Here are the four main ingredients for my anti-inflammatory tea; ginger, turmeric, cloves and green tea. Turmeric is the yellowish spice that’s unfortunately sat in your cupboard for years… just in case.  Well, its time for a ‘coming out’ party! Turmeric is in the top three of my superfoods list.

Turmeric is used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine and has numerous beneficial properties. Curcumin is the constituent within turmeric believed to have the majority of the anti-inflammatory properties. Studies have shown curcumin’s anti-inflammatory effects  to be comparable to drugs like hydrocortisone and ibuprofen, without the side effects.

Ginger contains gingerols, a compound with very potent anti-inflammatory properties . Many of my patients who consume this anti-inflammatory tea and eat ginger regularly experience a lessening of their pain levels from musculoskeletal and arthritic conditions. Inflammation can reside in many tissues in the body, not just joints and muscles. Ginger is also on my  list of superfoods.

Next is green tea, you guessed it-superfood. In the August 2006 edition of the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, they found that green tea is a healthier choice than almost any beverage, including pure water, because tea not only rehydrates as well as water, but provides a rich supply of polyhenols protective against heart disease.

Cloves give this tea a nice spicy taste. Cloves contain Eugenol, which is the primary component of clove’s volatile oils, and is anti-inflammatory. Cloves also contain flavonoids , which further contribute to the anti-inflammatory (and antioxidant) properties of this tea. There you have it, three superfoods and one super spice in one drink… what’s not to love?

I like to make a big batch and drink it over several days.

P.S. It’s great iced in the summer.

Dr. Ron’s Anti-Inflammatory Spiced Green Tea

2 whole turmeric roots, peeled and cut in 1/4 inch slices

4 inches whole ginger root, peeled and cut in 1/2 inch slices (or just get one of the biggest and freshest whole roots available and use the whole thing)

6 whole cloves

10-12 green tea bags or similar amount of whole leaf tea

Juice of 2 lemons

To make the tea, boil about a gallon of water in a big pot. Once it’s boiling add the cloves, ginger and turmeric and immediately reduce to a simmer. Cover and continue simmer for 15-20 minutes.  Put the green tea bags in for the final two minutes to steep. Strain and add lemon to taste.

You can also add stevia or raw agave nectar as natural sugar substitutes if you like it sweetened. Feel free to play with the green tea recommendations (i.e. use different whole leaf green teas with a tea ball infuser, caffeinated vs. non-caffeinated etc.)

Enjoy!

P.S. I really like this Royal Matcha Green Tea

 

Reference: www.wholefoods.com

Tags: anti-inflammatory diet, fat burning, green tea, recipes, superfoods