Hot Lemon, Ginger and Honey Tea

Sitting in my house all cozy and warm I can hear the wind howling. Snow is falling and inching its way up the base of the windows and I am in need of a warm, soothing hot beverage.

Ingredients:

3 Lemons juiced
3 inches of fresh ginger grated or finely minced
1/4 cup Honey  or Agave Nectar
4 Cups of Spring or Filter Water

Directions:

Place Lemon, Ginger and Water into saucepan

Cover and bring to a boil 

Reduce heat and simmer covered for about 15 minutes 

Strain, add Honey and Serve

Lemon is a good source of Thiamin, Riboflavin, Pantothenic Acid, Iron and Magnesium, and a very good source of Dietary Fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Potassium and Copper.In the ancient Ayurvedic texts Lemon is considered an antidepressant, relieves sore throats and respiratory tract infections and is great for digestion

Ginger It is also a good source of Vitamin C, Magnesium, Potassium, Copper and Manganese. In Ayurveda, Ginger is known for reducing Congestion, Joint Pain and Digestion

Honey is high in Vitamin B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids. The minerals found in honey include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. In Ayurveda Honey is praised for its ability to create heat and energy. It is favorable for digestion,and it is considered an all-purpose medicine for all types of diseases.

This is a wonderful beverage to have upon waking or anytime of the day when your energy waining. An excellent choice for a caffeine free pick me up.

Enjoy! 

Turning up the Agni!

Agni is the "fire" that drives digestion and metabolism in the Hindu medical practice of Ayurveda. The digestive and absorption process is called Pakwagni (digestive fire).

So, while the temperature is dropping, it makes sense to turn up the digestive heat which in turn warms you from the inside out! Also consider eating more healthy, warming, concentrated foods. Dark orange vegetables such as sweet potatoes, winter squash, and carrots provide immune nourishing beta-carotene and the warmth of their shades of orange colors. Also adding Spices will increase the warming quality of you food.

Think blended Carrot Ginger Soup, or Squash Pudding. Blend your Squash in a Vitamix with Dates, Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie Spices and a little Water or Almond Milk. Voila! You have a Pudding or Filling for a Pecan and Date Crust. Enjoy this with a warming cup of Chai Tea.

Grounding roots (especially those that grow in cold climates) such as onions, rutabagas and turnips can help one better acclimate to the seasons. Other warming foods include arugula, mustard greens, and watercress. Nuts, seeds, and their butters make excellent warming and insulating snacks. Icy cold drinks can cool you quick. If consuming food from the refrigerator, take the item out and allow it to get to room temperature before eating.

The flavor associated with winter is salty and a perfect time enjoy the wonderful mineral rich Sea Vegetables such as Kelp, Nori, Hijiki, and Dulse which can be used to season food. Celtic or Himalayan salt contain more minerals then table salt. Black colored foods such as Black Sesame Seeds, uncured Black Olives, and Chia Seeds make wonderful warming winter condiments.

Culinary herbs and spices which support the feeling of warmth and improve circulation include:

Black pepper (Piper Nigrum) is a member of the Piperaceae (Pepper) Family, has antiseptic, and antioxidant properties.


Cardamom (Elettaria Cardamomum), a member of the Zingiberaceae (Ginger) Family, is an expectorant, thus helping to open the respiratory passages.

Cayenne (Capsicum Frutescens), a member of the Solanaceae (Nightshade) Family, is rich in vitamin C, and helps relieve chills, coughs and congestion. Sprinkling a bit of cayenne pepper between one's shoes and socks can help warm the feet when needing to be outdoors. (Avoid the eyes and mouth!)

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum Cassia) is a member of the Lauraceae (Laurel) Family, helps dry dampness in the body and warms people that are always cold and suffering from poor circulation. Cinnamon is antiseptic and an excellent digestive tonic.

Garlic (Allium Sativum), a member of the Liliaceae (Lily) Family, helps one be more resistant to infection. Garlic is a potent vasodilator and improves circulation by helping to prevent the blood from clumping together.

Ginger (Zingiber Officinale), a member of the Zingiberceae Family, is a natural antioxidant and antiseptic. It improves circulation to all parts of the body. Ginger baths are warming, muscle relaxing and cold and flu relieving and can be made by simmering eight ounces of ginger into a half gallon of water, simmering at a low boil for twenty minutes, then straining into the bathtub.

Horseradish (Armoracia Lapathifolia) is a member of the Brassicaceae (Mustard) Family. It is high in vitamin C, and aids in the digestion of fatty foods. Horseradish is antiseptic and a strong decongestant; helping to open congested respiratory passages.

Also consider removing your food from the Fridge and allow some time for it to come to room temperature prior to eating. You can always warm things to 105 degrees in a Dehydrator or on the stove. This is a wonderful rule to go by in winter. I take advantage of the warmth and my handy food thermometer!

As I write this I am enjoying a warming cup of Chai Tea with home made Vanilla Almond  Milk, YUM!

Chai
2 Cups water
1 Cinnamon Stick
10 Cardomom pods
10 Whole Cloves
1 Tbl Ginger finely minced 1 Cup Almond Milk
3 tsp Rooibos Tea

Stevia, Agave or Raw Honey to Taste
Pour water in saucepan
Add the Cinnamon, Cardomom, Cloves and Ginger 
Bring up to a simmer, cover and simmer for 10 minutes 

Add Tea Leaves, cover, and turn off the heat

After 2 minutes, strain the tea into two cups 

Add Almond Milk warmed to 105 degrees and Sweetener of choice

  

Enjoy! 

Let's Get Juicy!

As we gear up for the next round of Holidays I say let's lighten up and Nourish our cells with a mini Juice Feast. Weather you chose one day, two days or snack on your glass of Green Goodness, enjoy it and feel your body coming alive as you cleanse with this vitamin and chlorophyll rich elixir.

There are three  main reasons why you will want to consider incorporating vegetable juicing into your health program:

1.Juicing helps you absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. This is important because most of us have impaired digestion as a result of making less-than-optimal food choices over many years. This limits your body's ability to absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. Juicing will help to "pre-digest" them for you, so you will receive most of the nutrition.

2.Juicing allows you to consume an optimal amount of vegetables in an efficient manner. If you are a carb type, you should eat one pound of raw vegetables per 50 pounds of body weight per day. Some people may find eating that many vegetables difficult, but it can be easily accomplished with a quick glass of vegetable juice.

3.You can add a wider variety of vegetables in your diet. Many people eat the same vegetable salads every day. This violates the principle of regular food rotation and increases your chance of developing an allergy to a certain food. But with juicing, you can juice a wide variety of vegetables that you may not normally enjoy eating whole.

Ingredients: Kale-Parsley-Granny Smith Apple-Cucumber-Celery-Lemon-Ginger

Breville Juice Fountain Elite

My Juicer of choice is the Breville Juice Fountain Elite. I love it! So easy to clean and powerful. I run all of my pre-washed veggies and fruits through, give it a quick scrub and I'm good to go!

Try experimenting with different ingredients and make your own "just right for you" Juice. Just remember to include some greens.

Enjoy!