Cup of golden milk a day 'could keep cancer and Alzheimer's at bay'
This popular Asian drink features a common spice which scientists say has been linked to many health improvements – here's all you need to know
A classic Asian drink is gaining traction in the West, thanks to its myriad health benefits. Health experts are singing praises for "golden milk", a concoction made by adding a spoonful of turmeric to a glass of milk.
The health-boosting properties of golden milk can be attributed largely to curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. This powerful compound has such potent anti-inflammatory effects that some research equates it to pharmaceutical drugs.
In addition to its anti-inflammatory prowess, as underscored in this research paper in the medical journal Foods, curcumin also enhances the body's antioxidant capacity. It effectively combats oxidative damage and free radicals, which can accelerate ageing and contribute to chronic diseases.
Curcumin plays a pivotal role in mitigating oxidative stress and harmonising various bodily functions. It can decrease intracellular lipid peroxidation and bolster the body's antioxidant capabilities, potentially leading to increased longevity.
Research even suggests that curcumin could aid in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) as it helps shield the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory functions.
A study by Brazilian scientists, published in the journal Current Neuropharmacology, concluded: "The administration of curcumin demonstrates to be effective for the treatment of AD. These studies help to elucidate the mechanism of action of curcumin, where they suggest that it partially reverses the neurotoxic and behavioural damages in animals with AD and other cell lines."
Golden milk recipes often incorporate curcumin, cinnamon and ginger, all of which are known for their potent antioxidant properties. Research has shown that ginger can enhance brain function by improving reaction time and memory, while animal studies have suggested that it may protect against age-related decline in brain function.
Both ginger and cinnamon have been linked to lower blood sugar levels. A scientific study proposed that a small daily intake of ginger could potentially reduce haemoglobin A1C levels (a long-term measure of blood sugar control) by up to 10 per cent.
Research also suggests that the spices found in golden milk may have anti-cancer properties. One study, published in the journal Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, discovered that 6-gingerol, a compound abundant in raw ginger, exhibits anti-cancer characteristics.
Another study, conducted by scientists in the US, posited that curcumin has the capacity to kill isolated cancer cells in laboratory tests. It might also inhibit the growth of new blood vessels in tumours, thereby limiting their proliferation, according to Gloucestershire Live.
Golden milk could also be beneficial for brain health. Research from Iran indicated that curcumin might boost levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a substance that aids in the formation of new brain connections and promotes the growth of brain cells.
There is also some evidence suggesting that curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, could help ease symptoms of depression, as per a study published in the Scientific World Journal. However, further research is required.
For those who aren't fans of strong spices, fear not – the taste of this drink has been likened to chai tea or a chai latte. Its main purpose is to provide comfort rather than stimulation, making it a perfect evening beverage.
The basic recipe of turmeric and milk can be customised with various additions to suit your palate and nutritional needs. Consider enhancing your drink with other spices like nutmeg, which is rich in magnesium, or sweeten it with a dash of maple syrup or honey.
Adding a few grinds of black pepper can unlock additional health benefits. This common table spice contains piperine, a natural compound that boosts the absorption of curcumin by 2,000 per cent, according to this report.
There are numerous recipes available online for this naturally sweet beverage. Traditionally, turmeric milk is made with cow's milk, but you can substitute with alternatives such as oat, soy, or almond milk.
Once you've gathered the base ingredients, you can start experimenting to find your perfect blend of golden milk. Here's a simple method to try at home:
Pour 250ml of your preferred milk into a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat
Add in 1tsp of ground turmeric, a pinch of black pepper and any other spices and sweeteners you fancy
Add to the mixture and let it simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the flavours to blend and fully mature
Pour into a mug, let it cool slightly, then drink
To turn your warm turmeric milk into a latte, gently whisk it with a hand whisk or a milk frother over low heat to 'froth' the milk once it's in the saucepan. Some people enjoy the drink chilled, similar to an iced coffee, as there is no evidence that serving it over ice diminishes any health benefits.
