Fight The Winter Blues with This DIY Turmeric Lemonade
We’ve previous written about the incredible topical health benefits of turmeric root (check out GC’s signature turmeric face mask) but turmeric is even better at fighting inflammation (the root of all bodily ailments, including a moody disposition) than it is at soothing surface-level imperfections.
To stave off the winter blues this season, try making a DIY turmeric and blood orange lemonade, which is a refreshing “depression-fighting” elixir that tastes great and looks even better.
Turmeric is rich antioxidants, has anti-inflammatory properties, is great for brain health, and has been found to lift depression, according to RemedySpot. As RS reports, “In a clinical trial on major depressive disorder (MDD), Curcumin (the active ingredient in turmeric) was found to have equal effects as the prescription drug fluoxetine (the generic form of Prozac), without any adverse effects.”
Dr. Ajay Goel, Baylor Research Institute and Charles A Sammons Cancer Center, further points out in the same post that “People with depression have higher levels of inflammation in the brain. Also, people with depression have lower levels of neurogenesis in the brain, meaning they make fewer new brain cells than people with no history of depression. Curcumin is both a potent anti-inflammatory agent and a powerful stimulator for neurogenesis.”
This DIY Turmeric and Blood Orange lemonade is made with turmeric, lemon, lime, and blood orange juice, as well as maple syrup– one of our favorite natural sweeteners.
The acid in the citrus will enhance the bioavailability of the curcuminoids in the turmeric– so this recipe is engineered to succeed! Those who want to optimize turmeric absorption can also add a tiny dash of black pepper, which, according to Natural Society, enhances curcumin’s bioavailability by 1,000 times, due to a heat property inherent to black pepper called piperine.
Feel free to experiment with the ratio of lemon-to-lime juice in order to suit your taste. During these cold winter months, your body will appreciate the boost of Vitamin C.
