18 Surprising Benefits of Turmeric Milk You Should Know

Turmeric milk or haldi doodh is consumed in almost every household in India. It is touted for its many health benefits. Drinking turmeric milk helps fight diseases and also prevent them. This ‘golden milk’ is now gaining popularity in Western countries as well and for good reasons, of course! Find out the benefits of drinking turmeric milk.

Benefits of Turmeric Milk (Golden Milk) for Health

Turmeric milk is a powerful beverage which helps prevent and fight diseases. Here are some of the health benefits of this traditional Indian drink:

1. Helps Manage Pain

Turmeric milk is full of anti-inflammatory properties. Milk helps strengthen the bones. And the anti-inflammatory properties of turmeric help reduce inflammation and joint pain. Drinking a glass of turmeric milk daily can help strengthen your bones and reduce pain.

2. Fights Infections

The antimicrobial properties in turmeric can help fight bacterial infections. Turmeric also has antibiotic properties that help fight a few kinds of viral infections. Drink a glass of turmeric milk in the morning to keep infections at bay.

3. Strengthens the Immune System

Turmeric is packed with healthy minerals and vitamins. It also has antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, which can help strengthen your immune system.

4. Helps in Digestion

Turmeric is considered an essential culinary spice because it is good for digestion. Drinking turmeric milk at night can help your body fight bloating due to its anti-inflammatory properties. A glass of turmeric milk in the afternoon can help combat gas, heartburn, and GERD.

5. Keeps the Cold at Bay

The antiviral and antibiotic properties of turmeric can help keep the common cold and influenza virus at bay. Milk, in general, is known to provide relief from throat infections, and the antioxidant properties of turmeric can help clear throat infections.

6. Promotes Liver Health

Turmeric milk is a great tonic for liver health, it has numerous hepatoprotective and detoxifying properties which is essential for liver health. Both these properties help balance the functioning of the liver, which is known as the chemical centre of the body. The liver processes and regulates numerous chemicals required in the body and disposes of those not required, and the hepatoprotective properties of turmeric help regulate these functions in a more efficient manner.

7. Helps Kidney Function

Similar to the liver, the kidneys regulate the excretion of bad toxins in the body. The detoxifying properties of turmeric make it a great cleanser. It makes sure that the kidneys function the normal way. However, it should be consumed in moderate amounts as too much of turmeric can be bad for your health, particularly the people who have kidney disorders.

8. Purifies the Blood

Drinking hot turmeric milk can purify your blood. Your body normally ingests and breaths in hundreds of thousands of bad toxins that can harm you in the long term. The detoxifying and immune strengthening properties of turmeric ensures that your blood vessels are free of these harmful toxins.

9. Improves the Health of the Heart

By purifying the blood, turmeric ensures that harmful bacteria and toxins don’t reach your heart. Turmeric also improves the functioning of arteries and regulates blood pressure and blood sugar. This spice is considered a superfood which is good for your heart.

10. Provides Relief from Headaches

Turmeric has properties that help improve mucus flow and its texture. These properties make the mucus lighter and provide relief from headaches. The blood purifying properties of turmeric also help fight headache you experience because of stress-related toxins.

11. May Help Fight and Prevent Cancer

Cancer stems from the development of tumours that grow randomly and without cause. Turmeric milk has anticarcinogenic properties that aid in the prevention of lung, skin, breast, and colon cancer. The anti-inflammatory properties also assist in preventing prostate cancer. Additionally, it has properties that help reduce the side effects of chemotherapy for those who already have cancer.

12. Prevents UTIs

Turmeric is one of the few ingredients that help all internal organs, this includes the bladder and kidneys. The detoxifying properties of turmeric help in the prevention of toxin build up in the urinary tract thus preventing harmful infections.

13. Provides Relief from Arthritis

Turmeric has a property known as capsaicin which is a natural pain killer. Turmeric, when applied externally, can provide relief from minor pain. Drinking turmeric milk can provide relief from joint pain, ease joint rigidness and help increase blood flow. All of these impacts help manage arthritis.

14. Improves Blood Circulation

Turmeric not only purifies the blood, but it also increases blood circulation. This is because of its blood thinning properties and anti-inflammatory properties. These two, when combined help promote healthy blood circulation.

15. Helps in Healthy Weight Loss

Drinking turmeric milk can also help in weight loss. Turmeric activates and speeds up the metabolism, which in turn, can enhance your body’s fat-burning capabilities.

Benefits of Turmeric Milk for Your Skin

Turmeric milk is not only good for your internal organs, but it is also good for your skin. Here are three benefits of turmeric milk for your skin.

1. Clears Blemishes

Adding turmeric to a face mask can help reduce the appearance of pimples, blackheads, and blemishes. Turmeric is a natural antiseptic, which removes bad bacteria from the skin giving you a healthy skin.

2. Helps Ease Rashes

Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and has natural antimicrobial properties, which help provide relief from rashes on your skin. Simply dip a cotton ball in turmeric milk and apply it on the affected area for a few minutes. This should fight the bad bacteria in the region that causes the rashes.

3. Fights Acne

Turmeric milk is a great way to naturally prevent the occurrence of acne. The antimicrobial and antiseptic properties combined with the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in turmeric reduce the occurrence of acne. Drink one glass per day to help prevent it and in case of acne spurts, simply use sterilized cotton to dip in turmeric milk and apply over the affected regions to see an immense improvement over a couple of days.

How to Make Turmeric Milk

Here is a turmeric milk recipe that you can make easily. Remember to keep a balance of all the ingredients and do not consume it in excess.

1. Turmeric Powder Milk

This drink can be made with turmeric powder and can be used as a face pack, scrub, or as a beverage. It has immense benefits for the skin and body.

Ingredients 

• Turmeric powder – 3 tbsp
• Cow’s milk – 100ml
• Black pepper – 2 tsp
• Honey – 1 tbsp

Directions 

• Take the milk in a pan and let it simmer.
• Add the black pepper.
• Then add the turmeric powder and let it come to a boil.
• Let it cool for a couple of minutes.
• Add the honey.
• Remove the cream and use it as a face pack.
• You can also drink it. If you like, you can also add cinnamon to it.

A Word of Caution

Before you include turmeric in your diet, here are a few things you should keep in mind.

• Consuming too much turmeric daily can cause blood pressure issues. So limit your intake to 3 tbsp of turmeric or less per day.
• Do not consume turmeric if you are supposed to have surgery.
• Replace milk with almond milk or soymilk if you are lactose intolerant.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about turmeric milk.

1. Can I Drink Turmeric Milk Every Day?

Yes, it is extremely beneficial to drink turmeric milk on a daily basis. Turmeric milk can strengthen your immune system and improve the health of your heart. It can also help you combat many other ailments. There are no side effects of drinking turmeric milk daily. However, people with kidney disorder should not drink it in excess.

2. Should I Stop Drinking Turmeric Milk Before Undergoing a Surgery?

Yes, turmeric acts as a blood thinner. This is an extremely dangerous element when going under the knife because it can cause unnecessary bleeds and prevent clotting agents from working effectively. Avoid drinking turmeric milk or consuming turmeric in any form at least a few days before surgery.

3. Can I Consume Turmeric While on Blood Thinners?

No, this can be life-threatening. Turmeric itself is a blood thinner. If you are on blood thinners, please consult your doctor for alternatives or directions.

Turmeric is extremely beneficial for your health. But it should be consumed in limited amounts. Drink turmeric milk and stay healthy.

Also Read:

Cold Milk vs Hot Milk: Which One to Choose for Your Diet
Incredible Benefits of Coconut Water for Overall Health
Health Benefits of Drinking Green Tea at Night