What are the benefits of turmeric? Is coffee with spices really good for your health? Let's figure it out together with a nutritionist.
Aromatic coffee is something many people find difficult to imagine a normal morning without. This delicious, invigorating drink stimulates brain activity and helps you focus on work. To make the taste of coffee more rich, various spices are added to it. So, recently, coffee with turmeric, in particular turmeric latte, has become increasingly popular.
Mila Mikityuk
nutritionist
Turmeric has a strong anti-inflammatory effect, which is why it is even compared to medications.
What is turmeric
It is a bright yellow spice from a plant in the ginger family. It is obtained by drying and grinding the rhizome - a horizontally growing underground root system with vertical stems that penetrate the soil. It is similar to yellow wasabi, both in the appearance of the plant and in its color and intensity of flavor.
The spice smells like orange peel and ginger, and has an earthy flavor a little like cardamom or even cinnamon. At the same time, it is a fairly mild spice that usually goes well with other flavor profiles, including coffee.
What does coffee with turmeric taste like?
Since the trend of adding this spice to drinks is relatively new in our country, recipes will vary from cafe to cafe, but to truly reap the health benefits of the spice, you'll need a full teaspoon in your cup of coffee. This can make the drink taste too bitter for many, so baristas reduce the taste by serving turmeric coffee with ground ginger and orange zest.
Milk and sweeteners can also soften the taste if you're looking to get the benefits of coffee and turmeric.
Green tea
The US Food Administration reports that a cup of green tea contains half as much caffeine as a cup of coffee.
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At the same time, green tea helps speed up metabolism and is directly associated with reducing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, as well as diseases of the cardiovascular system. Matcha is considered the most nutritious. It tastes great. Choose this drink to cheer you up in the morning and focus on business.
How to drink milk with turmeric correctly
Turmeric paste can be stored in the refrigerator for about a month; a portion is prepared immediately before use so that it does not lose its beneficial properties. The course depends on the purpose of use, the maximum intake is 30 days, after which they take a break. To learn how to properly prepare golden milk, you can watch the video.
Benefits of turmeric milk at night
The mixture with the addition of honey has a calming effect, so it is customary to drink it at night. During sleep, restoration processes occur in the body, and the action of beneficial components helps to regenerate cells.
What are the benefits of milk with turmeric in the morning?
In the morning, the product promotes vital activity. The addition of ginger has a stimulating effect on the centers of the brain.
Areas of application
For cosmetic purposes, golden milk is used to treat eczema and increase the production of collagen, which is responsible for youthful skin. They drink the cocktail regularly and wash their faces with it.
The Indian drink is also used in dietetics and folk medicine.
Turmeric golden milk is an Indian drink with a thousand-year history. It is valued for its beneficial properties, suppressing pain, calming, eliminating symptoms of joint diseases, promoting weight loss. It has a specific burning taste, so it is recommended to take it in small doses, gradually increasing them in the absence of adverse reactions.
What are the benefits of turmeric
Turmeric is one of the most revered plants in Ayurveda. Sometimes it is called the golden spice or Indian saffron.
This relative of ginger is a very powerful healer with a long history of medicinal use dating back almost 4,000 years. Among its advantages, the most important is the ability to fight chronic inflammation that accompanies almost all diseases. The anti-inflammatory properties of the root are now very well studied and supported by the results of many studies.
Turmeric may help with exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, speeding recovery in people with active lifestyles. Its anti-inflammatory properties are comparable in effect to ibuprofen, but without the side effects.
Turmeric also has significant antioxidant activity, which helps cope with oxidative stress.
Medicinally, turmeric is used for a variety of conditions, including digestive disorders, skin cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis. Turmeric is believed to help:
- cleanse blood and skin
- cure reproductive organs
- balance blood sugar levels
- prevent premature aging and Alzheimer's disease
- cope with fatigue, overwork
- stimulate blood circulation
- etc.
For women
The spice can act as a herbal estrogen substitute. This hormone plays an important role in the state of the female reproductive system. The properties of turmeric milk are beneficial in relieving menstrual pain in women, which is associated with an overall strengthening effect.
The substances included in the powder help stop the development of cancer cells, so drinking the drink can be regarded as the prevention of cancer. This is the main benefit of using the product for women.
