Turmeric Ginger Date

Make a date with a little of this hot stuff every morning – it might help you keep bugs at bay.

I make this, or a variation of it, whenever I feel a bit scratchy-throated or need pepping up. It is warming and feisty, and can be diluted with hot or cold water if you want it to be more like a tea than a shot. It also keeps well in the fridge for about 10 days so I usually make a little batch and bottle it.

Here’s how I made this batch.

Ingredients

• 50 g fresh ginger
• 50 g fresh turmeric
• 50 g pitted dates (pre soak in water if they are very dry)
• filtered water
• 4 black peppercorns

Instructions

• Scrub the ginger and turmeric with a scourer or use a sharp knife to scrape off a very thin layer of most of the skin.
• Place the dates, peppercorns, ginger and turmeric in a blender or use a hand blender – needs to be pretty powerful. I use a thermomix. 
• Depending on your blender you may need to add some water right from the start – add just enough to blend to a runny paste
• Add water little by little to get the consistency you like. I like mine fairly thick and I don’t strain it as it is better to “chew” your shot.
• Drink about 50 ml in the morning – I drink it before I have anything thing else. 

Caution

• Ginger and turmeric are both quite strong and if you’re on any medication, have any health conditions or are pregnant you should check with your doctor before trying this.
• These ingredients can have interesting effects on some digestive systems so start with a little.

Below is a quick read as to why this might be a great drink for your health – if it is right for your body. If these are ingredients you haven’t tried much before I would really just start small and go easy to see how your body reacts. Notice any changes in your digestion and overall wellbeing to see if it suits you.

TURMERIC

Turmeric is having a bit of a moment right now – it has been used for centuries in Ayurveda to help relieve all manner of ailments as well as enjoyed in cuisine – and is now being extensively researched and even marketed as a supplement.

What’s all the fuss about? The chemical compound curcumin in turmeric is thought to provide the body with antioxidants as well as boosting the body’s own antioxidant activity. This could help to strengthen the immune system and fight infections, as well as alleviate a whole long list of ailments.

GINGER

Ginger has been used as a home remedy to treat nausea, flu and colds and other ailments for centuries too. It is also full of antioxidants and is thought to be a powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral agent.

BLACK PEPPER

The piperine in black pepper is an active compound that is usually paired with turmeric as it improves the bioavailability of curcumin by an astonishing 2,000%. This is helpful as the bioavailability of curcumin is less than 1% on its own, the black pepper is an excellent idea.

DATES

Dates are just fabulous things – I could write you an essay on their benefits but just believe me when I tell you that they are good for you and that their health benefits are supposed to include: blood sugar regulation, blood pressure reduction, improving brain function, helping to keep you regular and even helping to maintain bone mass.