The Golden Milk of Ayurveda

Nature's Nectar: Golden Milk

By: Jessica Jayne

Golden milk, sometimes referred to as ‘Turmeric Milk’ is a traditional Ayurvedic drink that has thought to heal people for thousands of years. This drink is equally as delicious as it is nourishing and has a variety of benefits.

The basis of Golden Milk is the all-powerful herb, turmeric. This is where Golden Milk gets its ‘Gold.’ Literally and figuratively, turmeric creates the luscious golden color of natures nectar, and also is the golden foundation of all the medicinal properties within this drink.

Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory, and has been suggested to reduce joint pain, arthritis, digestive issues, and even depression. However, considering inflammation is the source of most dysfunction in the body; turmeric is used for a myriad of issues and is a foundational herb for many medicines and holistic plans in Ayurvedic practices.

Nature's Nectar is easy to make and can be made with many different properties. However, there are a few things that need to be added in order to receive the benefits from this drink.

The Foundations of Golden Milk

Milk of your choice, and Turmeric: The two obvious ones :) You can use any milk of your choosing, however if you are using plant-based milk my suggestion is to use almost or cashew milk from a carton, mixed with canned coconut milk.

A dash of pepper: In order to digest the turmeric properly, you’ll need a dash of pepper to activate this within your digestive system.

A fat: If you use cows milk, you won’t need the extra fat. However, if you are making your recipe plant-based, you will need to add a healthy fat in order to absorb the turmeric properly. Some coconut oil, almond oil, or olive oil should suffice.

Other Additions (If You’d Like)

Golden milk can be a mixture of the foundations listed above. However, there are many other additions you can add to make it sweeter and more medicinal:

Cardamom

Cinnamon

Ginger

Vanilla

Honey

Maple Syrup

The Best Time to Drink Golden Milk

All in all, the best time to drink golden milk is right before bedtime. This will help you sleep better, achieve better digestion throughout the night, and have a tasty treat before you enter dream state!

Another time is when you are feeling constipated or irregular within your digestive system, feel the need to warm your body/Agni, and/or if the nervous system is feeling erratic or out of balance.

A Simple Golden Milk Recipe

Serves 1-2

What you will need:

½ Cup Canned Coconut Milk (Full Fat)

½ Cup Almond Milk

½ Teaspoon of Ground Turmeric

Big Pinch of Black Pepper

A Few Drops of Coconut Oil

1 Teaspoon of Honey

Any Additions (Cardamon, Cinnamon, Vanilla, etc.)

Cook the milk over low-medium heat and add all ingredients together. It is best to blend with a hand-blender to make the drink frothy and creamy, however you can mix with a fork/spoon and make sure everything dissolves into the liquid. Let simmer for 15 minutes (do not boil).

Enjoy!

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