As you probably noticed I am a big fan of all natural remedies. and it was an obvious choice for me to go for coffee before my workouts. However, my husband had high blood pressure and cannot consume coffee or anything with caffeine. He exercises in the morning before going to work and it is not easy. He is not that type of person (neither am I) that wakes up before the sunrize and feels energetic. We do weak up with a smile on our faces but from that to an actual getting out of the bed and do some physical activity is a long way from self-control and internal motivation.
But again, you hear and read everywhere about those marvelous energy boosters and pre-workouts, why not to get one.
Here we were in our local Whole Foods in the supplement isle reading lists of ingredients on every product offered there. Suddenly we noticed a gentleman behind us with apparent desire of reaching to the shelf. We stepped back allowing him to pass but he wasn’t looking to get a product for himself but wanted to suggest us one. He kindly pointed to one of the brands that we already went over and discarded as it was containing caffeine. And this is how we got engages in very interesting conversation. Gentleman was a private chef. Working for an old (83 and 85 years old ) couple that runs marathons and does heavy training every day and feel like they are 20. I talk about exercising and aging all the time but being 85 and running marathons is an ultimate experience.
After a while of chatting, we were given an interesting recipe for a homemade energy drink.
Of course, I am writing this after we made it and tried it and discovered amazing results. Many in the fitness community probably know about that drink and I heard about it also before but never knew the recipe.
so here it is:
1 pound of ginger (we also learned how to know if ginger is fresh. just break a little piece and see if it is bright yellow inside)
2 lemons I like yellow ones
1 tablespoon of turmeric in powder
1 tablespoon (mostly for taste) of good quality honey
32 oz of water
To make the drink: do not peel the ginger, break it in pieces and put into a blender (get a good blender that will break everything very well). the original recipe stated for squeezing 2 lemons but I love a taste of yellow lemon zest so I added them whole. just remember to remove the seeds as if they break it will add kinda not a pleasant flavor.
Add honey, turmeric, and water and blend it all. Done!
Now you have to strain it all. As per our new friend instructions, do not rush. Leave the mix draining itself overnight. This mix will be good in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Drink a shot in the morning or about 20 min before your workout.
Besides energizing powers it seems this recipe regulates your blood pressure (we will see about that later) helps to your heart and liver health. So basically it is good for everything.
It will look just like an orange juice. I don’t like ginger and was expecting not pleasant taste but (maybe because I did it as a real shot, all in) the taste wasn’t that bad. lemon and honey were very present. your throat might burn for a bit but it is all good.
As you see it is not complicated at all, so just try it and let me know how did it go.
