In December I was very sick. Christmas Day - and the five days before and after - was spent on the couch under blankets with a headache, stuffed up head and chest, wheezing, and body aches. My only comforts were a box of tissues and constant applications of mentholatum.
Whatever I had made me feel the sickest in my life.
My sister the nurse made healthful recommendations and checked on via telephone me daily. I couldn't sleep, because my chest and sinuses were so congested I couldn't go 45 whole minutes without coughing myself awake. It was awful.
A friend brought allergy medicine to dry up my sinuses and knock me out, to no avail. I made it out to the store once to look for some kind of nighttime sleep aid. That didn't work either.
Knowing natural cures are often the best choice for me, I turned to my kitchen for hot concoctions I could conjure up.
With cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric on hand for the coffee spice shakers I'd put together earlier in the year, I added honey and boiling water. This I drank in hopes of recovering. I'd have to get better some day, right? Well, I did, thank goodness, though it didn't seem possible when I was at my worst. The drink I had made seemed to help, so I downed it 3 to 4 times daily.
Feeling good enough to go outside for a walk one morning, I brewed some coffee. I added my "natural" creamer and stepped outside, sipping as I went. It didn't taste very good, though I use a French press and pride myself on the organic grinds I put in my cup.
Mind you, drinking coffee wasn't my thing until I was about 40 years old. The architectural office I worked at had a pot at the ready every morning when I arrived. Though I never liked its taste, I drank coffee with the boys - my colleagues - and realized it helped me get a lot more work done in the earlier parts of the day. I was hooked.
Living in Europe, I had some of the best forms of coffee available. Kaffee und Kuchen is a German staple; coffee-drinking begins in the morning and can last all day long. I had Americanos in Ireland and espressos in Italy. One German colleague taught me how to brew for the best taste possible, and that technique has become a habit. Over the years I'd found different things to put into my coffee - like turmeric, cocoa, cinnamon and coconut oil - offering extra health benefits.
Drinking a cup of coffee can be a miracle cure for the slightest bit of exhaustion, especially on any job. It also goes great with sweets, including my own handmade organic chocolates.
But after being so sick, I had lost my taste for the brew. Now I had a new energy drink that I began to crave, with health benefits so powerful I will likely never go back.
What's in this superfood morning brew?
Ginger. Ground ginger gives my morning warmup its zip. It is also extremely beneficial to the human body, with anti-inflammatory effects, the ability to fight diabetes and calm stomach upset, curb morning sickness and fight off menstrual pain, prevent heart disease, and lower your risk of cancer. It can also help you lose weight.
Cinnamon. What was once sought after by early explorers and given as a gift to royalty is medicine in its own right. It's loaded with anti-oxidants, protects against heart disease, works as an anti-inflammatory, lowers blood sugar levels and helps fight diabetes, is an aid in battling neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, reduces the growth of cancer cells, and fights infections and viruses.
Turmeric. This superfood helps memory, eases arthritis pain, fights cancer and heart disease, helps resolve hay fever and allergy symptoms, may alleviate depression, puts cholesterol in check, and helps prevent gum disease. As a spice and food additive, it's like pure gold. It also works as a great food coloring for dying eggs or tinting hair!
Cloves. Ground cloves added to your morning brew add vitamins and minerals, including manganese and Vitamin K. Cloves fight bacteria and cancer, work as an anti-oxidant, help the liver stay healthy, promote bone health, regulate blood sugars, and reduce stomach ulcers. Cloves are also used to alleviate dental pain or treat dry socket after a tooth is pulled.
Stevia. This plant-based sweetener puts sugar to shame. Diabetics benefit from it, because it doesn't get absorbed into the bloodstream, so glycemic levels do not rise. For the same reason, stevia helps with weight loss, because of its low caloric content and dissimilarity from sugar. Stevia promotes bone and dental health and may improve skin conditions.
Lemon Juice. Lemons contain Vitamin C, which boosts immunity and enhances skin. It contains and helps the body store iron, so aids in the prevention of anemia and iron deficiency. It is an anti-oxidant fruit and contains lots of fiber. Like many of the other superfoods listed here, it fights cancer due to its high concentration of flavonoids.
A teaspoon of a mixture of the above ingredients blends well with 16 ounces of hot water. Squeezing fresh lemon juice into the mix cools your cup so you can begin sipping immediately.
Drinking this "super brew" had other healthful effects besides those listed above. After about two weeks, I noticed my hair was slightly lighter in color, and shinier.
Another remarkable side effect of drinking the Morning Warmup was the fading of age spots on my hands!
Other benefits? I'm no longer starting my day with a cup full of sugar: organic, natural or whatever. Drinking my new favorite has helped me in losing weight and feeling generally better.
What are the drawbacks, you might ask? Well, so far I've found none. In fact, I was using the remnants from each day's cup to lighten my hair (until my pillowcase was turning yellow from the turmeric, though I'd rinsed it out.)
What about your teeth? Lemon and turmeric might be harmful, you might say. My teeth are still as white as they've ever been, and I don't notice enamel wearing away. Believe me: I'm cautious about such things, because my smile may be my best feature.
If you're interested in learning more, shoot me an email. You can also join my subscriber list at the bottom of each page.
(Sunshine Girl Morning Warmup superbrew will be available for purchase on this website within several weeks. Send an email to pre-order yours today, or let me know if you'd like to try a free sample.)
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Sources/read more:
Cinnamon: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-benefits-of-cinnamon
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