Bright golden yellow in color, strong aroma and an earthy taste. This describes the most powerful of all spices- the turmeric! The anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties of turmeric make it a must-have spice in your diet. But if you are not a curry fan, you can simply add a pinch to a glass of warm milk and gulp it down.

With its innumerable benefits , it is no surprise that the age-old ‘haldi ka doodh‘ (Turmeric Milk) has revamped itself into ‘Turmeric Latte’, the hippest new health drink in the West. According to Google’s Food trends report, turmeric was named the ‘breakout star’ ingredient of 2016, with searches for the spice rising 56% since last November, and 300% over the last five years!

Let’s explore a few benefits of this golden drink.

Builds Immunity
This health tonic helps build your immunity against a broad range of diseases including common cold, flu and other infections. It is particularly beneficial for kids as they tend to get infected easily by diseases such as chickenpox, measles, etc. from schools and playgrounds.
The antiviral and antibacterial properties of turmeric milk fight infections including respiratory tract infections. It also helps in blood purification and liver detox.

Digestive Tonic
Turmeric milk helps improve appetite and treats indigestion effectively. This health drink also relieves gas, bloating and even a heartburn resulting from gastric reflux. Give your child a cup of warm milk to help fight gastrointestinal infections and intestinal worms.

Pain Reliever
Turmeric milk is an excellent pain killer. If you have a head ache, a warm cup of turmeric milk can do wonders. In case there is a sinus congestion, turmeric milk helps sinus drainage and soothes a headache. Turmeric milk also improves blood circulation and relieves migraine. Many people drink turmeric milk to get relief from arthritic pain. The anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric helps relieve joint pain.

Sleep Enhancer
Drinking warm milk before going to bed at night is a common practice. But if you add a pinch of turmeric to your milk, it becomes a better sleep inducer. So next time you need to relax and calm down after a stressful day, drink a cup of turmeric milk and go to bed for a peaceful sleep.

Prevents Cancer
Curcumin present in turmeric is known to inhibit the growth of cancerous cells in the body. Studies also show that turmeric helps to boost the effect of chemotherapy.

Delaying Diabetes
The presence of curcumin which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties have been found to be effective in delaying Type 2 diabetes. It also helps in moderating the insulin level in the blood.

Skin Supplement
With its anti-bacterial properties, turmeric is also known to work its magic as a soothing mask, reducing the chances of lots of infections. It is particularly effective in reducing skin patches, acne marks, zits or simply for a glowing skin.

PRECAUTIONS

Pregnant women are advised not to use turmeric as its anti-inflammatory agent could lead to stomach ulcers. While turmeric in food is safe, it is known to act as a blood thinner and so those who are about to undergo surgery are required to stop taking any form of turmeric couple of weeks before surgery.

PREPARING TURMERIC MILK

If you thought preparing turmeric milk is a complicated recipe, read on and be surprised that it is very simple. Turmeric milk is ideally prepared with full-fat milk as fat is essential for the absorption of turmeric constituents. But you may use even skimmed milk or any non-dairy milk like coconut/ almond milk. The milk is warmed over low heat, and a pinch of turmeric is added to it. You may add sugar if you please. A pinch of black pepper powder may be added for an extra flavor. Piperine in black pepper is believed to increase the bio-availability of curcumin, making it more effective.

So before you go to bed or after your breakfast, grab a cup of warm golden milk and enjoy a healthy life.