For men
Curcumin has the ability to reduce the symptoms of prostatitis. The benefits of use include a positive effect on urination processes. The reproductive functions of the male reproductive system depend on the general condition of the body, and in this regard, turmeric acts as a general tonic.
Contraindications for taking golden milk
Turmeric is considered a fairly safe spice, but it can interact with blood thinners, stomach acid reducers, and diabetes medications.
Curcumin interferes with the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes. Therefore, when taking turmeric simultaneously with a medicine, its concentration in the blood may increase. And this can have side effects in the long run.
Here are a few precautions to keep in mind when using turmeric.
- Maintain a 3-4 hour break between taking the “golden latte” and any medications.
- Stop taking turmeric 2 weeks before surgery to minimize the risk of bleeding.
- Avoid or limit your intake of turmeric as a spice for kidney disease and stones because it is high in oxalates and potassium.
- Limit or avoid turmeric as a spice for gout due to its high oxalate content.
- Avoid turmeric supplements if you have gallbladder obstruction, as curcumin in low doses causes gallbladder contraction. This may be painful.
- If you suffer from bleeding or bleeding disorders, take turmeric with caution. Avoid turmeric supplements if you are taking blood thinners.
Before making any significant changes to your diet, or before using any of these recipes, be sure to consult with your doctor to make sure these recipes and ingredients are appropriate for your medical condition and are compatible with any medications you are taking!
Try drinking a golden latte for 40 days in a row and feel the difference in how you feel. As with all wellness programs, consistency is the key to success!
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How to make golden milk from turmeric
Many people think that cooking involves pouring seasoning into a liquid. It's a delusion. For the base you will need to prepare a mixture. After this, the recipes differ in the type of additives: they use ginger, cinnamon, coriander, which are mixed with milk and turmeric.
Classic recipe
Step 1 – preparing turmeric paste for golden milk:
- turmeric powder – 2 tbsp. l;
- water – 1 glass;
- vegetable or olive oil – 2-3 tbsp;
- black pepper, ground – 1 tsp;
- milk – 1 glass.
The powder is mixed with water, boiled over low heat for 7 minutes until the mixture has a thick, homogeneous consistency, after cooling, pepper and butter are added to the golden milk. This is done in order to ensure better absorption by the body. The condition is optional, but is part of the classic recipe.
Stage 2 – adding 1 tsp of paste to boiling milk.
Historical reference
Europeans adopted the recipe for making golden milk from turmeric from the Indians. Even in ancient India, the drink was used to strengthen the immune system and treat a variety of ailments - from muscle colic to a weak heart and pain during menstruation. Without any special modifications, it has survived to this day.
The name of the drink has two meanings. On the one hand, curcumin contained in turmeric powder gives the milk a rich golden hue. On the other hand, its benefits are worth its weight in precious metal.
What are the benefits of a “golden latte”?
When used internally, turmeric should be cooked and not taken raw, so that all its healing substances can be easily absorbed in the body.
Golden milk is the ideal form of taking turmeric. It is particularly beneficial for stiff, creaky joints and provides them with good lubrication.
This is an essential nutritious drink for women over 28 years of age to support skin moisture and the functioning of the female reproductive system. Essential oils and nutrients contained in the composition contain vital ingredients that help women maintain flexibility and vitality.
Golden Milk can help repair damage to nerve centers caused by drug abuse. To do this, you need to drink it every day for 40 days.
The “golden” drink also has cosmetic benefits. When taken, it soothes irritated scalp, reduces the appearance of dandruff, promotes hair restoration, and fights inflammatory skin diseases (for example, eczema).
But this is not the entire spectrum of its action. Also, “golden milk” has the following properties:
- anti-inflammatory
- stimulating
- antioxidant
- antiseptic
- liver detoxifier
- painkiller
- immune
- promotes metabolic regulation (and therefore weight loss)
- regulates cholesterol levels
- stimulates memory
- relieves pain in muscles and joints
- relieves migraines and neuralgia
There are several options for the “golden” drink. But all of them must include mandatory components, without which it will not be possible to get all the benefits of turmeric:
- warm
- turmeric itself
- some kind of oil or fat
- a little black pepper to activate the turmeric
The “wonderful” properties of this drink are given by a special polyphenol, curcumin, contained in the root of the plant. Its therapeutic actions are very numerous, numbering about 150. Curcumin acts like the hormone cortisone, but without the side effects. It provides powerful protection for the body against oxidative stress and a strong anti-inflammatory effect.