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Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Cup of golden milk a day 'could keep cancer and Alzheimer's at bay'
This popular Asian drink features a common spice which scientists say has been linked to many health improvements – here's all you need to know A classic Asian drink is gaining traction in the West, thanks to its myriad health benefits. Health experts are singing praises for "golden milk", a concoction made by adding a spoonful of turmeric to a glass of milk. The health-boosting properties of golden milk can be attributed largely to curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric. This powerful compound has such potent anti-inflammatory effects that some research equates it to pharmaceutical drugs. In addition to its anti-inflammatory prowess, as underscored in this research paper in the medical journal Foods, curcumin also enhances the body's antioxidant capacity. It effectively combats oxidative damage and free radicals, which can accelerate ageing and contribute to chronic diseases. Curcumin plays a pivotal role in mitigating oxidative stress and harmonising various bodily functions. It can decrease intracellular lipid peroxidation and bolster the body's antioxidant capabilities, potentially leading to increased longevity. Research even suggests that curcumin could aid in treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) as it helps shield the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory functions. A study by Brazilian scientists, published in the journal Current Neuropharmacology, concluded: "The administration of curcumin demonstrates to be effective for the treatment of AD. These studies help to elucidate the mechanism of action of curcumin, where they suggest that it partially reverses the neurotoxic and behavioural damages in animals with AD and other cell lines." Golden milk recipes often incorporate curcumin, cinnamon and ginger, all of which are known for their potent antioxidant properties. Research has shown that ginger can enhance brain function by improving reaction time and memory, while animal studies have suggested that it may protect against age-related decline in brain function. Both ginger and cinnamon have been linked to lower blood sugar levels. A scientific study proposed that a small daily intake of ginger could potentially reduce haemoglobin A1C levels (a long-term measure of blood sugar control) by up to 10 per cent. Research also suggests that the spices found in golden milk may have anti-cancer properties. One study, published in the journal Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, discovered that 6-gingerol, a compound abundant in raw ginger, exhibits anti-cancer characteristics. Another study, conducted by scientists in the US, posited that curcumin has the capacity to kill isolated cancer cells in laboratory tests. It might also inhibit the growth of new blood vessels in tumours, thereby limiting their proliferation, according to Gloucestershire Live. Golden milk could also be beneficial for brain health. Research from Iran indicated that curcumin might boost levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a substance that aids in the formation of new brain connections and promotes the growth of brain cells. There is also some evidence suggesting that curcumin, a compound found in turmeric, could help ease symptoms of depression, as per a study published in the Scientific World Journal. However, further research is required. For those who aren't fans of strong spices, fear not – the taste of this drink has been likened to chai tea or a chai latte. Its main purpose is to provide comfort rather than stimulation, making it a perfect evening beverage. The basic recipe of turmeric and milk can be customised with various additions to suit your palate and nutritional needs. Consider enhancing your drink with other spices like nutmeg, which is rich in magnesium, or sweeten it with a dash of maple syrup or honey. Adding a few grinds of black pepper can unlock additional health benefits. This common table spice contains piperine, a natural compound that boosts the absorption of curcumin by 2,000 per cent, according to this report. There are numerous recipes available online for this naturally sweet beverage. Traditionally, turmeric milk is made with cow's milk, but you can substitute with alternatives such as oat, soy, or almond milk. Once you've gathered the base ingredients, you can start experimenting to find your perfect blend of golden milk. Here's a simple method to try at home: Pour 250ml of your preferred milk into a saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat Add in 1tsp of ground turmeric, a pinch of black pepper and any other spices and sweeteners you fancy Add to the mixture and let it simmer for 10 minutes, allowing the flavours to blend and fully mature Pour into a mug, let it cool slightly, then drink To turn your warm turmeric milk into a latte, gently whisk it with a hand whisk or a milk frother over low heat to 'froth' the milk once it's in the saucepan. Some people enjoy the drink chilled, similar to an iced coffee, as there is no evidence that serving it over ice diminishes any health benefits.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- The Guardian
‘We are perilously close to the point of no return': climate scientist on Amazon rainforest's future
