lemons and limes in a row

Begin Your Day with a Healthy Tonic

Packed with vitamins and minerals, tonics are an excellent addition to any nutrition plan. Full of vitamins, medicinal properties, and preventive power, health tonics are another tool in arsenal of a strong immune system.

They are also easy to make using simple ingredients found in the refrigerator, pantry, garden, and spice cabinet.

Beyond macronutrients and energy, many of the ingredients common in health tonics have been linked to specific physical benefits, such as:

  • Anti-inflammatory – black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, lime, paprika
  • Anti-nausea - ginger
  • Antioxidants – black pepper, cinnamon, coconut water, cucumber, ginger, honey, kale, lemon, lime, orange, paprika, spinach, turmeric
  • Digestive Health – apple cider vinegar, ginger, honey, lemon, lime, turmeric
  • Heart Health – cayenne pepper, ginger, honey, turmeric
  • Hydration – coconut water, cucumber, lemon, lime, orange, mineral water
  • Lower Blood Sugar – apple, cinnamon, kale, paprika
  • Minerals (calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, sodium) – honey, kale, spinach, mineral water
  • Silica (promotes connective tissue repair)- cucumber
  • Skin Health – carrot, lemon, lime, orange, spinach
  • Vitamin A – kale, spinach,
  • Vitamin C – lemon, lime, kale, orange, spinach,
  • Vitamin K – carrot, kale

Creating a hydrating, anti-inflammatory, low sugar, high vitamin, antioxidant-rich tonic is quick and easy. Keep it simple by selecting ingredients on hand. Combine them along with a liquid in a juicer, Nutribullet, blender, or food processor. In about 10 minutes, an immune boosting tonic will be ready with enough left over for tomorrow.

Check out the recipes below or create your own.

Tasty Tonic

Inspired by First Watch

Ingredients

  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 3 kale leaves
  • 1 organic fuji apple
  • 1/3 large cucumber
  • ½ C water
  • Additional water to thin if desired

Instructions

  1. Put all ingredients in a blender or juicer of choice. Pulse on high for 30 seconds or until all ingredients liquefy.
  2. Add more water if too thick.
  3. Strain to remove pulp if desired.
  4. Sip immediately or store in glass jars for use within 48 hours.

Citrus Energy Tonic

Ingredients

  • 1 tsp local honey
  • ½ C coconut water
  • ¼ C fresh lemon juice
  • ¼ C fresh lime juice
  • ½ C cold water or mineral water
  • Paprika (sweet or hot as preferred)

Instructions

  1. Whisk honey with coconut water.
  2. Add in lemon and lime juice.
  3. Stir or whisk to combine.
  4. Stir in ½ C water.
  5. Top with a dash of paprika.
  6. Pour into a small juice glass and sip.

 

Anti-Inflammatory Turmeric Tonic

Ingredients

  • 1 Carrot, washed and cut into chunks
  • 1 Orange, peeled and sectioned, pith removed
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 C coconut water
  • 2 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp virgin coconut oil
  • 1 tbsp peeled and chopped fresh turmeric
  • 1 tbsp peeled and chopped fresh ginger
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper
  • Dash of cayenne pepper
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Place all ingredients into blender o juicer of choice. Blend or pulse until liquefied. Add water to thin if needed.
  2. Pour into a small juice glass and sip.
  3. Store extra in a glass container for use within 2 days.

Sources:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-kale#section11

Amazing Mighty Ginger

Benefits of Lime

Coconut Water

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The Juicery

Information presented by W(h)ealth should not be relied upon to determine diet, make a medical diagnosis, or determine treatment for a medical condition. The information is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Consult a doctor and/or medical professional before making any health changes, especially any changes related to a specific diagnosis or condition.