Stay healthy all year round!
It’s that time of year when the weather can change from winter into summer overnight and then back again. If you’re not up to date with the forecast it’s easy to dress too warm or too light, which can often lead to catching a cold. Nobody wants to spend a beautiful sunny weekend sick in bed, so what to do about this?
This past year has been the first full year in a long time when I have been healthy all year round! What is my secret? Eating healthy, yoga, regular exercise, meditation and getting enough sleep, but also... I have one secret ingredient, which I include in my everyday diet. I start each day with a healthy ginger and lemon infusion to keep my immune system strong. During the day I usually have at least one other infusion, you can drink them hot or cooled, depending on the season or your mood. Below I am sharing with you simple, delicious infusion recipes and their health benefits:
GINGER INFUSION
Ingredients:
- ginger (3 inches)
- fresh mint (3-5 leaves)
- lemon (1 slice)
- honey / agave syrup (1 teaspoon)
- hot water
Directions: cut the ginger, slice the lemon, add all ingredients to a cup and pour hot water, wait 2-3 minutes before adding honey.
Benefits: Ginger is rich in gingerol, responsible for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. Using ginger every day will boost the immune system and lower the risk of infections. Recent studies find that it may also help to reduce nausea and indigestion, muscle soreness, reduce blood sugar, lower cholesterol levels, reduce menstrual pain and improve brain function.
TUrMERIC INFUSION
Ingredients:
- fresh turmeric root (3 inches)
- lemon (1 slice)
- honey / agave syrup (1 teaspoon)
- hot water (boiling)
Directions: cut the turmeric, slice the lemon, add all ingredients to a cup and pour hot water, wait 2-3 minutes before adding honey.
Benefits: Turmeric contains curcumin, which is known for its anti-inflammatory effects and many other health benefits. It helps the body fight infections, has powerful anti-oxidant effects, may help fight degenerative processes of the brain, lower risk of heart disease and some studies even say that it can help prevent cancer. These are just some of the many effects of this amazing plant, so it’s worth bringing into your diet.
ROSEMARY INFUSION
Ingredients:
- fresh rosemary (large piece)
- orange (1 slice)
- cinnamon stick (1/2 stick)
- cloves (3 cloves)
- honey / agave syrup (1 teaspoon)
- hot water (boiling)
Directions: slice the orange, add all the ingredients to cup and pour hot water, wait 2-3 minutes before adding honey.
Benefits: Rosemary, comes from the Mediterranean region and has been used for its healing effects for a long time. Drinking rosemary infusions may help with indigestion, reducing inflammation, stress and anxiety relief, but also may help reduce chronic pain and improve general health of skin and hair.
These are just examples of my favourite infusions, but feel free to mix and match. All are also perfect served cooled on a hot day. Share with us some of your own ideas for healthy infusions!
perfect for a hot day
just bottle and serve cooled...
Recipes prepared by: Milka & Margaret