Why golden milk is good for you + how to make your own golden spice mix for a delicious golden milk
Ayurveda sees every type of food that we take as a medicine. Our kitchen can serve as a pharmacy!
Maintaining a balanced digestion together with the right diet contributes to your health, because the tissues get the appropriate nourishing. And this will help in preventing and curing disease.
Golden milk is becoming more and more popular as it contains a combination of spices that can aid in your health by improving digestion, strengthening the immune system and burning toxins. Warm milk, especially full fat cow milk, has a nourishing, grounding and relaxing effect. If you're lactose intolerant or don't prefer cow milk, I recommend almond milk or oat milk.
A few examples of kitchen spices that can aid in digestion and help reduce the chance of flu, colds, and coughs:
- Cardamom: One of my favourite herbs. Cardamon has many good qualities and is also known as the 'queen of spices'. Take in case of flu, cough, sore throat. Also, cardamom improves digestion, and improves the nervous system. Very good also in cases of stress and burn-out symptoms as this herb is really a mind-booster!
- (Ceylon) Cinnamon: very good in case of flu, fever, cough and cold. Improves digestion and circulation. You might even start to sweat a little bit when taking this herb.
- Black pepper: improves digestion and helps to burn toxins. Good for circulation, for example cold hands and feet.
- (Fresh) ginger: very good for circulation, nausea, and good against congestion, cough and throat pains. Helps to improve the digestive fire.
- Turmeric: very good against inflammation and allergies, and also cough and throat pain. Turmeric purifies the blood. If you are pregnant, use small amounts much turmeric in your diet.
Combine these spices together for your own golden milk spice mix, which you can use to make a delicious golden milk or add to your oatmeal breakfast.
Ingredients
- 2,5 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp ginger powder
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- Few pinches of black pepper powder
Add the spice powders together in a glass jar with a lid and shake well. That’s it! Now it’s time to make your golden milk.
Golden milk recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup or 250 ml of your favourite (plant-based) milk.
- 1 tsp golden milk spice mix
- 1/2 tsp Ghee
- Maple- or agave sirup to sweeten (optional)
- Pinch of cinnamon powder (optional)
Preparation + cooking time: 10 minutes
How to make it
- Add the milk and spices in a small sauce pan and stir until it starts to boil.
- Pour in a mug and add the Ghee to balance out the drying effect of the turmeric.
- Sweeten to taste with maple- or agave syrup and sprinkle a bit of cinnamon on the top.
Enjoy! 🙂
References
Dr. A. Mehta (2011). Ayurvedische Voedingsleer in de Praktijk. Panta Rhei, Katwijk, Nederland.
Frawley, D. & Dr. Vasant Lad(2001). The Yoga of Herbs. 2nd Revised & Enlarged Edition. Lotus Press, Twin Lakes WI, USA.