Golden Milk (for a good night’s sleep)

Golden Milk

Anti-inflammatory golden milk is a great bedtime go-to.  Potential benefits include:  Reducing inflammation, preventing cell damage, improving mood, supporting brain function and improving memory, and boosting the immune system. Initial studies have found that turmeric can protect against oxidative damage and sleep deprivation. Slip this super spice into your bedtime ritual to relax, improve mood, help depression, and potentially lower your anxiety levels so you wake up rested and prepared for your busy workday.

This creamy, comforting drink is made of ingredients that have been shown to promote a good night’s sleep:

Almonds: Rich in magnesium, which promotes both sleeping and muscle relaxation. This golden milk recipes uses them in the form of almond butter and almond milk.

Honey: Allows tryptophan (of Thanksgiving turkey fame) to enter the brain more easily.
Ginger: Calms the stomach and promotes relaxation. Some studies suggest ginger can help reduce anxiety.
Turmeric: Aids digestion and has calming properties, which lead to sounder sleep. If you have aches and pains, golden milk for joints is a popular remedy, as it is anti-inflammatory too.
Cinnamon: Similar to turmeric and ginger, cinnamon also helps with digestion (and it’s a delicious pairing with the other ingredients).

Ingredients
1 cup unsweetened almond milk — or coconut milk
2 teaspoons honey — plus additional to taste (to make vegan, swap maple syrup)
1 1/2 teaspoons almond butter
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon — plus additional for serving
1/4 teaspoon Ground Turmeric
1/8 teaspoon Ground Ginger
Optional additions: tiny pinch ground black pepper — ground cardamom, or ground cloves

Instructions
Combine the milk, honey, almond butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, and any optional spices in a small saucepan. Heat over medium until warmed through, whisking briskly so that the almond butter does not stick to the bottom and the spices incorporate. Do not let boil. Pour into a mug and sip deeply.