Immunity Boosting Turmeric Milk - Your Ayurvedic Golden Drink

Balance Your Dosha with this rejuvenating drink

• Golden milk is also known as Haldi or Turmeric milk. Its a traditional Indian drink that has recently gained popularity in the west thanks to the increasing visibility of Ayurveda and Yoga.

This healthy, bright yellow beverage is traditionally made by warming up milk with turmeric and other spices like cinnamon and ginger. Alternatively, as a vegan variant, you can also make golden milk with a plant-based alternative, like nut milk .  

Turmeric from Ayurveda point of view

Turmeric’s taste (rasa) is pungent, bitter, and astringent.  Its energy (virya) is heating, and it has dry and light qualities (gunas).⁠ So, turmeric contains balancing qualities for all three doshas- making it tri-doshic

• its heat balances Vata and Kapha,

• its dryness and its pungent and bitter tastes balance Kapha

• its bitter taste also balances Pitta

Benefits of Golden Milk

According to Medical News Today, this much-talked-about wonder herb, in the form of golden milk, has many scientifically-backed health benefits—it’s loaded with antioxidants, and may reduce inflammation and joint pain, improve memory and brain function, protect against heart disease, lower blood sugar levels, help digestion, improve bone health, and possibly reduce the risk of cancer.

How to get the most out of Golden Milk

Studies say that it's difficult for our bloodstream to absorb turmeric and completely reap the benefits.

That's because most of the curcumin in turmeric gets metabolized before our bodies can absorb it.

There are, however, two primary ingredients that can increase turmeric's absorption and bioavailability, both of which are included in this recipe.

1) Black pepper: Piperine, an alkaloid present in black pepper, enhances the bioavailability of turmeric. Studies have shown that combining just a little black pepper with turmeric can boost blood levels of curcumin by up to 2,000%! Yes!!! 2,000% You red it right!!!

2) Fat: Turmeric or curcumin is fat-soluble (in contrast, it has low solubility in water), so adding a healthy source of fat (such as coconut oil or ghee) allows the curcumin to be directly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Try this simple vegan Golden Milk recipe next time you want a warm hug in a mug <3

Vegan Golden Milk⁠ 

• 1 1/2 cups light coconut milk⁠, preferably organic, without added preservatives OR

• 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened plain almond milk, preferably organic,⁠ without added preservatives

• 1 1/2 tsp ground turmeric⁠

• 1/4 tsp ground ginger

• 1 whole cinnamon stick (or 1/4 tsp of ground cinnamon)⁠

• 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom, or 2-3 cardamom pods, crushed (optional)

• 1 tbsp coconut oil⁠

• 1 pinch ground black pepper⁠

• 1 tbsp sweetener of choice (i.e. maple syrup or jaggery)⁠

Instructions⁠ 

• Warm milk in a small saucepan over low heat.

• Add turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, and cardamom (if using). Stir until well combined. If you are new to turmeric, start with a lower quantity and gradually increase as you develop a taste for it. 

• Bring the mixture to a simmer, but do not boil. Allow simmering for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until smooth, hot, fragrant and flavorful. 

• Remove the saucepan from the heat. Strain the golden milk over a fine-mesh sieve into your favorite mug. Discard the solids. When slightly cooled, stir in the coconut oil.

• Drink while it is still warm.

Enjoy Golden Milk either in the morning or at night before going to bed. I personally like to drink it at night, as it warms me up and nourishes my entire body.