It seems like only yesterday that people were prescribing a Hot Toddy as a cure for the common cold. The old remedies called for a shot of whiskey or scotch to “soothe your throat.”
The added alcohol may have made you drift off to sleep a little bit faster, but we know today that it really won’t do much for your cold symptoms.
So guess what gets scrapped in my version of the Healthy Hot Toddy?
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but I’m giving booze the boot. In my version, which is perfectly legal for those under the age of 21, I’ve got a recipe that’s designed to reduce the symptoms of the common cold:
Healthy Hot Toddy
1 cup hot water (not warm, HOT)
Roughly 1 inch fresh ginger, juiced
½ lemon, juiced
3 Tbsp honey
Now let’s take a closer look at what makes the Healthy Hot Toddy so effective:
• Staying hydrated a top priority. Anytime you’re sick, you want to stay hydrated. To do that, you must avoid anything that can dehydrate the body, such as caffeine, refined sugars, carbonation and alcohol (i.e. scotch and whiskey). The steam from the Healthy Hot Toddy also soothes the sinuses, so make sure it’s nice and hot.
• Ginger – nature’s natural cough-drop. Ginger is a great way to combat the common cold. It suppresses coughs by stimulating circulation. With less congestion and mucus, any coughing you do will be more productive. Ginger, along with lemon and honey, is great for calming those upset stomachs.
• Lemon boosts Vitamin C while adding great taste. Lemon adds great flavor. It also adds Vitamin C, which boosts immunity and decreases toxicity in your body. Because a lemon is incredibly alkaline, it can help rebalance your body chemistry. It’s also a great way to loosen congestion.
• Honey soothes those sore throats. Honey is the bee’s knees when it comes to coating and soothing your throat. It’s a great way to get rid of those irritating tickles.
I’m hoping that you never need to use this recipe. But if the common cold pays you a visit, give it a try. Sorry, you will have to trim the traditional booze and whiskey from the mix. But instead of giving you the bed spins, The Healthy Hot Toddy will help tame your symptoms.
And who wouldn’t drink to that?