What is turmeric coffee?
Adding turmeric to hot drinks is not a new invention. For ages, turmeric was used all across Asia, and particularly in India, to prepare teas and herbal medicine concoctions. And just recently, the rest of the world also discovered these immune-boosting, energizing, and delicious drinks.
Certainly, the most indulgent version of these hot drinks is golden milk, a flavorful and aromatic mixture of turmeric, ginger, and other spices mixed with milk and a dash of honey or maple syrup. Now imagine mixing this sweet, creamy, and aromatic drink with a shot of espresso, creating a truly complex and delightful flavor.
But the pleasant taste of the golden milk latte is just one reason to order this drink in a coffee shop, or prepare it at home. A golden latte packs a punch in the nutrition department too - both turmeric and coffee contain several helpful nutrients that offer a range of health benefits, on which we elaborate below. Finally, a morning drink that’s both tasty and healthy!
The Health Benefits of the Golden Latte
As you’d expect, the two key ingredients in a golden latte are coffee and turmeric. The drink also contains milk and other spices, such as cinnamon, ginger, and honey, but these play a more supportive role. In order to understand how turmeric coffee can benefit your body, let’s remind you of the positive health effects of both coffee and turmeric:
The Health Benefits of Turmeric
Turmeric is one of the spices with the most scientific studies backing its effectiveness. Several scientific articles have shown it to be a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredient, all thanks to the active ingredient in turmeric called curcumin.
Curcumin is a powerful antioxidant. Like all antioxidants, it helps prevent free radical damage to the DNA. Curcumin is also associated with the following highly promising health benefits:
- Reduces chronic inflammation, such as that caused by arthritis
- Helps people with diabetes regulate their blood sugar
- Improves digestion and aids heartburn
- May help prevent cancer
- Lowers the risk of heart disease
- Can help lift your mood and improve brain function
- Improved skin health, hydration, and plumpness.
Overall, studies show that the best way to take turmeric is through foods. Adding turmeric to foods and drinks that contain some fats is especially beneficial because the fats help deliver and absorb curcumin. For more details, see our previous article titled Turmeric Is Just as Effective as These Drugs...
The Health Benefits of Coffee
Caffeine, the active ingredient in coffee, needs no introduction. But the majority of people are only aware of caffeine’s ability to energize and keep you awake. In reality, however, caffeine is also a potent antioxidant, just like curcumin. In fact, the antioxidant content of coffee is more concentrated than many fruit and vegetables.
Like curcumin, the consumption of caffeine is associated with improved skin elasticity, better resistance to heart disease and certain cancers, particularly colorectal cancer. In addition, caffeine improves liver and brain function and protects the body from many other degenerative diseases.
Apart from caffeine, coffee is also rich in flavonoid antioxidants and chlorogenic acid (CGA). The latter in particular boasts of having anti-cancer properties. Despite coffee's bad rep, recent studies have found that the antioxidants present in coffee could actually have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health, too, capable of preventing stroke in women if consumed regularly.
Lastly, don’t forget that coffee by itself (without the addition of sweeteners and milk) is a low-calorie drink. Given the multitude of antioxidants it contains, it’s a great choice of drink for those who intend to lose weight. To learn more about the benefits of coffee, read our article titled 12 Fantastic Health Benefits of Drinking Coffee.
Why You Should Consider Mixing Turmeric and Coffee
While drinking coffee and eating turmeric separately is certainly beneficial, it seems that combining the two in a delicious latte may actually make curcumin’s beneficial effects stronger according to a 2020 study. Even though the high acidity of coffee itself isn’t beneficial for the absorption of curcumin according to the study, the fats present in milk help increase the pH level of coffee and make our body absorb more curcumin.
This is exactly why it’s important to opt for whole milk and not low-fat milk when preparing turmeric coffee, as fats are the compound that will help enhance turmeric’s anti-inflammatory and other beneficial effects. You can even consider adding ½ teaspoon coconut oil to your coffee if you only have low-fat milk or you’re using plant milk.
Furthermore, the potent antioxidant and phytonutrient content of both turmeric and coffee will help you get more antioxidants and other bioactive compounds with your morning drink. It’s important to note that turmeric and coffee contain different types of antioxidants, too, and their combination will ensure that you’re experiencing more benefits than drinking either ingredient alone.
Ready to give turmeric coffee a go? It's super easy to make at home, just follow the recipe below. Not a fan of coffee? No worries, you can still get your daily dose of curcumin by drinking golden milk. We have a recipe for you right here - Golden Milk: Health Benefits and Recipe.
How to Make Turmeric Coffee
- 1 cup (8 oz/ 225 ml brewed coffee)
- ½ cup dairy or plant milk
- 1 tsp ground turmeric powder
- 1 tsp honey or maple syrup (optional)
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- A pinch of black pepper
Recipe Directions
1. Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan.
2. Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a simmer, constantly moving the mixture with a whisk.
3. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. The longer you simmer the mixture, the spicier it will become.
4. Strain and pour the mixture into a cup. Enjoy warm.
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