Scientists have created a fast way of producing natural golden turmeric milk, using new limited-heat processing to be a purely plant-based and long-lasting version. The result: a nutritional upgrade that improves the health benefits of a beloved beverage and widens its appeal to more consumers.
The Rise of Golden Milk
Golden turmeric milk or the ‘golden latte’ skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. This airy form of the classic Indian drink haldi doodh handily has replaced coffee in hipster cafes, supplying a trendy and caffeine-free glow.
This colourful drink contains turmeric: a spice that has been prized for its potent bioactive compound, curcumin, which may have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capabilities. With all of these ingredients and nutritious benefits, the advent of golden milk has caused it to become a fun drink choice for us during the winter (such as when we are feeling sick) or for those looking to switch up what they order at their local cafe.
Unlocking the Power of Curcumin
However, due to the numerous health benefits associated with curcumin extracting and preserving it is quite a difficult task. Most extraction methods require complex steps, and organic solvents, and are highly energy-intensive in terms of time as well as energy. And, again, curcumin is what gives turmeric its vibrant colour but oxidation causes it to degrade over time to help reduce the shelf life of any product containing turmeric.
To address these challenges, researchers at the University of Georgia have created a novel way to extract and package curcumin in a formula made with plant-based milk — in this case, soy milk. The team increased the solubility of curcumin; dissolved in certain liquids. Into a base form for which the alkaline solution could dissolve simply by adding turmeric powder to an alkali. To this, we added soy milk, which resulted in a neutralized ‘pseudo golden milk’ while maintaining the beneficial characteristics of its ingredients.
Conclusion
The research by the researchers on instant turmeric milk has opened a new horizon in increasing the availability as well as the nutritional value of this popular beverage. The optimized extraction method along with encapsulation of curcumin in a structure consisting of oil droplets enables an increased shelf life of the product and the bioavailability will help to improve the benefits of this powerful compound. By providing a healthier option for maintaining the wellness formula benefits of golden milk, this innovation can reach a greater consumer base and presents an opportunity as a sustainable solution that uses upcycled byproducts stemming from fruit and vegetable farming. With golden milk constantly winning many new converts, this fast version could be a bit of a game changer and help make the “magical potion” more convenient and appealing for its fans!
