Health Boosting Syrup
Health Boosting Syrup is our emergency concoction for any ailment. Feeling that scratch creep in or cough get serious, we combine this syrup with standard over-the-counter medications. We jokingly refer to this as my witch’s brew. But don’t discount the effectiveness of the immune system boosting components.
It’s important to point out that I’m not a medical professional and have no medical training. I come from a family of folks who understand the importance of food as the first building block in health. We grow fruits and vegetables, eat healthfully, and supplement with vitamins. Of course, that doesn’t keep all of the ailments away. Especially while living in California’s Sacramento valley filled with allergens. But we’ve never been people who run to the doctor for every sniffle and sneeze. This is partly due to most of us suffering from allergies regardless of the season.
So, along with getting familiar with every OTC medication on the drug store shelf, I became well-versed in home remedies. I’ll try anything that helps get me on my feet as quickly as possible.
- Scratchy throat or preparing for a vocal performance? Drink hot water with lemon and honey. It does wonders for the throat and upper respiratory system.
- Achy and generally feeling crappy? Have a hot toddy (or two)! Warm up ginger ale, cinnamon stick, whole cloves, pour in a mug, add a slice of lemon and a shot of whiskey. It relaxes the body and mind so you can get a good night’s sleep.
- Next level funk? Make this honey-based syrup with garlic and ginger and eat it by the spoonful.
The components in this Health Boosting Syrup are powerful but a little rough when eaten individually in their raw form. When put together, the flavors blend well, become much more palatable, but still retain their great raw properties. These ingredients all come together in a slightly spicy, yet tasty syrup that has helped us through many colds and respiratory infections.
- Garlic is known for fighting infections and boosting the immune system.
- Ginger has powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric is reported to have antiviral and anti-inflammatory characteristics.
- Honey has a multitude of benefits including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties. It’s also a good source of antioxidants and great for soothing a sore throat. A squeeze of lemon thins the mixture as well as adding vitamin C and a little acidic lift.
Health Boosting Syrup
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Garlic cloves, grated 4-5 good sized cloves
- 1 tbsp Ginger, grated 1-1.5" chunk of fresh ginger
- 1 tsp Turmeric
- ½ Lemon, juiced
- ⅓ cup Honey
Instructions
- Grate garlic and ginger with a rasp. Add turmeric, lemon juice, and honey. Stir well to combine.
- For general health, eat 1 tablespoon per day. If fighting an active ailment, eat 1 teaspoon every 2-3 hours.
