The temperatures are dropping, our internal clocks are about to get thrown off for a few days, the wind is brisk, and you might even have a case of the sniffles. Sounds to me like it's time for tea!
Black, green, chamomile, boba, kombucha...you name it, I love it! Tea is delicious, affordable, easy to make, and it has plenty of health benefits, too...especially for those of you struggling with autoimmune disorders.
Ginger tea has become a favorite of mine--and not just because the zesty sweetness reminds me of a fresh gingersnap-molasses cookie--but because ginger is loaded with properties that can help aid in digestion, relieve chemotherapy-related nausea, and help fight the flu and the common cold.
The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger that I love so much come from its natural oils--specifically gingerol. Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger and it is responsible for the bulk of ginger’s medicinal properties. Gingerol has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, and it can even help reduce oxidative stress, which results from having too many free radicals in the body.
Ginger tea is a healthier alternative to ginger ale, ginger beer and other commercial canned or bottled ginger beverages. These drinks provide some of ginger’s benefits, but many contain a lot of sugar.
Ginger can aid patients with any number of conditions...from being a soothing decongestant to an antioxidant that aids with autoimmune disorders, this zesty root is a tasty and medicinal powerhouse!
Below is one of my favorite ginger tea recipes:
Honey Ginger Tea
INGREDIENTS
ginger
citrus
water or tea
honey (or another sweetener)
potato or corn starch (optional)
A few notes on ingredients:
Keep the tea simple by using just plain filtered water, but you can mix things up a bit by adding green or black tea leaves.
You can leave out any sweetener if you’d prefer, but I do enjoy the rich sweetness that honey lends to the tea. And, as we all know, honey has its own health properties and can help to soothe a sore throat.
Citrus fruits such as lemon, yuzu, Meyer lemon, not only add some fragrance to the tea, but they are also packed with Vitamin C! If you want to increase the health benefits of your tea, I would highly recommend adding it. You can opt to add a squeeze of juice or the zest--or both! I usually keep it simple, and add a squeeze for lemon to my tea.
Potato or cornstarch (this is optional, but highly recommended!) –Some people like to add starch to their honey ginger tea, since it helps to thicken it and retain the heat.
METHOD
Grate ginger.
In a saucepan, add water, ginger, and honey. Mix well together and bring it to a boil.
Once boiling, add freshly squeezed lemon juice and lower the heat.
Mix cold water and potato starch (or cornstarch).
Slowly drizzle the starch mixture into the ginger tea and stir well.
Serve your tea and enjoy!
If there is one drink that can help boost your mood and health...and warm you up during the cold weather months, this is it! If a cold, flu, stomachache, or autoimmune disease is causing you discomfort, a cup of ginger tea (in addition to other necessary treatments, of course) will help reduce symptoms.
If you have any questions about acupuncture, nutritional support, and how to manage the symptoms of an autoimmune disease, please don't hesitate to reach out! Schedule a consultation today! I would love to chat with you about your options!
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