Lemon-Ginger Detox Tea is an alcohol-free flu buster / immunity booster tea (or toddy, if you will). that will help treat and prevent colds while detoxing your holiday cheese and sugar binge.
It’s that post-holiday time of year. What ever are we going to do?
More than likely, we all feel like we could take a brief (slash extended) hiatus from food and alcohol. And holidays. We probably have plans to move into a cave until the blood sugar low demons exit the premises.
Never fear. We have solutions.
While I’m all about drinking my favorite Anti-Inflammatory Smoothie, Carrot Ginger Smoothie, and//or {tastes just like apple pie ->} Beet Berry Apple Chia Smoothie, lately homemade teas using fresh ingredients have been my jam. Teas, like this one, made Hot Toddy-style sans the alcohol.
Normally, I’m three sheets to the wind about a batch of whisky toddies, but from time to time we need to remove the booze, add the ginger, and get our systems back on track.
During cold and flu season, with germs lurking about, on top of our compromised immune systems by way of over-indulging during the holidays, we need to be a little extra careful with our bodies.
For this reason, taking a step back to flush out the system and replenish the hydration tank can be just the ticket to preventing or fighting an infestation of sickness, and/or re-setting the digestive system.
This flu-busting toddy includes all sorts of immunity boosting components as well as detoxification characteristics. Here’s what we’ve got going on:
Ingredients for Lemon-Ginger Detox Tea:
Lemon – provides a hydrating and detoxification quality by way of Vitamin C.
Ginger – full of antioxidants, soothes the digestive system, eases nausea and muscle aches and pain. A natural anti-inflammatory, ginger can lessen inflammation from consuming inflammatory foods or from sickness/infection.
Honey – a natural antibacterial and antiviral. On top of killing and preventing germs, the honey helps this whole thing go down in a sweet, sweet way.
Cayenne – Relieves sore throat (for real!!). Promotes heart health, kills cancer cells, and improves blood circulation. An anti-fungal, cayenne plays a role (in combination with honey and ginger) to prevent bacteria and viruses from incubating, thereby preventing (or fighting sickness).
How to Make Lemon Ginger Tea:
Heat everything in a saucepan, covered, on your stove top until it comes to a full boil. Remove saucepan from heat and keep it covered while you allow the tea to steep and cool for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
The recipe makes about 4 large tea cups-full, but you can scale up if serving more people or if you want simply want a larger volume on hand for days on end. I keep mine in the refrigerator in a sealed jar for up to 1 week.
Changes to the recipe?
You can cut back the ginger and cayenne for a less spicy beverage (the way I have it listed, the drink comes out with a powerful kick). Also, consider ramping up the honey, since a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, son.
You can also add a few green tea bags for additional antioxidants and caffeine. And, of course…If you’re not in need of a cleanse and could use a stiff drink…just add alcohol. Whisky/bourbon’ll do ya. Lover of all-things cinnamon? Add a few sticks!
All things considered, this drink helps hydrate, cleanse, and strengthen your system. Plus, for those of us ginger lovers, the beverage tastes great! The flavor is sweet, tangy, and spicy, all of which you can adjust according to your own personal taste.
More Healthy Beverages:
Lemon-Ginger Detox Tea
Ingredients
- ¼ cup ginger peeled and grated
- 6 cups water
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup honey
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Heat everything in a saucepan, covered, on your stove top until it comes to a full boil. Remove saucepan from heat and keep it covered while you allow the toddy to steep and cool for 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy.
- Note: Store beverage in a sealed jar including ginger pulp for up to one week. Strain beverage into a saucepan and reheat before drinking.
Nutrition
Since all the beneficial qualities of honey are destroyed as soon as you heat them, why not just use natural organic sugar? We are taking away pollen from our very endangered native bees (by farming honey bees which are the cause of mites also killing native bees and honey bees are NOT native to our continent) so why not do anything we can?
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Yup, we need to make this over here stat! Holiday colds plus overindulging means we are not feeling our best!
This looks so perfect for alleviating an overly-full belly! Hot beverages always help me feel better after a huge holiday meal. 🙂
Right?? This one’s super refreshing..if for no other reason, it definitely helps to convince yourself you didn’t just put aaaaallthebadthings in your body. 😉
This is exactly what I need today. I’m a personal trainer and I’m constantly bombarded with all the germs. Needless to say I’ve been feeling pretty awful lately. The ginger sounds amazing right now!
YUUUUHS! Definitely put these on repeat! It will help stave off the gym germies, fo sho!
I have 100% overeaten this past week (haven’t we all?) and this will be one of my post-New Year’s go-tos! This looks so soothing 🙂
I’m with ya girl, I’ve got a major case of the Mondays. I had to work every day over Christmas weekend and will have to again over New Years Eve and Day. Can you hear the world’s smallest violin playing for me? 😉
I could use one of these hot toddy’s and some Christmas light viewing right about now. It sounds like it’s super comforting and refreshing all at the same time. I must try this magical concoction!!
Oh my goodness, this sounds brilliant and perfect for a post-holiday drink because HOLY COW, did we eat a ton this past week. Saving this for after the new year because I’m definitely gonna need it then, too!