Thyme and Lemon Tea

Thyme helps stimulate memory, ease headaches/muscle tension, soothe coughs, and fight colds and infections. This herb has some of the highest antioxidant levels and is packed with bioflavonoids such as lutein, zeaxanthin, and naringenin which have powerful effects on eliminating free-radicals and other disease producing substances from the body.

Ingredients:

5-7 sprigs of fresh thyme, rinsed and cleaned
12 oz of filtered water
1/2 small lemon
1 tsp honey

Directions:

Combine thyme and water in a small pot on the stove over medium-low heat.
Squeeze half of a lemon into the pot and add the pulp and rind.
Bring the pot to a simmer for five minutes.
Reduce the heat to low and allow it steep for five minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and allow the tea to cool.
Once the tea has cooled to a warm, drinkable temperature, add manuka honey and serve.

Beet-Ginger Juice

Beets serve as a natural source of antioxidants, vitamin C, and contain nitrates, which may help increase blood flow to the brain and can help improve cognitive function. Gingers powerful anti-inflammatory benefits are great for your skin and keeping your digestive system healthy.

Ingredients:

1 medium orange, peeled and quartered
3 kale leaves
1 medium apple, cut into wedges
1 medium carrot, peeled
1 large beet, peeled and cut into wedges
1 1-inch piece peeled fresh ginger
Ice cubes (optional)

Directions with juicer:

Working in this order, process orange, kale, apple, carrot, beet and ginger through a juicer according to the manufacturer's directions.
Fill 2 glasses with ice, if desired, and pour the juice into the glasses. Serve immediately.

Carrot Juice

You can officially consider carrot juice a beauty superstar. This is because it's high in both antioxidants and vitamin C, which do wonders for the skin. Antioxidants protect the skin from free radicals, which damage skin cells. And vitamin c plays an important role in the skin's natural collagen production, which keeps skin looking young, firm, and elastic. It also contains beta carotene which helps support your immune system by protecting mucus integrity in the body and helping reduce inflammation.

Ingredients:

8 carrots
Orange Juice (optional)

Directions without juicer:

Wash the carrots (about 8) under cold running water. Scrub them with a vegetable brush if you can. Use a knife to cut off the broader end, where the carrot either was or still is attached to the green, leafy part of the plant.
Chop carrots into small 1 to 2 inch pieces.
Puree the carrots.
Mix with water. You want to thin out the taste of pure carrot a little by mixing the puree with water. This will both make it taste better, and also give you more juice.
- Bring two cups of water to a boil.
- Mix the carrot puree and hot water in a large glass container.
- Stir to ensure an even spread of puree throughout the mixture.
Let the mixture steep. One of water’s most incredible properties is how well it takes on nutrients and flavors when it’s hot. Just like tea, the longer you allow your carrot puree to steep in hot water, the better the juice will taste and serve your body nutritionally. Allow it stand for 15 to 30 minutes.
Remove the pulp. Using a hand strainer, strain the juice into a 2 liter pitcher.
Optional: Add orange juice, stir and then pour over ice.

Lemon Water

Lemon has an alkalizing effect on the body which greatly helps to balance the pH levels within the body. The little lemon has a big nutritional punch and is a great source of antioxidants. These antioxidants help to neutralize the free radicals from oxidizing cells. In addition, it helps to stimulate the digestive system and flushes out toxins that are in the body.

Ingredients:

1 lemon
filtered water

To infuse more flavor or add a health boost, try adding:

a few springs of mint
a teaspoon of maple syrup or raw honey
a slice of fresh ginger
a dash of cinnamon
a sprinkle of turmeric

Directions:

To make lemon water, squeeze half a lemon into 8 ounces of warm or cold water.

By adding these drinks to your weekly sip list, you can boost your immune system and obtain a healthy, radiant complexion, as they nourish your skin, brain and body. ENJOY!

References:

Eating Well. (2013). Healthy Juice Recipes [Ginger-Beet Juice]. Retrieved from https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/252665/ginger-beet-juice/

Medical Medium. (2019). Thyme Tea Water. Retrieved from https://www.medicalmedium.com/mm101/medical-medium-thyme-tea-water.htm

WikiHow. (2020). How to make carrot juice. Retrieved from https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Carrot-Juice

Well+Good. (2020) Thyme Tea Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.wellandgood.com/thyme-tea-benefits/

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