Why You & Your Kids Should Take Golden Milk & Golden Paste. Recipes For Both Inside

Helena Hon
October 01, 2021
8 min
Golden Milk and Golden Paste account for some of the highest searches on Google and for good reason, too! It is one of the most well-known health drinks on earth because it has some of the highest anti-inflammatory effects to help with easing joint pain, arthritis, reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, and even delaying degenerative brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s because it increases the growth of new neurons, supports brain function and improves memory. The milk can also prevent cell damage, repair muscles, improve mood and sleep, lower blood sugar levels and boost the immune system, thus preventing colds, coughs, congestion and flu, and is used regularly in India (where it originates) as an anti-aging tonic for improving the elasticity of skin and reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

At the Heart of Golden Milk

At the heart of Golden Milk is turmeric or kunyit, which can be bought off any store or supermarket in Malaysia. Kunyit is inexpensive and easily available. The picture shows turmeric powder and turmeric paste.

Why this drink is called Golden Milk is because it is bright yellow in colour and what's giving this milk its signature golden hue is turmeric (kunyit), a well-known spice and medicinal herb used in a lot Malaysian cooking. In fact, Golden Milk is sometimes called turmeric milk, and at the heart of turmeric is cucurmin ─ its most active antioxidant, anti-inflammatory compound responsible for all the health benefits mentioned above.

The Root of Golden Milk

Golden Milk has its roots in ancient Ayurvedic medicine where it is called Haldi Ka Doodh. Haldi means turmeric and Doodh means milk and this is the remedy that has been used through the ages to balance all the doshas (disturbances) in the body as it purges toxins, strengthens digestion and keeps the nervous system healthy.

Does it sound like a miracle drink? Perhaps. Certainly, regular consumption can help you reap all the benefits. Even children can drink it. In fact, according to Dr Partap Chauhan, a famous author, public speaker, TV personality and Ayurvedacharya (practitioner of Ayurveda) in India, giving children a cup of Golden Milk everyday will ensure your child will not become ill regularly.

“Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic, which is why it is great for asthmatic children. Boil a cup of milk with 1 teaspoon of turmeric in it and give it to your child once a day. It will remove mucus and relieve chest congestion, allowing the child to breathe easy,” he writes in his article in the Indian Express.

The Taste of Golden Milk

People have said Golden Milk is not a drink but an experience. This golden cuppa has been made with rich and creamy coconut milk.

Now that you know a bit more about the workings and history of Golden Milk, you might want to ask—what does it taste like?

Traditionally, this milk has been made with full fat cow’s milk although nowadays you can choose to make it with coconut milk, almond milk or even soy milk, should you prefer to go vegan. Golden Milk is a full-bodied, earthy, slightly bitter yet sweet (if you prefer to add honey or sugar), rich, light and comforting drink suitable for any time of the day, but especially at night when you're looking forward to a restful sleep.

Best of all, it costs very little to make and almost no time at all to whip up, especially when you have pre-prepared your turmeric paste or Golden Paste to stir into your milk.

We are going to show you how you can make both.

How to Make Golden Paste

This is Golden Paste, a blend of oil, turmeric and other spices.

The most convenient way of making Golden Milk is to stir a pre-prepared paste from the jar you have made into your milk. This Golden Paste can also be used to add to rice to make turmeric rice or stirred into soups, curries, gravies and sauces to add a deeper flavour.

(If you have a pet such as a dog, you can also incorporate ¼ teaspoon of Golden Paste into its daily diet as a health supplement. Many pet owners will vouch for the health and longevity seen in the pets given Golden Paste).

Golden Paste is very easy to make. You make a jar of it, keep it in the fridge and stir it into your meals or beverage any time you want. Your jar of Golden Paste will last two to three weeks in the fridge or you can freeze the excess in the freezer and it will last up to three months that way.

Recipe for Golden Paste ─ the Base for Golden Milk

There are really only 4 ingredients needed to make Golden Paste. There's water, turmeric, black pepper and oil. Here, ghee is preferred although extra virgin coconut oil is also often used. The rest of the ingredients such as cinnamon powder or ginger powder are optional.

