Spiced Milk

Milk is revered in more ways than just one in Ayurveda. There are so many benefits of drinking milk that I couldn't even get into all of them right here. Specifically, cow's milk is said to be one the greatest medicines to man. It's a great source of healthy fat and proteins that help maintain and nourish our bodies. From an Ayurvedic perspective, milk is said to nourish many of the tissues--including our nervous and fat tissue. It's even great for our skin. However, my favorite quality of milk is its grounding effect on the body. There is nothing like a warm glass of milk in the evening before bed, or on a Saturday morning curled up in bed with a book. 

Of course, the milk that I am promoting comes from cows that are not brought up in factory farms. It's important to know the source of our animal products. If the animals are under stress, then all that energy is going to go into that product, thus affecting our bodies with that same energy. 

Even though I'm not a huge fan of thick milk, I always recommend everyone to drink as close to raw milk as possible. This may be in some form of organic, non-homeginized, full fat milk. (PS--if you are​ like me and don't like the thick milk, make your own less fat milk by just adding water. It's the less processed way of doing it, without taking away the healthy fats that come from milk). 

With all of the benefits that milk has, it can also be hard to digest for many people. Milk can also be tricky in the sense that it increases phlegm production in the body, making it less than ideal in the cold and rainy months. One way to counterbalance those side effects is to add some heating spices to the milk that will help ease the digestion. 

​I love this milk recipe because it's really easy to make, and is so good for the body and mind. A warm glass of milk at night before bed can do wonders on your slumber. It's great for vata, calming the nervous system, and all-around grounding. Make this recipe your own and get creative!

Ingredients:

• 1 glass of cow's milk (if you are vegan or can't digest cow's milk, try an almond milk)
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon 
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 1/2 ginger 
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Pinch of saffron 
• Turbinado sugar to taste 

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Directions:

1. Warm the milk on the stove.
2. Melt the sugar into the milk (I try not to make it too sweet so as not to mask the flavors of the spices). 
3. Add in all of the spices except saffron.
4. Bring the milk to an almost-boil, and take it off the stove. 
5. Crush the saffron strands between your fingers and top it off. Let it steep for just a few minutes as the milk cools. 
6. Enjoy warm! 

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