Why should your take Golden milk
(OMTimes) Golden Milk — also known as saffron milk — is an ancient drink of Indian origin. Widely used by Ayurveda for its health benefits, it has been gaining popularity in Western cultures.
Golden milk – benefits and recipes
Traditionally, this bright yellow drink is made by heating vegetable or cow’s milk with saffron and other spices such as cinnamon and ginger. It is praised for its many health benefits. It is often used as an alternative medicine to boost immunity and ward off disease.
What is golden milk
In its most basic context, Golden Milk is a hot or cold drink based on combining ingredients such as turmeric powder or fresh saffron root with the milk of your choice – cow milk, almond, coconut, oats, soy, etc.
The ingredients that improve the flavor and increase its benefits are added to the recipe, such as black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, and honey. Black pepper, for example, is said to increase the body’s ability to absorb curcumin, the main bioactive compound in turmeric.
While it’s new to many of us, Golden Milk’s origins can be traced back to ancient India, where it was (and still is) used in Ayurvedic medicine to help with insomnia, coughs, and colds.
There are several variations of this drink. However, its base is always vegetable milk. Even if you only find options that are not very accessible on the market, know that there are amazing recipes to make your milk at home — coconut, yam, oats, and peanuts, among others.
What are the benefits of golden milk
Although Golden Milk itself has not been the subject of scientific studies, turmeric root has been found to have potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties — in addition to many other health benefits proposed by the drink.
In fact, turmeric and its main bioactive compound, curcumin, have been extensively studied for their ability to help fight a range of health conditions, from Alzheimer’s disease to arthritis and depression, all related to chronic inflammation.
And since fat also increases curcumin absorption, using other spices in milk can help you enjoy the benefits even more. Find out what you can expect with the consumption of Golden Milk.
Health benefits
1. Help in fighting inflammation
Turmeric is rich in curcumin, effective in controlling inflammation. It is especially beneficial for people suffering from arthritis as it can help in relieving joint pain. Its consumption also reduces pain and fatigue.
2. A powerful source of antioxidants
Turmeric is packed with antioxidants, again due to the presence of curcumin. Antioxidants are responsible for protecting your body from any possible damage caused by free radicals.
3. Promotes heart health
Turmeric’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Adding Golden Milk to your diet is a great way to preserve your heart health.
4. Helps control blood sugar
Turmeric milk is also good for diabetics. Cinnamon, included in the preparation, can help lower blood sugar levels. If you are a diabetic, you may want to see your doctor and ask them if you can maintain your sugar levels with turmeric, along with a healthy diet and regular exercise. Then, after proper guidance from your doctor, prepare the Golden Milk and consume it in the prescribed amount.
5. Increases immunity and brain function
Turmeric is loaded with properties that can contribute to better immunity. As a result, the consumption of Golden Milk can help prevent infections, colds, flu, and many other health problems. In addition, several studies have also mentioned that turmeric milk can increase brain function and improve memory.
It is also worth mentioning that curcumin contains compounds that block the formation of beta-amyloid — responsible for the plaques that compromise brain function and lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
6. Helps you sleep
Try it out and see how it settles into your mind and body at the end of the day, inviting your whole being to relax and let go of your worries as you fall asleep.
But why exactly is Golden Milk so relaxing? On the one hand, its preparation and consumption can become part of a peaceful bedtime ritual.
Milk also contains carbohydrates, and consuming carbohydrates before going to bed can help you fall asleep more easily. Furthermore, hot beverages of any variety have a calming quality and have been associated with anxiety reduction.
7. Improves the mood
Turmeric — more specifically its active compound curcumin — can improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression.
In a 6-week study, 60 individuals with severe depressive disorders took curcumin, an antidepressant, or a combination of both.
Those given curcumin alone experienced similar improvements to antidepressants, while the combination group noted even more benefits.
When should I drink it?
Now that you’ve learned a lot about this drink, it’s time to know when and how to drink it. Golden Milk is commonly consumed hot before bed. Still, it can also be taken during the day as a substitute (or supplement) for tea or coffee.
After lunch, golden milk helps digestion and reduces the urge to snack on sweets. This great drink can also be taken when you need to relax or to look for an extra dose of immunity in the morning to face the day.
Golden milk recipe
Golden Milk is very easy to prepare at home. Just be careful to buy fresh ingredients and good origin. For a single serving or about a cup, follow this recipe:
- 250ml of vegetable milk (prefer, instead of milk of animal origin).
- One teaspoon of turmeric.
- ½ teaspoon of grated ginger (or a small piece of fresh ginger).
- 1 teaspoon of black pepper.
- ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
- Treacle/brown sugar/agave (optional).
In a “heatable” pot or container, add the milk, saffron, ginger, and black pepper. Turn off before bringing it to a boil. Then strain the milk into a glass, sweeten (if desired) and add the cinnamon, covering the surfaces.
Some recipes suggest that Golden Milk should be sweetened with honey; however, use it only if you will drink it cold. According to Ayurveda, honey, when heated, becomes a poison for the organism.
You could also try another simple recipe, adding half a teaspoon of turmeric to milk and boiling the mixture. Afterward, if you want, you can sweeten it according to your taste.
Drink Golden Milk only once a day, preferably before bed. It can also be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to five days. Then, simply reheat before drinking (prefer to heat on stove, not microwave).
Preparation tips: if you want to spice up your milk with a few extra spices, you can add fennel, chamomile, cardamom, or any other herb that pleases your palate.
Source: OMTimes
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