For more than three decades, Brazilian climate scientist Carlos Nobre has warned that deforestation of the Amazon could push this globally important ecosystem past the point of no return. Working first at Brazil's National Institute for Space Research and more recently at the University of São Paulo, he is a global authority on tropical forests and how they could be restored. In this interview, he explains the triple threat posed by the climate crisis, agribusiness and organised crime. What is the importance of the Amazon? As well as being incredibly beautiful, the world's biggest tropical rainforest is one of the pillars of the global climate system, home to more terrestrial biodiversity than anywhere else on the planet, a major influence on regional monsoon patterns and essential for agricultural production across much of South America. You were the first scientist to warn that it could hit a tipping point. What does that mean? It is a threshold beyond which the rainforest will undergo an irreversible transformation into a degraded savannah with sparse shrubby plant cover and low biodiversity. This change would have dire consequences for local people, regional weather patterns and the global climate. At what level will the Amazon hit a tipping point? We estimate that a tipping point could be reached if deforestation reaches 20-25% or global heating rises to 2.0-2.5C [above preindustrial levels]. What is the situation today? It is very, very serious. Today, 18% of the Amazon has been cleared and the world has warmed by 1.5C and is on course to reach 2.0-2.5C by 2050. How is this being felt now? The rainforest suffered record droughts in 2023 and 2024, when many of the world's biggest rivers were below the lowest point on record. That was the fourth severe drought in two decades, four times more than would have been expected in an undisrupted climate. Every year, the dry season is becoming longer and more arid. Forty-five years ago, the annual dry season in the southern Amazon used to last three to four months and even then there would be some rain. But today, it is four to five weeks longer and there is 20% less rain. If this trend continues, we will reach a point of no return in two or three decades. Once the dry season extends to six months, there is no way to avoid self-degradation. We are perilously close to a point of no return. In some areas, it may have already been passed. In southern Pará and northern Mato Grosso, the minimum rainfall is already less than 40mm per month during the dry season. Aren't those the areas where the most forest has been cleared for cattle ranching and soy plantations? Yes. Livestock grazing is a form of ecological pollution. The areas that have been most degraded by pastures are at, or very close to, a tipping point. That is all of the southern Amazon – more than 2m sq km – from the Atlantic all the way to Bolivia, Colombia and Peru. Scientific studies show degraded pastures recycle only one-third or one-fourth as much water vapour as a forest during the dry season. There is so much water in the Amazonian soil. Trees with deep roots bring it up and release it into the air, mostly through transpiration by the leaves. In this way, forests recycle 4-4.5 litres of water per square metre per day during the dry season. But degraded land, like pastures, recycles only 1-1.5 litres. That helps to explain why the dry seasons are growing one week longer every decade. Why isn't an Amazonian savannah a good idea? It would be less humid and more vulnerable to fire. The tropical forest generally has 20-30% more annual rainfall than tropical savannahs in Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil. The Amazon also has fewer lightning strikes because the clouds are lower than in the savannah. But the most important difference is the fact that a rainforest has a closed canopy so only 4% of solar radiation reaches the forest floor. This means there is always very little radiated energy for the evaporation of the water so the forest floor vegetation and soil are very wet. Historically, this means that lightning strikes only start very small fires that kill only one or two trees but do not spread. In evolutionary terms, this is one reason why there is so much biodiversity in the rainforest; it is resilient to fire. But once it starts to dry and degrade, it is easier to burn. How would an Amazon tipping point affect the global climate? The forest in the south-eastern Amazon has already become a carbon source. This is not just because of emissions from forest fires or deforestation. It is because tree mortality is increasing tremendously. If the Amazon hits a tipping point, our calculations show we are going to lose 50-70% of the forest. That would release between 200 and 250bn tonnes of carbon dioxide between 2050 and 2100, making it completely impossible to limit global warming to 1.5C. Brazil is one of the world's biggest agricultural exporters. How would a tipping point affect global food security? Almost 50% of the water vapour that comes into the region from the Atlantic through trade winds is exported back out of the Amazon on what we call 'flying rivers'. I was the first to calculate the huge volume of these flows: 200,000 cubic metres of water vapour per second. My former PhD student, Prof Marina Hirota, calculated that tropical forests and Indigenous territories account for more than 50% of the rainfall in the Paraná River basin in the far south of Brazil, which is a major food-growing area. These flying rivers also provide water for crops in the Cerrado, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraguay, Uruguay, and all that northern Argentina agricultural area. So if we lose the Amazon, we are going to reduce the rainfall there by more than 40%. Then you can forget agricultural production at today's levels. And that would also contribute to converting portions of the tropical savannah south of the Amazon into semi-arid vegetation. What would be the consequences for nature and human health? The devastation of the most biodiverse biome in the world would also affect hundreds of thousands of species and raise the risks of zoonotic diseases crossing the species barrier. For the first time since the Europeans came to the Americas, we are experiencing two epidemics: Oropouche fever, and Mayaro fever. In the future, the degradation of the Amazon forest will lead to more epidemics and even pandemics. How can an Amazonian tipping point be prevented? 