Add This Anti-Inflammatory Tonic to Your Morning Routine

I first wrote about this beautiful elixir for a client’s skin care blog a couple of years ago. At the time, I had just become aware of the supercharged health benefits of turmeric. It has since become a superstar in the wellness community, and this golden tonic has become a firmly established part of my morning ritual.

The main player in this curative concoction, turmeric is an antioxidant powerhouse with major points for fighting inflammation, improving the skin, protecting heart health, managing degenerative eye conditions, regulating glucose, and potentially even boosting mental health. Long a staple of Ayurvedic medicine, this uber tuber is currently being explored as a potential as a treatment for cancer, IBS, arthritis, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and dermatological conditions including psoriasis and photoaging.

Ginger comes with its own impressive list of credentials including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, blood pressure and glucose regulation, metabolism booster, liver detoxifier, and digestive aid.

Lemon is all about vitamin C. More than an immunity booster, vitamin C is a potent antioxidant and an critical component in the synthesis of collagen.

Honey is here for flavor, but it’s also high in antioxidant polyphenols and flavonoids.

Coconut water is both tasty and loaded with healthy nutrients, minerals, and amino acids.    

Don’t skip the black pepper. It’s there for function, not flavor. Piperine, a substance in pepper, aids your body in absorbing the beneficial constituents of the turmeric.

The first time you make this, you will question whether it’s worth the effort. By the time you’ve consumed the first batch, you will never want to be without it again. You will feel like Keith Richards post-transfusion.

 

Making this tonic is a commitment. Pressing the pulp through the sieve to get every ounce of juice requires a bit of patience and muscle. The turmeric will turn your fingers yellow and make you look jaundiced for the rest of the day. It will make yellow stains on your lovely white sink and countertops. You can avoid these things by wearing gloves and putting down some parchment paper to protect your counter. I am too lazy for that. I use a cutting board but often end up with sloshes around the sides. A little Comet will take it out of your counter and sink (though if you have porous counters like white marble, definitely take the extra care to protect them).

Using a juicer rather than the blender would certainly make the process easier, but I don’t have the real estate on my counter for a machine that size and I wouldn’t use it for anything else because I’m staunchly anti-juice. Better to eat your veg and fruit to get the benefit of the fiber and minimize the sugar. This tonic is an exception. Just try eating turmeric root straight.

Turmeric, Ginger, Lemon Shots 

To make in a blender:

3 fat knobs of organic turmeric root

1 jumbo knob of ginger root

Juice of one lemon

1-2 teaspoons honey

2 cups of coconut water

Healthy pinch of pepper

Stir the honey and lemon juice in a large jar or pitcher until the honey is dissolved.

Place turmeric, ginger, coconut water, and pepper in blender and blend until roots have been ground into a past. You don’t need to peel the roots if you’re using organic, but do wash them thoroughly. 

Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into the jar containing the lemon and honey. You’ll have to do this in batches. Use the back of a spoon to press all the liquid out and toss away the fiber.

A serving is about a 2-ounce shot. The remainder may be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. 

 The ingredients will separate when it’s stored. Shake or stir before serving.

If you’re using a juicer, I have been told this is the way to go:

4 fat turmeric roots

1 ½ ginger roots

3 lemons (peel removed)

1 apple, quartered

Healthy pinch of pepper

Wash roots and apple before adding to juicer. Extract juice and pour about two ounces into a glass to serve. Remainder may be stored for a week in the refrigerator.

Note: Curcumin has anticoagulant properties, which could magnify the effects of blood thinning medications, so if you are taking blood thinners this little tonic is not for you.