Are you ready to embrace a daily ritual that promises to transform your mornings into a vibrant and revitalizing experience? This ancient Ayurvedic ritual is believed to offer a wide range of benefits for your overall well-being including anti-inflammatory & antioxidant benefits. This enchanting potion is none other than the age-old Ayurvedic practice of starting your day with warm water infused with turmeric. The use of turmeric in India dates back nearly 4000 years when it was used as a culinary spice and had some religious significance. We find mention of turmeric in Sushruta’s Ayurvedic compendium, dating back to 250 BC. So, let us explore the myriad benefits of embracing this golden morning ritual.1
According to Ayurvedic practices, turmeric is thought to have many medicinal properties and has been used in therapeutic preparations over the centuries. Turmeric is hot (ushna), pungent (katu), rough (ruksha), light (laghu) and can potentially pacify Kapha, Vata, and Pitta dosha2.
Research has suggested that, many significant benefits associated with turmeric’s use are due to the presence of curcumin. Curcumin (natural polyphenol), is the active ingredient in turmeric which has a potentially wide range of beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity3. Combining the Ayurvedic wisdom and scientific research, the following potential benefits can be attributed to turmeric:
Anti-inflammatory: Turmeric's role in potentially reducing inflammation has been affirmed through the wisdom of Ayurveda and multiple studies and researches. Turmeric has significant antioxidant abilities. It can help deal with free radicals and increase antioxidant enzymes. Curcumin also suppresses the creation and spread of pro-inflammatory monocytes. Curcumin has the potential to reduce the circulation of pro-inflammatory monocytes that are critical in body's immune system response. These monocytes can generate local and systemic inflammation as they can migrate and infiltrate sites already experiencing inflammation. Studies suggest that curcumin present in turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that may help in inhibiting the growth of acne-causing bacteria and reduces the redness and pain in the area4.
However, some people might be allergic to it; therefore, it's wise to consult a doctor or go for a patch test to be safe.
Antioxidant: Antioxidant potential can be understood as the ability to neutralize oxygen free radicals created due to biological and environmental influences. Oxidative damage is often seen as one of the factors behind aging and several other health issues. Curcumin is at the core of turmeric's potential antioxidant properties. Research has highlighted that turmeric may neutralize free radicals5 due to its chemical structure.
Antimicrobial: Antimicrobial activity in a compound refers to its potential ability to stop or reduce the growth or spread of certain microorganisms, like bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc. Curcumin, the principal bioactive substance in turmeric and multiple modern-day studies6 have highlighted its potential antimicrobial properties.
Promote heart health: In Sanskrit, turmeric has at least 53 different names7, including hridayavilasini (gives delight to heart, charming). Turmeric is popular for its ability to potentially improve a person’s heart health. Turmeric is believed to reduce the uptake of cholesterol from the gut. It potentially increases the high-density lipids (HDL) cholesterol and decreases low-density lipids (LDL). Thus, turmeric has the potential to prevent heart diseases and coronary problems8.
Healthy skin: Ayurveda attributes turmeric with vranahara (ulcer healing),varnya (improve complexion), tvakdoshahara (cure skin diseases), and kandoohara (cure itching) properties. Turmeric offers would healing benefits and also tends to brighten the look of the skin8. Since the herb contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, it may help in making the skin appear healthy.
Some other potential benefits8 include its anti-diabetic, properties, ability to promote respiratory health, Ophthalmic health, digestive health, and liver health, etc.
Ayurveda suggests that we can experience enhanced benefits of water by following some simple practices including its temperature, timing of intake and mixing it with other herbs. According to Ayurvedic wisdom, water possesses multiple properties including, tridoshic (potentially help balance all three doshas), mrushta (pure), jeevena (refreshing and enlivening), tarpana (filling and satiating), hrudya (useful for heart health), and bhuddiprabhodana (activating mind) properties.
The temperature of the water we drink plays a crucial role in delivering its benefits. Ayurvedic wisdom suggests that water should be had either at room temperature or warm. Boiled water becomes sharper and offers benefits that regular water or ice-cold water does not.9
Click here to know When And How To Drink Water As Per Ayurveda!
According to Ayurvedic wisdom, drinking warm water, in the morning, can potentially heal our bodies, improve the digestive system, and boost our immune system9.
Some significant benefits include:
Helps improve digestion and alleviate constipation: A warm cup of water in the morning can help flush out toxins and potentially cleanse our bodies. It helps break down the food in our stomach and the digestive system remains on track. Another problem that warm water can help deal with is bloating and poor bowel movement. Drinking warm water on an empty stomach in the morning can help improve constipation as properly broken down food moves smoothly through the intestines.
Helps reduce pain: Warm water is a powerful remedy, to potentially help reduce headaches or pain triggered by menstruation. The heat from warm water offers a potentially calming and soothing effect which can potentially help provide relief for cramps and spasms.
Helps maintain healthy weight: We all have heard that drinking a glass of warm water in the morning can potentially aid weight loss. The reason behind this is that warm water tends to increase the body's temperature and enhance the metabolic rate. It may allow the body to burn more calories.
Helps manage premature aging: Premature aging can be a person's worst nightmare. Luckily, drinking warm water may help manage it. Experts believe that the presence of toxins in our body can trigger aging faster than normal, but having warm water can help cleanse the body from these toxins, and repair the skin cells to enhance skin elasticity.
Turmeric water is generally made by mixing fresh or dried turmeric in water. It is golden in color and is earthy, and spicy. When warm water and turmeric join forces, their collective impact multiplies and they become a powerful potion that helps improve various aspects of our health and well-being. There are several benefits associated with consuming it in the morning including reduction in inflammation, pain, weight and improvement in digestion, etc.
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The Ayurveda Experience
November 30, 2023
Hi @Rhonda, it is not true as per Ayurveda. There are certain formulations that contain black pepper along with turmeric but not all combinations need to have black pepper and turmeric together.