Make a batch of this lemon ginger wellness tonic on Sunday night and drink it throughout the week. A simple, affordable recipe that can help support your health during cold and flu season.

After getting back-to-back-to-back colds earlier this fall, I decided it was time to start doing more, diet-wise, to support my health.

In an affordable way, of course.

So I made a batch lemon ginger wellness tonic. And it’s quickly becoming part of my weekly recipe rotation.

Note: I’m not making any health claims, but just sharing what I do to try to keep myself healthy during cold and flu season. I’ve linked to three health sources (Cleveland Clinic, WebMd, and National Library of Medicine) if you care to read more about the health benefits of the ingredients in this tonic.

A Simple Wellness Tonic To Start Your Day

This wellness tonic calls for just three simple, easy-to-find ingredients:

• Ginger: According to Cleveland Clinic, ginger has anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiviral, and antibacterial properties. Flavor-wise, it gives this tonic a spicy, zippy flavor. I used two thumb-sized pieces of ginger for this recipe. Feel free to use more if you like more ginger flavor.
• Lemon: Fresh lemon juice is packed with vitamin C, which helps support your immune system. It has other health-supporting benefits, as well. Flavor-wise, it gives this wellness tonic lots of flavor.
• Honey: Honey activates immune response in an infection. So this drink is good to have on hand for general wellness or if you’re already sick. Be sure to use raw honey – local, if possible – for this recipe.

The Process

This wellness tonic is super easy to make. Scroll down for full recipe, but here’s what you need to know:

• Start with 6 cups of filtered water: You can adjust the amount up or down if you want to make more or less.
• Add two large knobs of fresh ginger root (peeled) – about the size of your thumb.
• Bring to a simmer and let it simmer for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, juice two lemons. 
• Turn off heat, remove ginger, add lemon juice. 
• Wait a few minutes to cool slightly and add about a tablespoon of honey.
• Refrigerate and sip throughout the week!

Save Money On Beverages By Making Them At Home

While I’m tempted to buy costly wellness drinks at the grocery store (like switchel, fresh juices, infused water, detox drinks, etc.) – I try to make these drinks at home instead.

Beverages can be a very costly item on your grocery list.

One of my go-to pieces of advice for people looking to save money on groceries is to stop buying specialty beverages (soda, kombucha, iced tea, fancy coffee, bottled smoothies, protein drinks, etc.) and start making them at home.

This is a great started recipe if you’re looking to save money on beverages! Then you can start experimenting with other similar drinks. Perhaps you’d want to add some fresh lime juice or a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Or maybe you’d want to add a knob of fresh turmeric to the simmering water. 

The idea is, there are countless ways to make a healthy wellness drink. 

While I love sipping this wellness drink in the fall and winter during cold and flu season, it’s a great drink to enjoy all year round. In the summer heat, the spicy-tangy flavor really quenches your thirst.

Continue to Content

Lemon Ginger Wellness Tonic

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Feel free to adjust the ginger, lemon, and honey amounts up or down to make a more or less spicy, sour or sweet tonic.

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Ingredients

• 6 cups filtered water
• 2 thumb-sized knobs of fresh ginger, peeled
• 2 lemons, juiced
• 1 tablespoon raw honey

Instructions

1. Place water and ginger knobs in a large pot. Turn on heat and bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Turn off heat, remove ginger, and add lemon juice.
3. Cool for about 5 minutes. Mix in honey.
4. Transfer to a carafe and refrigerate.
5. Sip wellness tonic throughout the week.

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