Green Tea with Ginger and Mint... A Detox Tummy Tamer

We've all done it on occasion.  You know... eaten a few too many helpings at a picnic, perhaps indulged in that extra cocktail we didn't really need, or maybe even finished off the last slice of pizza simply so we didn't have to wrap it.  And unfortunately, sometimes the after effects of these indulgences can leave us a little bloated, queasy, or purely parched from too much salt.

While many of us turn to "detox" drinks to help, and yes, many of them do make us feel better, I have a feeling that pure hydration plays a key role.  But add in a slice of ginger,  green tea and a few sprigs of mint, and you actually do add ingredients that can help.

Green Tea:  Filled with antioxidants and polyphenols, green tea is said to improve immunity, help rid the body of free-radicals thereby helping to protect against disease, speed up your metabolic rate and re-hydrate.  A little caffeine can also help ease an aching head. 

Ginger:  Known to provide gastrointestinal relief, ginger is many a pregnant woman's best friend.  Safe to take during pregnancy (in proper doses... check with your doctor first), ginger has been proven to provide relief in many cases.  Ginger is also the first thing I pack when heading on a cruise, and has seen me through rough seas with minimal issues (and I'm fairly sensitive to motion sickness).

Mint:  A well known appetizer or palate cleanser, mint promotes digestion.  Soothing the stomach in cases of indigestion or inflammation, even the aroma of mint can activate the salivary glands in our mouth as well as glands which secrete digestive enzymes.

Mixed together we have a concoction to rehydrate and hopefully soothe.  Poured over ice is my preferred Detox Tummy Tamer, but my husband prefers his steaming in a mug.  Either way, a concoction of these digestive ingredients is a lovely drink on a hot day, or, the perfect Tummy Tamer for a queasy kid or friend suffering from a day of over indulgence.

Healthy, fresh ingredients, the best way to detox out the bad stuff or hydrate by the pool.  Enjoy!

Green Tea with Ginger and Mint
A lovely beverage poured over ice by the pool, but also the prefect appealing concoction for days when you might be a little queasy.  Hot or cold, it seems to do the trick!
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Hot water
1 green tea bag, either regular or decaffe
1 1-inch slice fresh ginger
5 or so mint leaves, torn

Place peeled ginger slice into the bottom of a mug along with a tea bag.  Pour hot (boiled) water over and allow to steep for about 3 minutes.  Add mint now if desired.

Pour tea over ice in a tall glass and add mint leaves.  Enjoy!

Liv Life Note:  I'm not a fan of the mint in the hot water... the texture becomes "tea-like".  Hence I add mine to the ice and pour the hot water over.  My husband on the other hand, adds his along with the ginger and most likely gets more of the mint's health benefits released into his tea.

Liv Life Note 2:  None of this information is meant to be medical advice... I am not a trained medical doctor (I'm an ex-accountant!) and am simply giving information that has worked for me and health claims that I have found in researching the ingredients.

Mint is very easy to grow!  Note that the roots will travel, and may be difficult to get rid of once it's planted.  Container gardening for mint is recommended by my Farmer's Market vendor.