Golden Milk - Turmeric Milk Benefits And Side Effects

 

You probably heard about the "best" beverage to keep the doctor away: Turmeric Milk. This spice is commonly found in curries, giving them their vibrant yellow color. The medicinal properties of turmeric are numerous and this is the reason why it is served in various diseases, but today we will stop at a tasty drink. If you want to know more about the benefits and side effects of turmeric milk, keep reading.

What Is Turmeric Milk?

Turmeric milk is simply a mix of milk and turmeric powder. Some common names for this beverage are golden milk, haldi doodh (in Hindi), or turmeric latte.

It’s popular in India, but you can make it at home in just a few minutes.

Turmeric is available in many forms, including turmeric powder, fresh turmeric root, and turmeric extract supplements. Turmeric milk is made by mixing any form of turmeric with milk, usually cow’s or coconut. Other ingredients are sometimes added, such as black pepper, cinnamon, and ginger.

Turmeric Milk Benefits

It is a very popular drink in India, and it is believed to be a medicinal concoction that can cure several ailments. Apart from its use as a home remedy, turmeric milk is also an important part of Ayurveda and Siddha medicines. This humble drink has been used by many cultures for thousands of years, and with good reason. Turmeric milk benefits are numerous, thanks to the healing properties of its ingredients

1. Improves Sleep Quality

A cup of hot turmeric milk can help you fall asleep easily and improve sleep quality.

2. Fights Inflammation

Turmeric contains curcumin, a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant substance which helps reduce pain and inflammation in the body. Curcumin is known for its ability to reduce joint pain, relieve arthritis symptoms and ease muscle soreness.

3. Boosts Immunity

Turmeric has strong anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-parasitic, and anti-microbial properties that make it a great immune booster. This makes turmeric milk a great defense against cold and flu. It is also rich in antioxidants which help fight free radicals that cause oxidative stress in your body.

4. Improves Digestion

Turmeric has long been used as a natural remedy to improve digestion by reducing bloating, flatulence, and stomach cramps. This could be due to its ability to stimulate the gall bladder to produce bile acids that aid in digestion.

5. Anti-Ageing Effects

Turmeric is packed with free radical-fighting antioxidants which help beat the signs of aging by protecting your skin cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. The collagen-boosting property of turmeric helps improve the elasticity of the skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles to give you glowing skin that looks younger than ever before.

6. Good For Our Skin

A study found that turmeric could reduce acne flare-ups because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin, one of the main components of turmeric, has also been shown to reduce pigmentation in people with chronic skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and vitiligo. Milk being rich in vitamin A and B-complex along with selenium helps tighten pores and improves skin tone. Together they work as a natural remedy for several skin problems.

7. Turmeric Milk Delays Diabetes

The use of turmeric milk may help improve metabolic health in diabetic patients and prevent insulin resistance from developing. This remedy can even prevent type 2 diabetes from occurring because curcumin, which is present in turmeric, helps prevent fat accumulation in the liver, which is one of the main causes of this disease.

8. Helps You Lose Weight

Turmeric contains curcumin which suppresses enzymes involved in fat tissue development thus helping you lose weight faster. Also, curcumin improves metabolism and enhances the fat-burning process of the body thus promoting weight loss.

Possible Side Effects Of Turmeric Milk

Turmeric is a relatively safe herb. It doesn't cause any major side effects in most cases. However, it can cause some minor side effects like nausea and indigestion in certain people.

If you are allergic to turmeric, you may experience serious side effects like swelling of the tongue and throat, dizziness, hives, rashes, or difficulty breathing.

In case you suffer from gallstones or bile duct obstruction, turmeric may lead to gallbladder contractions and worsen your condition.

Pregnant women should avoid using turmeric as it may promote menstrual flow and lead to miscarriages.

If you are planning to take turmeric for medicinal purposes make sure that you consult your doctor first.

Turmeric milk is purported to have numerous health benefits, but it may be hard for some to jump right into drinking the stuff in its raw form. Here's some good news: you can use turmeric to sweeten your morning latte instead. Just add ¼ teaspoon of the spice to a cup of brewed coffee (one tablespoon of ground turmeric works too). At this relatively low amount, the risk of adverse effects is minimal. Although excessive consumption can lead to nausea, stomach pain, and liver damage, no formal studies on side effects have yet been published. But as with any other supplement or food, it's best to play it safe and keep an eye on your body's response to moderate use; if you notice anything out of the ordinary, cut back on your intake or discontinue it altogether.

How To Make Turmeric Milk? 

 

Ingredients

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 cup milk (cow's milk or coconut milk)

1 tbsp grated fresh ginger or 1/2 tsp ginger powder

1 pinch black pepper powder

1 cinnamon stick

1 tbsp honey

Directions

In a medium saucepan, combine turmeric, pepper, ginger, and milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Add the cinnamon stick and cook for another 10 minutes. Remove from heat, whisk in honey, and strain into mugs.

Therefore, it is clear that the possible health benefits of turmeric in our diets are many. And while you can get the same benefits of including turmeric in your diet by eating fresh turmeric itself, there may be other reasons for considering adding turmeric milk to your diet. First, it is a very convenient way to consume this spice, which means that it is easier to add turmeric to your daily food. Second, this drink can also be served hot or cold and as such can bring a little bit of exotic flair to your dining experience. Whether you have been drinking turmeric milk with great success or have never tried it before, you can easily enjoy many of the great health benefits that come from adding this spice to your diet by making some at home.

Take Away

The turmeric milk benefits and side effects have been more than proven. It has a myriad of benefits. A lot of health experts have been singing praises about the use of this drink for many years now. The benefits are too many to name but it is safe to say that this drink helps in the prevention and treatment of several diseases. Long-term use of this drink will help to keep you healthy and active. The extract is much cheaper when you buy it in its natural form than it is when you buy supplements and some other alternative way of using it.

FAQs

1. What is the best time to drink golden milk?

While turmeric milk can be consumed at any time of the day, most experts recommend drinking it about an hour before bedtime to reap the full benefits of its relaxing and soothing properties.

2. Is it OK to drink golden milk every day?

Avoid unpleasant side effects from too much curcumin by limiting your turmeric milk consumption to one serving per day.

3. Does drinking turmeric lighten skin?

It is rich in antioxidants which protect cells from free radical damage, brightening your skin tone and adding a healthy shine, as well as slowing the aging process and making you look younger.