Want an alternative remedy to stay healthy and sleep like a baby? Try a cup of golden milk a day: made from turmeric golden paste, nutmeg, a mineral rich sweetener, and any milk you like.
Do you know what my greatest fear is in January and February? Getting really sick! Since this year I have yet to have succumbed to a real cold or flu I am extra nervous. With a big trip coming up in 3 weeks, I want to do everything in my power to build a strong immune system. That includes a glass of water a day with 1 tablespoon of unfiltered apple cider vinegar and a glass of golden milk before bed.
By the way golden milk is also excellent for insomnia! Never heard of golden milk? Keep reading to find out all the wonderful benefits it can bestow on you and get the recipe to make it at home.
10 Health Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the most commonly used ingredients in Ayurveda, India’s 5,000 year old holistic healing system. I would call it tried and true! Turmeric is actually the root of the Curcuma longa plant. One of the best ways to consume turmeric is through a turmeric tea, called golden milk. Not the usual tea we have in mind for sure. But once you try it I am sure your pantry will always be well stocked with turmeric and you will reach for it for many home remedies.
Here is a short list of the benefits of turmeric:
- as a powerful anti-inflammatory and antifungal agent
- to build a strong immune system
- keep blood sugar under control
- reduces pain, especially arthritic discomfort
- helps digestion
- cleanses the liver, thus purifying the blood
- sooths headaches
- relieves coughs and colds
- is said to have anti-cancer properties
- great for women’s reproductive systems
Turmeric Golden Paste
So yeah turmeric is amazing for your body. Alas the liver is very good at processing turmeric at the speed of light. So we need to slow down the process or find an alternative route. This is achieved by adding a little bit of pepper and a fat.
The ‘heat’ of the pepper (called piperine) slows down the absorption process so that the curcumin (active ingredient in turmeric) stays in the body longer. A bit of pepper boosts the power of turmeric by 2000%. Next we need a healthy fat, such as coconut oil. The fat helps the curcumin to be absorbed right into the bloodstream, instead of going through the liver.
Preparing a batch of turmeric paste is not only time saving, but the paste includes all the necessary elements to maximize the beneficial powers of turmeric in your body. Here is how you can prepare the turmeric golden paste…
Turmeric Golden Paste
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup turmeric powder
- 1 cup water
- 1 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 5 Tablespoons virgin coconut oil
Instructions
- In a small saucepan on gentle heat, cook the turmeric and water until a thick paste forms, stirring constantly, about 7 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in vigorously the the ground pepper and virgin coconut oil until homogeneous. Transfer to a glass jar with a lid and store in the refrigerator. Keeps for 2 weeks.
About 1 teaspoon a day is the dosage that you want to aim for. Now that we have our paste, how do we consume it? The two most methods are to drink it or use it in cooking. Feel free to add a spoon of the paste to your everyday recipes. You can add it to rice, smoothies, meats or soups.
Others prefer to take a teaspoon straight and chase it down with a plain glass of water, or mix the paste in with a bit of honey. If you would like to drink it as a tea, dissolve a bit of the paste in hot water or your favorite tea, perhaps with honey again, and enjoy a few cups throughout the day.
Golden Milk
But my favorite way is to enjoy a nice cup of golden milk just before bedtime. I like to add a teaspoon of the turmeric golden paste to a cup of hot milk, plus I like to add a pinch of nutmeg and a mineral rich sweetener to help fight my insomnia. If you are a regular reader you know that I am prone to bouts of chronic insomnia and general bad sleeping cycles. Did you know nutmeg has strong sedative properties? I have been adding a dash of nutmeg to hot milk for years and it really helps.
Now I bet you are thinking why I am adding sugar to this milk. In a small dose, not only is it fine but the sugar will actually regulate your stress hormones. But it is important to use an unrefined sugar, preferably with minerals in it still. Sucanat is my first choice. If you are not familiar with sucanat, it is dehydrated sugar cane juice, a completely unrefined sugar with all minerals intact. Next up in my favorite list is mineral rich blackstrap molasses and finally real honey.
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No crying over spilled milk!
No Milk Restrictions
By the way, feel free to use any kind of ‘milk’ you like, whether it be dairy, almond, rice, soy, cashew, etc. Any milk will give you protein and carbohydrates, making you feel satiated. I should mention however that dairy milk is my first choice here.
Why? Because dairy milk because it contains the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan increases serotonin levels in the brain, which brings on a feeling of relaxation and sleepiness. Combining dairy milk with turmeric intensifies the effects of the tryptophan. Turmeric helps the body absorb amino acids better by elevating the insulin level in the blood.
Boy I am throwing a lot of scientific information your way today lol. The important thing to remember is that is works and helps a lot. Just try a cup of golden milk for a few nights in a row and let me know how you feel.
