When I was a yoga teacher in New York City in the early 1990’s, I studied Ayurveda. As we went deep into this intensive training we learned to diagnose different conditions and treat them with herbal remedies and yoga asanas.
Using Herbs for Healing
One of the best things that came from my Ayurvedic training was learning how to use herbs in a synergistic fashion. Because of that training, I know how to create healing drinks like this incredible low-carb Keto Golden Turmeric Latte.
Turmeric the Golden Spice
You may be familiar with turmeric as a spice used in South Asian and Middle Eastern cooking. Turmeric is the main ingredient in curry and the one that leaves yellow stains on my white marble countertops if I don’t wipe it up right away.
What is Curcumin?
Turmeric is an important component of both Western and Eastern medicine. It contains curcumin, a bioactive compound that has a wide array of healing properties. Modern science has found that this traditional remedy can come close to working miracles through its powerful anti-inflammatory processes.
7 Health Benefits of Turmeric
I interviewed my colleague Dr. Robert Rountree, author of Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child and editor of the journal, Alternative and Complementary Therapies. According to Dr. Rountree, turmeric is beneficial for a wide variety of conditions and ailments. Here are just a few!
1. Improves Digestion
Turmeric improves digestion and can be used as a remedy for stomachaches and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), including treating symptoms such as bloating and gas.
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2. Enhances Brain Function
Like exercise and the Keto Diet, curcumin promotes growth of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), an anti-inflammatory agent that enhances and extends the life span of brain cells.
3. Cures Skin Disorders
Curcumin contains natural antibiotics and antiseptics that heal wounds including cuts, burns, bruises, and other types of lesions to the skin. It is also useful in treating skin disorders such as eczema.
4. Regulates Hormones
Turmeric regulates hormonal imbalances in women that can lead to estrogen dominance, irregular periods, and acne.
5. Relieves Muscle and Joint Pain
Turmeric has antiarthritic effects that reduce joint inflammation by blocking the formation of NF-kB, a pro-inflammatory substance. Curcumin also has analgesic, or pain blocking properties similar to those of aspirin and other NSAID’s, without gut harming side effects such as eroding stomach lining.
6. Prevents Cancer
Curcumin is a potent anti-cancer agent. It fights cancer by preventing genetic mutations and the growth of existing tumor cells. Further, curcumin can actually destroy existing tumor cells by preventing blood supply to them.
7. Natural Botox
In addition to containing potent antioxidants that slow the aging process, curcumin promotes the formation of proteins that create smooth, supple skin.
Keto Golden Turmeric Latte Recipe
I love turmeric for all of the reasons above and so many more! I make sure to get as much turmeric as I can by adding it to stir-fries, curries, and keto drinks such as this low-carb Keto Golden Turmeric Latte made with coconut milk.
Keto Golden Turmeric Latte
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup full fat coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric or 2-inches fresh turmeric root, skin on, sliced
- 3 cardamom pods
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 inch ginger, skin on, sliced
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a saucepan
- Bring to a boil, then reduce and simmer 10 minutes
- Use a tea strainer to transfer mixture to a vitamix
- Blend on high speed until frothy
- Serve
Equipment
This comforting Keto Golden Turmeric Latte is delicious straight up or sweetened. I usually add a few drops of vanilla stevia. If you don’t like stevia feel free to add honey or maple syrup. Blending the latte makes it incredibly frothy and delicious, but if you don’t have a vitamix simply strain straight into mugs and drink it up!
Do Turmeric and Black Pepper Work Together?
Finally, you will often see black pepper used in recipes that call for turmeric because they work in a synergistic fashion. Among his other observations, Dr. Rountree pointed out that black pepper enhances the absorption of curcumin.
Get Turmeric on the Go with A Curcumin Supplement
Dr. Rountree also reminded me that taking a curcumin supplement is a good hack if you need to get this healing miracle spice into your routine when you’re on the go!
Low-Carb Paleo Recipes That Use Turmeric
Here are some of my easy low-carb paleo recipes that use turmeric!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives. I first shared this recipe in March 2017.
Mary says
Hey Elena, do you think that this could help with my endomitosis??
Elana says
Mary, you may want to speak with a functional medicine practitioner about that :-)
Erika says
Can’t wait to try it! Just curious: do you find that the turmeric stains your blender carafe?
Elana says
Erika, it does turn it a funny color. I use an older carafe for this drink so that the newer one can stay pristine for my husband’s smoothies :-)
Chanda says
Elaina- thank you! You are always my go-to girl when it comes to recipes. (I’m a monthly gluten free banana bread recipe follower of yours)
Anyhow- for anyone that has a Blendtec or Vitamix- you can do the hot setting to hear it up if you don’t have time for the stove and need to blend quickly.