Ingredients

• ½ cup (125 ml/60g) turmeric (kunyit) powder


• 1 cup water (250 ml) plus extra water in reserve, if needed


• 1/3 cup (70 ml) coconut oil (use raw, unrefined, cold-pressed) or linseed, flaxseed or olive oil (use virgin/extra virgin) or ghee. The oil is to increase the absorption of curcumin.


• 2 to 3 teaspoons of freshly ground black pepper.

Note 1: It is important to add freshly-ground black pepper into the turmeric to aid the absorption of turmeric into the body. Here is research that says ingesting turmeric/curcumin by itself does not lead to the associated health benefits due to its poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and rapid elimination. There are several components that can increase bioavailability. Adding Piperine, the major active component of black pepper, has been shown to increase bioavailability of turmeric by 2000%.

Use whole black peppercorns and then grind it just before use. You can use the blender for this. Grind finely or coarsely, it is up to your preference.

The pepper must be freshly ground as store-bought ground pepper has its pepperine—the active compound—exposed to oxidation. Degradation from air and light will render the pepperine devoid of its power.  When you freshly grind the peppercorns, you then open up the sealed un-oxidised centre and all its benefits for your body's absorption.

• 1 tablespoon powdered Ceylon cinnamon. (Try not to use the cheaper and more widely-available Cassia cinnamon as it contains high amounts of a compound called coumarin, which may harm your liver). You can also omit cinnamon altogether if you prefer not to use it.


• 1 tablespoon ginger powder (optional)

Method

Yes, it looks messy. Be careful when handling turmeric. Whether you are using fresh or powdered turmeric, both versions of this yellow ginger do stain the fingers and clothes.

1.Pour the water into a pot and pour in the turmeric. Mix them together with a fork or a whisk.

2.Turn on the heat, bring the paste to a boil, then lower heat and simmer as you continue stirring and mixing.

3.Keep stirring and whisking until the paste thickens and becomes volumous.

4.This should take approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Watch the clock. You may also need to add more water as the paste thickens.

5.After you turn off the fire and the paste has cooled a little, add in the ground pepper (and the cinnamon and ginger powder if using). The Ceylon cinnamon gives your Golden Paste the extra oomph.

Add the freshly ground pepper, Ceylon cinnamon and ginger powder after you have turned off the fire/heat.

Note 2: Ceylon Cinnamon has numerous health benefits as it contains a compound called cinnamaldehyde, which is known to be a powerful anti-oxidant, anti-microbial and a fungicide. It can stop or inhibit the growth of bacteria so is good for oral health and can fight against gum disease.

6.Stir in the oil or ghee and mix well.

Note 3: In using all the available oils mentioned, I have noticed that using ghee produces the best consistency for the Golden Paste. The end result is a fluffier, bouncier paste that doesn’t clump into hard lumps even when it has come out of the freezer.

7.When the paste has completely cooled down, scoop it into glass jars. You can use your old jam jars for this. Store what you want to use immediately in the fridge and the rest in the freezer. Alternatively, you can store it in silicon ice cube trays so that you can just take out a cube whenever you want to consume it.

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How to Make Golden Milk from Golden Paste

Golden Milk ─ the perfect breakfast or bedtime beverage.

Method

A. The original recipe calls for cow’s milk. If you can still get fresh cow’s milk from the Indian stores, make Golden Milk with fresh cow’s milk! Do remember, please, to boil the milk first.

B. However you can use any other milk, such as soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, rice milk if you are lactose-intolerant, vegan or if you simply don’t like milk.

C. For one of the richest, smoothest, and most exotic-tasting Golden Milk, use coconut milk. You can buy the coconut milk fresh, packaged in cartons or powdered from any supermarket. Since we use santan a lot in our cooking, coconut milk is widely available in many forms.

D. In a pot, pour in a cup or mug of your favourite milk and heat it.

Just scoop a teaspoon from your Golden Paste and stir it into the milk. It’s as simple as that! The amount you want to put in is totally up to you. Put less if you are just starting out and learning to acquire the taste of Golden Milk.

