Turmeric Water or Ginger Water: The Best Monsoon Immunity Drink Revealed
Turmeric Water: A Time-Tested Healer
Turmeric, or haldi, is a golden spice used widely in Indian households—not just in food, but also for its healing properties. The key compound in turmeric, curcumin, is known for its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This makes turmeric water an excellent choice for long-term immune support, especially when monsoon infections are more common.
Ayurveda recommends combining turmeric with black pepper. The piperine in black pepper helps increase the absorption of curcumin in the body, enhancing its benefits. Drinking turmeric water mixed with black pepper on an empty stomach is believed to strengthen the body against daily infections and regulate digestion and metabolism.
Ginger Water: The Go-To Remedy for Seasonal Illness
Ginger holds a special place in Indian kitchens, especially when the weather takes a turn. Its active compound, gingerol, helps combat both bacterial and viral infections. Sipping on warm ginger water during the monsoon can ease throat irritation, reduce fever symptoms, and support digestion on humid days. Its natural heat-producing properties make it ideal for relieving cold-induced discomfort.
Which One Should You Choose in the Monsoon?
While both turmeric and ginger water are effective immunity boosters, ginger water offers quicker relief from monsoon-related ailments like sore throat, cough, and nasal congestion. Turmeric water, on the other hand, plays a more foundational role, gradually building the immune system over time.
Health experts suggest alternating between both drinks—perhaps turmeric water one day, and ginger water the next—to get the best of both worlds. This way, you enjoy immediate relief along with long-term immunity benefits.
In the battle of turmeric vs ginger water, there's no single winner. Ginger helps you cope with immediate seasonal symptoms, while turmeric fortifies your system for the long run. Together, they make a powerful duo to stay healthy through the rainy season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
41 minutes ago
- News18
Renewed Attack On Yoga And Ayurveda Stems From Insecurity, Intolerance
Last Updated: The civilisational knowledge and wisdom of thousands of years that have healed generations cannot be simply mocked away It could have been just another of those millions of daily fights on X that one forgets as the river of the social media timeline brings in new flotsam. But it got bigger and bigger, perhaps because an entire civilisation's knowledge and wisdom were attacked and insulted, and a country's medical system was brought into question. Indian chess grandmaster Vidit Gujrathi had written an innocuous Doctors' Day post honouring his family of ayurvedic and homoeopathy doctors. A handle called @theliverdr, a practitioner from Kerala named Cyriac Abby Philips, piped up to say none of them were actual doctors. Cheered on by some others, he called AYUSH (ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha, and homoeopathy) 'pseudo-science". It is fine to criticise Indic medical and wellness systems. But when one repeatedly attacks and summarily dismisses it, one needs to delve into the motives. After all, the civilisational knowledge and wisdom of thousands of years that have healed generations cannot be simply mocked away. First, it betrays the deep insecurity of allopathy, which works on the Western paradigm of modern medicine, towards other medical systems. Many allopathic practitioners take the Abrahamic approach of exclusivity, that only it is the last word and the true cure; all other systems are hocus. While Cyriac Abby Philips denigrates Hindu scientists showing any sign of spiritual belief, netizens posted screenshots from the Rajagiri hospital portal, where he is a senior consultant. The hospital has 'chaplaincy and pastoral services" and its motto 'we care, we cure" is a 'proclamation of our firm commitment to invoke the healing power of God upon the whole person, body and soul". Second, ayurveda and homoeopathy are recognised medical courses in India that one gets into after clearing the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET. BAMS, or Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, is an integrated medical degree specially designed to teach students the systems of the traditional Indian ayurveda system. BHMS, or Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine and Surgery, comprehensively covers aspects of that field. After completing this degree, you become eligible to practice as a doctor in homoeopathy. Western medical institutions have increasingly acknowledged and put to use Indian medical systems. For instance, Gerhard J Newerla, MD, from Albany, New York, writes in The New England Journal of Medicine, 'The first knowledge of testicular function was acquired empirically by the ancients when domestic animals were castrated for various reasons. However, the specific effects in men were also familiar in those early civilisations where eunuchs were part of the social order. Furthermore, The Ayurveda, written by Sushruta of India, written about 1400 BC, recommended the administration of testicular tissues for the cure of impotence." Columbia University credits Sushruta for the earliest plastic surgeries and nose jobs. 