This winter feels particularly cold and damp, not to mention interminable! Everyone I meet at the moment seems to be battling one of the many bugs doing the rounds or slowly recovering from one. Whichever side of the sickness fence you find yourself on, this punchy but soothing infusion will bring a bit of comfort and relief. It’s packed with immunity-boosting ingredients well-known for their infection-fighting properties:
- Garlic, ginger and turmeric’s immune-boosting properties can help fight infection. The medicinal benefits of garlic come from a concentration of sulphur-containing compounds that have antibacterial properties and can help boost immunity. (You might feel put off by the idea of adding garlic to an essentially sweet drink, but the flavour is really subtle and far outweighed by the benefits). Ginger is another ingredient many turn to after getting sick and is great for bringing relief from the common cold. It’s a potent anti-inflammatory that can help reduce the symptoms of a sore throat and it can also help with Turmeric comes from the same family as ginger and contains the chemical compound curcumin, well-known as a powerful anti-inflammatory and immunity-booster.
- Most of us automatically turn to vitamin C when we have a cold or flu, and rightly so. Vitamin C helps support our immune systems and is believed to increase the production of white blood cells, which are key to fighting infections. While vitamin C won’t prevent you catching the common cold, it can certainly reduce the amount of time your sickness lasts. Our immunity brew doesn’t only get its vitamin C from lemon juice, but also the red chilli which, serving for serving, contains more vitamin C than an orange!
- As well as being high in Vitamin C, chillis are also a great source of Vitamin A which is essential for supporting mucosa tissue, such as your respiratory passages, urinary tract and intestinal tract. These systems are the body’s primary defence again outside infections and germs, so Vitamin A can also help you avoid winter bugs. But if you do fall victim, a good spicy chilli will definitely help clear congestion!
- Finally, honey is a wonder-ingredient with multiple medicinal properties, including antibiotic, antiseptic and antioxidant properties which make it effective in fighting respiratory infections, soothing coughs and relieving sore throats.
Immunity Brew
Makes 750ml
- 1 Lemon, juiced
- 1inch Fresh ginger, sliced
- 1 inch Fresh turmeric, sliced (or 1 tsp powdered turmeric)
- 1-2 tbsp Honey (optional – add to taste)
- 1 Red chilli, chopped
- 2 Garlic cloves, unpeeled, kept whole
- 750ml Water
Method:
- Put all the ingredients in a medium-sized saucepan and bring to the boil.
- Simmer for 15 minutes, then strain into a jug. Serve warm, with extra honey if desired.
- This will keep for 4-5 days in the fridge and can be reheated as needed.