Grey skies, drizzle, cold blustery winds, and the threat of Flu or COVID-19....definitely time for my ‘Winter Wellness’ drink.
This is a potent antiviral, antibacterial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, ‘thermogenic’ and 'analgesic' beverage, making it ideal for preventing or fighting-off infections; relieving muscular or joint pain, headaches & migraines; boosting weight loss; aiding inflammatory skin conditions, and increasing core body temperature (on those chilly days when you just can’t get your toes & fingers warm). The combination of ginger, turmeric, lemon and honey can also provide a wonderful energising-punch to kick start your morning or to power you through your exercise routine. This drink also encourages gentle liver detoxification - unlike caffeine, a toxic compound that burdens the liver and makes it sluggish.
I like to prepare this drink over the weekend and then store it in a glass bottle in the fridge, ready to use at a moments notice.
WORD OF WARNING: If you have any digestive issues, please start with small doses of this very powerful medicinal drink. It has the potential to induce a bout of reflux, gas & bloating or loose stools, as it destroys troublesome bacteria in the digestive tract (which release toxic gases and by-products as they die-off - causing the gut to try to rapidly purge them out of the body). So begin with a small amount, monitor your response, and then build up the dose accordingly.
Ingredients
5 X 5cm pieces of fresh ginger root
2 x 5cm pieces of fresh turmeric root
5 tbsp raw or wild honey
Juice of one fresh lemon (or lime if preferred) – organic and unwaxed
600ml water
Three methods of preparation:
1. Add all the ingredients to a blender and process until smooth. Strain this through a fine-mesh sieve into a large jug. Store the remaining 'paste' in a jar in the fridge. When ready to drink, place 1/2 tsp in a mug or cup and add boiled water.
2. Alternatively, you can fill a saucepan with the water and bring to a very gentle boil, then lower the heat. Grate the ginger & turmeric root, and add to the saucepan of water. Half the lemon, (or lime), squeeze out the juice in to the pan, and then add the squeezed lemon halves to the pan. Add the coconut oil and honey, and dissolve on a low heat. Turn off the heat and allow to cool and infuse. When the liquid is cool enough, remove the lemon halves and then transfer the liquid (with the gratings) to a glass bottle or glass jug and store in the fridge (for up to 1 week). To drink, strain through a small sieve into half a mug or cup, and then top with boiled water.
3. Juice the fresh root ginger and turmeric root and decant into a glass bottle. Store in the fridge for up to one week. When you're ready to drink, pour desired amount of the turmeric and ginger juice in to a mug or cup, add 1-2 slices of lemon (or lime) and 1-2 tsp of raw or wild honey. Allow to infuse for 5 minutes and enjoy!
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Do not use turmeric if you have gallstones or a bile duct obstruction (as turmeric has the ability to promote bile secretions). Turmeric is a natural blood-thinner, so can slow blood clotting, increasing the risk of bruising and bleeding in people with blood disorders. Curcumin, a chemical naturally present in turmeric, might decrease blood sugar in people with diabetes. If you take any medicines regularly, talk to your doctor before drinking more than one cup of this turmeric & ginger beverage. Large amounts of turmeric could interact with medicines like aspirin, NSAID painkillers, statins, diabetes drugs, blood pressure medicines, and blood thinners (turmeric works in the same manner as these pharmaceutical drugs, so could intensify the effect)