MY ALL NATURAL MORNING PICK-ME-UP

Addiction is something I’m familiar with. I spent 10 years of my life as an addict without ever trying to quit, my addiction made me believe I was in control, that I continued to do it because I enjoyed it. The first time I tried to quit I used a book (Allen Carr’s Easy Way to Stop Smoking) which changed my entire mindset when it came to my addiction, but unfortunately because I was quitting for someone else instead of myself I started again a few months later. My second and final attempt I used the skills I’d learnt in the book but channelled my drive to quit for myself instead of someone else and 8 years on I’ve never relapsed again.

But…I think we all knew there was a ‘but’ coming, addiction creeps up on you and it was becoming more and more apparent to me that I’d fallen into the same trap as I had all those years ago and the cycle of thinking I was in control and that I enjoyed it began again. This time I became addicted to energy drinks and I have been for about 3 or 4 years but what went from a morning pick-me-up on the days I needed it the most, turned in to every day, then it progressed to keeping my own personal stash in the fridge in my dressing room, then it was breakfast and mid morning and  then breakfast, mid morning and lunch, if I had them any later there’s no way I’d sleep that night. Mid way through December as I drank the very last one from my own personal energy drink fridge in my dressing room I made the rather out of the blue decision that I wouldn’t be putting them on this weeks shopping list and I didn’t, and haven’t since. 

It’s now been almost a month since I drank my last energy drink and I’m not going to sit here and profess life changing differences in my body when its simply not true in fact, there’s absolutely no difference. Not even in energy so it was all a bit of a waste of money considering a pack of 8 costs over £10! Needless to say the effects of the drink were all in my mind so now rather than putting something laced with chemicals so strong that a minor spillage eroded the marble of my dressing table, eeek! I’ve swapped to a fresh home made morning pick-me-up packed with goodness that my Reflexologist recommended for me which is one of many changes I’m making health wise which I outlined in my 2020 resolutions ramble post here.

I received so many wonderful and supportive messages when I told you all about my success quitting and also so many of you who have found yourself addicted to energy drinks too so when you asked for the recipe for the Ginger and Lemon Tonic I now drink every morning, I couldn’t not share.

LEMON & GINGER TONIC

Can be used as a morning shot or as a base for tea, I prefer the tea option because I actually enjoy a longer drink in the morning to give me time to wake up. I make enough to last me the week and store in a jug in the fridge.

Grate 100g of Ginger root into 500ml of water

Bring to the Boil and then leave to stand for 45mins

Then add the Juice of 3 lemons and run the mixture through a siv to remove the grated ginger.

Optional

Stir in a large tablespoon of honey. Personally I don’t, I enjoy the kick of the lemon and the spice of the ginger for a zingy morning tea.

Now I can’t confirm the benefits of drinking this as fact but there’s lots of articles that Talk in depth of the benefits to immune system and digestion as well as being a Lemon and Ginger tea being a rich source of Vitamin C and potassium, which I’ll take when compared to Redbulls health benefits which stand at a grand total of NONE.

Do you make any home made teas or tonics? What are your favourites? I’m on the look out for a wonderful home made tea for the evenings too!