Eating healthy in a lifestyle kind of way is one thing.

A “healthy lifestyle way of living” = learning to navigate your real life, including the things you love to eat and drink while balancing it with those things that make you feel good, give you good energy, productivity and focus throughout the day.

(Not shocking), but in my opinion, it’s one of the best things you can do for yourself on a daily level.

But, there are ALWAYS times in life when we need a little bit more than the basics.

No matter how healthy you are.

Times when some extra care, love and a boost of healing energy is needed. And ASAP. So you can get back to feeling your very best, without a lot of medications or things that cover up your symptoms without healing the actual cause of the problem first.

Healing from what?

1. Stress (physical, mental & emotional)

2. Digestive problems or food sensitivities

3. Inflammation & pain- chronic or acute, anywhere in your body

4. A recent sickness, illness or weakening of the immune system

5. An accident or injury

6. Otherwise abusing your bod with bad (processed) food + drinks.

Fact:

High quality food is often the easiest way to heal your body in the shortest amount of time.  Real food has the most potent– and absorbable– source of vitamins, minerals and enzymes to help speed the body’s recovery process, no matter what the cause is from.

So, if you are eating well most of the time anyways, chances are, your body can and will bounce back much better. One of the [hundreds] of benefits of living a healthy lifestyle in my book.

So much so, I’ve taken immense pride in not getting sick in YEARS, and having a strong constitution for most things that happen- emotionally, physically and mentally in my life. Real food and the downstream effects that eating it everyday has had in my life keeps me steady, strong and feeling great most of the time.

But in the odd cases that unexpected things in life happen that you have no control over (like being hit by a car and almost flipped on the driver’s side 2 weekends ago, let’s say). My body, which I consider very healthy and strong, needs some extra special care and love from time to time too. Everyone’s does and will at some point along the line.

But, I kind of like the thought of it.

The opportunity I have to make myself better, and have some control in the process of it.

That every bite I take is going to recharge me. To flood me with vitamins and goodness so that my body can ramp up again. That every sip I’m taking is going to be healing, life-giving and helpful for my body to do what it needs to do to get me better, and fast.

So, instead of feeling sorry for myself when things like this happen, and swimming in the river of dark chocolate and wine [which you all know I love, but know right now I know that they will actually just make me feel worse], I’m infusing more healthy goodness instead.

Foods and drinks that help my body detox, recover and recharge, so that nasty neck, back pain and upper body soreness go away fast. Power foods. Strengthening drinks. Like this healing Lemon-Ginger Tonic.

What’s so good about it?

Lemon, which is a natural bitter, is great for digestion and detoxification and has great amounts of vitamin c to push the ‘yuckies’ out fast.

Ginger root is naturally powerful anti-inflammatory [and the cause of all pain in the body is from inflammation], high in antioxidants, and can help increase blood circulation to your tissues and organs, so they get the nutrients they need to repair themselves.

Cayenne pepper (which is totally optional) contains high amounts of capsaicin, which is a natural pain reliever. And is a great decongestant for colds and flus as we enter the fall and winter season.

Cinnamon which helps with inflammation and naturally balances blood sugar too

Sarah’s Lemon-Ginger Healing Tonic:

-for whatever you need to heal from-

Ingredients:

2 3-inch pieces of organic fresh ginger (yes, get organic on this one)

2 lemons, squeezed

6-8 cups fresh water

3-4 cinnamon sticks (optional)

a dash of cayenne pepper

raw honey optional

Directions:

Wash ginger and cut or peel away the skin and chop into 1/2 in chunks. Juice lemons. Add ginger chunks and lemon juice (and pulp) to water in a saucepan, cover and bring to a  boil. Reduce to simmer for 3-4 minutes before serving (or up to 12 hours on the stove). Add a tsp of honey if you’d like (raw honey has great healing enzymes as well), and cayenne powder or cinnamon sticks for an extra kick.

Warning, it’s potent and you’ll feel it working. This recipe is not for the timid, but you can make it as strong or weak as you’d like by adding more water to your batch, playing with the amount of cayenne and honey.

What else am I drinking, eating and doing to heal my body?

To Drink:

1. Green tea or herbal tea + coconut water: high in antioxidants and acid-neutralizing green tea is a better choice than coffee when your body is in a inflammed state. The coconut water gives extra potassium and a natural sweetness.

2. Kombucha: a traditional fermented tea with loads of healthy probiotics (the good bacteria for your gut that helps you fight off the bad guys). A great option instead of wine.

3. Water: duh

To Eat:

1. The Pesto Kale Salad

2. Green Smoothies: this green smoothie bowl, the power up green smoothie, why green smoothies will change your life, plus this recipe), or my everyday green smoothie

3. This Red Lentil + Vegetable Curry Soup

To Do:

1. Acupuncture: helps soothe the nervous system to maximize and increase healing. Also great for sleep when your body is in a state of flux.

2. Chiropractic: realigning my neck, spine and joints in a slow and conservative way. This ensures proper healing for the long term and without scar tissue, plus pain relief in the short term.

3. Lymphatic Massage: a special case this time, to help my lymph system drain better and reduce inflammation. Unlike any other massage I’ve had, and still learning more about it. You can also do this at home with a dry brush.

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Want to know what else you can make using things you already have?

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