Immunity Booster Milk Recipe

Essential Ingredients

1.      Cow Milk - 1 Glass

2.      Raw Turmeric - 1 Piece

3.      Almond - 5

4.      Funnel Seed - One Tea Spoonful

5.      Green Cardamom - 2

6.      Dry dates - 3

7.      Raisin 0r  Munnakka – 6

8.      Cashew Nut - 3 or  4

9.      Walnut – 1

 

Milk

Milk is an emulsion or colloid of milk fat globule (MFG) within a water-based fluid that contains dissolved carbohydrates and protein aggregates with minerals.  The gross composition of cow's milk consists of roughly water, Calcium - 28%, Vitamin D - 24% 4.9% Lactose (Lactose is composed of glucose and galactose -  Lactase, an enzyme, splits lactose into glucose and galactose ), 3.4% fat, 3.3% protein, and 0.7% minerals ). Milk is also a good source of vitamin A, magnesium, zinc and thiamine (B1). The composition of milk varies depending on the species of cow i.e., Holstein, Jersey or Local goat, sheep, and type of feed, and the stage of lactation.

Milk is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Cold milk prevents acidity, linoleic acid that helps in weight loss. It is a good source of  vitamin B12 that protects the central nervous system. Moreover, milk is the highest source of calcium and vitamin D and helps bones; being a rich source of vitamin A, maintains a healthy immune system, fights diseases, disorders, reduce stress and tiredness. Milk is rich source of proteins and one glass of milk consists of 8 gm of proteins and hence builds muscles.

The anti-oxidants help prevent oxidative damage in the body. This damage can occur when too many free radicals accumulate. Free radicals result from natural bodily processes and environmental stresses. The body can eliminate many of them, but dietary anti-oxidants help remove them.  Elevated levels of free radicals can cause oxidative stress resulting in damage to cells. This can lead to various diseases and disorders in the body.            

Raw Turmeric (Kachi Haldi )

Hundreds of components have been isolated from turmeric. The main component of the root is turmerone, and curcuminoids. Curcuminoids consist of curcumin demethoxycurcumin, 5’-methoxycurcumin, and dihydrocurcumin,. The rhizomes are also reported to contain four new polysaccharides - ukonans along with stigmasterole, β-sitosterole, cholesterol, and 2-hydroxymethyl anthraquinone.

Turmeric as an herbal drug for rheumatoid arthritis, chronic anterior uveitis, conjunctivitis, skin cancer, smallpox, chickenpox, wound healing, urinary tract infections, liver, and digestive disorders; to reduce flatus, loss of appetite, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, and colic; for abdominal pain and distension. It has anti-inflammatory, choleretic, antimicrobial, and carminative actions. It was also used for inflammatory bowel disease (IBS)). It is now widely accepted as an anti-cancer because of Curcumin, an active ingredient. 

Almond 

    Almond is rich in protein, fiber, vitamin E, calcium, copper, magnesium, manganese , vitamin D, iron, potassium, zinc and the B vitamins i.e. riboflavin, niacin, thiamine, foliate, and vitamin K. It contains both unsaturated and saturated fatty acids. Vitamin E is an anti-oxidant that can help stop the oxidization process that causes cholesterol to clog the arteries.

Almond has a number of volatile essential oils which inhibit the growth of viruses, bacteria, fungus, and mold. And its anti-inflammatory properties limit pain and swelling, especially in mucus membranes, the mouth, and throat. It improves breathing. It is good for those having gluten and lactose intolerance, they can drink almond milk. It helps in strengthening the bones and muscles

Fennel seed

The plant contains more than 87 volatile compounds, including the polyphenol antioxidants, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and apigenin . Fennel seeds provide important nutrients, such as vitamin C, A, E, K, Foliate, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium,  manganese, zinc, selenium, and Iron. The fennel is a good source of anti-oxidants like chlorogenic acid, limonene, and quercetin.

Fennel has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-bacterial properties and may improve mental health, indigestion, constipation, wound healing, pain, gout, fever, cough and relieve and reduce inflammation.

Green Cardamom

The spicy pod consist of a variety of essential volatile oils such as pinene, sabinene, myrcene, phellandrene, limonene, 1, 8-cineole, terpinene, p-cymene, terpinolene, linalool, linalyl acetate, terpinen-4-oil, a-terpineol, a-terpineol acetate, citronellol, nerol, geraniol, methyl eugenol, and trans-nerolidol. A more recent article has reported 1,8-cineole, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, dl-limonene, nerolidol, 4-terpineol, δ-terpineol, δ-3-carene, β-myrcene, germacrene D, α-terpinene, linalool, and longifolenaldehydeas. The green cardamom is particularly rich in oxygenated monoterpenes.

It has gut modulatory, anti-oxidant, blood pressure lowering, diuretic, and sedative, gastro-protective, anti-microbial, anti-platelet, epileptic and anti-cancer properties. It may improve breathing by stimulating better oxygen uptake and relaxing air passage to the lungs in humans. The extract may decrease elevated liver enzymes, triglyceride, cholesterol and high blood sugar levels. Cardamom is traditionally used in various gastrointestinal disorders, asthma, constipation, colic, diarrhea, dyspepsia, hypertension, epilepsy, cardiovascular and neuronal disorders.

Dry Dates 

Dry dates are good source of A, C, E, K, B2, B6, niacin, thymine, calcium, zinc, magnesium, fiber, and iron. It improves blood circulation. It is good for sciatica problem. Micronutrients are the nutrients the body needs in smaller amounts, such as vitamins and minerals. Dried dates are a better source of iron and calcium.

Raisin (Munakka)

            Raisin or Munakka consists of magnesium, potassium, fibers, vitamins and minerals. It is sweet in taste and is considered as the rich source of phenolic compounds and contains resveratrol, flavonoid, quercetin, catechins, procyanidins and anthocyanins.  It is especially good for sore throat, flu like symptoms, fever, and enhances hemoglobin in the body. Munakka is known as the “Tree of Life” because of its regenerative ability. It possesses anti-aging, anti-inflammation, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, cardiovascular and neuroprotective properties.

Cashew Nut       

      Cashew Nut is good source of protein. It contains polyunsaturated, saturated and monosaturated fatty acids. It is rich in vitamin B, E, K, copper, magnesium, zinc and manganese. Cashew is a good anti-oxidant and immunity booster. It provides instant energy. Cashews are low in sugar and rich in fiber, fats, and plant protein. They are good for brain, heart, bone, and immunity.

Walnut

          Walnut provides healthy fats, fiber, vitamins and minerals. Walnut consists of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, sodium, potassium, vitamin C, B, E, magnesium, and iron. Due to melatonin and polyphenols, which are predominantly high in the papery skin of walnut and hence it has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It reduces heart disease risk. A variety of compounds and nutrients in walnut may help decrease inflammation.

Immunity Booster Milk Recipe

First of all remove the seeds from dry dates and skin of raw turmeric. Now add ingredients like almonds, raisin or munkka, walnut, green cardamom, dry dates and raw turmeric in a mixer grinder and make a paste.

Put a glass of cow’s milk in a pan and add the paste in it. Boil slowly until the color turns yellow. Drink it as Luke warm at bedtime.  If you wish you can have a tablet of Ashwagandha (Himalayan drugs). It is not only a good nourishing drink but an immunity booster as well.