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Want more healthy recipes for your body? My herbal tinctures recipe is a great way to sooth health problems. And it is so easy to make at home. For 1 tincture/6 month supply: want store bought 75-150$ or homemade 6$?
Check out my other posts with home remedies for insomia or sleep problems:
- Add a dropper of Valerian Tincture to a bit of water
- Let a few pinches of Sleepy Dust melt under your tongue
- Enjoy a warm cup of this Sedative Herbal Tea mix before going to sleep
I usually have milk with turmeric when I’m under the weather, I also love the taste, never added coconut oil though, I’m sure it tastes even better with it 🙂
Thanks for your comment Muna. So glad I am not alone in liking the taste. Yes coconut oil makes it taste great and helps the body absob the benefits!
I’m going to make the paste right away. Thank you too for reminding me of the Ayurvedic tradition of drinking warm milk before bed. I loved it but have developed a bit of a reaction to too much dairy. Hopefully the Tumeric will balance things out.
Oh Cool Elaine, let me know how it turns out. Also you can use any milk you want as well, the others may not work as much for sleeping, just having a warm beverage helps too.
I have had this a few times but recently haven’t tried it, I am not the biggest fan of turmeric unless its in curries but you are right this is quite healthy and boosts your immune system in the flu season!
I know what you mean Prateek, I like turmeric but plain in milk it seems stronger. But I find the sweetener really makes a difference.
I never heard of golden milk before, but I’m willing to give it a try. I hate being sick too.
I hope you try it Mindi. So good for you and for sleep.
We have this almost every day during winters. I really like the idea of making paste. I usually boil the milk with fresh root turmeric besides adding some spices.
The paste is great, I think you made a ginger one a couple of years back? I bet fresh turmeric would be incredible. It is hard to find here but I have seen it more and more.
I really need to make this paste to make the mill s much easier. I made it once from scratch and decided, that even though it tasted great, the process was too cumbersome. Having the paste would make it so much easier. Thanks!
What is the mills MJ? Yeah the paste is so practical to use and easy to freeze too.
I have been meaning to make this for some time now, but have yet to get around to it!! You have inspired me to give it a try today! – http:/www.domesticgeekgirl.com
So cool reading that everyone knows a bit about this golden milk. Let me know if you make it and what you think Gingi!
Turmeric is the tits… However… I don’t really like it at all – that being said, your recipe, which includes a little sweetener… MIGHT HELP IT go down the hatch! With a little coconut milk too… Hmmmm Tumeric Coconut Milk Ice Cream. That could be a new THING!
Oh yeah a sweetener you can have and really also the nutmeg helps if you are not a turmeric fan. Or use cinnamon or ginger. GGRRRLLL I hear you on your ice cream idea. I once made a Mango Curry Cardamon Ice Cream on the blog which was a hit so why not!
We went through a big turmeric phase! I didn’t realise that golden milk was also good for insomnia though. Good to know! 😀
Are you phased out of the turmeric, curious why if you stopped Lorraine?
You must be reading my mind!!! I’ve heared a lot about this lovely milk and wanted to get a trust worthy recipe. Guess what? Yep now I have it ?a must try for me. Thanks Eve.
Sorry for the late reply, your comment got stuck in my system. Wow too funny you are reading about this too. Well I can really vouch for the recipe as I have been having my golden milk every night before bed and feel good and sleeping better overall 🙂
My secretary just jotted down a recipe like this to put in coffee. (Hers had honey in it.) I am going to go whip some of this up now as I am pretty sure The Hubs did not get a flu shot and may now have it!
Of course I’m adding it to a rice bowl tonight. (In between my comments, I went to the kitchen and whipped up a batch). I can’t thank you enough for this golden stuff!
Oh wow that is awesome Debra that you already made a batch! I hope your husband feels better soon and let me know what you think of the paste after using it for a few days please! FYI I used some is a bread recipe that I will post soon!
Really interesting post! And I learned a lot about how the liver works that I didn’t know! I should definitely make the turmeric paste — I love the flavor of the stuff in cooking, and this would be a convenient way to use it. Thanks!
Thanks John I was surprised by all the liver facts too, glad I am not the only geek in that way lol. The paste is great because it is good for cooking or a tea, multi-purpose 🙂
Just had a large glass of turmeric coconut milk after my morning workout :-)) I added mine with a tsp of bee pollen.
What a funny coincidence! Oh great idea on the bee pollen. I have some and always forget to use it. thanks!
I tried this for a week and it made no difference to my sleep sadly. If it did I would be drinking it tonight for sure as I’m sleep deprived at present.
Ah that is too bad, it works differently for each person. But enjoying a cup for the other health benefits is not a bad thing. Sorry you are not sleeping well 🙁