Midlife guide to...

Moon milk

Why have you got so much energy today?

I have added a new component to my sleep routine. And it’s called… moon milk. I’m pretty sure it’s worked a treat.

Is that what you’re calling Jameson’s now? Like when you started saying you’re “going for a breath of fresh air” when you were really having a cigarette?

No, actually. Moon milk is a real thing and if you were at all down with the kids you’d have noticed it popping up all over Instagram. It’s the wellness trend du jour!

Oh dear, it sounds terribly vegan. Made from crushed-up parsnips or wrung-out seaweed, is it?

No, that’s the best bit, it’s entirely not. It’s a warm drink derived from Ayurvedic traditions and typically made from honey, spices and cow’s milk. It’s a traditional remedy for sleep deprivation.

You’re clearly reading that. When you say, “traditional”, is it actually backed up by science?

Sort of. It’s said that the adaptogens within milk help your body de-stress and the milk contains melatonin and tryptophan, two things that help you fall asleep. Depending on the spices, it can boost your immune system too.

It sounds like Night Nurse rebranded for idiots. Why is it so popular now?

The same reason that cauliflower pizza became popular… it’s photogenic. Instagrammers add a pinch of beetroot powder or turmeric to colour their moon milk. Add some on-trend mugs and strategicallyplaced houseplants, and you’ve got 100 likes.

Fine, I’ll pay as much attention to it as I did to the cauliflower pizzas then: none. You still haven’t told me why it’s called moon milk…

Well, it’s one small drink for man, one gia… Stop.