E. Stir in a teaspoon of Golden Paste. The amount you wish to put in is up to you.

F. Add sugar, honey, stevia or any sweetener of your choice to taste. Or you can drink it without sugar. The choice is yours.

Add any type of sweetener into your Golden Milk.

G. Now sit back and enjoy the warmth of a cup-full of golden health!

Golden Milk made with coconut milk ─ fabulously delicious on its own ─ and when stirred into coffee, it makes for a richly-beneficial, super-powered morning boost to your day!

*All images by Helena Hon

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For more exciting, simple-to-make recipes for the whole family, always refer to Motherhood.com.my.

AskMeDoctor! Season 3 Episode 1: Children Development & Milestones: The First Five Years

Jia Ying
September 29, 2021
7 min
Are you concerned whether your children are on par with the developmental milestones?

Or you are wondering about ways to get your children to grow better in all the developmental areas?

If these are your doubt, you are just in the right place!

In our first episode of the third season of  AskMeDoctor!, we are here with Dr. JoAnn Rajah, a paediatrician from FirstStep Child Specialist Clinic. We are going to walk you through the critical periods of a child during his early years and some health concerns that you may want to look into.

Q1: What are child developmental milestones?

Dr. JoAnn Rajah: Developmental milestones are things that most children can do by a certain age such as taking their first step, the first smile and even waving their first goodbye.



In general, developmental milestones can be divided into five categories, namely:

• gross motor skills (learning how to use big body parts to sit, stand, walk and run)


• fine motor skills (learning to use small muscles to eat, draw, play and many more)


• language skills (using body language and gestures to communicate and understanding the language of adults)


• cognitive skills (using thinking and problem-solving skills to build the ability to overcome future challenges)


• social skills (learning to interact with others and responding to others' feelings )

Moving on from his newborn developmental milestones, he would be able to do more complex things too as he grows up. Mind that not all children grow at the same rate, as every child is unique in his own way.

Q2: Why are the first 5 years of child development so important?

Your child will experience a better developmental spurt in his first five years with your support (Image credit: Canva).

Dr. JoAnn Rajah: Within the first five years, a child will be able to form brain connections more rapidly, as compared to any other time in his life.

In other words, a child develops brain connections the fastest in the first five years of his life. By the age of five years old, your child is actually having a brain that is almost 90% of your brain size.

How fascinating is that!

Other than the genetic factors, scientific research has shown that the quality of a child's experiences in the first few years of his life contributes to his brain development.

On top of this, the experiences can actually affect his health and his ability to learn and succeed in school and life.

Q3: How can we help our 1 to 5-year-olds reach their developmental milestones?

Support your children's growth with quality time and interactions with family members. (Image credit: Shutterstock).

Dr. JoAnn Rajah: Looking into a child's development, the relationships with his parents or caretakers build its foundation.

Here's why.

A child actually learns all the vital information about the world through his close relationships. This is even proven by different studies.

Young children who were brought up in a very safe, stable and nurturing environment are healthier and more successful in school and lives. In such environment, children are involved in lots of positive interactions with their parents and caretakers.

On the other side, young children who are deprived of love tend to develop less positive brain connections. Including children who are neglected and who experience domestic violence, their early development and future are hampered by their dysfunctional relationships with their parents and caretakers.

With this, it is very important for parents to provide as much positivity, love and support as they can. Especially within the first five years of their children's lives.

Additionally, parents should also provide their children with more opportunities to play and explore. Let's put this idea into these simple yet beautiful words:

"Children play to learn and learn through play."

Other than sensory toys, parents can even get their children, as young as a baby, to try out mirror play.

Believe us; babies, they love to gaze into the mirror.

Though it might seem that they are just looking at the mirror, it certainly helps them to learn to identify faces and track movement.

What's more?

This trivial play can actually help to build the tiny muscles of their hand by reaching out.

Q4: Besides play and learning, what are the other things that can shape a child’s early development?

Encourage your child to exercise more to enhance his development (Image credit: Canva).

Dr. JoAnn Rajah: Simply remember these three key points for a child's early development: playtime, nutrition and exercise.

