Both ginger and turmeric are members of the same family of flowering plants. They have amazing therapeutic benefits and are frequently utilized in cuisines worldwide for their earthy, robust flavor.
Research supports using turmeric and ginger for weight loss. This is true in traditional approaches to medicine and the alternative medicine system, Ayurveda. The health advantages of turmeric and ginger tea are many, ranging from the relief of chronic pain and inflammation to the treatment of coughs and colds.
These infusions are also recognized for their potential to burn fat. Many people trying to lose weight drink ginger or turmeric tea to increase their metabolism and expedite the weight-loss process. But is there a difference between the two, and which should you choose for the most effective weight loss results?
Why You Should Use Turmeric and Ginger For Weight Loss
There are many methods to try in your weight loss journey. Here are some reasons to consider turmeric and ginger.
The Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric is a spice in the ginger family. It is bright yellow and has a musky or peppery taste.
Its primary bioactive compound, curcumin, is responsible for all the medicinal benefits of this spice—and there are many!
From research, we know that the curcumin in turmeric:
- Reduces Inflammation: Curcumin inhibits key inflammatory pathways, like NF-kB, that contribute to inflammation.¹
- Contains Antioxidants: Curcumin neutralizes free radicals and boosts the body’s own antioxidant enzyme defenses. This protects against oxidative stress, which can damage cells and lead to chronic diseases.²
- Acts as a Cancer-Preventative: Curcumin has anti-carcinogenic effects by influencing molecular signaling pathways involved in cancer growth, proliferation, and metastasis.³
- Enhances Brain Health:Turmeric enhances brain health, particularly in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's disease. Curcumin helps clear amyloid plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease.⁴
Potential Side Effects of Turmeric
Despite the tremendous health benefits, ingesting turmeric has potential side effects.
Allergic reaction: If turmeric is not a part of your regular diet, watch your reaction the first few times you drink turmeric tea. If you feel any itchiness in your mouth or skin, break out in a rash, or have difficulty breathing, stop ingesting immediately and seek medical attention.
If you are prone to allergies, start with a tiny amount of turmeric. Watch your body’s reaction and adjust as necessary.
Stomach Upset: If you struggle with digestive disorders like acid reflux or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), be careful with turmeric.
Curcumin stimulates the stomach to produce more gastric acid, which may exacerbate your symptoms if you already struggle with digestive sensitivities.
How Turmeric Tea Helps with Weight Loss
A study published in the European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences found that curcumin supplementation helped improve metabolic profiles in people with metabolic syndrome.
Results were – after 30 days of curcumin ingestion – weight loss in participants increased from 1.88 to 4.91%.
It also lowered BMI (from 2.10 to 6.43%) and improved hip circumference reduction (from 0.74 to 2.51%).
Chronic inflammation is also associated with obesity and metabolic disorders. Curcumin’s anti-inflammatory properties help reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α and IL-6, which contribute to insulin resistance and fat accumulation.
Turmeric tea is one of the best teas for weight loss because it helps improve metabolism. It also lowers inflammation in the body and promotes fat-burning properties. Together, these keep your overall metabolic profile balanced and healthy.
The Benefits of Ginger
The ginger root contains many nutrients, including the fatty acids palmitic, oleic, capric, and linoleic. The primary ingredients that give ginger its medicinal properties are zingiberene and phenols.
Ginger tea has many benefits and has been used as an ancient medicine to treat ailments from morning sickness to arthritis. Our ancestors no doubt took great advantage of its broad medicinal uses in the struggle to survive.
A single tablespoon of grated ginger brewed in hot water is enough to relieve pain and nausea. Ginger is a powerful antioxidant, and its natural warming effect stimulates blood flow, improving circulation and digestion.
Potential Side Effects of Ginger
Usually, ginger is well-tolerated. However, its stimulating properties, which are so helpful to some, may not be so pleasant for others.
Ginger – particularly taken in large amounts – can cause heartburn, nausea, and diarrhea because of the increased stomach acid it produces.
If you are sensitive to strong or acidic foods, take ginger with caution. To test your tolerance, start with a small amount infused in a tea with honey and lemon.
How Ginger Tea Helps with Weight Loss
Ginger acts the same as turmeric when it comes to weight loss. Namely, it boosts metabolism and lowers inflammation, both of which lead to reduced weight.
Gingerols and shogaols, compounds found in ginger, are responsible for these processes. Fresh ginger has the greatest number of these compounds, with dried ginger having slightly less. So, tea made with fresh ginger will give you the most significant health benefits.
A study on ginger’s ability to satiate hunger and suppress appetite also showed that meals taken with ginger reduced hunger and increased satisfaction compared to meals without.
This is evidenced in the graph below. The black bars represent results from those who consumed ginger with their meal, and the white bars represent those without.
