of turmeric is its rich, golden colour. The early turmeric and milk beverages were referred to as ‘Golden Milk’ for precisely that reason. Turmeric latte’s are certainly easy on the eye and that visual appeal means it’s well worth photographing for your Instagram account.
2 Helps with digestion
The spice turmeric contains an antioxidant called curcumin. This compound stimulates the gallbladder which aids in producing bile to help with digestion and break down fats. Curcumin levels in turmeric are fairly low so won’t cure more long-standing digestion problems by itself, however, it can give your body that extra bit of support.
3 Turmeric is anti-Inflammatory
Following on from benefits surrounding digestion, turmeric is a really powerful anti-inflammatory and can be highly effective at reducing nausea, stop diarrhea and reduce bloating. For those suffering with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or Crohns Disease, turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties can be effective at reducing symptoms of these conditions.
4 Helps with radiant skin
When turmeric was adopted into the food culture of South Asia, women would often use turmeric to improve the appearance of their skin. It is not uncommon these days for people to add turmeric in small quantities to moisturisers as it is proven to tackle acne, dark circles, stretch marks and leaves skin looking vibrant.
5 Teeth whitening and dental health
If you’ve ever fancied making homemade toothpaste, we definitely recommend you add turmeric to it. It sounds odd doesn’t it. However, when looking into dental and oral health, the curcumin found in turmeric is proven to tackle gingivitis and gum disease as well as being effective in breaking down plaque and bacteria found in the mouth. This can lead to whiter teeth and healthier gums.
6 Improved brain function
Curcumin has been proven to increase the levels of the hormone BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). This is a growth hormone and many degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimers and Depression are caused by a decrease in BDNF levels. Curcumin actively stimulates the production of new neurones and BDNF which can delay or reverse the affects of some of these conditions.
So, whilst turmeric looks visually stunning and certainly has a warming spicy taste that is really pleasant, the health benefits are also a big part of why it has become so popular. So whether you have it in your latte, or just drink it with warm milk using products offered by some of our great partner brands like Pambai chai, we really recommend you give it a try.
GUSTATORY (adjective): curating excellence in taste.