Known as Haldi in North India and as Manjal in the South – the whole world is now slowly waking up to the fact that turmeric has a lot of health benefits.

Just a pinch of this golden spice provides ample help to the body. Indians have been consuming turmeric since the Vedic culture around 4000 years ago. Slowly over the ages, the use of turmeric reached China, Africa, and Jamaica.

Turmeric powder is a staple ingredient in any Indian household. Turmeric is an integral part of the traditional spice box. It is impossible to make any vegetables or dals, without adding a pinch of this vibrant and beautiful spice.

How Can You Consume Turmeric?

Although turmeric can be added to savoury preparations, one of the most prominent ways to consume this warm spice is by mixing it in milk.

It was in late 2017 that the famous American coffee shop, Starbucks introduced one of its new flavours – the Golden Latte. It is nothing but our humble Turmeric Milk, which is also known as Golden Milk colloquially.

Indian grandmothers had it right first. Almost every Indian child has been made to drink this turmeric milk at least once in their lifetime. The benefits of drinking Turmeric milk are innumerable.

Simple Method to Make Delicious Turmeric Milk

The process of making turmeric milk is uncomplicated. All you need is a glass of milk, a spoonful of turmeric powder, sugar, and a pinch of black pepper powder.

All the ingredients are boiled together and simmered for a couple of minutes. Once it cools down, it should be immediately consumed. It should be sipped warm and not cold. The health benefits of turmeric milk are best when consumed hot.

Turmeric Milk is best consumed at night right before going to sleep to get the best out of all the ingredients.

Sweeteners can be used as per personal preference. You can replace sugar with brown sugar, honey, or even jaggery.

Different ingredients improve the efficacy of turmeric milk. An inch of nutmeg is useful for joint pain, a bit of cashew helps in providing relief from thyroid issues, and a pinch of ginger provides help with memory problems.

Health Benefits of Drinking Turmeric Milk

There are several health benefits to be gained by drinking turmeric milk. Curcumin is a natural bioactive compound found in turmeric. Most of the health benefits of drinking turmeric milk come from this yellow pigment.

• Excess inflammation is the cause of many chronic illnesses like heart diseases, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and other severe issues. Curcumin in turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties that help in keeping the body’s inflammation in check.
• Curcumin has been assumed to help keep diabetes in check as it improves insulin resistance of the body. It also helps in keeping the LDL, i.e., the bad cholesterol in check.
• The curcumin can be absorbed into the body when it is combined with piperine, which is found in black pepper. Hence, the health benefits from drinking turmeric milk can be best seen when the drink includes both turmeric and black pepper.
• Elements of curcumin have a beneficial effect on reducing cancer-producing cells in the body.
• Osteoporosis causes the bones in the body to weaken and become brittle. According to this study, consuming turmeric increases bone density by 7% over six months.
• Curcumin in turmeric has strong anti-bacterial properties. Turmeric milk is especially useful to soothe sore throats and cough. Warm turmeric milk helps in producing mucus, which flushes toxins out of the body.
• Drinking turmeric milk also helps in boosting immunity in the body. This, in turn, helps in reducing the occurrence of frequent illnesses like fevers, coughs, and cold.
• The health benefits of drinking turmeric milk also include eliminating pathogens from the respiratory system. Being high in anti-microbes, the drink is a quick help in reducing sinus infections.
• A study conducted revealed the anti-depressive properties inherent in curcumin in turmeric. Although it is not the sole remedy against depression, having a glass of turmeric milk every day can have an uplifting effect on the mood and provide some measure of relief.
• Turmeric has anti-oxidant properties that are very beneficial in weight loss. The curcumin provides aid in breaking down fat deposits in the body. Curcumin has a good effect on reducing the occurrence of acne from the skin.
• There are a lot of free radicals in the environment, like cigarette smoke and chemical pollutants. Consuming turmeric milk, with its anti-oxidant elements, helps in protecting skin and even DNA from harm.
• Turmeric in milk helps in regulating hormones in women and helps them from pain and discomfort caused during menstruation. The health benefits of drinking turmeric milk by breastfeeding mothers will be transferred to infants and aid in building up their immunity.

The benefits of drinking turmeric milk are innumerable, and it also provides a sense of comfort on days when your body is tired, and you need to relax – turmeric milk when consumed warm, helps in getting good sleep.

Conclusion

While Curcumin has been scientifically proven to be effective against numerous issues ailing the body, the consumption of the compound should be in moderation.

There are many curcumin supplements in the market available for direct consumption. These should be consumed with directions from healthcare providers as the dosage may vary depending on age and other parameters.

You can gain all health benefits of curcumin by drinking turmeric milk, as the amount of turmeric and other spices are very much under control. The drink does not cause harm to the body when consumed. This spice must be consumed in moderation, i.e., only as much is required. Too much turmeric powder, when consumed, can have harmful effects on the body like acidity and bloating.