Fit Fare

Phew, the holidays are almost over, and I don’t know about you, but I’m stuffed! Before we hit up the last of the season’s craziness – New Year’s Eve – it’s time to recharge with a little detox tea.

If you’re feeling bloated, puffy or just plain gross, this tea is the cure. Drink a few cups a day and you’ll be sure to start 2008 feeling fabulous; or at least you’ll end 2007 that way, before you indulge with champagne on the big night.

The ingredients are simple: a glass of hot water, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, ginger and agave nectar (optional but yummy). The hot water stimulates the lymph nodes and encourages movement in your bowels, especially if you drink it first thing in the morning. The lemon is a natural choice for a cleansing drink because it adds both vitamin C as well as liver support.

Got a case of the sniffles? The cayenne pepper will stimulate mucus secretions and help you ditch the tissues before the big party. According to WHFoods.com, the capsaicin found in cayenne “is similar to a compound found in many cold remedies for breaking up congestion, except that capsaicin works much faster.”

And most people know how great ginger is for nausea. Beyond helping to ease a queasy stomach, it also creates heat in the body and will help you stay warm on those chilly days.

To sweeten up the drink, I like to pour in a few drops of agave nectar. This natural sweetener is made from the same cactus as tequila. Fun, right? The best part about agave is that it doesn’t affect your blood sugar like white sugar. It’s low glycemic, so you can eat it and not worry about having a sugar crash a few hours later.

Holiday Detox Tea
Serves 1

1 cup of hot water
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/4 inch of ginger, peeled and grated
Dash of cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp agave nectar

Pour all of the ingredients into a cup and stir together. Sip throughout the day.  It’s especially good in the morning.