As many parents are aware of this, serving the children a well-balanced diet is essential.

Just say YES to good nutritious food and say NO to fast food.

Never allow children to have fast food on a regular basis. Make fast food as an occasional treat for the whole family.

Next on, parents can focus on physical activities like exercising and positive interactions with their children.

Q5: How do I know if my child is developing normally or if he or she needs help?

Always remember that every child is unique and they grow at their own pace (Image credit: Canva).

Dr. JoAnn Rajah: While parents nowadays are blessed to have developmental milestones checklist and tracker applications to track their children's progress, they need to be aware too that every child is growing differently.

It's common to see a child to slow down in one developmental area while expanding his skills in another area.

If parents are still concerned where they notice some milestones issue on how the child plays, learns, speaks, acts, or moves, do talk to their doctor.

Don't hesitate to share your concern, as acting early would definitely make a significant difference!

Q6: My child makes eye contact with me, but something about his interactions seems odd. How can I tell if my child has autism?

Dr. JoAnn Rajah: As we have talked about issues in a child's developmental milestones, some parents might have worries about whether their children are autistic or not. Through interactions with their children, they notice that their children's personality seems a bit off.

Before looking into some early tell-tale signs of autism, parents need to understand that autism is a spectrum disorder. Children can be autistic with different signs at varying degrees of severity.

Generally, here are some early signs of autism besides lacking of eye contact:

• lack of interest in other people


• suffer from communication difficulties


• have narrow interest


• portray repetitive behaviour

For parents who are uncertain whether their child is lacking interest in other people, they can notice through daily interactions and occurences.

Generally, children are always very curious and they always want to know what their parents are doing.

Whether you are in the kitchen, living room and bedroom, they would follow you and ask:

"Mummy, what are you doing?"

However, this does not apply to autistic children. They are not keen to learn anything new or interact with others.

Thus, if parents notice one or more of these behavioural signs above, talk to the doctor immediately. Autism can be diagnosed as early as 18 months.

Q7: What exactly is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Dr. JoAnn Rajah: Whenever we talk about ADHD, we would have children who have difficulties in paying attention, sitting still and doing things impulsively before thinking through the behaviours.

So, what is ADHD actually?

It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by hyperactivity, difficulties in paying attention or controlling impulses. Additionally, do you know that ADHD is actually more commonly seen in boys rather than girls?

And based on a community survey among Malaysian children and adolescents between the ages of 5 to 15 years old, three to four children are diagnosed with ADHD in every 100 children. Nevertheless, most experts would agree that the figure might be even higher due to unreported and undiagnosed cases.

While ADHD children struggle to finish their given tasks due to the lack of attention, how can parents determine whether their child has ADHD or just generally active and on the go?

Here are some keys of the diagnosis of ADHD:

1. The child struggle from paying attention, sitting still and portraying impulsive behaviour most of the time.


2. The above behaviour has directly affected their daily lives.

Mind that most symptoms of ADHD can be noticed before the age of seven years old.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuy_c1ZFLBk

Protecting Your Children In Their Early Years

For parents, it’s important to keep in mind that your children’s first five years is a crucial part of their development. Providing a safe, loving and secure environment for them to grow up in will go a long way towards fostering a brighter future for them.

As a leading insurer and takaful operator, AIA Malaysia is committed to protect and support families at every stage of life with its Total Health Solution – enabling families to live well with AIA’s unique health programme AIA Vitality, protect well with comprehensive and innovative product solutions, and get well with differentiated healthcare services that provide support from diagnosis to recovery.

Image credit: AIA Malaysia

In supporting families from pregnancy through to birth and beyond, you can rest assured that your children’s healthcare needs will be fulfilled with A-Life Joy Xtra, a flexible all-in-one plan recently launched by AIA. Not only does the plan cover pregnancy-related complications from as early as 13 weeks of pregnancy, it also offers the option to enhance your protection to cover your baby’s unexpected hospitalisation within the first 30 days of birth, as well as congenital conditions and child development disorders such as Autism and ADHD in the first five years of your child’s life.