This nutrient is poorly absorbed and quickly eliminated from the body. Some experts say that 99% of the substance passes through the body in transit without being retained. It turns out that curcumin is optimally absorbed through meals that contain plenty of healthy fat. Therefore, the drink recipe must include oil.
Another effective way to improve the absorption of curcumin is to take it with piperine, found in black pepper. Piperine, when taken with any herb or drug, improves their absorption in the body. In the case of curcumin, piperine increases its absorption by as much as 2000 percent! It is important to choose fresh and high-quality peppers to get all their benefits. Moreover, a very small pinch is enough.
Honey is not a necessary ingredient, but it also has very interesting properties that complement the effectiveness of the drink.
At what age can turmeric milk be given to children?
When using for children, care must be taken, given that the spice has pronounced medicinal properties. Children under 2 years of age are not recommended to take it; after 2 years of age, it is used in small quantities so as not to provoke diarrhea or bloating: then the harm from taking it may outweigh its benefits. In any case, consultation with a pediatrician is mandatory.
Recipes for preparing Golden Milk
Coffee with turmeric and black pepper
- Natural coffee, brewed by any method, in any volume;
- Turmeric - up to one spoon, maybe less, to start with;
- Ground black pepper - on the tip of a knife, you need the bare minimum;
- Sweeteners – sugar, honey, substitutes.
All ingredients except honey (so as not to lose its beneficial properties at high temperatures) can be brewed immediately. But keep in mind that turmeric is very staining, so it may be difficult to wash the Turmeric (and even more so a teapot, French press or saucepan). It’s easier to pour it into a cup and let it brew for a couple of minutes.
Black pepper improves curcumin absorption by 2000%! It is advisable to add just a little each time you prepare a turmeric drink.
Recipe with turmeric and cinnamon
- Your favorite coffee;
- Turmeric;
- Cinnamon, ground or in stick form.
Making coffee with turmeric and cinnamon is very easy, and you can modify the recipe with almost a dozen additional ingredients, and you will get a new taste every time. Whip the cream, froth the milk, you can add honey, lemon, granulated sugar or sweetener, syrups or even liqueurs, a little black pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, a slice of orange... The flavor profiles of cinnamon and turmeric go well together, the drink will be spicy, warming, very interesting, and will appeal even to those who are not too fond of the turmeric flavor.
Coffee latte with turmeric
Turmeric with coffee and milk is a classic combination for oriental cuisine, but in our country the drink is more popular in latte format. To do this, you need to froth milk with turmeric sprinkled into it, and then add this golden-yellow foam to a shot of espresso.
You can serve the cocktail hot or cold, use ice or additional spices.
Basic recipe: “Golden milk” or “golden latte”
Ingredients:
Turmeric 1/8-1/4 teaspoon (here you can buy a large package of 453 g at once)
Water 1/4 cup
Milk 1 glass
Almond oil (or any other) 1-2 tbsp. spoons
Pinch of black pepper
Honey or maple syrup to taste
Preparation:
- Boil turmeric along with water over low heat for 5-8 minutes.
- Boil milk and butter in another saucepan and remove from heat.
- Mix turmeric paste and milk and stir well.
- Add honey or maple syrup to taste and a pinch of black pepper.
Recipe: Golden Turmeric Paste
Sometimes you don’t have time to prepare turmeric paste from scratch every time. In this case, you can prepare a dressing with a long shelf life - about 3 weeks. In the future, to get a “golden latte”, you just need to mix the paste and warmed milk.
Ingredients:
Turmeric powder ½ cup
Ground black pepper 1 ½ teaspoons
Coconut oil 5 tbsp. spoons
Preparation:
- Mix all ingredients except oil in a saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly for 7-10 minutes. Remove from heat and whisk in coconut oil.
- Transfer the paste into a jar.
Application:
Add 0.5 teaspoons of “golden paste” to 1 glass of warmed milk. Add honey to taste. You can season it with vanilla or cinnamon.
Storage:
Refrigerated for 3 weeks.
Kombucha
This is the same kombucha from a three-liter jar on my grandmother’s windowsill, which arises as a result of fermentation. A glass of kombucha has less caffeine than a cup of tea. It is perfect for gently recharging the body. This tea also contains another beneficial component - the amino acid L-theanine. It not only fills the body with energy, but also protects it from stress.
