We all get sick and have our own ways of healing ourselves, but rarely is it something we would call enjoyment. This is a drink recipe to keep you hydrated, provide natural antioxidants, and it’s just down right good!
By: Elizabeth
Well, we may be in a pandemic, and although the normality of life has adjusted to the “new normal”, we are all still being socially responsible people and following CDC guidelines when we do venture out into the world. If you feel sick or have a slight cough, you go to your nearby Covid testing facility and get a rapid test to make sure you are not passing the virus along to friends, family, and heck…total strangers. None of us wants to be the one who makes someone else sick.
While this is all normal and we should be following CDC protocols, we are still vulnerable to passing and receiving germs in any given environment. Now, I do not know about you all, but I genuinely forgot that we can all still get sick with other illnesses…those are still out there too regardless of our safety precautions! Well, I certainly forgot…until about five days ago.
I was going about my regularly planned schedule on a Saturday, running errands, walking the dog, going to the community mailbox, making plans for lunch with girlfriends, and planning on visiting my husband at work. That was until I began coughing that morning. I was not feeling well, but I honestly thought it was my time of the month and it would pass. The following day, I couldn’t deny it anymore. My head felt like it was floating somewhere near the Earth’s ozone layer, I had sinus drainage that was yellow and contained blood, and I had a dry cough…no fever though.
But, I did the socially responsible thing, and went to a testing center. I have yet, to the best of my knowledge, actually had the coronavirus, but I was not going to take any chances and get the ones I love sick by continuing on with our plans. My test came back negative, so what the heck was wrong with me? Well, a quick call to the doctor on telemedicine, and it was confirmed…I have a cold and a sinus infection. Oh boy! One trip to walgreens produced an antibiotic prescription, a nasal spray, sinus relief medication, and lavender organic vapor rub.
The point of this story and my most recent realization is that I had let my guard down. In such a chaotic and hectic time with the global pandemic and all of us having isolation fatigue, I let my guard down. And while I did not actually have the coronavirus, it hit home to me that there are still other illnesses in the world we need to safeguard ourselves and our loved ones from getting.
Now it is more important than ever to protect our immunity and make sure we are in fighting shape whether it is a common cold, the flu, the coronavirus, or any other number of things we could catch out there in this world! So, I came up with a yummy and simple immunity booster beverage to hydrate and give you this much needed antioxidants!
FIrst and foremost, always try these recipes with alterations that work for you based on your preferences and/or your food allergies. I find that I carry a number of substitutes on hand for other recipes.
This recipe is simple, delicious, refreshing, and full of healthy vitamins and antioxidants to keep you hydrated while not sacrificing taste or your budget. You can enjoy this while you are sick, to prepare your immune system so you do not get sick, or to simply enjoy on a hot spring or summer day. You could also add your favorite adult spirit to make a fabulous cocktail that is sure to impress guests or just for a beautiful Instagram photo, because it is pretty colors. Please enjoy and share with a friend 🙂
Ingredients:
- 1/2 c. Pom 100% Pomegranate Juice
- 1/2 c. Sparkling water–flavor of your choice
- 1/2 fresh squeezed lemon
- 2 tsp. Royal Rose Lavender Syrup
- 1-2 Sprigs of Rosemary
Per Serving: 8 Fl Oz | 190 calories
Directions:
You can substitute lime for lemon and honey for the syrup depending on your tastes. To get started, grab your tools and your favorite cup and fill it with ice. Follow these simple steps and substitute what you prefer:
- You will need a small strainer or juicer, and a shaker to mix the drink properly
- Fill your cup with ice and place your strainer over the top of the glass
- Squeeze ½ of the lemon through the strainer into the glass–the strainer will catch the seeds and pulp
- Remove the strainer and add 1-2 tsp. Of your lavender syrup or honey depending on what you have on hand and how sweet you like it
- Pour in ½ cup of your Pom 100% pomegranate juice
- Pour in ½ cup your favorite flavored sparkling water
- Stir, stir, stir or shake in a shaker if you have it
- Last, but surely not least, put your sprig of rosemary into your beverage
- **Fun twist–if you want to really get fancy and spice it up, light the sprig of rosemary lightly on fire and immediately blow it out and place it in your drink–I learned this from a mixologist that it will bring out the smell and flavor of the rosemary more intensely for you to enjoy**
If you are not sick or just want an extra umph, go ahead and add in your favorite clear liquor or a nice crisp sauvignon blanc to make a nice wine spritzer that will impress you or any guest at a party.
The morale of this story is you cannot live off of coffee and tea while you are sick or in general because they are diuretics. Also, it’s important to stay hydrated, but it’s just as important that you enjoy it even if you are sick. We all deserve a little spice here and there to enjoy an everyday experience!
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