Turmeric and Ginger for Weight Loss: The Verdict
Turmeric and ginger for weight loss are both good choices. Both spices include unique compounds with metabolism-enhancing and fat-burning effects. So, if you're attempting to reduce weight, you can choose to incorporate either tea into your diet, or both for the most optimal results.
Our delicious and caffeine-free Moringa Moon Herbal Tea includes both spices, optimizing the health benefits you’ll receive. This blend of tea leaf powder also contains an astonishing 28 mg of iron per 100 g.
Another tea blend to consider is our Lucid Dreams Tea. It is a soothing, caffeine-free, anti-inflammatory, adaptogenic turmeric-tulsi-tea with a delicious coconut flavor.
Another popular way to consume turmeric is in a drink called “golden milk.”
A simple recipe for golden milk is:
Combine 1 to 2 teaspoons of turmeric with 1 cup of warm milk, a pinch of black pepper, cinnamon, and honey or maple syrup over low heat for about 10 minutes. Be careful not to boil, but keep at a simmer for 5-10 minutes so the flavors can meld together.
Pour into your favorite mug and enjoy!
If you find that drinking turmeric and ginger in tea for weight loss does not appeal to your taste buds, you can try these amazing spices in other foods to reap the benefits.
Try incorporating turmeric and ginger into sauces and glazes such as with:
- Soups, stews, and broths
- Roasted vegetables
- Rice-centric dishes
- Baked Chicken
- Sweetbreads
- Muffins
- Stir fry
Of course, you can incorporate turmeric and ginger into your cooking if you also enjoy their taste in tea.
Be mindful of consuming too much, however, as we discussed the potential side effects of consuming both spices in excess.
However you decide to approach healthy lifestyle changes, utilizing turmeric and ginger for weight loss and other benefits is a solid plan. Both will support your body in many ways as you improve your health.
If you’d like to explore other delicious, healthy herbal tea blends, visit the Magic Hour Tea Shop.
FAQ's
Can ginger and turmeric tea help with weight loss?
Ginger and turmeric tea may support a weight-loss routine by helping improve metabolism and reduce inflammation. Ginger may also help increase feelings of satisfaction and reduce hunger, while curcumin, the primary active compound in turmeric, has been studied for its effects on metabolic health.
Can you drink ginger and turmeric together?
Yes. Ginger and turmeric belong to the same family of flowering plants and can be combined in tea. Their warm, earthy, and spicy flavors complement each other, while each provides different naturally occurring compounds. Magic Hour’s Moringa Moon and Lucid Dreams herbal teas both combine organic ginger and turmeric with other warming spices.
What is Magic Hour?
Magic Hour is a woman-owned tea company founded by master tea blender and ceremony keeper Zhena Muzyka. The brand creates premium wellness teas and tea rituals designed to bring healing, connection, and intention into everyday life. Magic Hour works with artisan growers, regenerative farms, and fair trade partners around the world.
How and where does Magic Hour source its teas?
Our teas are cultivated, harvested, and blended from soil to cup with the Magic Hour Rule of Love. The base of our teas is grown in the tea estate where I was married :)! The exquisite buds are grown and harvested by our friends in a garden that touches the sky at the top of the mountains in the high-country of Sri Lanka. The pristine Idulgashinna Bio Tea Garden’s perched above a wildlife preserve. It was the first tea garden to become certified Biodynamic and organic in the world, it’s home to our family of farmers and growers whose respect towards nature and one another has become the gold standard of tea estates all over the world. We also source from small organic family gardens in Taiwan, Rwanda, India, Yunnan, Kyoto and Kagoshima, Japan.
Does Magic Hour have a tea subscription?
Yes. The Monthly Magic Tea Journey delivers an exclusive small-batch wellness tea and a curated ritual gift each month. Subscribers also receive guided teachings, meditations, and rituals led by Zhena to deepen their tea practice.
What does “natural flavors” mean in Magic Hour teas?
Our formulator, Zhena, is an aromatherapist and was one of the founders of the Organic and Fair Trade movement over 25 years ago. She was crucial in getting rules for organics passed and has had a long-time passion for organics, Biodynamics, and pure products. Her blending style is bold, and she uses Organic-Compliant extracts of fruits, essential oils, and spices that fall under the "Natural Flavors" broad-stroke ingredient description by the FDA. We only use extracts and flavors extracted with non-toxic methods, and they are 100% natural, coming from the fruit, spice, or flower that is distilled without chemicals.
Other companies may use "Natural Flavors" that are in a Propylene Glycol base, Zhena fought the label standards on this chemical 15 years ago and is dedicated to NEVER using flavorings with this or any other chemicals. Our flavors are entirely extracted naturally using alcohol or steam distillation. In the blending process, if the extract has alcohol, the alcohol dissipates. If you've ever used vanilla extract for cooking, you've used what Zhena uses in larger volumes.
When we write "Natural Flavors," it's not because we want to, but that's what the FDA requires. It's not a great description, and we assure you our standards are the highest, using only natural extracts and essential oils.
