Turmeric Latte
Who loves a latte?
As we edge into winter, we crave hot drinks like lattes and hot chocolate to help warm us up on the inside… But even better if we can get a serious health boost at the same time!
Homemade turmeric latte is THE perfect healthy alternative to coffee or hot chocolate! Here are a few reasons why:
ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES - Turmeric contains an active compound, CURCUMIN, used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries due to its potent antioxidant properties which prevent cell damage and protect the body from oxidative stress. Diets rich in antioxidants are proven to help lower the risk of infections and disease. *Note: Piperine in black pepper boosts curcumin absorption by up to 2,000%, helping magnify the effects
ANTI-INFLAMMATORY - Chronic inflammation is linked to chronic diseases like cancer, Alzheimer’s & heart disease thus diets rich in anti-inflammatory compounds may reduce the risk. GINGER, CINNAMON & CURCUMIN all have proven anti-inflammatory properties. Studies suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin are comparable to some pharmaceutical drugs without the side effects
IMMUNE-BOOSTING - These combined anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the above ingredients may serve to strengthen the immune system
HEART HEALTH - CINNAMON appears to lower total cholesterol, triglyceride and “bad” LDL levels while raising “good” HDL levels. GINGER has been linked to reduced risk factors for heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes. CURCUMIN may improve the function of blood vessel linings, vital for a healthy heart
MANAGE BLOOD SUGAR - CINNAMON may lower fasting blood sugar levels as well as reducing insulin resistance - Insulin-resistant cells are less able to take up sugar from the blood, so lowering insulin resistance generally lowers blood sugar levels. It also seems to reduce how much glucose is absorbed by the gut after a meal, further improving blood sugar control. Plus, regularly adding GINGER to the diet may also reduce fasting blood sugar levels
ANTI-CANCER - 6-gingerol, found in raw GINGER, is widely believed to possess anti-cancer properties whilst CURCUMIN can kill isolated cancer cells in a test tube and prevent the growth of new blood vessels in tumours, limiting their ability to spread. That said, human evidence on the anti-cancer benefits of these ingredients remains limited
Ingredients
300ml plant based milk - I like unsweetened coconut rice milk but almond, oat or soya are good too (the key is that they are unsweetened)
3/4 tsp ground turmeric
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
A few gratings of fresh ginger
2 large or 3 small fleshy dates (if you can’t get dates, 1tsp of raw honey/maple syrup is fine for adding a little sweetness)
Instructions
1. Heat the milk in a saucepan but do not bring to the boil
2. Put the milk and all the remaining ingredients into a high speed blender and blend (I use the Nutribullet Rx heat setting for this to get a good frothy texture)
3. Taste. Add more milk, turmeric, cinnamon, honey/maple syrup etc. if needed and blend again
4. Serve & enjoy!
