The golden drink!

healthbenefits

Golden milk — also known as turmeric milk — is a bright yellow beverage, traditionally made by warming up milk with turmeric and other spices, such as cinnamon and ginger. It’s touted for its many health benefits and often used as an alternative remedy to boost immunity and stave off illness.

The turmeric milk is a healthy drink but it shouldn’t be consumed in large amounts. Consuming too much curcumin may cause stomach pain in some people, this may be accompanied by nausea and cramping. However, this kind of overdose is highly unlikely with regular turmeric powder or turmeric milk, as the amounts in both of those are safe enough for most people. Other than this, there aren’t many serious reactions to worry about with turmeric milk. In case you are lactose intolerant, you should avoid store-bought or readymade turmeric milk, it can set off a serious allergic reaction. People with known allergies should only consume self-made turmeric milk using allergy-safe ingredients.

May help reduce inflammation and joint pain

Turmeric, ginger and cinnamon, the main ingredients in golden milk, have strong anti-inflammatory properties that may reduce inflammation and joint pain.

Studies even suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin are comparable to those of some pharmaceutical drugs with none of the side effects. These anti-inflammatory effects may reduce joint pain from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

For instance, one study in 45 people with rheumatoid arthritis found that 500 milligrams of curcumin daily, reduced joint pain more than 50 grams of a common arthritis drug or a combination of curcumin and the drug.

Similarly, in a 6-week study in 247 people with osteoarthritis, those given ginger extract experienced less pain and required less pain medication than those given a placebo.

May help strengthen the immune system

Turmeric is packed with healthy minerals and vitamins. It also has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help strengthen your immune system. In desi households, golden milk is often used as a home remedy against colds. In fact, the yellow drink is touted for its immune-boosting properties. Test-tube studies suggest that curcumin has antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal properties which may help prevent and fight infections.

May help improve digestion

Turmeric is considered an essential culinary spice because it is good for digestion. Chronic indigestion, also known as dyspepsia, is characterised by pain and discomfort in the upper part of your stomach. Delayed stomach emptying is a potential cause of indigestion. Ginger, one of the ingredients used in golden milk, may help relieve this condition by speeding up stomach emptying in people suffering from dyspepsia. Research further shows that turmeric, another ingredient used to make golden milk, may help reduce indigestion symptoms. Turmeric may also improve the digestion of fat by increasing your production of bile by up to 62 per cent.

May help reduce risk of heart diseases

The antioxidant property of curcumin found in turmeric may prevent heart diseases and diabetic cardiovascular complications. Curcumin also reduces serum cholesterol levels and protects against the pathological changes occurring with atherosclerosis.

May promote brain health

Golden milk may be good for your brain, too. Studies show that curcumin may increase levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF is a compound that helps your brain form new connections and promotes the growth of brain cells. Low levels of BDNF may be linked to brain disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. For instance, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s is an accumulation of a specific protein in the brain, called the tau protein. Test-tube and animal studies suggest that compounds in cinnamon may help reduce this build-up.

What’s more, cinnamon appears to reduce the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and improve brain function in animal studies. Furthermore, ginger may also boost brain function by improving reaction time and memory. Moreover, in animal studies, ginger appears to protect against age-related brain function loss.

That said, further human research is needed to fully understand the effects of these ingredients on memory and brain function.

May provide relief from headaches

Turmeric has properties that help improve mucus flow and its texture. These properties make the mucus lighter and provide relief from headaches. The blood purifying properties of turmeric also help fight headache you experience because of stress-related toxins.

Can help you sleep better

Nowadays, many complain about getting sound sleep at night. And even if one manages to grab a little bit of shut eye, the brain just doesn’t seem to be getting any rest. This builds stress in the body and mind; and can make one less productive. This can be harmful especially for individuals suffering from depression and anxiety.

A glass of warm turmeric milk before bed can help you get a good night’s sleep. It tastes delicious and the amino acids help regulate your sleep cycle so you sleep for a long stretch and wake up well rested, instead of waking frequently in the night. This is essential for the body to heal and remedy itself.

How to make golden milk?

You would be surprised how easy it is to make this delicious and healthy beverage.

• Add 500 ml of unsweetened milk in a saucepan over medium heat.

• Add ½ tsp of turmeric, ¼ tsp of crushed black pepper, a small piece (around ½ inch) of ginger, a cinnamon stick, 2 -3 green cardamom, 2-3 cloves. (If you have a tea spice infuser, you can add the whole spices in it and put it in the saucepan instead).

• Whisk the milk to incorporate the spices and let it boil for 4-5 minutes on low heat.

• You can add a little honey for some sweetness if you like and garnish with some almonds.

• Enjoy your delicious golden milk either hot or warm.