Those who are looking for a shariah-compliant solution can consider the A-Life Ikhtiar Child Solution takaful plan. For more information about AIA’s plans, offers, activities and more, check out AIA’s Anakku Sihat, Negaraku Hebat campaign at www.aia.com.my/anakkuhebat.

Your children deserve a healthier and brighter future. Let’s support them with good access to quality healthcare and protection during the most critical years of their childhood!

If you wish to know about pregnancy, child care essentials and parenting from our group of experts, make sure you don't miss out on our next episode of AskMeDoctor!.

Tom Yam Noodles To Warm Up Your Cold Days

Amira Jeffrey
September 29, 2021
2 min

There are a variety of brands and qualities to egg noodles and a typically healthy selection of egg noodles are:

• Enriched with nutrients, where key vitamins and minerals have been added such as selenium, manganese, and vitamin B.


• These nutrients help in one's immunity functions, brain health, and cell production.

This makes a serving of the hot and zesty Tom Yam Noodles all the more loaded with a spectrum of health benefits.

As opposed to the coconut-based curries you may be familiar with, tom yam soups are much lower in fat and calorie content. It typically consists of less than 100 calories per serving!

From the bird's eye chili, galangal, lemongrass, cauliflower to a range of herbs and vegetables. The list of ingredients found in the soup are some of the healthiest to consume. The vegetables and herbs found in the soup are incredibly healthy combatants to diseases like cancer, diabetes, and many more.

Here is a quick and easy recipe is shared by one of our many talented Ibuencers, zarra.riana!





This bowl of noodle soup will surely make good company when served hot and on particularly cold or sickly days.

Be sure to share with us your delicious products or twists to this simple recipe on Instagram, by tagging us at Motherhood.com.my.

For more interesting stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!

Parents Choose the New, Healthier, Creamier and Tastier Lactel Kids Yoghurt

Sarah
September 24, 2021
0 min
Lactel Kids is a yoghurt snack for children that is tasty, healthy, and wholesome. Parents want a fun and healthy snack their children will love, can now choose Lactel Kids yoghurt, the newest product from the Lactel range of yoghurts.

Available in compact 100 gramme servings with bright, attractive packaging depicting elephants, orangutans and tigers, Lactel Kids yoghurt comes in children’s favourite flavours of strawberry, vanilla and banana. These three (3) options are made with real fruit puree without any artificial sweetener added while kids will love the creamy texture, clearly indicating the richness of the milk from which the yoghurt is derived. Besides taste, parents can rest assured that Lactel Kids is a yoghurt snack that packs a healthy punch as it is filled with the goodness of calcium, fortified with vitamin D and live cultures important for the gut.

Lactel Kids yoghurt’s attractive packaging with colourful depictions of elephants, orangutans and tigers in bright colours combined with a tasty and healthy yoghurt snack makes Lactel Kids yoghurt a fun way to learn about Malaysia’s wildlife conservation efforts while enjoying the tasty, creamy, and healthy snack!

Find out where you can pick up your favourite flavour at your closest supermarket today! Lactel Kids yoghurt is available at all major supermarkets including (but not limited to), AEON, Giant Hypermarket, BIG, Jaya Grocer, MYDIN, Billion, The Store, MyNews, EconSave, LuLu Hypermarket, Servay, Pantai Selamat and many more!

School's Out! It's Vacay Time With Disney+ Hotstar

Amira Jeffrey
September 24, 2021
6 min

Entertain the kids over the mid-term break with hours of excitement

There's still plenty of time left to enjoy your week-long break before school starts! Make your holiday all the more worthwhile with all new Disney+ Original series and family favourites. From stories about family road trips to comedy-dramas or going on adventures, Disney+ Hotstar has definitely got you and your little ones covered!

A colorful line-up of award-winning films and TV series await you. Here are a selected few to help you get started on your incoming binge-watching:

#1. Dug Days Season 1

Image credit: Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia

Dog lovers rejoice!

Pixar Animation Studios presents to you an adorable spin-off of the much-beloved feature film, "Up"!

"Dug Days," follows five shorts of 10-12 minutes each to enjoy with your children. Have them join in on Dug's short and sweet daily misadventures with a touch of comedy that retains Pixar's streak for quality films.

