A few years back, when my grandchildren were all quite young, we experienced a cold and flu season that seemed relentless. No sooner would one child recover from an infection than the next would be socked with it. This went on for months! Eventually it was hard for us to gather as an extended family, knowing how exposed we were all going to be to the latest round of sickness.
That’s when I stumbled across a recipe online for Golden Milk—an unlikely combination of milk, turmeric, ginger and pepper. Yuck! This was certainly not the stuff of foodie dreams, but, if it meant that I could see my grandkids with more confidence toward staying healthy, I would tuck it away for a time when I needed it.
Not long after, I came down with a screamer of a sore throat—the kind that unmistakably gets your attention with every swallow and red flags your awareness of an oncoming cold. We had just been with our grandkids (who, of course, were sick) and we ourselves were about to embark on a long-awaited vacation.
I quickly made up a batch of Golden Milk and thought, “I’ve got nothing to lose now!” I drank a cupful. Not a pleasant experience, frankly. The next morning, with the sore throat persisting, I drank another cup and repeated that evening as well. This continued for the next three days until the sore throat was suddenly gone and never turned into the dreaded cold! “A fluke,” I thought, until each of my daughters had similar successes when taking the milk regularly at the first sign of an infection.
Since then, Golden Milk has become a staple in my home. We make it preventatively when we are around people who are ill or when we feel any twinge of sickness ourselves. It has more than proven itself effective and beneficial to us. And although the taste, in my opinion, is horrible—I’d rather grin and bear it for a few moments (yes, even the grit at the bottom of the cup) than to suffer for weeks with a cold or flu. No guarantee it will work for you or work against every known virus that comes our way. But because it has helped me, I wanted to share it with you.
Be well, everyone!
Why Is Golden Milk Beneficial?
Both turmeric and ginger are powerful immune system boosters, aiding in the fight against infections (colds and flus). The pepper is added to help in the absorption of these nutrients. Turmeric and ginger have numerous other benefits as well. See my added notes below to learn more.
A Word of Caution
I’m not a doctor, nor a trained nutritionist. If you are pregnant or have an underlying heath condition, talk to your physician before adding Golden Milk to your preventative regimen. Also, be careful not to spill this mixture on surfaces that aren’t easy to clean as it will stain in a deep yellow color!
Golden Milk Recipe
This is a very effective drink to boost the immune system! It’s best taken preventively or at the very first inkling of infection. The black pepper helps the body absorb the turmeric and ginger which supercharge the immune system to fight off viruses and other negative conditions. This will not make your top ten list for tasty drinks, but it’s well worth it to avoid weeks of suffering with colds and flu.
Ingredients
1 cup milk of choice (coconut, almond, cow’s milk, etc)
1/2 teaspoon dried turmeric
1/2 teaspoon dried ginger
Good dash of pepper
Optional for added flavor: cinnamon, stevia or honey
Instructions
Pour milk into saucepan over medium heat. Add spices and whisk to combine. Let the milk begin to simmer (small bubbles will form on the sides). Stir. Continue to heat for another minute, being careful not to scorch. Turn off the heat, cover, and allow to set to improve the infusion. Serve warm or cold. Can keep in the refrigerator for a few days if desired.
Other Golden Milk Health Benefits
In addition to being an effective immune system booster, Golden Milk has these added benefits:
Anti-inflammatory (may ease arthritis)
Strong antioxidant (may improve brain function and help prevent against Alzheimer’s Disease)
May lower the risk of heart disease
May help prevent (and treat) cancer