It is that time of the year again. Coughing, sneezing, sniffling going around and family members walking around like zombies asking for toilet papers or just about anything to sneeze into. If you are in bed right now with bloodshot eyes and have no energy or motivation to do anything, or even if you feel like you are coming down with something, we might have just the drink for you.

Lemon Honey Ginger Drink

We call it the lemon honey drink because those are the primary ingredients. But in our family, we add fresh ginger for extra relief. This drink has done us wonders and never failed to help us when our bodies feel under the weather. It is full of vitamin C, loaded with nutrients and keeps you hydrated. It also contains antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory properties that help in boosting your immune system and help relieve some of the cold symptoms.

In this article, we would like to explore the multipurpose of this drink. Also, some benefits each of the ingredient used: raw honey, lemon and ginger. And how they can help relieve some cold symptoms. Not only is this drink nutritious, but it is also tasty and soothing. On their own, these three ingredients are very beneficial for the body. But when they are combined, they make a super healthy drink.

Some benefits of raw honey

People have been using honey as natural ailments since ancient times. To this day, it is still a popular choice sweetener. When stored correctly, honey is the only food that will not go bad. One of the oldest honey was found in the Egyptian pyramids, and it is still edible despite being over 3000 years old!

Honey is a golden liquid made by important insects we know as bees or honey bees. They collect nectar from flowers and occasionally tree sap and turn them into honey. The process is long and involves complex chemistry and steps. And the bees work hard and in unison to turn the watery nectar into the thick liquid we know and love called honey.

There are countless varieties of honey in the world, each with a different set of health benefits and nutritional value. There’s no exact definitive number as we always come across a new type. Depending on which type of plant the bees visited, the honey can come in different flavours, aroma, unique texture and colour.

Check out our monofloral honey collection on our online store here.

Honey consists of types of sugar: glucose, fructose and sucrose. It also contains trace minerals, vitamins, and special enzymes added by the bees themselves. High-quality honey contains a high activity level of antioxidants. These compounds help deoxidise the cells and help protect it from damaging free radicals.

Unfortunately today, many kinds of honey that you find on supermarket shelves are heavily processed. They have been pasteurised, ultra-filtered, and in some cases added with additives and preservatives. This process removes and kills if not all, most of the benefits in the honey, making it no less different than refined table sugar.

Read about All About Raw Honey: How Is It Different Than Regular Honey?

It is important to note that honey, raw or not, should never be given to infants before they reach their first birthday. This is because honey can carry harmful bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum. This bacterium is harmless to older kids and adults because their mature digestive system can move the toxins out of the body before they can cause harm.

Read about Infant Bollutism

Drinking lemon and ginger alone might be a bit too overpowering. Sweetening it with raw honey makes the drink much tastier and easier to drink. Honey, natural nectar made by bees, is a generally soothing ingredient that contains powerful nutrients and enzymes that help your body. Granulated white sugar or high fructose corn syrup can cause a host of problems in the body if consumed frequently. Unlike these refined sugars, honey is considered to be a more wholesome all-natural sweetener with an abundant amount of health benefits.

Some benefits of ginger 

The benefits of ginger to treat nausea and indigestion can be traced since many years ago. The most important compound found in ginger is gingerol, which has powerful medicinal properties. It contains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which may aid in reducing oxidative stress according to research. Like varying antioxidants level found in fruits and raw honey, it helps fight against damaging free radicals in the body.

The anti-inflammatory properties are what helps soothe a sore throat when you are ill by relieving inflammation. Research suggests that ginger does this by blocking pro-inflammatory proteins in the throat or the body. These proteins cause inflammatory pains and itchiness you may be experiencing during a cold. 

Read about How Does Ginger Help a Sore Throat?

We love ginger and how relieving and refreshing it can be. Do you?

Some benefits of lemon

Lemon is one of the most commercially available citrus fruits, known for its tart and vibrant taste citrus. Not only are lemons rich in vitamins C, the vitamin we all turn to try and fend off the common cold, but they are full of pectin, a natural fibre found in fruits. Lemons also contain an important compound called flavonoids which contribute to the anti-cancer properties of this fruit.

Research shows that lemon can help reduce phlegm. Lemon contains an excellent source of vitamin C which helps fight against mucus-forming bacteria. Great way to reduce the number of times having to sneeze into a tissue!

Vitamin C is also essential for the immune system in your body to fight off any harmful bacteria.

Make sure you get that squeeze of lemon juice into your mug.

Lemon Honey Ginger Recipe

Warm honey, lemon, ginger tea made with fresh lemons and ginger root with raw honey. We’ll tell you the simple steps you can make this soothing and delicious drink.

Ingredients 

• 1 cup of water. 
• 1 tbsp of freshly squeezed lemon juice 
• 1 ½ inches long ginger sliced into thin slices 
• 2 tsp of raw honey, or to taste

Instructions 

1. Heat your water in a kettle or on the stovetop. 
2. Meanwhile, peel and cut your ginger into slices, then place it into your mug.
3. Pour your boiling water into your mug with the ginger slices and cover it with a plate or a saucer and let it steam for 10 minutes 
4. Cut your lemon in half, remove your plate and squeeze the half lemon into your mug.
5. Add your honey and stir until the ingredients are all mixed. Enjoy.

Notes 

Always let the water cool down a bit before you add in your honey. You should never put raw honey in boiling water because it will kill off most of the raw honey benefits.

Hope you enjoyed this recipe and if you are not feeling well right now, we wish you a speedy recovery!