Spice Up Your Life With Turmeric Golden Milk

 
Honestly, lately it seems like turmeric is being touted as the cure for everything that ails you. It’s been used in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for a long time to treat everything from digestive problems to skin issues. Sounds like a great way to show yourself some love, right? But, seriously, what is it?

All About Turmeric

Turmeric is a spice that’s a relative of ginger and the main ingredient in Indian curries. It’s also used as a colorant to give mustard, cheese and butter their bright yellow hues. The roots or bulbs of the plant are usually boiled and dried to create the yellow powder you find in the spice aisle of the grocery store. You can also buy the actual fresh turmeric root in specialty grocery stores.
It’s both anti-inflammatory and contains the powerful antioxidant curcumin which helps protect cells from free radical damage. Supplementation has been shown to reduce heartburn, indigestion and arthritic joint pain — and there are even some ongoing studies to determine whether it may have a positive impact on heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and cancer. Talk about a hard worker!
Turmeric in food is considered safe and beneficial for overall health. However, for certain populations, turmeric supplementation should be avoided since supplements contain quantities far greater than what you’d get from food alone (yes, even if you’re gorging yourself on Indian food). So, as with all supplements, talk to your doctor first before taking a turmeric supplement — especially if you have gallstones, hyperacidity, stomach ulcers, bile duct obstruction or are pregnant or nursing. Supplementation quantities of turmeric may also lower your blood sugar levels, thin your blood and slow blood clotting — so beware of “double-dipping” if you’re already on diabetes medications, blood thinners or anticoagulants and talk to your doctor about turmeric supplementation prior to undergoing surgery.

My Favorite Way to Get My Turmeric On

I can tell you from personal experience that turmeric has a super strong and bitter smell and it will stain — so be careful with both the powder and the root itself. My favorite way to enjoy the health benefits of turmeric is by drinking Golden Milk, and I’m sharing my favorite recipe with you below so you can give it whirl. Try a warm cup of it in the evenings — it’s like a spicy, creamy bedtime latte — and anytime you’re feeling kinda funky, a little off or just under the weather to give your body a little boost.