8 ANTI-INFLAMMATORY DRINKS | to enjoy for health & wellness
Last year, I created an article discussing the anti-inflammatory foods that I regularly consume. With over 2.5 million views, it has been incredibly popular. Today, I wanted to follow up on that article by discussing the anti-inflammatory drinks that I enjoy and believe you will too. These beverages provide a wide range of nutrients, antioxidants, and compounds that combat free radicals, effectively reducing inflammation and boosting our immune systems. Given the circumstances of this year, I think we could all benefit from that. In today's assortment of drinks, you'll notice a prominent presence of orange-colored beverages. This is because turmeric is a key ingredient in many of them, ranging from warm teas to refreshing smoothies. I deliberately excluded golden milk from this article, as I have already covered it in a separate piece. Instead, I wanted to provide you with fresh and new recipes. However, golden milk is undoubtedly a classic anti-inflammatory drink. Before we begin, I would like to remind you that printable versions of all these recipes, along with more, can be found on my website. Without further delay, let's dive into the first drink - a rich and robust elderberry tea. I'm sure you've heard of elderberry before, as it is a fruit known for boosting the immune system and is commonly used in various cold and flu remedies, such as lozenges and syrups. Today, we'll skip the added sugars, colorings, and other ingredients often found in commercial products and instead prepare a simple three-ingredient tea to directly harness the health benefits of elderberries. To make a delicious and health-boosting elderberry tea, start by adding two cups of water and two tablespoons of dried elderberries to a pot. As the water heats up, you'll notice the berries releasing their rich, dark color. Enhance the flavor and enjoy the added anti-inflammatory benefits by adding a cinnamon stick to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Once done, turn off the heat and allow the tea to rest for five minutes before straining it. To avoid spills, it's helpful to strain the tea into a larger measuring cup before transferring it to your favorite cup or mug. This tea is perfect for warming up on chilly days, but if you prefer a refreshing option, simply chill the tea and serve it over ice for a delightful iced tea. Moving on to another drink, let me introduce you to jamu, a traditional Indonesian beverage. Jamu is known for its numerous health benefits, especially during my personal experience with an autoimmune flare-up. While there are different variations of jamu, the main ingredient is usually turmeric. For the best results, I recommend using fresh turmeric root if it's available to you. Fresh turmeric root resembles ginger in size and shape, but when you open it, you'll notice its vibrant orange color, distinguishing it from ginger's light yellow hue. Combining these two powerful ingredients creates a potent anti-inflammatory drink. To prepare jamu, start by roughly chopping approximately one cup of turmeric and a finger-sized piece of ginger. Since we'll be straining the mixture later, you can skip the peeling step if desired, but be sure to give the turmeric and ginger a good scrub. Slice them into pieces about a quarter inch thick and add them to a blender. For better curcumin absorption from the turmeric, sprinkle in a little black pepper. Additionally, pour in four cups of coconut water, which contains antioxidants and electrolytes. Blend the ingredients on high speed for about a minute until the mixture is fairly smooth. Transfer the blended mixture to a pot and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 20 minutes. After simmering, turn off the heat and stir in the juice from one lemon and two tablespoons of honey. Give it a good mix. To strain the mixture, you can use a fine mesh strainer or a nut milk bag. Keep in mind that the mixture may stain the nut milk bag, as well as any clothes, countertops, or surfaces it comes into contact with, so handle with care. For less mess, strain the mixture into a larger measuring bowl with a pour spout before pouring it into a glass jar for storage in the fridge. Jamu can be enjoyed warm or chilled, and it will stay fresh for about a week. Remember to give it a good shake before serving. I typically enjoy about half a cup at a time. Lastly, let's discuss a simple turmeric tea option. In a pot, add two cups of water and this time, instead of fresh turmeric, we'll use ground turmeric for convenience. To prepare the turmeric tea, combine half a teaspoon of ground turmeric, a quarter teaspoon of black pepper, and two tablespoons of lemon juice (equivalent to the juice of one lemon) in a pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 