Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Milk

Ayurvedic healers love turmeric for its anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, and anti-oxidant properties. Try this cup of comfort tonight — the turmeric will settle your stomach, the warm milk will make you sleepy, and the spices provide extra flavor and warmth.

Heat 2 cups organic milk with 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder, a pinch each of freshly grated ginger-root and cracked black pepper, and 1 cinnamon stick. Cook until the milk comes to a full boil. Enjoy warm.

Variation: Use 2 crushed cardamom pods instead of a cinnamon stick. Add crushed jaggery, honey, or sugar to taste.

Health Benefits: Scientific studies have shown that turmeric can help prevent and/or ease arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and Alzheimer’s disease. From an ayurvedic perspective, ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, and black pepper are warming spices that help keep the sniffles away. The warm milk provides protein and makes tryptophan, a sleep-enhancing amino acid, more readily available to the body.

Shubhra Krishan is the author of Essential Ayurveda: What It Is and What It Can Do for You and Radiant Body, Restful Mind.

By Shubhra Krishan, Yoga+

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Natalie S.

11:36AM PDT on Mar 12, 2013

Sounds delicious and effective - I'll try it out! Thanks for sharing.

March 12
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Maggie K.

10:09AM PST on Jan 12, 2013

January 12
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Shailja M.

10:01AM PST on Jan 12, 2013

Tumeric is anti everything!!!
ANTISEPTIC
ANTIBIOTIC
ANTIHELMINTHIC ( WORMS)
ANTI VIRAL
ANTI NEOPLASTIC ( CANCER)

AND ALSO A POTENT ANTIINFLAMATORY AGENT.

( ANTI NEOPLASTIC-- RESEARCH FROM U MICHIGAN SAYS,
5X DOSE IN ROUTINE INDIAN COOKING Inhibits cancer cell growth, w/ o harming adjacent healthy tissues.

Trust me, i know... I grew up on these remedies... as an Asian Indian, cooking w/ spices, and also as a yoga teacher and licensed Physician, working in NY.

Fred H.

6:40AM PST on Jan 12, 2013

Thank you Megan, for Sharing this!

Sheri P.

12:20AM PDT on Sep 26, 2012

thanks!

September 26
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Frans B.

3:41AM PDT on Sep 7, 2012

makes sense... thanks for the post

September 7
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Jeramie D.

8:47AM PDT on Jul 18, 2012

I always cook with Turmeric. Love it.

July 18
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Susan S.

5:12AM PDT on May 6, 2012

May 6
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holly m.

8:02AM PDT on Apr 29, 2012

kool-added to favorites.

April 29
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Sylvia W.

6:27AM PST on Jan 12, 2012

Jon H - No reason you couldn't eliminate the pepper - the lack of bite won't make it less effective, so there is no reason to solve one problem while creating another ;-)

FYI - to anyone who has not yet made this, BEWARE - that lovely yellow color from the turmeric is tenacious - you might want to set aside one small pan just for this, and one mug (or as many as are going to drink this), as the yellow tends to linger, despite all scrubbing. Needless to say avoid spilling it on your clothes, and be prepared for yellow tongue ;-) Harmless, but weird!