Turmeric is a spice that is grown for its roots and it is very popular in the Indian cuisine, which gives the food its yellow colour. Turmeric milk, also known as haldi Ka doodh or golden milk is extremely healthy and provides a lot of benefits. Along with the prominent yellow colour, turmeric is a part of many major dishes for its taste. Turmeric milk is a traditional remedy to boost immunity and to combat many illnesses as it is full of nutrients and antioxidants. Be it cold, cough, fever, wounds, joint pain, or any other minor problem, turmeric milk is your friend in all such cases.
Turmeric milk is a powerful Indian drink which has medicinal properties and can easily be made at home. However, it should also be consumed in moderation to avoid any possible side effects. You can take your nutritionist's suggestion as to how much turmeric is too much turmeric. It has a warm and bitter taste, which goes really well in curries and milk. It is usually recommended to have about one teaspoon of turmeric everyday. It is a delicious drink and you should try and reap all the benefits as you can. Turmeric milk can give an enhanced flavour if mixed with ginger and honey. Read this article further to know about some benefits of turmeric milk.
Benefits of turmeric milk
Milk is packed with proteins and omega-3 fatty acids which are beneficial for your health. Milk is also a good source of calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, potassium, phosphorus and selenium. It has vitamin A, zinc, magnesium and vitamin B1 present in it. When mixed with turmeric, this drink can work really well for your body. Here are the major 9 benefits of turmeric milk:
1. Loaded with antioxidants
Curcumin, the active component in turmeric, is widely used in Ayurveda since ages due to its strong antioxidant properties.When turmeric is added to milk it enhances it's nutritious value. It has excellent anti-aging properties, it is believed that it reduces oxidative stress on body hence it also prevents carcinogenic activity of the body, thus reducing risk and spread of cancer. Antioxidants present in Turmeric milk has the potential to prevent heart disease and other diseases like Glaucoma, eye impairments, Alzheimers and Arthritis.
2. Reduces inflammation and joint pain
Inflammation is vital for our body so that it is able to fight off germs and bacteria in body and repairs the damage caused by them, but excess inflammation is linked to many chronic diseases like cancer. Various other diseases are also associated with inflammation. An ingredient called "Curcumin" present in turmeric milk is believed to help cure and prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis. Research and studies imply that it is helpful for other diseases like heart problems and inflammatory bowel disease as well.
3. Reduces risk of cancer
A number of researches have been done to study the effect of turmeric on cancer. It was found that turmeric definitely may not cure cancer but slows down the growth and development of cancer causing tissues. This can provide time and strength to fight cancer. Milk and turmeric together are even believed to counteract the ill effects of carcinogens like additives present in packaged food.
Also read: Is Drinking Turmeric Milk At Bedtime Healthy? Know From Celeb Nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar
4. Lowers blood sugar levels
Turmeric milk is believed to prevent risks of Type-2 diabetes in humans. Turmeric is a boon for those suffering with diabetes as it lowers down blood sugar levels to a significant extent, but turmeric should always be used in moderation, because very low sugar levels in body can also be harmful. A pinch of turmeric in a cup of milk is enough and you can also add some honey and not sugar which will balance the flavour and regulate sugar levels.
5. Enhances mood
Turmeric is shown to have positive effects on brain, it also enhances memory. Drinking turmeric milk can instantly lift your mood as it is very soothing for body. Depression is linked with low levels of neurotrophic factors. Turmeric is believed to boost the levels of neurotrophic factors, and thus has potential to reduce symptoms of depression. Curcumin also helps in fighting brain inflammation which can also be linked to depression. Therefore, you can have this daily at night to act as a mood enhancer and relief from depression.
6. Strengthens bones
Our bodies receive nutrients such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, proteins, vitamin K, vitamin D by drinking milk. All these nutrients keep our bones strong and healthy. Drinking milk can even reduce the risk of fractures and osteoporosis. Therefore, drinking turmeric milk is beneficial as it can help in strengthening your bones. If not turmeric directly, but mixing it in milk can surely give this advantage. Make sure to include this healthy beverage in your diet.
Also read: 5 Reasons to Add Turmeric to Your Diet
7. Enhances digestion
Another benefit of this powerful healthy drink is that it can enhance your digestive system. Curcumin in turmeric reduces bloating and improves your digestion process. It regulates the gallbladder to produce bile juices. This also helps in preventing and treating pancreatitis. Many Indian households make this drink at home and drink it before bedtime at night.
8. Boosts immunity
You must have heard that turmeric milk is an immunity booster for your body. Turmeric boosts the immunity levels effectively and rapidly. It contains anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties that protect us from several infections. Even many doctors and health care experts highly advice the consumption of atleast a teaspoon full of turmeric in a glass of warm milk daily to prevent common cold, cough and flu. You can both treat and prevent health problems with turmeric milk as it can make your immune system stronger.
9. Good for skin
Turmeric contains anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. It heals minor wounds, prevents acne, treats scars, dark circles and even gives a natural glow on your skin. As mentioned above, turmeric is full of antioxidants which makes it a natural and effective home remedy for good skin health. You can count on drinking turmeric milk to deal with many skin problems. You can even make a face mask with turmeric and other useful ingredients.
Also read: This Should Be The Dosage Of Turmeric Per Day
How to make turmeric milk?
Making turmeric milk at home is quite easy. You can even add your own spices like cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and even ginger to the glass of turmeric milk. It is an inexpensive and convenient recipe. You can find turmeric or turmeric powder in the market or online. For a single serving of turmeric milk, here's how you can easily make turmeric milk at home:
- Take 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder and some fresh ginger in a glass of milk
- Then, boil it for around 10 minutes
- Strain it with a strainer and your turmeric milk is ready!
- You can put honey or sugar as sweeteners if needed
- You can also add clove, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom while boiling to enhance its health benefits
- Do not forget to add a pinch of black pepper to the turmeric milk for better absorption of turmeric in your body
- It is best to have this milk before bedtime at night
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