Hot Water and Lemon Infusion

In a mug, add

juice of 1/2 lemon (freshly squeezed is best)

1/4 teaspoon turmeric (why not get its amazing healing properties wherever you can.)

pinch of red chile powder or cayenne (boosts metabolism)

pinch of coarse sea salt (or alternatively use Bragg Liquid Aminos) *

pinch of raw cane sugar like Sucanat (my mom insists a little raw sugar helps stimulate the brain – but you can decide.)
Add 1 – 1 1/2 cups boiling water and stir well.

Drink down like a tea. The turmeric will collect at the bottom, so I keep a stirring spoon handy. The combination of all the elements are hands down amazing if/when you have a cold or sore throat. As soon as I feel ‘that feeling’ start to come on, I’ll drink this concoction three times a day and am usually always on my way to feeling so much better.
ADDED bonus: Try adding another delicious and incredibly healthy element: Amla. An Indian gooseberry that grows on trees tart and greenish yellow, it can be purchased dried and unsalted/unsweetened from an Indian grocery store. Grind in a spice grinder and add a 1/2 teaspoon for an added boost of vitamin C and antioxidents. Amla is touted these days as THE new superfood with many benefits, including being the richest natural source of Vitamin C. I often skip grinding it and just add pieces dried to my hot water concoction and chew on the pieces after drinking down my lemon water.
* One nutritionist suggested subbing Bragg Liquid Aminos if you’re avoiding salt. It tastes a lot better than I’d imagined, so I keep it handy as an alternative.