FUNCTIONAL FOOD

E X P E RT R E V I E W E D

The Hormone-Balancing Turmeric Tonic This Thyroid

Expert Swears By
Founder of Thyroid Yoga®
By Fern Olivia

Expert review by
Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., R.D.N.

Last updated on December 31, 2020

 Years ago I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroid disease (along with a host of
other issues, like leaky gut). Because of these autoimmune conditions, I decided to completely
overhaul my diet to help with the brain fog, fatigue, and digestive woes I was dealing with on a daily
basis.

I adopted a plant-based diet that eliminated all gluten, dairy, processed foods, alcohol, and caffeine—
and it helped tremendously in my personal healing process. My energy soared, my immune function
improved, and my thyroid and digestive health began to regulate.

Since then, I've done a lot of experimenting with various functional foods and herbs, and I've definitely
landed on a few personal favorites when it comes to my thyroid and overall health. One of my favorite
ways to combine several of these nourishing ingredients at once is to whip up functional wellness
tonics—which are much more than just trendy beverages.

I've written about my brain-fog-busting tonic for helping fight fatigue and promote energy and focus,
and now, I want to share another one of my go-to mixtures for when I need a little more calm and
balance (and anti-inflammatory properties)—my turmeric and shilajit tonic.   

This tonic has been inspired by centuries-old ayurvedic tradition. It boasts homemade hemp milk, a
hint of raw honey, freshly juiced carrots, ginger, turmeric, and adaptogenic plant ingredients such as
maca, ashwagandha, shilajit, reishi, and chaga—plus powerful digestion-balancing herbs like
cardamom, vanilla bean, and black pepper. Along with providing adrenal and  immune support and
anti-inflammatory properties, this warming tonic basically tastes like you're sipping on sunshine.

Here, learn why I think the ingredients in this tonic are so special for promoting wellness—and scroll
down for the full recipe!

Key ingredients
Turmeric

Turmeric has been used as a medicinal strategy for supporting cardiovascular, digestive, joint, and
immune health for thousands of years, and it's one of the most healing roots for the body. Along with
potent antioxidants like curcumin, turmeric contains an array of essential micronutrients, including
vitamins C and K, several B vitamins, iron, calcium, manganese, potassium, selenium, phosphorus, and
 magnesium. The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric are one reason this tonic is especially
beneficial for stiff joints, which can be a challenge for women with Hashimoto’s and other hypothyroid
conditions.

Shilajit

I'm a huge fan of shilajit. The natural plant complex has been known and used for centuries by people
living in the mountains of Central Asia—Nepal, India, Russia, and Tibet. Sanskrit for "Conqueror of
mountains and destroyer of weakness,” shilajit has historically been touted for its energizing and
strengthening effects  in these cultures with rough terrains. Modern science now points to shilajit’s
role in energy balance.

Mineral-rich shilajit helps metabolize food for energy, contains a variety of antioxidants that protect
cells throughout the body, and may help combat fatigue and stimulate the brain (according to studies
in rats and cell cultures). It dissolves well in water. I keep shilajit in my purse for when I need a quick
brain boost. 

Lotus Blooming Herbs is a company I trust that supplies Himalayan-sourced, fair trade shilajit in its
genuine and authentic form—a black, gummy mineral resin.

Ashwagandha

The use of the adaptogenic herb ashwagandha can be traced back more than 2,500 years, and it is
highly revered in ayurvedic medicine for its value as a multipurpose herb that brings holistic healing to
the body. Bonus: It's another superstar plant bioactive with robust clinical research evidence for
countering stress and supporting thyroid balance. 

Specifically, ashwagandha has been shown to lower your body's stress hormone, cortisol, which can
make you feel more calm and support adrenal balance. It can also help out an underactive thyroid. A
randomized controlled trial found that after just eight weeks of supplementing with ashwagandha,
patients with hypothyroidism had much healthier thyroid labs (higher T3 and T4; lower TSH)and
therefore more normal, balanced thyroid function.

Ginger

Ginger is an herbal known for its digestive support efficacy. Clinically shown to reduce and even
prevent symptoms of nausea and vomiting. ginger’s antiemetic effects have proven effective against 
motion sickness, morning sickness, post-operative nausea and vomiting,  and chemotherapy-induced
nausea. 
 Ginger has also been shown in a 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials to have
anti-inflammatory effects and the ability to alleviate markers of oxidative stress. These effects underlie
this herbal root’s ability to reduce muscle pain and soreness associated with exercise and arthritis.

Carrots

Carrots are a naturally sweet addition to this turmeric-led tonic. Carrots are loaded with carotenoid
antioxidant beta-carotene, and also delivers a variety of other micronutrients like potassium, vitamin C,
and folate to highlight a few. carrots provide several immune-boosting effects. Carotenoids  fight
oxidative stress due to their intrinsic antioxidant properties. In fact a clinical study using carrot juice as
the intervention demonstrated positive effects on antioxidant status and oxidative stress.

Beta-carotene and other carotenoids play a protective role in skin health and vision. Beta-carotene is
considered the most important provitamin A carotenoid (i.e., beta-carotene is converted into vitamin
A in our body), and vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin known to be critical for immune system function.

Maca

Maca is an adaptogenic root native to South America. Historically used in the Andes as a botanical
strategy to treat anemia, infertility, and hormonal balance, current research suggests maca may help
with menopausal symptoms (think hot flashes), but more research is needed to suss this potential
benefit out definitively.

From reproductive, immune, brain, skin, and digestive functions to helping with fatigue, the potential
bioactivities of maca are numerous, but not convincingly backed up by high-quality research yet. What
I can say for sure is that maca has a distinct caramel-like taste and is packed with fiber, amino acids,
iron, calcium,, potassium, copper, vitamin C and phytonutrients.

Reishi and chaga

These are two mushrooms used historically in Asian medicine traditions for longevity and  their
immune-modulating properties. These fungi may help to promote the activation key immune cells and
pathways to protect from pathogens and disease processes. For example, reishi and chaga, along with
other medicinal mushrooms, have been studied in animal and cell models for their ability to modulate
cytokine production, along with other mechanisms that have direct relevance for cancer (although
studies in humans are still to come).

Hormone-Balancing Turmeric Tonic

Juiced, warmed, and blended, this tonic led by turmeric is a delicious way (packed with nutrients,
fiber, and phytochemicals) to sip your way to more balance and better health.

Serves 1

Ingredients

1-inch knob of fresh turmeric

1-inch knob of fresh ginger

1 carrot

1½ cups homemade hemp seed milk

1 tsp. maca powder

½ tsp. reishi powder

½ tsp. chaga powder

Pea-size amount of shilajit resin

1 tsp. ashwagandha powder

Pinch of black pepper

1 to 2 tsp. raw honey

Method

1 Using a juicer, juice fresh ginger, turmeric, and carrot. (Alternatively, you can blend these
ingredients with the hemp seed milk and strain with a cheesecloth.)

2 Pour juice into a small saucepan along with hemp seed milk (purified water blended with 2
tsp. organic hemp seeds.) Heat over medium-low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until mixture is
gently warmed but not boiling. Add in a pea-size amount of shilajit, and stir with a whisk
until well mixed.

3 Pour mixture into a high-speed blender along with ashwagandha, maca cardamom,
mushroom powders, black pepper, and raw honey to taste. Blend on high until mixture is
creamy and frothy, about 30 to 60 seconds.

4 Pour into a mug and enjoy. If you have a milk frother, you can add additional hemp seed milk
to the frother and top your mug off, adding a dash of cardamom and another drizzle of
honey for added delight.
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/hormone-balancing-turmeric-tonic-for-thyroid-health