I drink this at night before bedtime and it is fabulous! Coconut milk is best.
Heard of a “Vedic latte”?- Turmeric, ginger, cardamom and hint of nutmeg and long pepper mixed with steamed milk.
Elana – do you know what the long Pepper is? Or heard of it?
❤
Elana says
Thanks Chanda! The long pepper is pipli, an important herb in Ayruvedic medicine :-)
Nancy says
I made this with 1 tsp. ground turmeric, 1/2 tsp. ground ginger, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg and 1/8 tsp. ground pepper, along with the water and coconut milk. I used a few drops of stevia to sweeten it. I may bump up the ginger next time, but this was a very tasty drink and easy to whip up. Thanks for another great recipe!
Elana says
Nancy, you’re welcome! I’m glad this was another great recipe :-)
Beba says
Hi Elana,
How interesting to have a latte made with Turmeric. I’m impressed with turmeric from my own experience – making it up into capsules from powder I buy from my local Indian/Asian grocery store. I definitely need gloves when I’m making them up, yes those turmeric stains are annoying. I take turmeric daily, it helps treat my digestive inflammation, especially from eating dairy. I personally think it works better than the curcurmin tablets which are very pricey in comparision – I take 6 turmeric capsules a day. I find the taste of it over powering in my food otherwise.
I just finished reading this new book by Dr John Douillard ” Eat Wheat”, from LifeSpa – Boulder, Colorado. Dr Douillard goes into the science about why we should eat wheat (given humans have been eating it for 1,000’s of years ) and Ayurvedic practices to heal the digestive and lympathic system which gets damaged as a result of eating foods out of season. What’s intriguing are all the health problems that arise when these two systems aren’t working properly. When your digestive and lympathic system is healthy most people would be able to eat dairy and wheat – seasonally only he says. It is the daily consumption of both that causes problems to peoples health. He also mentions tumeric quite a bit in the book. I think I’ll be employing some of his ideas to heal both my digestion and lympathic system.
I can understand now why my own sister who was diagnosed with Celiacs some 23 yrs ago ( after spending 10 yrs being told by Dr’s she had nothing wrong with her, only to have a naturopath figure it out in the end) was able to go back to eating wheat on a regular basis without ever getting the Celiac symptoms again. Mind you she went on an Asian diet for 5yrs which was enough time to heal her digestive system and worked on her personal issues at the same time. It worked for her.
It really is quite extraordinary, given that most Dr’s say Celiacs it is a life long condition. Alot of people have a hard time believing me when I tell them about my sister. It really is a case of let food be your medicine!
Take care,
Beba
Elana says
Hi Beba, thanks for your comment. Just a word of caution to all of my readers with celiac disease, it is not advisable to eat wheat or any other grain containing gluten.
Claire says
I just made this and it’s such a tasty drink. Elana, thanks you for all the hours your spend developing recipes. I’m so grateful that you do all this work to benefit those of us who seek to live a healthy lifestyle. Many thanks!
Elana says
Claire, I’m so glad to hear this was tasty!
Lisa says
Where I live it is impossible to find cardamon pods. I can however find the seeds. If I make the Golden Tumeric Latte with seeds how many should I use
Elana says
Lisa, I haven’t tried that so not sure, if you do please let us know how it goes :-)
Nina Norman says
Elana,
Regarding Skin Disorders, specifically eczema, is the turmeric applied topically??
Nina
Elana says
Nina, it is used both orally and topically for skin issues :-)
Nina Norman says
Thanks … I appreciate your reply !!
Elana says
Nina, you’re very welcome :-)
Beth ~ Gneiss Spice says
I had only made golden tea with almond milk before trying this. The hot coconut milk pair much better with the spices! Thanks for sharing. Do you have any idea if white pepper has the same helpful properties as black pepper? I’ve tried to look online and can’t find much info. But, I prefer the way it tastes in golden milk, so figured I’d ask. :)
Elana says
Beth, yes that will work too. I’m so glad you enjoyed the latte!
Melanyzapanta says
How can i drink turmeric powder as a juice every morning is it okay before breakfast..kindly reply plss.thaks
Elana says
Hi Melanyzapanta, I like to drink water upon rising:
https://elanaspantry.com/start-the-day-with-hot-water-and-lemon/
Then I have this Golden Turmeric Latte which is made with ground turmeric, also know as turmeric powder.
Enjoy!
Elana