Elixirs are an amazing and refreshing way to promote wellness and healing in your body. The right elixir can be a powerful natural remedy to many of life’s discomforts, and give your health a nice little kickstart too. (This is especially helpful for those times of year when everyone is getting sick, or you feel like you need a little booster!)
My lymphatic lemon elixir recipe uses the cleansing power of a bright fresh lemon, raw honey, and tangy fresh ginger to naturally boost your digestion, lymphatic system, and immunity. It’s perfect for those times when you’re feeling a little sluggish, run-down, or under the weather and you want to give your immune system a little kick.
Your lymphatic system is a very important component in your overall wellness, and sometimes it needs support to keep you feeling your best.
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What is the Lymphatic System?
Your lymphatic system fights infection and disease in your body by producing and transporting white blood cells. It’s a large and intricate system that not only contains your lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels, but also other tissue like bone marrow, and organs like your spleen and appendix. (If you’ve ever wondered what those organs are for, now you know! :) )
Your lymphatic system also absorbs fats from your digestive system, as well as removes waste products and abnormal cells from your lymph. Also known as lymphatic fluid, lymph is the extra fluid drained from your cells and tissue that contains the aforementioned baddies and disease-causing agents, as well as nutrients like protein and minerals.
Your body is home to hundreds of lymph nodes, including many in your neck, abdomen, chest, armpits, and groin. These nodes help filter the fluid around them before sending that fluid back toward your heart so it can filter out undesirable matter and drain out near your heart.
Your lymphatic system may stop working as normal if too much of that fluid has accumulated, causing a blockage, or if an infection inflames your lymph nodes, causing them to swell.
To prevent this, you need to make sure that your body is primed to help your lymphatic system drain out all the stuff that can make you sick.
Thankfully, that’s where this elixir comes in. ;)
The Power of Lemon
If you’ve been with us for a while Beauty, then you know how much I love lemons! Lemons are like pure sun energy. Bright, cleansing, powerful and potent in their ability to move stagnant energy through your body.
I start each and every day with hot water mixed with fresh lemon juice (sometimes I add a little fresh ginger to it too), because it helps flush toxins out of my body and gives my body’s cells an energizing, antioxidant boost. Note that this is lemon water, and not lemonade, which often contains excess sugar that can lead to a sugar crash. You don’t want that first thing in the morning— or ever, really!
Lemons are an excellent source of antioxidants like hesperidin, which helps prevent heart disease, and vitamin C, which is essential for a healthy immune system and glowing skin. They’re also a great source of fiber, which is key to healthy digestion and regulating your blood sugar. Pectin, a soluble fiber found in lemons, can help reduce blood sugar levels by slowing your body’s digestion of sugars and starches.
Amazing Ginger
Ginger root has been consumed in many world cuisines and medicinally for thousands of years. Its health benefits really speak for themselves!
The main compound in ginger, gingerol, is a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It can help reduce oxidative stress in your body, which can make you sick and damage your body’s organs and tissue.
Ginger is also a well-known natural remedy for nausea and morning sickness, and can help aid in healthy digestion.
Raw Honey: Nature’s Potent Nectar
At our farm here in Hawaii, we have about 1 million bees. I have learned so much about the incredible universe of bees, which express so much innate intelligence. Please check out this podcast with our beloved local beekeeper Jimmy, sharing some of his wisdom. I have a bee suit, and when I’m in the hives with the bees swarming all over, I really do feel like I’m in a mystical, sacred kingdom of sorts. As such, I am really into raw honey and I do consume it myself nearly daily.
Not all honey is the same! Most of the honey you buy at the supermarket has been pasteurized, which destroys so many of its natural benefits.
Please, please be sure to purchase raw honey only. Raw honey is an excellent source of antioxidants, thanks to the phytonutrients in it. Phytonutrients are compounds that help protect plants from potential environmental harm, like bugs or even ultraviolet rays. Raw honey is also naturally antibacterial and antifungal, two important healing properties that can keep your body healthy.
Honey is also an old natural remedy for a sore throat and coughing— it’s especially effective when paired with hot tea and lemon.
Warm Up with Cinnamon
Cinnamon is what really sets this elixir apart from the normal lemon-ginger-honey ones.
Like ginger, cinnamon has been used in cuisine and medicine for thousands of years. The main component in cinnamon, cinnamaldehyde, is not only responsible for cinnamon’s unique smell and flavor, but many of its health benefits too.
Cinnamon is also an excellent source of antioxidants, including polyphenols. Polyphenols are plant compounds that help reduce inflammation, protect your body from disease-causing free radicals, and may even protect against cancer and heart disease!
Cinnamon can also help support better blood sugar levels, and protect your body from infections.
When Life Gives You Lemons, Make an Elixir!
We all live perfectly imperfect lives, and sometimes life just throws our health some curveballs. (With school coming up soon, the Mamas know what I’m talking about!)
My Lymphatic Lemon Elixir recipe is perfect for giving your immunity and digestion a bright and zingy boost with just the right touch of sweetness, for whatever life throws at you.
If you make this elixir, remember to tag me on Instagram so I can see your creation! Don’t forget to share this on your Pinterest board too for your family and friends to see. :)
With much love,
Lymphatic Lemon Elixir
Ingredients
- 1 Whole organic lemon (yes, the whole thing— peel and all)
- 2 tsp Udo's oil
- 1 tbsp Raw honey
- 1 inch Knob of fresh ginger (Grated ginger is fine, but I just add the whole thing like with the lemon)
- A sprinkle of ground cinnamon
- 3 cups Filtered water
Instructions
- Wash your lemon thoroughly!
- Blend all of your ingredients in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. I recommend using a Vitamix blender for this!
- Strain the mixture and serve. Add ice if you'd like, and enjoy!
More Incredible Elixir Recipes!
Elixirs are so wonderfully healing for all kinds of health problems and discomforts. Here are 5 more of my favorite elixir recipes that always help me feel my best when I need them.
I gave a question regarding the Udo oil.
What type of Udo oil because the company has many different types.
Hi Rita – thanks for your great question. I use the following: https://rb.gy/6jsp7 I hope this helps and be sure to let us know what you think of the elixir. Lots of love! Xo