Top 12 Benefits of Turmeric Milk – Easy to Prepare

Golden milk, haldi doodh, and turmeric milk – are all synonyms for the one drink that is jam-packed with health benefits for all, and this superfood is super tasty too! This beautifully bright yellow beverage may not be everyone’s favorite cup of drink, but given the huge number of extensive and potent health benefits, it is definitely a must-have in your daily diet. This health potion is best had just before your night bedtime, to gain the maximum benefits, including being lulled into sleeping like a baby! Who doesn’t love restful and uninterrupted sleep!

Benefits of Turmeric Milk

Yes, this is a ‘superhero’ among foods. The active compound in Turmeric, Curcumin, is a natural polyphenol, which means it possesses antioxidant, antimutagenic, antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Curcumin supplements are popular and extremely beneficial too. The curcumin in turmeric milk or haldi doodh act as a potent booster of cell, organ, and blood health. It also accelerates our immune system, over time making it self-sustaining to fight illness and injury, which means our body heals faster and is better equipped to combat things that could potentially make us ill. We are sure that you want to know more about the health benefits of ‘golden milk’, so here are the top 12 benefits (there are several more!) and simple ways to prepare this powerful health drink:

1. Curcumin possesses anti-inflammatory properties, which reduces pain, and swelling, and helps heal hurts, wounds, burns, and internal inflammation faster. You would remember the elders in your family coaxing you to drink haldi doodh when you sustained wounds and swelling while playing. You are probably doing the same for your children too! Make turmeric milk tasty, so that the young ones drink up without a fuss!
2. Curcumin in turmeric milk is a powerful antioxidant, preventing damage to our body from free radicals, toxins, and pollutants. This in turn helps to bring down the risks of developing cancer, and other potentially dangerous illnesses.
3. Turmeric milk is a potent immunity booster, which thus fights bacteria, viruses, and fungal infections. Drinking turmeric milk can prevent the common cold and flu, and also significantly reduce the symptoms of these illnesses. It is a tasty and healthy way to remain in good physical shape!
4. For those prone to diabetes, drinking turmeric milk or consuming turmeric tea or in any form, can help to delay the onset of Type 2 Diabetes by inhibiting inflammatory cytokines, thereby keeping glucose levels in check, and reducing diabetic cardiovascular complications.
5. Curcumin helps to bring down bad cholesterol levels, thereby prevent heart diseases, and providing protection against the devastating pathological changes that occur with atherosclerosis (build-up of plaque inside the arteries, which can cause obstruction or rupturing of the arteries), which could lead to serious heart ailments.
6. Curcumin brings down the risk of getting cancer, since it inhibits the growth and development of cancerous cells, and prevents them from spreading at the minutest level, metastasis. It also reduces the risk of the growth of new cancerous cells.
7. Turmeric is a powerful helper while treating Alzheimer’s disease. This disease is caused by the build-up of amyloid plaques, and curcumin is a potent ‘cleaner’ of these plaques.
8. One of the main ‘actions’ of Curcumin is boosting the brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF, which helps to treat patients suffering from depression. Curcumin boosts the happy hormones – serotonin and dopamine, which helps to calm stress and relieve anxiety.
9. The high antioxidant properties of Curcumin prevent cell damage, stimulate new cell growth, promote healthy skin, and slow down the effects and signs of aging. It prevents the formation of fine lines and wrinkles, giving your face a fresh and youthful appearance.
10. Curcumin works wonders on the digestive tract. It helps to reduce bloating and inflammation, thereby stimulating the digestive system. It also accelerates bile production and prevents and treats pancreatitis.
11. Regular consumption of curcumin through turmeric milk or other ways, helps in the treatment of cataract and glaucoma, and thereby prevents loss of and impaired vision.
12. All the properties of curcumin have a stimulating and healing effect on the largest organ too – the skin. It helps to reduce scars, prevent acne, eczema and psoriasis, reduce pigmentation, heal wounds and scars faster, and provide an overall healthy glow to the skin.

Bonus:
Curcumin helps to reduce pain, inflammation, and problems in joint functioning. This in turn provides relief to patients of rheumatoid arthritis, while also preventing bone erosion. It also protects the tissue of and around the bones. By regular consumption of turmeric milk, we gain the goodness of milk – potassium, calcium, Vitamins K, B2, B12, B1 and D, selenium, zinc, magnesium, and proteins – which are essential for bone health. Stronger bones translate to lesser chances of fractures and osteoporosis.

Read Also: How Much Green Tea Should You Drink to Avoid Side Effects?

The benefits of a restful and adequate sleep are well-known. Inadequate sleep or a disturbed one can potentially prove harmful over time. Not only does one feel tired and irritable, it takes a toll on the overall wellness of the mind and body, which over time translates to stress and anxiety. A glass of warm turmeric milk/haldi doodh will ensure that your mind is relaxed and will induce a restful and long night’s sleep. It tastes delicious too, leaving you happy and refreshed to face the next day.

Easy to Prepare Turmeric Milk

With a range of turmeric milk lattes and powders available, preparing this beautiful and healthy milk at home is so easy. You could also use the following method to prepare a delicious serving of haldi doodh:

1. A cup of unsweetened milk
2. A tsp of turmeric powder
3. Small piece of fresh ginger – grated
4. ½ tsp of cinnamon power
5. Tiny pinch of black pepper powder
6. Honey to taste

Mix all the ingredients and bring it to a boil. Reduce the flame and allow the ingredients to simmer together for about 10 minutes or until you see the beautiful golden color and get the alluring fragrance. Strain the mixture and drink up! You could also cool this milk, refrigerate, and you have a refreshing cold beverage or you could reheat if you prefer it warm.

In Conclusion

This ‘golden milk’ is the elixir that can be consumed every day to gain overall health benefits. The other spices add a punch and their own set of nutritious advantages and allow you to make a personalized health drink, as per your taste. Do check with your doctor however, before adding anything to your diet. Don’t miss this ‘golden’ ticket to health!