Lemon Ginger Tonic

I've been fighting some nasty germs lately (the really mean ones).  Luckily though, I think I'm finally winning.

I don't like being sick.  I hate having to eat "sick food" because everything else makes you nauseous.  Or when your body gets too warm, then too cold, then too warm again.  And that feeling like you need to take a nap every half hour. 

Although it's not fun to be sick, there are a few benefits. Like lying on the couch in a snuggie watching an entire season of Friends while asking your significant other to grab you a sparkling water from the fridge. With exactly eight ice cubes and the juice from half a lemon.

No, wait, a lime.

No, lemon.  Definitely lemon.

With a straw, pretty please?

Yeah, you only get star treatment like this if you're sick.

The only thing that's been saving me the past few days is this drink.  And I'm pretty convinced this is what cured my sore throat and started turning this battle around. 

Now, before we continue, I do have to warn you that there is honey in this tonic.  There are a lot of people who do not consider honey to be vegan and so I have never posted anything with honey on this blog.  However, I'm personally not opposed to using honey and it's an essential part of this drink.  If you are allergic or don't use honey, you can always omit it or sub another sweetener instead.  (Apple juice is perfect in this.) 

The reason I say that honey is essential is because it is a natural immunity booster.  Honey contains antioxidants, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, is a good source of vitamins and minerals, and aids in digestion.  Lemon juice helps to make the body more alkaline and restore pH balance.  Ginger is wonderful for digestion and helps with nausea.  Together this makes a pretty tasty and powerful drink.

Since I have a juicer, I usually juice the lemon (removing the peel first) and ginger.  However, if you do not have a juicer, you can still squeeze the juice from the lemon.  Then you can either zest the ginger and add to the tonic, or, chop up the ginger into chunks and boil in the water for a few minutes then remove. 

I typically drink this hot, but you could also serve it cold or substitute sparking water for tap water. 

 Lemon Ginger Tonic

1 lemon
1 piece of ginger (about the size of your pinky)
1 - 2 Tablespoons of honey
1 cup of boiling water

Juice the lemon and ginger.  Add to your favorite mug with the honey.  Pour in the boiling water and drink as soon as the temperature is suitable.