Right now it is summer across the United States, and though the kids will be going back to school soon in the coming weeks, there is still time to sit back on the porch with a nice cold glass of a drink you mixed for yourself in the kitchen. Of course, there is no reason why you can’t be drinking something that is great for your health, and I have just the recipe, turmeric lemonade!
The star of our summery drink is Turmeric, which has been used as a spice and natural medicine for 2,500 years in India, and even gives curry powder its signature yellow color!
Turmeric contains curcumin!
Although it is said that to get the full benefits of curcumin via turmeric, a powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, you must use supplements that are more curcumin than turmeric itself or take with black pepper which encourages absorption, curcumin is indeed in Turmeric!
In fact, curcumin is so anti-inflammatory it matches the effects of most anti-inflammatory drugs! Curcumin even works at the molecular level to inhibit molecules that contribute to inflammation which is the leading cause to many Western diseases.
Turmeric is a free-radical fighting machine!
Again the presence of curcumin is where the value of Turmeric shines. Curcumin actually has a chemical structure which neutralizes free radicals; those nasty little guys which are natural by-products of living but wear on your system.
Additionally, curcumin stimulates the production of anti-oxidant enzymes that your body produces as a natural response to the presence of free-radicals! Curcumin essentially has a double-affect to help you cleanse your system keeping you more vibrant!
Turmeric can help fight depression!
That oh-so-fantastic curcumin actually even has mood-boosting properties! A study of 60 patients, some who took Prozac, some who took curcumin, and some who took both had interesting results. The ones who took both fared best and the other two groups fared the same.
Therefore, according to this study, curcumin was on par with one of the most popular anti-depressants! With evidence that curcumin may boost dopamine and serotonin levels to boot (the hormones related to pleasure and joy)!
So where does the “lemonade” part come in?
In the end this lemonade hopefully will be just as enjoyable, but not quite the same, as the lemonade with 5 cups of sugar that your grandmother might have made for you when you were younger.
Lemon in the water of course will help alkalize your body and provide many essential vitamins at the same time as it encourages digestion (there is a reason lemon infused water is always served at those health spas!).
Additionally, we are shooting to use natural sweeteners like honey, agave, or maple syrup (pst, honey is my personal favorite for its own slew of health benefits) rather than processed sugar or artificial sweeteners that your body doesn’t know what to do with exactly.
Ingredients and supplies
(Adapted from a recipe by meal planner pro)
Prep time: 10 minutes
4 cups filtered water
2 Tablespoons freshly grated or powdered Turmeric
4 Tablespoons 100% maple syrup, honey, or agave
The juice of 1 ½ lemons
Optional: the juice of 1 blood orange
Directions:
- If you are grating fresh turmeric the skin should be soft enough to peel with a spoon, but do peel it before you grate it.
- Roll the lemons and other citrus if you choose on a clean surface with your palm, and give it a sort of rolling massage to get the juices flowing on the inside.
- Finally assemble all your ingredients in a pitcher or carafe, mix together till blended, and chill in the fridge.
- Perhaps you can garnish with some fresh mint for that nice cooling factor, and the added benefit of clearing up your sinuses of any allergies you might undergo while you enjoy your glass on the porch with friends or family!
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