With his high-tech collar translating his thoughts into speech, the elements of realism in every episode retain its film's delicate elements of realism. Dug sounds exactly what one would expect a dog to sound like: Unbearably enthusiastic and filled with love for their human.

Witness Dug’s first time out of Paradise Falls as he and his best friend Carl spend time together in suburbia while enjoying the many things that freedom can offer including Dug’s biggest distraction of all, a squirrel!

#2. Onward

Image credit: Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia

In a suburban fantasy world taken over by modern technology, two teenage elven brothers, Ian and Barley embark on an extraordinary magical quest to unravel what was left of magic out there with one goal in mind, and that is to resurrect their late father for a single day.

It's one of the best Pixar films in years, in my utterly biased opinion!

"Onwards," is a beautiful film spilling with lessons on family-hood and how love lives on even in pain and loss. Ian and Barkly are two brothers of total opposites who eventually reconcile after helping each other come to terms with the loss of their father.

Like any quest of epic proportions, their journey is riddled with magic spells, cryptic maps and unimaginable discoveries. As the characters come around with grounding emotional twists, arcs and development, it also gives you a chance to discuss on them with your little ones. To tell them that one day, they will grow up as well and it's up to them to keep the magic alive to pull through.

#3. Finding Dory

Image credit: Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia

This endearing sequel to “Finding Nemo” centers around everyone’s favourite character, Dory. The film gorgeously retains what made the first film an immersive technicolor masterpiece.

With vague memories of her past, Dory and her good friends, Marlin and Nemo embark on a mission to find her long-lost paren. This time, in the Pacific Coast of California instead of the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

You will be taken back to the day it all started. The day that explains why Dory is the ditzy, bubbly blue tang fish with short-term memory loss, that we know and love. Ellen Degeneres' vocal range and uplifting spirit breathe child-like life and optimism into Dory's character.

"Finding Dory," is a voyage into the deep blue sea where the marine life deep under teaches us the meaning of friendship and family.

#4. Doogie Kamealoha M.D. Season 1

Image credit: Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia

Set in Hawaii, this coming-of-age dramedy is inspired by the hit medical series “Doogie Howser, M.D.”

It is a story about Lahela “Doogie” Kamealoha, a 16-year-old prodigy with a budding medical career as she juggles life as a doctor and teenager. With the support of her caring and comical 'ohana (family) and friends, Lahela is determined to make the most of her teenage years and forge her own path.

A series perfect for older children to teach them about endless possibilities, undiscovered potential, and how hard work can go a long way.

#5. Sofia the First

Image credit: Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia

Sofia, a young, regular girl has her life completely transformed after her mother marries the king of their land, making her a princess. An engaging, light-hearted series with engaging characters, imparting meaningful lessons;

Your little ones will follow her on exciting adventures in each episode as she is gifted with an amulet that grants her the ability to talk to animals, help her settle into her new family, overcome countless obstacles and learn all about what it means to be a princess.

#6. Mira, Royal Detective Season 2

Image credit: Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia

In the Indian-inspired land of Jalpur, this newly revived series follows the brave and resourceful Mira. A commoner-appointed Royal Detective, she sets out on mystery-riddled adventures with her loyal companions, Prince Neel, creative cousin Priya, and comical mongoose sidekicks, Mikku and Chikku.

Each episode never fails to weave in authentic music and dance from India's vibrant heritage. Here is a series that is brilliantly creative and accurate in cultural representation!

Want more shows to watch during the school holidays? More films and series spinning tales of adventure and discoveries await on Disney+ Hotstar here.

Malaysians can stream their favourite shows and films now by subscribing to the service directly at their official website or via the Disney+ Hotstar app on Android and iOS devices, for RM54.90 for three months*.

You can also access Disney+ Hotstar on Astro with incredible deals! Astro Movies Pack customers (CH411 – CH416) can rejoice because you can now activate your subscription to immediately start streaming Disney+ Hotstar!

For further details, visit their Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

Image credit: Disney+ Hotstar Malaysia

*Additional bank charges may apply.