Medicinal Beverages - Celebrate And Be Well

By Laura Lamun

This local has been sucking down the "non-medicinal beverages" like crazy this holiday season - it began at Halloween, then a little Turkey Day Cheer to pass the time at mom's, Big Xmas Fun, New Year's Eve (and a few days later), then Gardner's birthday, every concert I saw (in the previous and current millenium), My Birthday Week(s), Karl Denson times 2, this past weekend, Fat Tuesday - WILL IT EVER STOP? St. Pat's just around the corner…and springtime in the Rockies…then straight on to summer. We have many more months of partying ahead of us in the 'Boat. Why not imbibe a few healthy drinks in between all the rest? Here are some nutritious alternatives, as well as some helpful cures for the overindulgent. Cheers, and remember to keep the cops off your tail by not drinking and driving.

ENERGY MAKERS

Greens + (find in packets and bottles of powder @ Healthy Solutions) with a little juice and mostly water - a power-packed super food drink - awesome before the mountain, like a blood transfusion, long-term non-speedy energy, antioxidants, nutritious herbs, alkalizing and energizing

Almond Milk - 2 TBSP almonds, 1 tsp. Honey, ¾ cup water - blend in a blender, let stand up to 1 hour, strain, and drink - gives complex carbs for quick & sustained energy, great for upset tummies. Try sesame, pistachio, and hazelnut milks. Make a great breakfast drink.

Water - No Ice - leave the cold behind for more body energy - don't use yours to heat ice water. Cold beverages also kill digestive enzymes and can leave you gassy, with low energy due to poor digestion

Grape Juice with a Pinch of Cayenne Pepper is a trucker's favorite - full of energizing minerals, & the cayenne gives you a boost. I've used this hot with molasses, in Alaska, to stay warm and awake.

Black Cherry Juice - iron-rich, gets you going, builds the blood, aids recovery from overindulgence,
Excessive exercise

Protein Powders - especially whey protein - keep the blood sugar stable, and your energy lasting longer
Ginseng/Schizandra Supreme by Gaia - an amazing herbal extract in water for serious completion energy

HANGOVER REMEDIES

Ginger Tea for nausea and faster recovery, 1 drop of Peppermint Oil in water for serious tummy upheaval

Banana Peel boiled in water is actually a Chinese cure for hangover, as is fresh Mandarin Orange Juice, and the Chinese also recommend eating 8-10 Strawberries at one time for relief

Kudzu Tea - before and after - can prevent hangovers - it is an herb available in bulk, teabags or powder

Honey in Water, and spoonfuls of honey - can help to flush toxins and make you feel better

("B.R.A.T. Diet" for bad hangovers - bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast- same for food poisoning)

Emergen-C - a fizzy vitamin C and B vitamin powder, really great for energy, too- lotsa flavors

A CELEBRATORY PUNCH WITH ONLY A LITTLE ALCOHOL

1 ½ wineglasses brandy
1 cup rosewater or orange blossom water (found in gourmet section)
juice of 1 lemon, 1 lime, & 1 orange + grated peel of each
1 bottle cheap white wine
4 drops rose, lemon, tangerine, or ylang-ylang essential oil (experiment drop by drop)
honey to taste
rose petals, nasturtiums, other edible flowers frozen into ice cubes, floating in punch, or sherbet scoops

(by the way - this medicinal punch provides anti-depressant, mood-elevating properties, aphrodisiac
overtones, benefits the digestion, and can keep a party alive with energy - drink up!)

A BEVERAGE ALONE CAN'T DO IT FOR YOU - IT ENHANCES WHAT YOU CAN PRODUCE ON YOUR OWN- IT IS LIKE A KEY FOR THE LOCK - "FAKE IT 'TIL YOU MAKE IT" - USE HEALING BEVERAGES TO NOURISH THE BODY INTO WORKING BETTER