Good for the Body, Good for the Soul
Late last week, I was feeling a bit run down. Not physically ill, but more like worn out. I know several other people – friends, colleagues, family – who have been feeling similarly or are actually sick.
So I started thinking about the things that make me feel better when I am not well in some way – physically or otherwise.
For a cold, there’s always good old-fashioned chicken soup. Of course, that’s just good for anything, really. It’s hard to mess with a classic, but the Portuguese Chicken Lemon Mint soup I made recently is a pretty exciting alternative.
Another favorite of mine is tea. I like tea. Period. But sometimes, you need something particular to help you back to normal. For an awful bout of medication-related nausea last week, I came across a delightful Fresh Ginger Mint Tea at a blog called Forkable. (Did I really just say delightful? Sheesh.)
I probably got about two dozen ginger and mint tea concoctions when I searched, but this one drew me in. First of all, the name of the blog is too cute. Second, the pics of this tea in mason jars just made me think it was the right way to go. The tea was terrific and did the job it promised. The blogger, Andrea, also has a wicked hot toddy recipe on there – another favorite to cure what ails you!
My favorite homemade cure-all is what I have lovingly named “sick tea” because, well, I drink it when I’m sick. And, the original name of the recipe is kind of a turnoff – Garlic Tea. Bleah. I got this little gem a lot of years ago from Prevention magazine and have used it ever since. Since my copy is nothing but an old, worn-out page from the magazine, I did a hopeful search and happily found the very same article posted at Prevention.com! Check it out and give it a chance the next time you feel a cold coming on.
My Sister has used it without much complaint, except that she thought it was truly disgusting on day two. (I always use mine on the same day I make it.) Fab Hub, on the one occasion I was able to convince him to try it, declared that it tasted “like feet.” But please do not let this deter you from giving it a try! I swear by the stuff and honestly don’t think it tastes all that terrible. You can always add a little extra lemon or honey to taste or maybe some sugar to sweeten (or a bit of whiskey to make it a “sick hot toddy”). If you’re really miserable, chances are you won’t taste much anyway, so drink up!
And never underestimate the power of the old “apple a day” trick – hit the search engines and you’ll find more information than you ever imagined about the health benefits of this super-food.
Right now, I have a bowl of these on the counter in a size and flavor for everyone in the house to enjoy…
To ease my tired body and soul, I have recommitted to some habits that are important to my overall well-being. I have made sure to take time to spend a few minutes daily in my Bible and in prayer. I have committed to taking just a few minutes – a simple ten or fifteen – each day for some type of exercise or physical activity. I have re-committed to paying close attention to the foods I choose for my family. I am getting more sleep and I am drinking more water.
None of these are new ideas – not to the world at large or to my Self. But I needed to remind myself – just for a moment – why these things are important to me. These are the things that are good for me, body and soul. These are the things that make me feel happy, healthy, and whole. These are the things in which I find rest, healing, and comfort.
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Thanks for inspiring me to get back on track. I feel so much better when I do all these things, and one without the others is simply not enough. I go for comfort instead of health when the weather gets cold, but somehow brownies and meatloaf don’t take care of me quite the way fresh veggies and whole foods do.
Also, the garlic is a wonder drug unlike any others. My husband and I used to do a couple tablespoons of a garlic infusion a day, and it worked wonders for our health and digestion. As it did our breath.
Glad to be of service! And you are right on all counts. As easy as it is to opt for the brownies and meatloaf method, I am always and forever fascinated by how much different – better – I feel when I go for the better stuff. Don’t get me wrong – meatloaf is awesome. But I try then to keep the portion smaller and balance it with greater quantities of the fresh stuff next to it. The more I make those choices, the more my body wants me to make them. It’s taking that first step to do it.
Garlic is the bomb. I have a great garlic soup recipe somewhere…trying to dig it out of the abyss.
Oh, and I loved your patience post…just haven’t been able to put into words what I took away from that. Yet. 🙂
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I ate three Tootsie Rolls while reading this post. THREE. And you know what? While I agree with everything you’ve written here (holding judgement on the Feet Tea), I’m going to keep on eating my Tootsie Rolls. Why the rebellion, you ask? Just this: NaNoWriMo!!!
I’ll add a glass of water to my immediate diet plan if it makes me a better person.
Three tootsie rolls? You, my friend, are a lightweight. I’ve had my dinner, had my dessert/snack, and am currently debating whether I want to bust into potato chips, chocolate, or a hoagie from the all-night deli/gas station. Gotta love stress eating. OK, I did get some healthy tea in there, but it was really more about being chilly than reaping any antioxidant benefits. What if I put a sprinkle of that Herbamare on my hoagie?
I was just getting started. No telling how many I ate by the time I went to bed. Herbamare is redeeming! Sprinkle it on everything (but not Tootsie rolls).
Now I want potato chips…
OK, they are kinda, well, cheesy, but I promise you Ruffles sour cream and cheddar are the best if you’re going to blow it on potato chips. Kdizilla and I love them.
[…] Too many deadlines, too much stress for too many reasons…all adds up to that overwhelming feeling of suffocation. Again. I think I am not quite back on track with my promise to refocus and concentrate on taking care of my Self better. […]
[…] Week in since the last edition, but they were mostly repeats of ones I’ve already posted like Portuguese Chicken Lemon Mint soup, Butternut Squash Soup of different variations, and Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese […]
[…] tea. I am grateful to have my trusty old “sick tea” recipe on hand, as well as the ingredients to make it. I have been hatching something for several […]
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[…] wait, there’s more! After years of trying, I finally managed to get the Fab Hub to drink my famous sick tea! You heard it here first, friends. The first time I tried to give it to him, he decided that it […]
[…] ago, that would have turned horrible. Now I was able to pump in the home remedies (I swear by that “sick tea,” I tell you), get some extra rest, and stay out of the super-cold. The Hub took Zilla to school two […]
What a healthy attitude you have! I just pinned the garlic tea recipe. It sounds interesting and I’d definitely give it a go if I feel a cold coming on. I’d much rather use natural remedies if possible. Now I’m on my way over to check out that hot toddy recipe – thanks for sharing these!
I think we’re on about year three of home remedies as our preferred treatment. I just decided I didn’t want one more medication or chemical going into my body that I didn’t need there. It’s been fascinating to learn about how food and herbs heal – and prevent – illness. This sick tea is always my first defense and I still support my claim that it will take down nearly anything that ails you.
I’m glad you commented here today, Jen. Gave me a chance to re-read it!
[…] easy to make. This has quickly made it to my roster of things to do for a cold, right alongside my Sick Tea and a good long […]
[…] done all the home remedies – sick tea, my new favorite sick soup. Nothing is working so far – unless it’s all keeping it from […]
[…] some kind of upper respiratory thing for what feels like forever, I am thankful for plentiful home remedies to relieve symptoms, a husband who is always right there to remind me to take care of myself, and […]