With the cold and flu season in its peak we are all trying out best to avoid getting sick. Besides the usual recommendations to wash your hands and avoid touching your eyes and mouth, it’s important to keep your immune system strong. The best way to do this is through healthy lifestyle choices including:
Organic, whole foods diet with plenty of phytonutrient rich fruits and vegetables
Regular exercise/physical activity
Getting plenty of sleep
Reducing/managing stress
Don’t smoke
Limit/avoid alcohol
Keep hydrated
Get vitamin D from the sun
Spend time outdoors/in nature
In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, I also recommend eating plenty of probiotic and prebiotic foods to support gut health and supplementing with whole food vitamin C daily.
Fire Cider is an old herbal folk remedy that can help boost your immune system and also supports digestive health. Since approximately 70-80% of our immune system is located in the gut this makes Fire Cider especially beneficial for supporting your health during the cold and flu season. It’s also a great way to warm up on a cold day.
Don’t let the ingredients scare you! Once you add honey it makes it very palatable. I like to take a tablespoon each morning during the fall/winter months as a preventative measure, but you could also take it when you start to feel like you’re coming down with something or when you’re around someone who’s sick. You could also mix it in with food or give your bloody mary a health boosting kick!
HOMEMADE FIRE CIDER RECIPE
Ingredients
1/2 cup fresh grated organic ginger root
1/2 cup fresh grated organic horseradish root
1 medium organic onion, chopped
10 cloves of organic garlic, crushed or chopped
2 organic jalapeno peppers, chopped
Zest and juice from 1 organic lemon
2 Tbsp. of dried rosemary leaves
1 Tbsp. organic turmeric powder
1/4 tsp. organic cayenne powder
organic apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup of raw local honey, or to taste
Directions
Prepare your roots, fruits, and herbs and place them in a quart-sized glass jar. If you've never grated fresh horseradish, be prepared for a powerful sinus-opening experience!
Pour the apple cider vinegar in the jar until all of the ingredients are covered and the vinegar reaches the jar's top.
Use a piece of natural parchment paper under the lid to keep the vinegar from touching the metal, or a plastic lid if you have one. Shake well.
Store in a dark, cool place for a month and remember to shake daily.
After one month, use cheesecloth to strain out the pulp, pouring the vinegar into a clean jar. Be sure to squeeze as much of the liquidy goodness as you can from the pulp while straining.
Next comes the honey. Add and stir until incorporated.
Taste your cider and add more honey until you reach the desired sweetness.
This recipe originally appeared on Mountain Rose Herbs.