You probably know the feeling – enjoying a delicious meal before going to bed, yet not being able to sleep due to unbearable heartburn, indigestion, or acid reflux. In fact, 60% of the adult population in the U.S. will experience gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) within a 12 month period and 20 to 30% will have weekly symptoms. While many medications on the market can treat digestion issues, you can get the same results by drinking golden milk.
Of course, avoiding the types of foods and drinks that cause indigestion and other stomach problems is ideal, but we all like to enjoy and indulge in a delicious meal every once in a while. According to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology, people with GERD should avoid the following foods, drinks, and lifestyle habits.
Foods to Avoid if You Have GERD
- tobacco and nicotine products
- chewing gum and hard candy (these increase the amount of air swallowed, which leads to belching and acid reflux and colitits)
- late-night snacks and lying down directly after eating
- tight clothing and bending over after eating
- large meals throughout the day (eat smaller meals for better digestion)
- carrying extra weight (being overweight increases the likelihood of experiencing GERD)
- fatty or fried foods
- peppermint/spearmint
- oils
- chocolate
- creamed veggies or soups
- fast foods
- citrus fruits such as grapefruit, oranges, and pineapple
- coffee
- tea
- caffeinated soft drinks
- spicy or acidic foods
- alcohol
- processed meats
While this might seem like a lot to avoid, the key to following this lies in how often you consume these foods and drinks. Stick to a whole foods diet, preferably with as many fruits and vegetables as possible, and try to consume the foods listed above on occasion.
So, what if you eat one of your favorite meals one evening and experience terrible GERD before going to bed? Luckily, the following “golden milk” can alleviate your symptoms and have you feeling refreshed the following morning!
Drink This “Golden Milk” At Night – Amazing Results in the Morning!
You’ll only need a few common ingredients to make this miracle drink: turmeric, ginger, coconut milk, honey, and black pepper. This drink improves digestion while alleviating symptoms associated with acid reflux.
All of the ingredients provide amazing health benefits, and when combined, the effects increase dramatically.
For example, here are some of the health benefits of turmeric:
- Eases arthritis pain due to its anti-inflammatory properties
- Helps to detoxify the liver
- Boost blood circulation while also thinning the blood
- Soothes the digestive tract and prevents ulcers
- Reduces pain and fevers
- Prevents and even reverses cancer, in some cases
- Alleviates arthritis symptoms
- Promotes brain and heart health
Coconut milk, another ingredient we’ll need for this drink, provides a healthy source of fat, and coats the esophagus to alleviate pain and discomfort from GERD.
Black pepper can enhance the turmeric’s bioavailability and absorption of curcumin, the main ingredient in turmeric.
Honey, used for centuries by many people for a variety of ailments, contains important amino acids, enzymes, minerals and vitamins that can help with digestion and ease the burning feeling associated with acid reflux.
Here’s what you’ll need to make golden milk:
Ingredients for golden milk:
- Two cups coconut milk
- One teaspoon turmeric
- One inch piece of sliced and fresh ginger root or one teaspoon ginger powder
- One-quarter teaspoon ground black pepper
- One tablespoon organic honey
Preparation:
Combine all ingredients except the honey in a bowl and mix together. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and heat until it comes to a boil. Reduce heat to low and allow it to cook for five minutes. Then, add the honey while the drink is warm, and enjoy before bed!
So, instead of reaching for pills or other conventional remedies for acid reflux, try making this easy drink before going to bed to alleviate your symptoms.
Nature provides all we need to thrive and heal from past lifestyle choices, and you probably already have most of the ingredients listed in your home anyway!
Drink this at least one hour before bed, so it has time to digest a bit before you fall asleep. Then, when you wake in the morning, you’ll feel rejuvenated and free of pain and discomfort!
Ten Additional Benefits of Drinking Golden Milk
Besides drinking golden milk for stomach pain relief, you can find these other benefits.
1 – Brainpower
Turmeric contains curcumin. Curcumin is the bright yellow substance produced by some plants in the Curcuma longe species. It’s the primary ingredient in turmeric and what gives turmeric its golden yellowish color. The curcumin in turmeric has been found to improve your brain function, increase memory, and improve your overall mood. Drinking golden milk any time of the day may improve your brain function.
2 – Cholesterol-lowering effects
So far, research supports the idea that turmeric contains cholesterol-lowering properties called phytosterols. It has been proven with lab animals. Currently, studies still need to be done to prove that turmeric can lower cholesterol in humans. The findings so far are promising. It’s thought that humans who drink golden milk may experience reduced cholesterol levels and LDL levels.
3 – Reduces heart disease
Curcumin found in turmeric may prevent heart disease. It’s been found to reduce serum cholesterol levels, which protect against changes that occur in the body because of atherosclerosis. They also linked inflammation to heart disease. There is some evidence that suggests that curcumin could help lower inflammation that increases a person’s chances of heart disease.
4 – Good for your skin
Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties benefit your skin healing. Its antioxidant benefits help in other ways, including:
- Reduce scarring
- Heal abrasions
- Heal psoriasis and eczema
- Lighten dark circles under your eyes
- Make your skin glow
5 – Healthy fats
Whether you drink your golden milk using dairy or choose a more low-fat dairy-free beverage such as almond milk or coconut milk, you’re choosing a source of healthy fat along with nutritionally rich curcumin. Your body needs healthy fats. Healthy fats support your heart, sugar metabolism, weight loss, and cell metabolism. Full fat coconut milk is a good choice for your golden milk because it provides fatty acids that boost your immune system.
6 – Antioxidants
Turmeric is an antioxidant in lab animals. It proved to lower oxidative stress in rats and mice. The hope is that as studies continue on humans, they’ll find that turmeric taken in milk will produce the same amazing benefits as seen in lab animals. Antioxidants keep free radicals from killing off the healthy molecules that make up your proteins, cells, and DNA. Drinking golden milk can boost your natural defenses to better fight off infections, pollution, and toxins that can overwhelm your system.
7 – Menustral function
Golden milk has anti-spasmodic abilities that can ease the pain you have during your menstrual cycle. It’s thought to help normalize a menstrual cycle. Because it’s may also help boost your mood, it can help you feel a sense of calm and reduce the physical discomfort during your period.
8 – Liver function
Turmeric can help the flow of your liver’s bile duct to cleanse your liver. It helps eliminate the toxins that cause damage to your liver. It’s also an anti-inflammatory, so it helps fight off inflammation of your liver.
9 – Delay type 2 diabetes
There is some evidence that curcumin found in turmeric can delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. This chronic condition leads to high levels of blood sugar in your body when the cells don’t respond to insulin as they should. Turmeric slows down inflammation, which affects blood glucose.
10 – Slows down the aging process
It’s thought that the curcumin in turmeric prevents damage to your cells and reduces inflammation. Because of this, drinking turmeric-rich golden milk may help slow down the aging process. It may prevent wrinkles and fine lines, plus boost your skin’s glow and healing properties. Curcumin may stimulate new cell growth so your skin gets renewed by new cell growth.
Final Thoughts on Drinking Golden Milk to Improve Your Health
Golden milk has so many amazing health benefits. Researchers are committed to learning all they can about this natural plant’s medicinal benefits. If you aren’t already drinking golden milk daily, why not get started today?
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