Golden (Turmeric) Milk is the perfect bedtime beverage. It is comforting, healing, anti-inflammatory and tastes delicious. Turmeric reduces the joint pain of arthritis as well as an over the counter pain reliever, it reduces swelling, and can be used to prevent many types of cancer. Traditionally it has been used to treat colds, congestion, sore throats, and headaches. It has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine to treat depression. Turmeric may prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, it also may slow the help to slow the progression of multiple sclerosis. Use topically turmeric has been used to treat psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, acne and dark circles under the eyes and even to whiten teeth. You could call it a one stop medicine chest in your kitchen cupboard! My husband and I both suffer from joint pain and a while ago started drinking golden milk on a regular basis. I must say, I love the stuff. The difference when I drink it and when I don't is huge. It's a very pleasant thing to drink in evening as we're settling in for the night. Try it, you will be happy you did.
The active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin and it has a relatively low bio-availability rate, meaning it doesn't absorb well and is rapidly metabolized. The main reason behind the non-availability of curcumin in body for regular users is due to its low solubility in water. In order to improve the bio-availability we can add black pepper and coconut oil, which due to the bioperine in the pepper and the fat in coconut oil allows much more of the curcumin to be absorbed by the body.
First you'll need to make the turmeric paste. Once you make this you will be able to keep it in the fridge and it will last three weeks or so.
Turmeric Paste
1/2 cup water - adding more to keep to a smooth paste consistency
1/4 turmeric
Add water to small saucepan over medium heat. Add turmeric and stir to form a paste. Continue cooking and stirring, adding additional water as needed to keep it a nice smooth paste, for 7 to 9 minutes. Remove from stove, let cool and store for up to three weeks in the refrigerator.
Add 1 teaspoon or less of paste to a cup of almond milk, mix and heat, sweeten if desired. Add a bit of coconut oil and a bit of black pepper for bio-availability..or better yet, instead of plain black pepper add 1 teaspoon of chai spices for a delicious Golden Chai Latte!
Chai Mix
1 T cinnamon
1 T nutmeg
1 T cardamon
1 T ginger
1 T basil ( use a mortar and pestle or spice grinder to grind to a fine powder)
1 T black pepper
1 t cloves
Mix all spices together. Use one teaspoon per cup. Store the remainder in a jar for 18 cups of chai.
You can add this paste to many other things besides almond milk, examples - oatmeal. smoothies, cookie or cake batter, pancakes, tofu scramble, etc. You're only limited by your imagination.
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