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This is progress, but not enough. Now I'm saying to Marina Silva, 'Let's get to Cop30 with the lowest deforestation in the Amazon ever, less than 4,000 sq km.' Who knows? But anyway, Brazil is working hard. You have warned that criminal activity is a major new risk. Why? Last year, we had a record-breaking number of forest fires in all biomes in tropical South America – from January to November 2024, the Amazon had more than 150,000. Studies by INPE (The Brazilian Space Agency) show something very, very serious is happening. More than 98% of the forest fires were man-made. They were not lightning strikes. This is very worrying. Because even when we are reducing deforestation, organised crime is making it worse. In my opinion, more than 50% of forest fires were arson. All Amazonian countries are trying to reduce deforestation. That is wonderful, but then what to do to combat organised crime? They control a $280bn business – drug trafficking, wildlife trafficking, people trafficking, illegal logging, illegal gold mining, illegal land grabbing. It is all connected. And these gangs are at war with the governments. That's one of the main reasons I'm becoming concerned because I know reducing deforestation is doable, so is forestry restoration. But how to combat organised crime? How have your feelings about this problem changed? I am worried that we are not acting with sufficient urgency. Thirty-five years ago, I thought we had plenty of time to get to zero deforestation and to combat the climate problem. Back then, deforestation was 7% and global warming was a little bit above 0.5C. I was not pessimistic because I felt we could find solutions. At the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, many people were saying that the world should aim for zero emissions by the year 2000. Unfortunately, nobody moved. Emissions continued to rise and they hit another record high last year. We now face a climate emergency. I am very, very concerned. Tipping points – in the Amazon, Antarctic, coral reefs and more – could cause fundamental parts of the Earth system to change dramatically, irreversibly and with devastating effects. In this series, we ask the experts about the latest science – and how it makes them feel. Tomorrow, Louise Sime talks about Antarctic tipping points Read more
STV News
3 days ago
- STV News
One child in every school class born as a result of IVF
The equivalent of almost one child in every classroom in the UK is now born as a result IVF fertility treatment, new figures suggest. Almost 21,000 babies were born from IVF in 2023, compared to 8,700 in 2000, the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) said. The authors of the fertility regulator's latest report wrote: 'IVF births are making up a higher proportion of all UK births over time, increasing from 1.3% in 2000 to 3.1% in 2023. 'This means around one in 32 UK births in 2023 were via IVF – roughly one child in every classroom – compared to one in 43 in 2013.' The HFEA said that its latest figures show the 'changing landscape' of fertility care in the UK. Overall, 52,400 patients had ,ore than 77,500 in vitro fertilisation (IVF) cycles at UK fertility clinics in 2023. Some 11% of births to women aged 40-44 were a result of IVF, increasing from 4% in 2000 and accounting for 0.5% of all births, HFEA said. The data also reveal a rise in the proportion of women freezing their eggs – a rise from 4,700 in 2022 to 6,900 in 2023 – but the HFEA said that the number of patients using their stored frozen eggs in treatment remains 'low'. Meanwhile the HFEA also said that in 2023, around 820 babies were born following donor insemination (DI) treatment. The figures also show a reduction in the number of IVF treatments funded by the NHS. The proportion of NHS-funded IVF cycles declined from 35% in 2019 to 27% in 2023 in the UK, decreasing most in England, the HFEA said. More than half (54%) of IVF cycles in Scotland were funded by the NHS in 2023, compared to 49% in Northern Ireland; 33% in Wales; and 24% in England. The HFEA also raised concerns about racial disparities in IVF. It said that in recent years, Asian and black patients have had lower birth rates compared to white patients and those from a mixed ethnic background. Julia Chain, chairwoman of the HFEA, said: 'IVF is helping more people have babies including patients of different ages and family types. 'One in 32 of all UK births are from IVF and 11% of all UK births are to women aged 40-44 who had IVF. 'We are also seeing more single patients and female same-sex couples having IVF. 'These findings highlight the changing landscape of the UK fertility sector and how it could develop in the years to come. 'However, we are very concerned to see that black and Asian patients continue to have lower IVF birth rates compared to other patient groups, and our recent survey found that Asian and Black patients are less likely to report being satisfied with their fertility treatment.' Data from the Office for National Statistics show that the fertility rate in England and Wales in 2023 was 1.44 children per woman – the lowest level on record. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