'During the 6th Century BCE, an Indian physician named Sushruta—widely regarded in India as the 'father of surgery'—wrote one of the world's earliest works on medicine and surgery. The Sushruta Samhita documented the etiology of more than 1,100 diseases, the use of hundreds of medicinal plants, and instructions for performing scores of surgical procedures—including three types of skin grafts and reconstruction of the nose," its journal says. In his acclaimed book, Saving My Neck: A Doctor's East/West Journey through Cancer, Dr Timothy McCall, MD, wonderfully describes his experience at an ayurvedic doctor's place in Kerala. He says this doctor, Chandukutty, loves taking the cases in which the conventional medical doctors have thrown up their hands. In the first week, Dr McCall shadowed him at his clinic in 2007; he witnessed how a 20-something woman with rheumatoid arthritis slowly started recovering. She was bedridden despite high doses of prednisone and methotrexate, heavy Western meds used to calm her autoimmune condition. At Chandukutty's clinic, after a few massages with medicated oils infused with dozens of herbs, she was up walking with a cane. Within three days, she was walking without one. Dr McCall writes: Rather than looking at an entire organism, a reductionist studies the parts that comprise it. In medicine, for example, the heart is viewed as a collection of parts, each of which is studied in detail. Each of these parts is in turn broken down into its own constituent parts. In the case of the heart, reductionists examine the chambers, the valves, the coronary arteries, and every other part that can be identified. This process continues at ever-finer levels of organization, down to nuclei and mitochondria, hormones and neurotransmitters. Reductionist thinking in medicine has saved millions of lives. Consider antibiotics, insulin, and the polio vaccine—even hand-washing. But, unfortunately, some physicians take a good thing too far. They put so much trust in the power of reductionism that they feel no need to consider the full humanity of their patients. When this attitude is taken to its extreme, the patient is seen as the sum of her lab tests and imaging studies. She becomes little more than a machine, some of whose parts can be fixed, others replaced. After a lifetime immersed in the field, I believe that we as a society have accepted a flawed understanding of health care. Mark Hyman, MD, and then director, Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine, says the 'integrative approach is the future of health care". But in the land where that very integrative approach was born, some practitioners ironically want to choke every ounce of ancient knowledge instead of exploring—in true scientific temperament—what they still do not know or are able to prove accurately with current medical understanding. Abhijit Majumder is a senior journalist. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
These 5 Monsoon Fruits Can Help Boost Your Immunity Naturally
As summer fades, fruits of the monsoon season have started arriving in the markets. While seasonal summer fruits are gradually disappearing, several unique and nutritious monsoon fruits are now appearing. Some of these are rare but highly beneficial for health. (News18 Hindi) One of the first fruits to appear after the initial monsoon showers is jamun (Indian blackberry). It has a short season and remains available for only a few days, yet its demand in the markets is quite high. Jamun is known for its health benefits, particularly in managing fatty liver, diabetes, and digestive issues such as gas. (News18 Hindi) After jamun comes the khajuri fruit. Not to be confused with dates, khajuri is a wild fruit commonly found in fields and forests. The trees begin to bear fruit around February - March, and the fruits remain through the summer, ripening once the rains begin. Available for about a month during the monsoon, khajuri is sweet like dates, though it is known to have a naturally hot nature. (News18 Hindi) Next is karond a, a favourite among locals. This small, round fruit is sour in taste and enjoyed with a pinch of salt. It is widely consumed during the monsoon season, loved by both children and adults. Karonda is not only eaten raw but is also popularly made into pickles. The tangy karonda pickle is a household staple and pairs perfectly with roti and butter, often replacing vegetables entirely. (News18 Hindi) In states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana, karonda pickle still holds a special place in traditional meals. It is not unusual to see children happily polishing off several rotis with just a helping of this pickle and a bit of homemade butter - showing how such local produce continues to add flavour to everyday life. (News18 Hindi) Then there's the humble pear or nashpati. This delicious monsoon fruit is packed with sweetness and nutrition. The pear is a popular fruit in households and is enjoyed fresh during this season. (News18 Hindi)
India.com
2 hours ago
- India.com
Indian Medical Tourism Market To Surge From $18.2 Bn In 2025 To $58.2 Bn By 2035: Report
The report, by the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), in collaboration with KPMG, showcased the country's ambitious vision to become the global medical hub by 2035, rising at a CAGR of 12.3 per cent. The report also outlines a transformative national strategy that integrates India's clinical expertise with its centuries-old wellness traditions, aiming to make the country the world's most trusted destination for medical value travel (MVT). It showed that India is emerging as a cost-effective alternative offering both modern surgeries and natural recovery options like Ayurveda, Yoga, and Panchakarma. India ranks 10th in the Medical Tourism Index and seventh in wellness tourism, and attracts nearly 2 million international patients from 75 countries. The report showed that medical visa issuance rose to 463,725 in 2024, with the majority of patients from Bangladesh, GCC nations, and Africa. Ayurveda and traditional medicine are gaining significant global importance, said Dr. Manoj Nesari, from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, while unveiling the report at the Heal in India 2025 Medical and Wellness Tourism Summit, organised by the FHRAI in the national capital. "India is very rich in traditional healing, and the government has taken a plethora of initiatives to boost this sector as an alternate economy in recent years,' he said, adding that a series of initiatives have been taken to further promote Yoga and Ayurveda as a healing and wellness alternative across the globe. Suman Billa, IAS, Additional Secretary and Director General, Ministry of Tourism, noted that the tourism economy is reaching $3 trillion in the coming years, and for that, several areas need to be activated. 'Medical and wellness tourism are strategic pillars to achieve this target. He strongly suggested that in the coming years we will have to showcase not only our competence but also our care, compassion, and delivery,' he said.
