The health benefits of turmeric (with my favorite golden milk latte recipe)

Right now, turmeric is the hottest spice around, and I’m not talking about spicy-hot! Turmeric lattes, golden milk, golden lattes have hit the headlines, becoming the most sought-after, talked-about drink, since, well, activated charcoal lemonade?! But turmeric-infused hot beverages is a trend I can really support. I’ve been drinking golden milk for years myself to benefit from its hormone-balancing, hormone-supportive qualities. The most popular recipes you’ve probably seen include turmeric, coconut oil, and a non-dairy milk like almond. I have my own personal spin on this recipe that I particularly like and will share below. The turmeric turns the milk a delicious deep golden color, hence the name, and now this is popping up on menus at health-conscious restaurants and cafes all over the country. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow are singing its praises, and hip eateries like Cafe Gratitude have made it a staple of their menus.

How turmeric is hormone-balancing and fertility boosting

There are many ways you can give the basic golden latte recipe a twist, including adding in other spices that would be in my personal top 10 of the most hormonally-supportive - like cinnamon, cumin, ginger, cayenne, cardamom. All these spices are known in Traditional Chinese Medicine as “warming” and “drying” spices. Warming foods are viewed as specifically beneficial to boosting fertility. A deficiency in “yang” is believed to be bad for the reproductive organs, uterus and ovaries, which as a result become “cold” and “dampened.” Essentially this is about circulation of life-giving blood flow. Certain spices, like turmeric, improve circulation to all organs - including the uterus and ovaries. The better the blood is flowing, the more oxygen is present, the better their health - boosting fertility. The FLO Living protocol is partly based on this ancient TCM understanding of the energies of foods - it is why I recommend raw foods for the follicular phase, but warm, roasted, and warmly spiced foods for the luteal phase.

The health benefits of turmeric

Turmeric (specifically the curcumin in turmeric - which is what makes the spice yellow/golden) is lauded as superior in its healing properties to common medications. Looking at the research, you can see why.

• Curcumin is a powerful anti-inflammatory, which has benefits for treating gastro-intestinal issues and period pain.
• It is also blood sugar stabilizing, which is important for all women who are hormonally-sensitive and suffering with everything from PMS to PCOS.
• Because turmeric increases blood flow to the uterus it can also help with regulation of periods and supporting the development of healthy periods.
• Curcumin has been shown to decrease and slow the growth of uterine fibroids as a result of its anti-inflammatory properties.
• Studies show it can be protective against the development of breast cancer and ovarian cancers.
• Curcumin may also be beneficial to those women suffering with endometriosis.

How I use turmeric - and my turmeric/golden milk latte recipe

I drink my golden latte every day in the late afternoon, however there are a few other ways I like to incorporate turmeric into my diet.

• “Red eggs” - I sprinkle turmeric on my poached eggs or mix the spice into a scramble for breakfast using coconut oil
• When I cook beans I always add a teaspoon of turmeric to the saucepan
• I saute my collard greens and kale in coconut oil with turmeric on top

My golden latte recipe - I keep a batch of homemade “golden paste” in my fridge at all times to make this simple and easy for a daily drink. I like to incorporate making a golden latte as part of my relaxing, grounding period rituals too. “Golden paste” ingredients1/2 cup organic turmeric powder1 cup water1.5 teaspoons black pepper5 tablespoons virgin coconut oilDirections

1. In a stainless steel pot, cook the water, turmeric, and black pepper until it forms a thick paste, stirring and cooking for about 7 to 10 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and add virgin coconut oil, using a whisk to fully mix in the coconut oil.
3. Transfer the Golden Paste into a glass jar with a lid, and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
4. You will use this paste to make your Golden Milk below.

Golden milk ingredients1 teaspoon golden paste2 cups coconut milk1/8 teaspoon vanilla (optional)Raw honey [or stevia] to taste (optional)Pinch cinnamon (optional)Directions

1. In a stainless steel pot, gently heat, but do not boil, 2 cups of milk with 1 teaspoon of golden paste.
2. A whisk is helpful to fully mix the paste into the milk.
3. Add optional vanilla, honey [or stevia], and/or cinnamon.

If this seems like too much work for you and you’d like a shortcut (I’m all for making more time for yourself), Gaia has created a ready-made golden milk powder - all you need to do is add the milk! Always remember, that once you have the right information about how your body really works, you can start making health choices that finally start to work for you! You can do this - the science of your body is on your side!to your FLO,AlisaGood things come in threes:

I want to hear from you!

First, do you have period cramps? Second, are you suffering with endometriosis? Third, everyone you know is hormonal – spread a little good period karma and share this article on social ;)

Need more Hormone Help?

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