Turmeric milk is a well-known Ayurvedic and Indian drink which is typically consumed at bedtime. So, it is similar to what we, Americans, do with warm milk before bed. This tasty beverage is extremely nutritious and beneficial and its warming effect puts the body to sleep almost instantly.
Ginger is yet another ingredient added to this recipe in order to boost the anti-inflammatory properties, particularly for the digestive tract. While honey is an optional sweetener, it also adds a wide plethora of health benefits. Ultimately, coconut milk is packed with healthy fats, antimicrobial lipids, capric acid, and lauric acid, all of which have antiviral, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties.
Turmeric`s Benefits
Turmeric is one of the most effective nutritional supplements known to mankind. Multiple studies have shown that it has exceptional benefits for the body and brain. Here are some of them:
- Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Multiple studies on the topic used turmeric extracts which are standardized to include large amounts of this compound.
- Curcumin inhibits molecules that play significant role in inflammation. This is very important as chronic inflammation is the root cause of most Western diseases.
- As mentioned above, curcumin has potent antioxidant properties. It has the ability to both neutralize free radicals and stimulate body`s own antioxidant mechanisms.
- Curcumin has the ability to combat degenerative processes in the brain by boosting the levels of BDNF, a hormone that boosts the growth of new neurons.
- Curcumin affects several factors that play a role in heart disease. Not only acts as powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, but also improves the function of the endothelium. In one study, the curcumin groupd noted a 65 percent decreased risk of suffering a heart attack in the hospital.
- Curcumin improves pathological process of Alzheimer`s disease by crossing the blood-brain barrier.
- It has been scientifically shown that curcumin helps treat symptoms of arthritis, sometimes even better than anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Curcumin boosts the brain neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. One study has shown that curcumin worked similarly to Prozac regarding alleviating the symptoms of depression.
- Curcumin helps fight off age-related diseases and delay aging.
- Turmeric helps the liver detoxify by improving liver function and increasing the flow of bile.
- Curcumin heals the digestive tract and protects against ulcers due to its antiseptic properties.
In addition to this, “A host of scientific investigations have also looked at the ability of curcumin to fight cancer. Curcumin kills several types of cancer cells in the laboratory. In animals, curcumin prevents or slows cancer in the skin, breast, liver, fore-stomach, duodenum and colon. Curcumin also has anti-angiogenic properties; translation: curcumin seriously slows new blood vessel formation in tumors, causes asphyxiation of tumors and thus preventing their growth and metastases.”
Read on to learn how to prepare this potent anti-inflammatory beverage:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups coconut milk
- 1-inch piece of ginger, sliced
- 1 tsp. turmeric
- ¼ tsp. black pepper (to boost the absorption of turmeric)
- Raw honey (optional)
Instructions:
- Put all the ingredients in a saucepan and whisk to combine well, expect honey
- Heat the mixture until it reaches a boiling point
- Reduce the heat and simmer for additional five minutes
- Strain the ginger
- Stir in the honey
- Enjoy!
Here is how to keep in on hand for readily use:
Take a small jar and combine 3 tablespoons of turmeric, 2 teaspoons of black pepper, and a tablespoon of powdered ginger. Shake the jar to combine! To use, mix a teaspoon of the powder with a cup of milk.
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