Golden Milk Latte
This golden milk latte is the ultimate soothing, satisfying, and health supportive night time beverage (or caffeine alternative to start your day!) that not only supports your sleep, but can help your immune system and health stay in top form too.
A daily ritual of a golden milk latte is full of antioxidants, and can help you find a moment of calm to combat any stress you experienced in your day, which is so needed no matter what stage of motherhood you’re in.
The major ingredients in this drink are the healing and warming spices turmeric and ginger, complemented by your milk of choice (I love either whole milk or full-fat coconut milk since the fatty acids support the action of turmeric and help you get extra needed nourishment!) and a bit of cinnamon and black pepper (again, to active the beneficial compounds in turmeric).
Benefits of the Golden Milk Latte for Pregnancy and Postpartum
Preconception:
Research shows an anti-inflammatory diet is a very impactful way of eating if your goal is to support your fertility and set yourself up for the healthiest pregnancy possible. Both turmeric and ginger are famous for their anti-inflammatory properties, so enjoying a golden milk latte as a daily ritual can be a delicious and soothing support to your pre-pregnancy journey.
Pregnancy:
If you’re dealing with pregnancy nausea, you may have heard that ginger is a great aid for feeling better. The impact of ginger on pregnancy nausea has been studied extensively for the last few decades, with research showing that it can be effective in lowering the severity of both nausea and vomiting.
A golden milk latte can help you get in that supportive ginger in a delicious way that also provides some great calories and nutrients (especially if you use whole milk!), which can also support you feeling better!
In pregnancy, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant foods are incredibly health supporting, and lead to lower risks of pregnancy complications. While research is in its early stages, there has been some attention on the role turmeric could play as a natural support to lower the risk of complications like gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.
Finally, If you’re pregnant, a warm drink like this before bed that has some fat, protein, and energy, can help you fall asleep, and can be an excellent late night snack to support balanced blood sugar levels throughout the night,
Postpartum: A golden latte is so amazing for postpartum!
Both turmeric and ginger are powerfully anti-inflammatory, which is beneficial for the early postpartum stage when your tissues are healing. Likewise, these powerful spices may help support your digestion, your mental health and mood, and maybe even your breastmilk supply.
A golden latte can be an incredible way to stay hydrated, support your nervous system, and help your body to heal. As a warm drink infused with healing spices, this latte is the perfect way to nourish yourself while following the postpartum eating traditions that have been recommended for generations.
Golden Milk Latte from The Food Doula Cookbook
What you need:
2 cups milk of choice (I like coconut milk or whole milk best)
1/2 to 1 tbsp coconut oil
1⁄2 tbsp honey
1 tsp (5 mL) ground turmeric
1⁄4 tsp (1 mL) ground ginger
1⁄4 tsp (1 mL) cinnamon
Pinch of pepper
How to make it:
1. Add all ingredients to a small saucepan and whisk to combine while bringing the latte to a slow simmer. Continue to whisk, about 2 to 3 more minutes, until silky and hot.
2. Remove from heat and enjoy.
NOTE: If you’re using a low-fat milk, you’ll likely want to use the full tbsp of coconut oil for a satisfying and creamy latte.
Where to go for more recipes and nutrition support
You can find more recipes for your pregnancy journey in the The Food Doula Cookbook and if you’re looking for a detailed guide for what to eat and prioritize based on the most recent research with tons of real life guidance and recipes customized to your exact stage, check out The Ultimate Nutrition Guides.