There are many home recipes for warming beverages which are much in demand during winter. But there are some with excellent health benefits with the added bonus of being tasty and keeping people warm. Here are a few recipes for our readers to try out.
Hot Water And Lemon
Ingredients:
- 1 to 1 1/2 cups boiling water
- The juice of half a squeezed lemon
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- A little red chili powder or cayenne to taste
- Pinch coarse sea salt
- A little raw cane sugar
Directions:
Mix in mug and stir well.
The credit for this recipe goes to Anupy Singla who had it passed down to her as a family recipe. She has authored cookbooks such as ‘Indian For Everyone’ and a blog entitled ‘Indian As Apple Pie’. Food consultant Kantha Shelke from Corvus Blue LLC extolled the health benefits of the beverage as the turmeric possesses both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties while the hot water and lemon combination helps flush out toxins from the liver and kidneys. The chili powder or cayenne help to boost the metabolism.
Almond Milk Cold Fighter
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- Cinnamon, turmeric, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper to taste
- Freshly ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 dash stevia
Directions:
Heat almond milk in saucepan, add all ingredients, then whisk or mix them together.
The drink was created by clinical nutritionist and founder of the Brooklyn Bridge Boot Camp, Ariane Hundt. She advises drinking it hot and claims it helps in fighting off the onset of a cold or flu. Raising body temperature through hot beverages, saunas, the intake of heat-producing foods etc helps to destroy viruses. The body does this naturally by generating a fever when coming down with an infection. The cinnamon and nutmeg within the drink raise the heat and balance blood sugar as does the cayenne pepper which is also a metabolic stimulant. The turmeric and ginger help to settle the stomach because of their anti-inflammatory properties.
Hot Apple Cider And Cinnamon
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cider and a cinnamon stick.
Directions:
Pour cider and add cinnamon stick.
Janet McKenzie, a naturopathic doctor at Summit Natural Health Center, says the drink is rich in Vitamin C, iron, and pectin, a soluble fiber. Apple cider helps with tissue repair and regeneration and boosts the immune system and adrenal glands. Cinnamon promotes good digestion and regulates blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.
Hot Ginger Tea
Ingredients:
- 3 ounces thinly-sliced ginger root
- 1 cup water
Directions:
Boil and then strain. Add honey to taste.
This is another drink promoted by Dr. McKenzie. Ginger promotes good digestion and can reduce the severity of discomfort in conditions like osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia. It also helps with coughing and scratchy throats and can be taken on its own or with some honey.
Hot Turmeric Milk
Ingredients:
- 2 cups unsweetened almond milk
- 1/2 cup light coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 black peppercorn
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch cayenne
- Pinch nutmeg
- (Optional: 1 tablespoon chia seeds)
Directions:
Process all the ingredients in a blender thoroughly. Heat liquid mixture on stovetop on low-medium heat but do not boil it as this will destroy the ingredients. Drink it when it has reached the desired temperature.
The concentration of curcumin in turmeric makes it highly effective for treating joint pain and inflammation.
Immune Boosting Spicy Coconut Tea Tonic
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/4 teaspoon clove powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- A little cayenne pepper to taste
- 1 Rooibos teabag of choice
- Optional: One drop pure cinnamon essential oil
- 1 cinnamon stick
Directions:
Heat all the ingredients except the cinnamon oil and let simmer for 5 minutes. After removing it from the heat, stir in the cinnamon oil and drink it as is. It can also be strained before drinking for those who prefer it this way.
The drink fortifies the immune system, soothes inflammation, and eases digestion. It also is an antioxidant and provides protection against bacteria and microbes.
Winter Warmer – A Powerhouse Of A Beverage
Our final recommendation, known as the Winter Warmer, combines many of the ingredients mentioned in the above drinks, providing a host of benefits in the process. It contains lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and ginger. The combined effect of these ingredients improves blood sugar, improves digestive health, helps with coughing, helps with stomach disorders, stimulates the metabolism, relieves cramps (the ginger) and is rich in antioxidants.
Ingredients for 1 drink
- 2 tablespoons raw unfiltered organic apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- A small quantity of diced fresh ginger
- A pinch of cayenne pepper
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 tsp. raw honey
Directions:
Mix all the ingredients in about 12 ounces of warm to hot water and drink.
This drink provides virtually all of the therapeutic effects of all the other six beverages alluded to above. For people who want an all-purpose health beverage which is easy to prepare, the Winter Warmer is recommended. Otherwise the reader can go for whichever of the above is most appealing or try several or all of them.
