10 Health Benefits Of Turmeric Milk
Turmeric milk is known as golden milk. This drink has been savored for centuries since its health benefits help support both body and mind. It usually contains natural milk, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, honey, coconut oil, and black pepper. This ancient drink can be seen in cafes trending all over the world.
One of its main ingredients, turmeric, is a versatile herb that supports a healthy inflammatory response for the entire body. It helps antioxidant support and helps support the inflammatory response. Black pepper is paired with turmeric to help support absorption. Black pepper helps promote the natural release of digestive secretions. There are many benefits to this warm and quick drink for everyone to take advantage of.
Health Benefit Of Turmeric Milk #1: Antioxidants
Antioxidants play a role in stabilizing harmful free radicals which contribute to damaging cells and causing diseases. They play a role by being beneficial so that they protect the body from these free radicals. Turmeric contains curcumin which gives it that spice and yellow color. Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that can help rid the body of free radicals due to their structures.
Ginger also contains gingerol which is a main bioactive compound. Gingerol has shown to have antioxidant effects. Numerous studies have shown that consumption of gingerol has shown to help regulate, prevent, and treat various diseases. Just how foods contain an essential amount of antioxidants, this warm drink is a quick and easy way to help meet those needed nutrients.
Health Benefit Of Turmeric Milk #2: Reduce Inflammation
Inflammation is how the body defends itself. It is part of the body’s immune response and to treat it there are medications and alternative ways. Certain foods have been scientifically proven to help reduce inflammation. Two ingredients in turmeric milk (turmeric and ginger) have proven to help reduce inflammation.
Curcumin, which is found in turmeric, has a powerful anti-inflammatory effect. The curcumin content is not that high in turmeric. Curcumin is not absorbed well in the bloodstream, so consuming it with black pepper helps to enhance curcumin absorption by 2,000%. The turmeric milk ingredients have both turmeric and black pepper which can help this absorption.
Health Benefit Of Turmeric Milk #3: May Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Turmeric is an ingredient that can lower blood sugar. It also reverses insulin resistance which also helps in controlling diabetes. As diabetes has complications such as nerve pain, kidney disease, and eye diseases, its anti-inflammatory properties help with these painful symptoms.
Prevention and treatment can occur with consuming turmeric milk. The active component of turmeric, curcumin, has properties that help with sugar levels. A study done in 2013 concluded that curcumin had significant effects on diabetes, including insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and hyperlipidemia. Clinical trials have been seen of curcumin to treat diabetic neuropathy, and retinopathy. More research and clinical trials should be made with those that have diabetes and consumption of turmeric.
Health Benefit Of Turmeric Milk #4: Boosts Brain Function
The brain controls our speech, thoughts, memory, movement, and the function of most of the organs of our body. Protecting the brain is essential to human health. As turmeric contains curcumin, this has shown to reduce neurodegeneration and help with brain function.
One study has proven that curcumin and resulting increases in brain level helped with Alzheimer’s disease. Curcumin was shown to increase brain levels of BDNF. It has also proven to help memory and make a person more intelligent, due to the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This growth hormone that functions in the brain has been linked to depression and Alzheimer’s disease.
Health Benefit Of Turmeric Milk #5: Heart Health
Heart disease is, unfortunately, the leading cause of death worldwide. Turmeric milk ingredients have shown to lower the risk of heart disease. Cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric are all proven to lower the risk of heart disease.
Cinnamon has been studied to have not only glycemic-lowering effects at certain amounts, but have significantly decreased levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels. It also increased high-density lipoproteins. In one study, people that were undergoing heart surgery were given 4 grams of curcumin or placebo a few days before surgery. Those that were given curcumin were 65% less likely to have a heart attack during the hospital stay rather than those on the placebo.
Health Benefit Of Turmeric Milk #6: Prevent and Treat Cancer
There are many conventional and alternative treatments to cancer. Prevention is always the key and consuming foods that have anti-cancer properties is what everyone hopes to achieve. Some research has suggested that the spices in turmeric milk offer some of these benefits.
Raw ginger has been shown to have compounds that have inhibitory effects on various cancer cell types in its major component, gingerol. It has also shown that gingerol has shown to possibly work as an alternative to therapeutic agents in cancer treatments.
Turmeric is an ingredient in turmeric milk that has anti-cancer properties as well. Curcumin has also shown to kill cancerous cells and prevent growth in tumors and stop their ability to spread. This drink is a great way for the prevention of cancer and those fighting it.
Health Benefit Of Turmeric Milk #7: Boosts Immunity
Golden milk has been used as a remedy against colds. The ingredients make this drink immune boosting. Fresh ginger has shown to inhibit the growth of bacteria, and fight respiratory infections. Ginger is an ingredient that also gives the milk extra spice and flavor.
The curcumin in turmeric has also shown to help prevent and fight infections. More research should be done to result in more significant studies. Studies have shown repeatedly that the body is strengthened with its immune mechanisms by macronutrients or micronutrient intake. This drink which consists of ingredients strong in antioxidants will help the immune system dramatically.
Health Benefit Of Turmeric Milk #8: Helps Depression
The rate of depression is increasing in the United States. There are many risk factors such as genetics, events, conflict, or abuse. The main ingredient of golden milk, turmeric, serves as an antioxidant which has helped inflammation. Inflammation and depression links are still being studied. However, it is assumed that one affects the other.
A recent study found that curcumin reduced depression symptoms in people with major depressive disorder. Studies have shown that this active ingredient has reduced antidepressant activity in animals. Many people refrain from taking medication for depression. For those wanting a more natural way, there are foods such as turmeric milk that can help with their mood.
Health Benefit Of Turmeric Milk #9: Helps Digestion
A fully functioning digestive system is critical for good health. It helps to absorb and metabolize the needed nutrients to make sure the body functions normally. Chronic indigestion is characterized by discomfort in the upper part of the stomach. There are potential causes such as delayed stomach emptying. There are two ingredients that help speed up stomach emptying in people who suffer from indigestion.
In one study, ginger has shown to alleviate indigestion and speed up gastric emptying. It resulted that ginger accelerated gastric emptying and stimulated antral contractions in healthy subjects. This is something that would benefit those who have indigestion symptoms and issues.
Health Benefit Of Turmeric Milk #10: Stronger Bones
Many people are choosing to eat plant-based and may be afraid that without consumption of cow’s milk they will not get the amount of calcium that is needed. However, this is not true. Both cow’s and plant milk are rich in calcium and vitamin D which are both required to build and maintain strong bones.
Since turmeric milk is usually made out of plant-based milk, it will help with its vitamin D content and contribute to stronger bones. Vitamin D helps calcium absorb in the gut. The difference between cow’s milk is that it contains both vitamin D and calcium. Not all plant-based milk are enriched with both calcium and vitamin D. So choose one that contains both.
