According to ayurveda, milk provides special and unique nutrition that cannot be derived from any other type of food. Milk, when digested properly, nourishes all the tissues, promotes balanced emotions, and helps to balance all the doshas. It is one of the most important foods to promote ojas.

Ayurveda teaches that icy cold beverages are to be avoided and milk is no exception. Also, the pasteurizing process "scrambles" the molecules in milk, making milk harder to digest. Some of what is thought to be lactose intolerance is actually our body coping with the jumbled molecules. By boiling the milk before we drink it the molecules are re-organized and are easier to digest.

Allow the milk to foam up at least once, being careful not to boil over. In addition to changing the molecular structure of the milk so it is much easier for human consumption, heating the milk reduces kapha, making it lighter to digest.

Date Shake

Ingredients

    4-5 whole, pitted dates (Medjool variety or similar is best)
    1 cup whole organic milk (preferably not homogenized) (use lowfat if on a light
    diet)
    Pinch of cinnamon

Instructions:

    Gently boil milk, then remove from heat:
    Put milk, cinnamon and dates in automatic blender.
    Blend until dates are ground fine.
    Serve warm in winter, room temperature or slightly cool (not cold) in summer or
    if a strong Pitta imbalance exists.