Lemon and Sweet Basil

Lemon and Sweet Basil Refresher – If you know me, you know I’m all about sipping on stuff that’s as good for my body as it is for my taste buds. And guess what? During the year, I grow my own basil! Yep, other than drying it for my Italian masterpieces, I whip it up into a refreshing drink perfect for those steamy Florida days (you know, the ones where the sun feels like it’s sitting on your shoulder). So, let’s dive into why lemon and sweet basil are the ultimate power couple for your health.

The Zesty Magic of Lemon

Lemons are like the overachievers of the fruit world, bursting with flavor and providing numerous health benefits and culinary uses.

• • Support Heart Health: Lemons are packed with vitamin C, which is fantastic for your ticker
  • Help Control Weight: Because who doesn’t want that?
  • Prevent Kidney Stones: Citric acid in lemons can help prevent those pesky stones
  • Protect Against Anemia: They enhance your body’s absorption of iron from plant foods
  • Reduce Cancer Risk: Antioxidants in lemons can keep those nasty cancer cells at bay
  • Improve Digestive Health: A glass of warm lemon water can keep your digestive system happy and regular

Lemons aren’t just delicious and fragrant, they’re a powerhouse of vitamin C, fiber, and plant compounds that help with weight loss, heart health, anemia prevention, kidney stone avoidance, digestion, and cancer prevention. Plus, they taste and smell amazing!

Basil: The Unsung Hero of Herbs

Now, let’s talk about basil. Is it good for you? Oh, absolutely! Basil is like that quiet friend who always comes through with great advice and snacks.

• Blood Sugar Health: Helps manage blood sugar levels
• Heart and Vascular Health: Keeps your heart and blood vessels in tip-top shape
• Immunity: Boosts your immune system to fight off those nasty bugs
• Neurocognition: Fancy word for better thinking and reasoning

Basil is packed with antioxidants that protect against cell damage, which is linked to cancer, cardiovascular disease, cataracts, and inflammatory diseases like arthritis. Studies even show sweet basil essential oil might help ward off certain cancers by getting in the way of cancer cells’ growth and division.

Sweet basil also contains eugenol, an oil that helps lower blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels. Plus, it’s fantastic for your mental health, boosting cognitive function, improving mood, and reducing stress and anxiety.

The Recipe: Lemon and Sweet Basil Refresher

Alright, let’s get to the fun part – the recipe! This Lemon & Sweet Basil Refresher is the perfect way to beat the heat and boost your health.

Lemon and Sweet Basil Refresher

Ingredients

• 1 handful of fresh basil
• 6-7 lemons, juiced
• 1-1/2 cup (or more) honey, agave or brown sugar to your taste (just don’t use those little pink packages 😉😉)
• About 10 cups of water

Add these two ingredients for the Jazzed up Version

• 2 cups of pineapple
• A 2-inch piece of ginger (adjust to taste)

Let’s Make This

1. Toss all ingredients into a blender and blend until the pineapple and basil are thoroughly mixed
2. Add water on top of the mixture and blend for another minute. Taste it to check the sweetness and adjust as needed
3. Pour over ice in a tall glass and enjoy!

This recipe makes a jug load of Lemon Basil Juice. You can keep it simple with just lemon and basil, or you can jazz it up like I do with some pineapple and ginger. Trust me, it’s worth the little extra effort.

So, give it a try and let me know what you think. Is it a new favorite or a bit too exotic for your taste buds? Either way, your body is going to thank you! Cheers to refreshing and healthy sips! 🍋🌿

Check this link for a Melon and Pineapple juice that you might like too.