While frequently experiencing bloating and other signs of indigestion warrants a check-in with your doctor, there are still at-home remedies you can try before your visit. We reached out to doctors and other gut health experts who unanimously agreed upon one beverage to instantly soothe and/or prevent stomach pain— turmeric tea.
Read on for tips, suggestions and insight regarding all things turmeric tea from Dr. M. Kara, MD, digestive health, functional medicine and natural remedies expert and creator of KaraMD, and Sara Chatfield, RDN, registered dietitian at Healthcanal.
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How Turmeric Tea Benefits Gut Health
Turmeric root, which contains the beneficial compound curcumin, Chatfield says, has been linked with reduced inflammation and improved digestion. "Preliminary research also suggests that it may increase weight loss," she says.
This spice is "common in Indian dishes but can be used in many other savory dishes to add color and flavor, or taken as a tea," Chatfield explains. Turmeric is easiest to find and use in powdered form, she notes.
Kara agrees, adding that turmeric is an "ancient spice that has been used for centuries in medicine, food, and other areas due to the health benefits of its active ingredient, curcumin."
One of the greatest benefits of turmeric, Kara stresses, is that it is a "natural anti-inflammatory compound." In the short-term, he points out that inflammation is helpful for the body "as it helps fight foreign pathogens that are meant to cause us harm."
However, if left unchecked, chronic inflammation can "lead to a number of issues such as aches and pains, weakened immune system, poor cognitive function, increased risk for heart disease, digestive issues, and more," he stresses.
This, Kara concludes, is why reducing inflammation through any method is extremely important, and "one of the strongest natural remedies for reducing inflammation" by sipping on turmeric tea. The more you know!
