Golden Milk: Grandmama’s Remedy Goes Global
Your ‘must-have’ beverage
It rose to become the most popular drink of 2016, the year it made an impactful debut in mainstream cafes across America and Australia. This unique beverage with a soothing earthy taste, promising health benefits and compelling ochre hue garnered some well-deserved attention.
Soon it was an Instagram darling, requiring absolutely no filters! Eventually, it went on to gain ‘cult’ following when Starbucks introduced the much sought beverage as ‘Turmeric Latte’ to eager Londoners.
It’s 2020 now, we are in the midst of a pandemic, and ‘Golden Milk’ is here to stay, and rule! That’s because, if there is one drink that can boost immunity, ward off illness, and provide a host of therapeutic benefits; all this in one warming, delicious cup, this is It!
While the West has discovered this sunshine drink just about in the last decade, Turmeric milk has been around in Indian culture for centuries altogether. Turmeric, the ‘superfood’ and the key ingredient here, has been used for over 5,000 years as an Ayurvedic medicinal herb.
In India, the drink is ingrained in popular culture as one of ‘grandma’s favourite home-remedies’ for almost all maladies; right from fighting coughs and colds, to cleaning infections, reducing inflammation and also inducing better sleep.
So how is ‘Golden Milk’ prepared? It’s simple! Traditionally, it is made by warming up cow’s milk with turmeric and black pepper, along with other spices, popularly cinnamon and ginger. Various other forms of milk can be used too such as soy, almond, oat or rice milk. Sweeteners like honey or maple syrup go well with it. When this magical steamed concoction is poured over an espresso, it becomes turmeric latte.
The golden health benefits of this caffeine-free beverage come mainly from curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, known for its potent curative properties. The other important spice that works in tandem is black pepper, containing piperine, which ensures that larger amounts of curcumin are absorbed into the bloodstream.
There are numerous reasons why golden milk should be your essential daily cuppa, but I will focus mainly on why it will help boost your body’s immunity and be your loyal friend in the quest to stay protected during this pandemic:
- It has antibacterial and antiviral properties and can shield the body from infections.
- It has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties meaning it can help the body fight cell damage, repair damage and lower your risk of disease.
- Turmeric, ginger and cinnamon can benefit heart function and protect against heart disease, which also means the body remains more resilient while fighting any infection.
- Curcumin can help alleviate symptoms of depression and act as a mood enhancer, thus helping maintain mental health in times of the pandemic.
- Curcumin may also help to suppress body fat growth and help boost metabolism, assisting in maintaining body weight and fitness.
Along with these, Turmeric milk can help fight against all kinds of cancers, reduce blood sugar levels, improve memory and brain function, help fight against arthritis, reduce risk of brain diseases and Alzheimer’s disease and aid longevity.
What more can one expect from a single drink!!
As someone who recently got cured from high fever amidst the pandemic scare, simply by having this magical drink on two consecutive nights, I, for one, would always advocate this golden drink when it comes to healing properties . I like to call it: the drink with the ‘Midas touch’!
Originally published at http://the-wellness-cafe.com on July 31, 2020.
