With the weather remaining chilly, now is the perfect time to indulge in a warm and delicious beverage which is said to help boost longevity. A turmeric chai latte contains powerful ingredients to help reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and certain cancers.
A study published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry provided evidence that curcumin can help protect one’s brain.
In the study, participants were randomised into two groups and were studied for a period of 18 months.
One group took 90 milligrams of curcumin twice daily, while the other group took a placebo.
All volunteers underwent cognitive testes which were repeated every six months throughout the study and after.
The results found the group taking curcumin twice daily showed a 28 percent improvement in memory tests over the study period while those in the placebo group showing no memory improvement.
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Numerous other studies have suggested that turmeric lattes have broad anti-inflammatory and other anti-cancer benefits.
An island nation hailed for having one of the world’s longest average life span of a staggering 81.2 years are big fans of turmeric drinks.
Okinawans are said to drink copious quantities of the hot beverage and could suggest their drinking habit could influence their life longevity.
Turmeric and curcumin are known to help with reducing cardiovascular complications, prevent and treat cancers and help prevent type 2 diabetes.
Turmeric is one of the main components of Indian and South-East Asian curry dishes.
According to Dr Fox, the longevity benefits of turmeric are mainly attributed to curcumin – the active compound of turmeric.
“In fruit flies and mice, curcumin supplements have been shown to increase reduce ageing and increase life expectancy,” reported Dr Fox.
As she explained, research suggests this is because curcumin counteracts the effects of oxidative stress and lowers levels of chronic inflammation.
Oxidative stress is an imbalance of unstable atoms called free radicals and antioxidants in the body, which can lead to cell and tissue damage.
Chronic inflammation underlies the development of many common diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, and dementia.
According to Dr Fox, curcumin is also believed to activate SIRT genes.
“These genes produce sirtuins – specific proteins that are thought to delay ageing,” she explained.
“For example, in laboratory experiments, when rats and mice were given curcumin, they displayed a longer time to exhaustion when exercising, and exhibited fewer signs of fatigue.”
Chai is already exotic on its own, but the addition of turmeric and black pepper takes it to another level.
The slightly yellow colour of the latte comes from the curcumin found in turmeric.
Curcumin has significant anti-inflammatory properties that rival those found in ibuprofen.
Unlike over-the-counter drugs, curcumin has no toxic effects.
In addition, curcumin’s powerful antioxidant advantages have been shown to protect healthy cells, particularly those found in the colon, from cancer-causing agents.