Lemon-Ginger Green Tea – Boost Your Immune System + Mental Health

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Ingredients:

Makes 1 Serving

• Ginger – 1” root
• Cinnamon – 1⁄4 tsp
• Thrive Market: Australian Manuka Raw Honey – 1⁄2 tbsp
• Organic Green Tea – 2 tea bags
• Lemon –  1/4 – 1/2
• 1st Phorm: (Unflavored) Collagen + Dermaval – 1 scoop
• Water – 2 cups

Instructions:

• Bring 2 cups of cold water just under a boil on medium-high heat (As the water boils, some will evaporate, leaving less water than starting; you may also have some extra leftover depending on the size of your cup, that you can reuse later.)
• Add 1” of freshly peeled, sliced ginger root to the boiling water.
• Add 1⁄8 – 1⁄4 tsp of cinnamon to the boiling water.
• Add 1⁄2 tbsp of raw honey to the boiling water & gently whisk.
• Boil mixture for 5-10 minutes, occasionally stirring.
• Place 2 organic green tea bags into your cup of choice
• Strain boiled mixture over the tea bags.
• Juice 1⁄4 – 1⁄2 of a freshly squeezed lemon
• Steep for 3-5 minutes
• Remove tea bags
• Add 1 scoop of unflavored collagen + dermaval & stir
• Let sit for 5-10 minutes, until cooled to a warm temperature.

Sip, & Enjoy!

Benefits & Substitutions:

Water

Water is required by every cell in the body & is vital for all body functions. Water helps transport oxygen & nutrients, crucial for brain function; water also provides cushioning & lubrication to brain tissue.

Ginger

Lemon

Lemons contain lots of Vitamin C, known to lower stress hormones, also helping to keep free radicals in the body in control. Vitamin C also helps in the recovery of the adrenal gland that is impacted by stress.

Cinnamon

Studies suggest that the scent of cinnamon can improve performance in several types of memory tasks. Cinnamon is also a good source of manganese, an antioxidant crucial for brain & body health.

Collagen

Collagen is a key ingredient in keeping every joint, tendon, bone, & ligament in the body healthy. It is found in all of these tissues, & also improves skin health, nail strength, & slows the effects of aging.

I aim towards the unflavored collagen powders (considering most flavored powders contain gums, natural flavors, and artificial sweeteners that harm the microbiome + negatively affect gut health)! I use 1st Phorm: (Unflavored) Collagen + Dermaval, which includes all five collagen types: hydrolyzed bovine, bovine bone broth, chicken, egg, & fish. If you choose a different product, make sure to double-check what types of collagen are included in the blend, as some may only have 2-4 different types. Also, dissect the nutrition labels for any harmful ingredients!

Honey

Raw honey possesses anticonvulsant & antidepressant effects, as well as having neuroprotective effects. Consumption of honey also prevents metabolic stress & helps to soothe & calm the brain.

Thrive Market has a variety of healthy alternatives, which is where I order a bulk of seasonings, dressings, snacks, & other healthy options; they also have a membership that helps save money on each item by providing them at discounted prices! The best part? It’s delivered right to your door! I ordered Thrive Market: Australian Manuka, Raw Honey for this recipe, which comes in a BPA- free container & has only one ingredient: raw manuka honey! You could also use 100% blue agave instead of raw honey if you prefer. If you pick a different type of natural sweetener, make sure always to check the ingredient label! Again, a good rule of thumb is to look for products with five ingredients or less; if you can’t say or spell the ingredient listed on the label, you probably shouldn’t be putting it into your body!

Green Tea

Drinking about half a cup of green tea a day seems to lower the risk of developing depression & dementia. Tea is also rich in the antioxidant EGCG, which makes people feel calmer, improves memory & attention.

There are a variety of green teas on the market; however, for this recipe, I use Bigelow: Organic Green Tea. This tea is caffeinated, although feel free to swap it with decaffeinated organic green tea! Whichever tea you decide to use, check the ingredient label for organic green tea. A good rule of thumb is to look for products with five ingredients or less; if you can’t say or spell the ingredient listed on the label, you probably shouldn’t be putting it into your body!

Cayenne

The active ingredient capsaicin in cayenne peppers has metabolism-boosting properties. Capsaicin also has potent pain-relieving properties when applied to the skin in a cream.

 Spice it up & add a dash of cayenne pepper! Cayenne pepper is entirely optional for this recipe; however, it is an excellent addition if you want to add an extra kick to your tastebuds & boost your metabolism! It’s also great when you have or feel a cold coming on, just be cautious of how much cayenne pepper you use; it’s HOT & SPICY! The maximum amount of cayenne I would toss into this recipe is 1/4 tsp (I know it doesn’t sound like much, I promise you, that’s SPICY!). Experiment & figure out what’s a good amount for YOU! After all, it’s YOUR journey!

For this recipe, I use cayenne pepper from Thrive Market. Thrive Market has a variety of healthy alternatives. I order a bulk of seasonings, dressings, snacks, & other healthy options; they also have a membership that helps save money on each item by providing them at discounted prices! The best part? It’s delivered right to your door!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ALL OF MY FREE RECIPES