Turmeric Latte Recipe
Golden milk (or mylk!) and turmeric latte recipe
I love warm milky drinks. As a child, you may have had warm milk to calm you down before bed, Ovaltine powder drinks, then the more stimulating hot chocolates. All warming, soothing, comforting. It took a while for me to enjoy coffee and my latte is still very milky! Maybe my Vata nature embraces the nourishing properties of milk.
The nurturing qualities of milk really come from our mother’s milk when we were babies. Or from the Holy and loved cows (as seen in traditional values of India and Ayurveda). So if we go for cows or animal milk it’s obviously best to get it from cows well treated. The nourishing Ojas (building, vitality, immune building) qualities Ayurveda associates with milk can also be translated into plant-based milk. Almond milk is perfect. I use coconut milk as I’m allergic to almonds.
What are the properties of turmeric milk?
As an alternative to coffee and hot chocolates I love my herbal drinks infused in my (coconut) milk. One of the most popular herbal drinks is turmeric latte found in any coffee shop near you. Or make it yourself.
Here are some of the properties of turmeric from a Western perspective:
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It acts as a painkiller and is even more effectively than our over-the-counter variations in some circumstances. If you suffer from chronic pains such as achy joints it is definitely worth adding turmeric to your diet.
It support your digestive system. As an anti-inflammatory, it helps the liver and thereby the production of bile.
Good for your heart health as a cardioprotective.
Some of the compounds in turmeric exhibit anticancer potential. Still many trials but it are worth adding this spice to your diet.
Turmeric may improve behavioural and psychological symptoms in Alzheimer‘s patients as well as an antidote for depression.
Aside from that, it has been used in Ayurvedic medicine and as a household remedy for centuries in India.
Turmeric latte recipe – here is how:
For one cup/mug of turmeric latte. Adjust measurements to your liking.
1 cup/mug of milk (of your choice) + add a little extra splash
1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric (powder – but you could use a small piece of fresh)
a tiny bit of ground black pepper (this helps the bioavailability of turmeric)
a small pinch of ginger (optional)
a small pinch of cinnamon
Be creative: perhaps a clove if you want more warmth. I love cardamon for its sweetness and add that in too.
Mix it all the spices and herbs into the milk. Put it on medium heat to warm up gently. Stir it gently for a few moments until hot but not boiling.
Take off heat. Optionally use an electric milk frother for a lighter foamy texture.
Pour into your cup and enjoy.
Medical journals
Identification of a novel compound (β-sesquiphellandrene) from turmeric (Curcuma longa) with anticancer potential: comparison with cur cumin: Amit Kumar Tyagi, Sahdeo Prasad , Wei Yuan, Shiyou Li, Bharat B. Aggarwal
Hishikawa N, Takahashi Y, Amakusa Y, Tanno Y, Tuji Y, Niwa H, Murakami N, Krishna U K. Effects of turmeric on Alzheimer’s disease with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. AYU [serial online] 2012 [cited 2016 Feb 6];33:499-504. Available from: http://www.ayujournal.org/text.asp?2012/33/4/499/110524
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of curcuminoid-piperine combination in subjects with metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled trial and an updated meta-analysis
Yunes Panahia, Mahboobeh Sadat Hosseini, Nahid Khalilib, Effat Naimib, Muhammed Majeedc, Amirhossein Sahebkard,
Nita Chainani-Wu. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. July 2004, 9(1): 161-168. doi:10.1089/107555303321223035
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92752/ – general benefits
Mohanty I, Arya D. S, Gupta S. K. Effect of Curcuma longa and Ocimum sanctum on myocardial apoptosis in experimentally induced myocardial ischemic-reperfusion injury. BMC Complement Altern Med. 2006;6:3.
Phase II clinical trial on effect of the long turmeric (Curcuma longa Linn) on healing of peptic ulcer.Prucksunand C1, Indrasukhsri B, Leethochawalit M, Hungspreugs K.
Effect of dietary turmeric on breath hydrogen.Shimouchi A1, Nose K, Takaoka M, Hayashi H, Kondo T.
Influence of piperine on the pharmacokinetics of curcumin in animals and human volunteers. Shoba G1, Joy D, Joseph T, Majeed M, Rajendran R, Srinivas PS.
https://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/turmeric – general summary