The name may sound funny, but the benefits are real. Golden milk has long been touted for its anti-inflammatory benefits, but now researchers have found that the frothy, yellow beverage may also reduce the growth of cancerous cells and possibly even prevent cancer.
At Hope4Cancer, we use golden milk as part of our patients’ nutritional healing for cancer, but it can also be used to treat a number of illnesses and diseases such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, arthritis and more.
The Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin
The golden color in golden milk comes from its main ingredient, turmeric, which is a yellow spice commonly used in foods such as curries. While turmeric has been valued for its medicinal properties for centuries, it’s not commonly consumed in the United States or Mexico.
Nevertheless, the benefits are worth another look: Turmeric may help prevent the buildup of plaque in the arteries that can lead to heart attack or stroke, and curcumin – one of the most studied bioactive ingredients in turmeric – has been found to prevent heart attacks among heart bypass patients.
Fighting Cancer
If the other health benefits weren’t enough reason to add this valuable spice to your diet, studies are also showing its potency against tumors. A 2008 study at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center showed that curcumin’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties had the power to “inhibit tumor cell growth and suppress enzymes that activate carcinogens.” In fact, Bharat Aggarwal, PhD, professor in the Department of Experimental Therapeutics, writes,
“No cancer has been found, to my knowledge, which is not affected by curcumin. The reason curcumin is so effective against cancer is that it hits not just a single target or cell signaling pathway but dozens of targets implicated in cancer.”
Aggarwal went on to point out that the rates of the top four cancers in the United States – colon, breast, prostate, and lung – are 10 times less for residents in South Asian countries, where turmeric is used regularly in meals.
Ready to make a glass for yourself? While there are a few different options for making Golden Milk, we use the below recipe for our patients.
Golden Milk Recipe
- ¼ cup water
- 1/8 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 cup almond or other nut milk
- 1 to 2 tablespoons of almond oil or coconut oil (optional)
- Pinch of cardamom and cinnamon
- Raw honey to taste
Boil water and turmeric in a small saucepan over medium-high heat for eight minutes, as the turmeric must be fully cooked. Bring your nut milk to a boiling point in a separate pan and remove from heat. You can add almond oil, some cardamom and honey. Combine the two mixtures. You can also mix the Golden Milk in a blender on the lowest speed for a frothy consistency and served with a little cinnamon on top. The oil provides lubrication and energy to the system, while turmeric makes the bones and joints more flexible and provides anti-inflammatory support.
You can also create a turmeric paste to have on hand ahead of time by using ¼ cup of organic turmeric powder and ½ cup of purified water. Mix the water and turmeric powder together in a pan on low heat until a paste is formed. Keep the paste in the refrigerator until you’re ready to make your next cup of golden milk. To use the paste, heat 1 cup of almond milk in a pan along with 1 teaspoon of the turmeric paste. Keep blending the two with a spoon, then place in a blender with cardamom and honey and mix for 30 seconds.
What benefits do you experience from drinking Golden Milk? Share your experience by tweeting us @Hope4CancerMex or commenting on the blog or Facebook!
I tried it and turmeric is absolutely beneficial for your health. I will must recommend it to others. To know Turmeric Benefits for Skin
I’ve done golden milk in the past and I thought black pepper was supposed to enhance the potency of the turmeric. Is there a reason this recipe doesn’t have pepper?
There are many different recipes out there with different research, opinions and variations. It is really up to you!
A great recipe with one exception. I have to say NO to the Almond milk and instead use only Coconut milk and not Coconut-almond blended either.
The reason is according to the recent book by Sally K Norton, almonds and its by products are to be avoided due to Oxalates which are toxic to the human body.