Detoxifying!

Helpful tips to celebrate (a belated) National Kidney Day with some healthy habits! 

 The kidneys serve a very important role in detoxing waste from our bodies. As most know, drinking about half of one's weight in water (but in ounces not pounds!) makes the body happy and healthy. This practice keeps our circulatory system active! However, there are two great herbs that also helps maintain kidney health. They are turmeric and ginger!

In turmeric, the curcumin aids in blood circulation, contains antioxidants, and reduces inflammation (Taylor, 2020). One can simply add this colorful rhizome into their diet by adding it into their food, cooked or raw. There are also supplements that are convenient to take when you're out of your local rhizome. The best tip for picking out an efficient turmeric supplement is checking to see if black pepper is added or remind yourself to add it to your routine (prep it in a meal to go with your supplement or grab a pinch and swallow the crushed pepper and supplement with water). The black pepper allows the curcumin to become more bioavailable (Axe, 2019). 

Ginger, oh, ginger. This lovely rhizome is related to turmeric which is why it holds similar properties such as containing antioxidants and reducing inflammation. It has been used to treat colds for thousands of years (Bode and Dong, 2011)! Like turmeric, it is also easy to include ginger into your cooking! If you're looking for a small kick in the flavor department, look no further because it has it all. Finding ginger supplements or tinctures is also very convenient if on the go or feeling some congestion. 

Here is a little recipe for a tea that is great for any detoxing practice:

1 1/2 thumbs of ginger
1 thumb of turmeric
1 tsp. of dried thyme
A shake of ground cinnamon
10 whole cloves
A shake of ground cardamom
2 shakes of ground black pepper
32 ounces of boiling water

Steep and enjoy with milk or favorite milk alternative! 

References:

Axe, J. (2019, March 15). Turmeric and Curcumin: Can This Herb Really Combat Disease? Retrieved March 10, 2020, from https://draxe.com/nutrition/turmeric-curcumin-benefits/

Bode AM, Dong Z. The Amazing and Mighty Ginger. In: Benzie IFF, Wachtel-Galor S, editors. Herbal Medicine: Biomolecular and Clinical Aspects. 2nd edition. Boca Raton (FL): CRC Press/Taylor & Francis; 2011. Chapter 7. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92775/ 

Hewlings, S. J., & Kalman, D. S. (2017). Curcumin: A Review of Its' Effects on Human Health. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 6(10), 92. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods6100092 

Link, R. (2018, June 14). Ginger Benefits, Uses, Nutrition and Side Effects. Retrieved March 10, 2020, from https://draxe.com/nutrition/10-medicinal-ginger-health-benefits/

Taylor, A. P. (2020, February 5). Benefits of Turmeric. Retrieved March 10, 2020, from https://healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed/postings/2020/02/turmeric.php