10 minutes. After simmering, turn off the heat, stir in some honey if desired, and allow the tea to cool for a minute or two. To strain out the black pepper, pour the tea through a strainer into a mug, being careful not to spill any turmeric. If there are any spills, wipe them up immediately. For an extra touch, add a few fresh lemon slices. Note that the tea will be piping hot, so take a small sip cautiously. Moving on to ginger shots, which are a highly requested recipe. Store-bought ginger shots can be expensive, but this homemade version tastes just like the popular wellness shots. To make them, you'll need a quarter cup of roughly chopped ginger root (peeling is optional) and a third cup of lemon juice (about three to four lemons, depending on their size). Place the ginger and lemon juice in a high-powered blender, along with a quarter cup of coconut water and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Blend on high for approximately one minute until the mixture is smooth. After blending, strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on the solids with a spoon to extract as much juice as possible. Pour the strained liquid into a shot glass and consume it all at once. These homemade ginger shots are equally potent and flavorful as the store-bought ones. Now, let's move on to a refreshing pineapple turmeric smoothie, perfect for hot weather. For this recipe, grate approximately one tablespoon of fresh turmeric and one teaspoon of fresh ginger. Both the turmeric and ginger should be peeled for this particular smoothie, as it will not be strained later. In a high-powered blender, combine one cup of dairy-free milk, two cups of frozen pineapple chunks (loaded with enzymes and antioxidants), one banana (providing creaminess and potassium), and the grated turmeric and ginger. Blend until smooth, and enjoy a mild turmeric drink with a sweet tropical twist that will make you feel good from the inside out. If you prefer an anti-inflammatory smoothie without turmeric but still packed with nutrients and antioxidants, try this delicious blueberry smoothie. In your blender, combine two cups of coconut water, two cups of frozen blueberries, one frozen banana, half a cup of yogurt or dairy-free kefir (for beneficial probiotics), and one tablespoon of flax seeds (high in healthy omega-3 fats and thickening properties). Blend for approximately 30 seconds until the mixture is creamy and purple. Pour the smoothie into a glass, add a straw if desired, and indulge in this sweet and nutrient-rich beverage. Finally, let's explore how to make green juice, inspired by a popular juice brand. Gather two tablespoons of lime juice (usually obtained from one lime), one sliced cucumber, three roughly chopped stalks of celery, one sliced apple (any variety will do), a small piece of fresh ginger, three kale leaves (stems removed), and one cup of spinach. Add the lime juice, cucumber, apple, ginger, celery, kale leaves, and spinach to a blender. Due to the absence of water in this recipe, you may need to use a tamper to push the ingredients into the blades. To facilitate blending, start with the cucumber and apple as they contain more liquid. After approximately one minute, the mixture should blend smoothly, just like any other green smoothie. To ensure easy digestion, consider transforming this beverage into a green juice. Simply strain it through a nut milk bag into a bowl and then transfer it to a glass. This green juice is packed with nutrients and has a subtle sweetness from the apple. If you're wondering how to make green juice without a juicer, this is the method for you. Next on our list of anti-inflammatory drinks is the apple carrot beet smoothie. Its vibrant red color indicates its rich antioxidant content. This smoothie is a great way to consume your vegetables. Start by peeling, trimming, and cutting three carrots into two-inch chunks. You'll also need one medium beet, which you can choose to peel or not. I generally do a rough peel and then slice the beet into large chunks. For natural sweetness, add one sliced apple of your choice and the juice of one large orange. In a high-powered blender, combine the orange juice, apple, carrots, beet, and a small piece of fresh ginger. Blend on high for about a minute or until the vegetables are completely smooth. This smoothie is thick and loaded with vitamins and nutrients. If you prefer a smoother texture, you can strain it as well. We all have different preferences, so feel free to customize it to your liking. I hope you enjoyed these drink recipes. Remember, moderation and variety are important. Have fun experimenting with different healthy foods and beverages throughout the week. That's all for me today. Goodbye!
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.