Ginger Tea with Lemon, Mint and Fresh Local Honey

A hot cup of ginger root tea with lemon, mint and honey is a soothing beverage with amazing immune boosting content. Four simple ingredients provide a refreshing drink at any time of day. Make as a large pot at home or single serving on the go.

Try this super simple tea for an Immune System Boost!

Honey: Honey has numerous medicinal properties and because it coats your throat it is a natural way to soothe sore throats. It also has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties to help fight infections from viruses, bacteria, and fungi.

It’s a phytonutrient powerhouse! Phytonutrients are compounds found in plants that help protect the plant from harm. For example, some keep insects away or shield the plant from ultraviolet radiation.

The phytonutrients in honey are responsible for its antioxidant properties, as well as its antibacterial and antifungal power. They’re also thought to be the reason raw honey has shown immune-boosting and anticancer benefits. Heavy processing destroys these valuable nutrients.

Mint: Mint is packed with a varied range of antioxidants that help prevent free radical activity. Free radical activity could take a toll on your immunity. Mint is also enriched with anti-inflammatory properties that help ease discomfort and pain that is often tied with cold and flu.

The leaves of mint contain so many different nutrients, e.g. fibre, vitamin A, Iron and Manganese. This makes the plant brilliant for your immune system. It gives your bodies substances that are usually hard to find anywhere else! The main benefits of mint nutrients is all these antioxidants. They reduce stress and protect damage to cells caused by free radicals meaning this plant is really healthy for your body!

Ginger: Due to its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, ginger may boost immune health.

Although acute inflammation is an important part of normal immune response, chronic inflammation can harm your immune system, potentially increasing your chances of illness.

Upping your intake of antioxidant-rich foods and beverages like ginger shots may combat inflammation and keep your immune system healthy.

Many test-tube and animal studies suggest that ginger can enhance immune response. What’s more, ginger has powerful antiviral and antibacterial properties.

One test-tube study found that fresh ginger had antiviral effects against human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), which causes respiratory infections, and helped boost immune response against HRSV.

Plus, many common ginger tea ingredients, such as honey and lemon, may also improve immune health. For example, both honey and lemon have been shown to have antibacterial and antiviral effects.

Additionally, may safeguard your immune system and enhance immune response.

Lemon: Lemons are high in vitamin C, a natural antioxidant which enhances the immune system and has antiviral and antibacterial properties. However, apart from supporting the immune system and tasting good, lemons have many other purported benefits and uses: they prevent bacterial growth and infections, and relieve nausea.

Everyone knows that lemons and other citrus fruits are an excellent source of vitamin C, among many other nutrients. In recent years, researchers around the world have studied the effects of vitamin C and its important and multi-functional role in human health. One area where it is known to play an enormous role is in the immune system.

Lemons and zinc:

A study by researchers in Switzerland in 2006 and published in the Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism looked at the role of both vitamin C and zinc in boosting the immune system, and whether that effect could apply to patients with specific conditions, such as respiratory tract infections, and the common cold, among others.

It is known that the levels of vitamin C in the blood serum drop when the body is under physical or mental stress, or when it is under attack by an infection. That is likely because the body’s immune system is using more of it when it is under attack by infection.

• Vitamin C improves the function of what are called natural killer cells, which help to eliminate infection, and aid in antimicrobial activity;
• It helps the body’s own helper cells such as lymphocytes;
• It helps the body’s cells maintain their integrity, and resist oxidative damage.

Zinc also acts on specific elements of the body’s immune response, so the two were studied together. Both nutrients are crucial to maintaining good health.

• They help the body resist infectious diseases;
• They reduce the severity of an episode of infection;
• They reduce the length of infection.

Keeping you healthy

The study looked at the results of what it called a “large number” of trials where patients were given up to 1g of vitamin C and up to 30mg of zinc. What they found was significant.

• Intake of vitamin C and zinc improved symptoms;
• It was also associated with shortened time span of the infection, disease or condition.
• This response was associated with a variety of conditions, including:
  • Respiratory infections;
  • The common cold;
  • Pneumonia;
  • Malaria;
  • Diarrhea infections in children.

What does it all mean? Eating lemons – which contain about 60mcg of zinc per 100g – and other citrus fruits helps to boost your immune system and keep you healthy, and an extra boost will help when you are battling a cold or other infection.

4 Ingredient Immune Boosting Take-Anywhere Tea

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 4 slices lemon, ¼-inch thick
• ginger, 2-inch piece, peeled, cut into 8 slices
• 12 mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon fresh local honey

Instructions

• Add water, 3 slices of lemon, and ginger slices in a small pot. Bring to a boil, and then reduce heat. Add 10 mint leaves and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add fresh local honey (this will help protect you from allergens in your locality!!)
• Strain and serve the tea with a half slice of lemon and one mint leaf.

Special Equipment

• 1 qt. Saucepan
• Strainer

Notes:

Recipe Yield: 2 cups

For a single serving cup: Reduce all ingredients in half and add to a large cup. Add very hot water and allow to tea to steep at least 10 minutes, or until the desired flavour is achieved.