Yes, of course you want to elevate your mood and feel happier.

That’s an easy YES.

But do you know something, there is a food supplement, a spice, that not only elevates your feeling happy, it also helps keep you calm and works as an anti-inflammatory.

Do you know what this is?

Its turmeric. Tumeric is full of little phytochemicals that make it bright yellow and also affects the taste it adds to your food.

These phytochemicals have been studied and found to profoundly affect your neuro-transmitters: seratonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.

Turmeric’s phytochemicals also help your brain grow new nerve cells in the hippocampus (the location in your brain for handling your emotions…)

The magic sauce in turmeric is one of its phytochemicals called curcumin.

Curcumin is found to have positive affects in scientific studies:

• in a 2013 study found people taking a 500 mg. curcumin supplement where found to get faster releif for depressive symptoms compared to those who were given a placebo
• 2015 study added 1000 mg. curcumin or a placebo to those taking anti-depressive medications and found a positive effect on rating scales for depression
• Curcumin is found to have anti-cancer fighting properties and promotes healthy cell activity
• Its antioxident and anti-inflammatory properties can support anyone’s health but may be especially helpful in helping fight the effects of osteoarthritis and metabolic syndrome

There is a lot of data to support the use of turmeric in your diet.

One caveat: you need piperine to make the benefits accessible to your system. Piperine is a component of black pepper. And here is the reason a delicious recipe for Golden Milk always includes black pepper.

Recipes for Golden Milk are wide-ranging and plentiful, with an emphasis on its Ayervedic medicine origins from India. Turmeric is also widely used in traditional recipes around the world (China, Japan, Korea, for example use it for drinks and skincare…).

The basic recipe for one serving of Golden milk includes:

• 1+ teaspoons Turmeric powder (to your preference)
• 1/4 teaspoon Black pepper
• 1 teaspoon Fat in some form (coconut oil, butter, oil)
• 1 cup of Milk in some form (dairy or plant-based milk to your preference)
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/2 teaspoon of warm spices (cinammon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom to your preference)
• combine all the ingredients and whisk in a pan over medium heat until warm and well-combined, do not boil
• you might want to add a dollop of maple syrup or other sweetener of your choice

Lately I have been buying a Golden Milk pre-mixture that has the basic ingredients plus a serving of adaptogenic mushrooms for brain health and general well-being. I doctor it up sometimes with MORE SPICES especially cardamom and ginger). note: Not an ad, I just like this brand.

Have you tried Golden Milk?

I sometimes see those bare roots in our fancy grocery store but feel like the powered version of turmeric is an easier option. Turmeric is intensely pigmented and preparing raw roots makes your fingers bright gold, I bet.

Thank you for reading and let me know if you tried the recipe.

PS: Alternate Golden Milk with Green Tea and you will likely increase your wellness by 100

Hit reply and let me know if your a new superfood fan of Turmeric!