I really struggled with what to call this drink. I think by calling it a “lemonade,” it sounds like it’s sugar-packed drink that kids sell for five cents a cup (actually, I have no idea what the going rate for lemonade is?) at a stand in their driveway. This isn’t that.
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| Credit:wholefully.com |
I thought about calling it a “tonic” or even a “health tonic,” but I felt like that was getting dangerously close to snake oil schlepping territory. I’m not trying to convince you that drinking this superfood-packed drink is going to make you the healthiest person ever. That’s not really my style. Although it is super good for you.
So, I’m calling it both of those things. Meet the Honey Ginger Lemonade Health Tonic.
So, what is a honey ginger lemonade health tonic? Well, it’s a lightly-sweetened drink brewed from fresh ginger and lemon. It’s tasty, refreshing, and my absolute favorite beverage to sip on when I’m fighting off a cold. You know how the doctor always tells you to drink plenty of fluids when you’re sick? This is the fluid I drink.
Growing up, when I got sick, we headed to the frozen foods aisle at the grocery store and picked up a smorgasbord of those little frozen fruit juice concentrates. We almost never had juice in our house, so the sheer novelty of the stuff got me to consume tons more liquid than I ever would normally. But now, I like to do my liquid consuming with a bit less sugar and no artificial colors or flavors.
Ginger, lemon, and honey are the holy trinity of food-based home remedies for a head cold (although, garlic is really good, too, I doubt you want a honey, ginger, garlic lemonade—yuck, just add lots of garlic to your Chicken Noodle Soup). Why are these three things so good when you’re fighting the sniffles? Well:
- Ginger: As a natural antibacterial and antiviral, ginger helps fight infections in your body, and helps boost your overall immunity. Ginger has been used for centuries to help fight the cold!
- Lemon: The acidity in lemon (and other citrus) helps to cut through phlegm and help clear you out. Lemon is also packed with vitamin C—an excellent nutrient for boosting your immune system.
- Honey: In recent studies, honey has performed consistently better as a cough suppressant in comparison to over-the-counter medicines. A little bit helps fight that scratchy, tickly throat. Like ginger, honey is also a natural antibacterial and antiviral, helping to boost your immune system.
I like to drink this lemonade/tonic cold. I know a lot of people like hot drinks when they’re feeling puny (and you can certainly heat this up and drink it warm), but I’m partial to the cold liquid on my scratchy throat. I also find I can drink a lot more volume when I’m drinking cold. I fill up a Mason jar, stick in a straw (I’m loving my stainless steel straws with EcoJarz lids), and just keep on drinking all day long.
When I’m sick, I set a goal for myself of drinking at least a half-gallon of this drink everyday. I mix it up in a half-gallon Mason jar, and stash it in the fridge. It sounds like a lot, but I truly believe that flushing out all of those yucky germs is a huge part of getting over an illness quickly. And hey, it helps that this stuff is delicious!
One caveat about using this drink as a home remedy for colds—many studies have shown that excess sugar can actually curb your immunity. It’s generally a good idea to stay away from added sugars when you’re fighting off a bug. That’s why this drink is only lightly-sweetened. If you’re drink it when you’re feeling well, you might want to up the honey a touch to give you more of that classic lemonade flavor.
Enjoy (and be well)!
Part tasty drink and part heath tonic, this Honey Ginger Lemonade is the perfect option for sipping on when you’re fighting a cold.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and sliced thinly
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 cup boiling water
- Juice of three lemons (about 1/3 cup)
- Ice and water
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a heat-proof bowl (or a glass measuring cup), mix together the ginger pieces, honey, and boiling water. Stir well until the honey is dissolved, and then let steep for 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, fill a two quart pitcher with ice. Once the ginger is done steeping, strain liquid into the pitcher, and add in the lemon juice. Fill the rest of the way with water, and stir well.
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