My Favourite Winter Warmer
Without fail this recipe stays as one of my winter staples; it has been my saviour for the last few years and I’ve shared it numerous times with my clients, so it’s time it made it to the blog – especially after I ran into one of my old clients in the supermarket recently, and he told me he’s not struggled with winter illnesses since adding this to his routine two years ago!
I have to admit, it works this way for me too; every time I feel a little cold or sore throat starting to niggle, I get straight onto having this drink once or sometimes twice a day, and it’s not failed me yet; I swear it even got me through COVID quicker than my husband (who refused to try it – more fool him!). My favourite way to have it is warm, with almond milk (therefore without the lemon juice), but there are so many different options – see what works best for you
Benefits of Golden Tonic Drinks
Long since hailed a pot of gold in Eastern culture, the Western world is finally catching on to the benefits of natural plant medicine, including turmeric, and it’s component compound, curcumin, which is the star of the show where this recipe is concerned.
Not only does curcumin support gut and digestive health, with benefits including decreasing wind and bloating, it’s also thought to stimulate the production of bile, which assists in food breakdown for digestive purposes.
As if that wasn’t enough, turmeric and curcumin are known to be powerful antioxidants and boost anti-inflammatory responses, which is why this drink is such a great choice if you’re feeling under the weather. However, the benefits to our health don’t stop there, with these plant derivatives being known to ease joint and muscle aches, ease swelling, improve low mood, as well as boosting cognition through the stimulation of growth of new brain connections and pathways.
The inclusion of ginger assists brain health through increasing memory retention, whilst cinnamon is another powerful plant ally in decreasing inflammation. The caveat for this recipe is that you also need the black pepper to stimulate turmeric and curcumin absorption for maximum benefits.
Want to give it a go? Try the recipe and mix up the quantities until you find what works best for you
Soothing Golden Tonic Recipe
- 1 cup water or almond milk
- 1/2 – 1 tsp turmeric
- 1/2-1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 4 grinds of black pepper (or 1 crushed peppercorn)
- 1 tsp honey
- 2 tblsp lemon juice (if a cold drink)
Blend all ingredients together stirring with a spoon. If making into a warm drink, heat gently and allow to simmer for a few minutes to let the flavours develop. Strain if desired (I don’t bother with this step). Enjoy!
Can be made as a warm or hot drink