Grown primarily in Southeast Asia, Turmeric is a common spice that has been used for millennia in Ayurvedic and Eastern medicines. Today, with its warm and earthy flavors, it can frequently be found in curry powders, mustards, and even in some commercial dairy products such as butter and cheese. The spice has recently seen a surge in popularity for its many health benefits, and can be found as a freshly ground root in cooking, or added in its powdered form to teas, smoothies, and soups. In fact, in addition to its many health benefits, one of the most commonly cited benefits to regular consumption of turmeric is the way in which it helps to lose weight.

Health Benefits of Turmeric

Turmeric’s main active ingredient, curcumin, is a very strong antioxidant that is thought to provide a range of health benefits to those who regularly consume it. For example, curcumin has been proven to boost the body’s immune function with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial properties. The spice is used as a natural supplement to manage symptoms of arthritis, reduce cardiovascular complications, and it is currently being investigated as a potential treatment for cancer (to be used in tandem with chemotherapy and radiation therapy). And while there are a whole host of other health benefits to regularly consuming turmeric, one of its most popular uses today is as an aid for weight loss.

The curcumin in turmeric (which does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to the health benefits of the plant) has been said to increase the body’s metabolism, accelerate digestion, and even suppress the growth of fatty tissue, all of which increases turmeric’s potential as a weight-loss supplement. However, curcumin has a low bioavailability, meaning that our bodies find it difficult to absorb efficiently into our systems. One of the best ways to increase curcumin’s effectiveness is to add ingredients that improve its bioavailability, and that is easiest to do when consuming turmeric as tea.

However, brewing turmeric tea-either by grating the turmeric root or by steeping pure turmeric powder-is one of the most effective ways of using this magical spice. As a tea, turmeric has been said to increase the body’s metabolism, accelerate digestion, and even suppress the growth of fatty tissue.

Classic Turmeric Tea

To best take advantage of turmeric’s weight-loss capabilities, make a cup first thing in the morning and drink it on an empty stomach. To brew a fresh cup of turmeric tea at home, grate raw turmeric root (enough for half a teaspoon) into a pan of water. Add some black pepper to the mix; piperine, a compound in black pepper, increases curcumin’s bioavailability. Whisk together, and then raise the heat until your tea begins to boil. Once it begins to bubble, turn the heat down to a simmer and leave it for 10 minutes.

Of course, that’s a lot more effort for a single cup of tea in the morning than you would typically endure. The zero-calorie Hot Turmeric Brew from Nature’s Rare, which uses all-organic turmeric straight from the organic lush fields of Sri Lanka, comes conveniently packaged in little sachets that you can drop straight into your cup of hot water in the morning. These teabags also come with organic black pepper, with no preservatives, added sugar or artificial flavors. Drop your teabag in a cup, let it steep for a few minutes, and enjoy.

Lemon and Ginger Turmeric Tea

Lemons are a great source of vitamin C, adding a bright burst of flavor to your cup. Ginger, like turmeric, is a powerhouse of a spice with powerful medicinal properties, and it should add a nice bite to the taste of your tea. After you’ve dropped in your teabag, try adding a squirt of fresh lemon juice and some grated ginger to your cup for some extra zing.

Alternatively, you can combine our Hot Ginger Brew bag together with our Hot Turmeric Brew too.

Golden Milk Turmeric Tea

Another way to increase the bioavailability of your turmeric tea is to add some healthy fats to it, because curcumin is fat-soluble. Full-fat cow’s milk or coconut milk will work, but if you’ve got a plant-based milk that’s low in fats, you can simply add a teaspoon of almond oil or coconut oil to the mix. This will give you a tea that is popularly known as Golden Milk, and it’s a delicious way to elevate your Nature’s Rare Hot Turmeric Brew.