It's officially cold out. All I want in my life right now is warm drinks, a spray tan, and a few nights out to watch the Golden State Warriors kick some ass. 

I want to advise you to please please please not fall for the 300 calorie, Starbucks, Peppermint mocha this year WHICH also comes with about 180 grams of sodium and NO health benefits.

I know it kinnnda tastes like heaven but living a healthy lifestyle is all about finding healthier alternatives and once you can make some swaps to healthier HABITS then you'll notice that you won't even crave those sugar filled coffee drinks. 

So I feel like Turmeric is one of the major healthy trends of 2016. I also feel like it is somewhat of an acquired taste but I'm OBSESSED with it in this milk and I'm pretty shocked by the health benefits. 

Some people say that turmeric is arguably the most powerful herb on the planet when it comes to fighting diseases and potentially reversing them. It has also been interesting that in over 6,000 studies, turmeric has been compared to pharmaceutical medications for having the same benefits.

LET'S GET INTO SOME OF THE SPECIFIC, MAIN BENEFITS. 

1. ACTS AS AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY. 

So curcumin is the active ingredient in Turmeric and it holds the anti-inflammatory benefits as well as the powerful antioxidants. Although, curcumin is a bit hard to be absorbed by the blood steam UNLESS paired with black pepper, it is better absorbed by 2,000%...which is included in the Golden Turmeric Milk Recipe you're about to make!

This means that the next time you have a headache, you can turn to turmeric rather than advil or asprin and get the same benefits without the bad side effects of your average anti-inflammatory pills. 

2. INCREASES THE BODY'S ANTIOXIDANTS

Oxidative damage is known to cause diseases and signs of aging which is why it is important that we always have a high supply of ANTI OXIDANTS to help fight off the bad guys aka free radicals. 

Not only is curcumin a natural antioxidant that attacks free radicals in the body but it also helps us boost our own antioxidant activity!

This is SO important during these winter months. We don't have to get sick. I don't believe in "flu season". Last year my boyfriend was on lockdown in his room for 3 days with the flu so bad that he could barely stand up and definitely could't leave the house. 

Sure enough, his two roommates also caught the bug but I managed to sit in that room with him and sleep with him and I didn't get sick. 

My body was prepped with enough anti-oxidants to fight off whatever was going around and I was considered lucky but really, I was just prepared. 

3. COULD MAKE YOU SMARTER?

Curcumin increases a hormone in the brain called BDNF, which could help delay the onset of age related diseases OR reverse them such as depression and Alzheimer's. 

I feel like I'm already forgetting everything so this is actually great news if you ask me haha.

So it's pretty much the jam and I'm going to try to start drinking this tumeric milk a few times a week to UP my intake of this magical spice. 

Okay, it's SO easy.

Here's what you'll need:

- 1 1/2 cups Vanilla Almond Milk

- 3/4 Teaspoon Turmeric

- 1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon

- 1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper

- 1 Ripe Banana

What to do:

Just blend everything together and then heat it up on the stove until it's warm, not super boiling hot. 

Enjoy!!