During the dry, cool winter months, warm, moist, spiced foods are recommended to ground and replenish the body. Since there is less moisture in the air, your body requires more moisture from food. Eating soups and stews with warming spics, such as ginger and turmeric, is preferred over cold raw vegetables, such as salads. In addition, some other winter dosha-balancing remedies include drinking warm spiced milk before bed (see recipe below), giving the skin a daily warm oil massage, keeping the neck warm, sleeping in a dark silent room and drinking plenty of water. It is especially important to stay hydrated in the winter as cold weather increases your risk of dehydration. Aim to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water daily (for ex. 150 lb person should drink 75 ounces water per day).

Golden Milk Latte

This warming Golden Milk Latte is a delicious way to incorporate the super-spices, turmeric, ginger and cinnamon.

Curcumin, the potent antioxidant in turmeric has been found to be as effective an anti inflammatory as prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in a trial with rheumatoid arthritis patients. It is an effective free radical scavenger, and holds promise in prevention of cancer and alzheimer’s disease. In nutrition, it seems that the deeper the color of the food the higher the nutritional value. So when you are shopping, look for deep green greens like kale, dark berries, and bright yellow pigments like turmeric for nutrient dense power.

Ginger has been used traditionally to quell arthritis pain and has been shown effective in trials comparing it to NSAIDS. Ginger is also a warming, digestive stimulant.

Cinnamon is rapidly earning its reputation as a blood sugar and lipid regulator for folks who struggle with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Besides this, cinnamon is also anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitic, warming and delicious!

Black pepper enhances the bioavailability (absorption) of turmeric by 2000%!

Ingredients:

2 cups your choice of milk (unsweetened almond)

2 dates, pitted

1-2 tsps raw honey or maple syrup

1 tsp ground turmeric

½ tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground ginger

Pinch of black pepper

Instructions:

Process in a blender and serve warm or chilled.

Editor’s Note: The information in this article is intended for your educational use only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health practitioners with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition and before undertaking any diet, supplement, fitness, or other health program.