When the cold and flu season hits, it is never convenient. It is not something you plan for. As an adult, we have work and the kids to care for. No one has time to be sick or lose sleep.

There is nothing worse than coughing, hacking, can't sleep and then at 0200  (2 am) find out that you are fresh out of cough syrup. Don't fret!  You might have everything you need right in your pantry to get feeling better straight away.

Not only is our Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup recipe effective for reducing cough, but it is also delicious. Please don't judge!  Back in the day, our parents used to give us a dose before we went to bed when we had a bad cold or cough. We slept like a rock and our coughs subsided. Heck, it tasted so good, it was almost worth getting sick just to get a dose. (smiling)

3 Ingredients needed to make Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup

1. Whiskey or bourbon
2. Honey
3. Lemon juice

History of Whiskey as a Medicinal Tonic

This Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup is a recipe that has been in our family for 100's of years passed on from our great great grandparents. Back in the day, there were not fancy medicines to treat illnesses and the basic ones were not so easy to obtain. Local folks used what they had on hand to treat the symptoms. Heck, penicillin was not even invented into 1928. During the Prohibition, in the 1920's, it was difficult to buy liquor, but it was sold as a tonic in drug stores as medicinal whiskey.  It was said to cure everything from toothache to the flu.

Alcohol and Proof

Do you know that burning or warming sensation you experience down the back of your throat, esophagus and in your belly when you drink alcohol? You won't necessarily notice this with beer or wine because it is so very low in alcohol content. Alcohol proof is a measure of how much alcohol (ethanol) is contained in an alcoholic beverage. For example, an 86-proof whiskey contains about 43% alcohol. Whereas, beer alcohol content is only usually between 3-12%. The more ethanol, the bigger the burn.

How does Whiskey help with a cold and cough?

So now you may be asking why that is a "good burn".

1) That burning warming feeling is happening because it is dilating your blood vessels. It will also dilate the blood vessels in your sinus region, and it may help your breath better during your cold.

2) In addition, whiskey was used as an antiseptic on the battlefields as medicine was hard to come by.

3) As you know, a little alcohol, in moderation can help you fall asleep faster. The word moderation is the key. If you drink in excess, you will be feeling even worse in the morning with a hangover. The goal is just to help you get some sleep so you can tackle your day.

Honey for Throat pain and Cough

Honey not only sweetens this little shot of deliciousness, but it also coats a scratchy throat, a natural antiseptic and help calms a cough.  If you are looking for more natural ways to calm a cough, be sure to check out our recipe for Chinese Pear Dessert Soup. Delicious, cools your throat and helps with cough. .

As we are currently in unprecedented times, we used whatever kind of honey we could get our hands on. However, if you have organic raw honey go for it!

Lemon juice for a boost of Vitamin C

Fresh lemon juice is best for this recipe but in pinch you can use the kind of lemon juice in a squeeze bottle or even a little lemonade. After all, this is a pantry recipe and if it is 0200, use what you have on hand. Lemon juice provides a little extra dose of vitamin C and antioxidants and gives this little recipe the perfect balance between sweet and sour.

Standard dosage of Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup

These little shot glasses we have hold 3 teaspoons. Dosage is 1-2 tablespoon for adults every 4 - 6 hours or as needed. Equal amounts of Whiskey or bourbon, fresh lemon juice and honey. We like to just stir in up and drink it in a shot glass. However, if you are craving something a little warm you can add it in a cup of hot water or your favorite herbal tea and enjoy a steamy cup.

Kid Friendly Version of Homemade cough syrup

According to Evan Ashkin, MD and Anne Mounsey, MD, children under the age of 12 months, should not eat honey because Honey contains toxic bacteria that may cause infant botulism. This is a serious form of food poisoning. Older children and adults are immune to this bacterium.

However, for children older than 12 months of age if you mix a little honey, a little lemon juice (if no allergens) in a little warm water (please, skip the whiskey), this may help reduce their cough and sleep.

How to store your Homemade Cough Syrup

As a food photographer, we must pick the prime time for lighting reasons to get the best shot. Our window of time for best lighting is between 9 am and 10am. So, what is one to do with a delicious Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup shot at 0900? We could drink it, but this recipe stays fresh in the refrigerator with fresh lemon in a sealed container for up to 3 days.

Stay Well and Take Care

Some of the most basic things that mom told us are true to get us back to health.

• Sleep as much as you can. Naps are fabulous.
• Hydrate as it helps to thin your secretions and helps replace the insensible loss due to fever. Warm liquids like our Nourishing Slow Simmered Beef Bone Broth and our Tranquil Lemon Ginger Tea helps to thin your secretions.
• Use a humidifier as it helps to moisturize your nasal, throat, and lung passages, making it easier for air to pass through.
• Immune Boosting Chicken and Rice Soup and Golden Spiced Noodle Soup are warm and therapeutic cozy cold and flu fighting bowls of deliciousness.
• If your condition does not improve, you have a high fever or difficulty breathing get seen by a medical professional.

Exclusions

This recipe does have alcohol in it, and it is NOT recommended for children or those with liver disease. We have also included a kid friendly version of homemade cough syrup for children older than 12 months of age and have no other allergens in our recipe card below.

As always, before starting any new home therapy, you must discuss this homemade cough syrup idea with your primary care physician before initiating self-treatment. You need to make sure this is okay for your condition, any pre-conditions you may have and to make sure that it does not react with any medications that you are currently taking. (okay, the nurse is now stepping down from her soap box). We love you guys and we just want you to be safe!

Disclaimer: The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice.  The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

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Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup

Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup is an old fashion homemade cough syrup recipe and natural remedy to help calm coughs using only three pantry ingredients.

Course Beverages

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 3 dosages

Calories 35kcal

Author HWC Magazine

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon whiskey
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice fresh or lemon concentrate
• 1 cup warm water or herbal tea optional

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Adult Homemade Cough Syrup

• Mix whiskey, honey and lemon juice together and stir well.
• Dosage for adults is 1 -2 tablespoons every 4-6 hours or as needed for cough. We like to drink it straight up. However, if you desire, you can place ingredients in either a cup of warm water or herbal tea, mix and sip on it. If you like it sweeter, add a little more honey to the mix.

Children older than 12 months old Homemade Cough Syrup

• Mix 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon lemon juice together. DO NOT ADD Whiskey. Mix together and can be taken straight up or mix in a little warm water. Do not give honey to children less than 12 months of age.

Video

Notes

Dosage is 1 -2 tablespoons for adults every 4-6 hours or as needed. 

You can make any amount you wish as it is all equal parts of whiskey, lemon juice and honey. (Maybe you would like to make ¼ cup whiskey, ¼ cup honey and ¼ cup lemon juice together) However, please note because of the fresh lemon juice it only lasts about 3 days in the refrigerator in a sealed container. 

You can also use the lemon juice concentrate and because that has preservatives it can last up to 4 weeks in the refrigerator prepared with the whiskey and honey. 

If you are craving something warm to drink add 1-2 tablespoons in a mug of hot water or your favorite herbal tea. Sometimes, this is very soothing, especially if you have a stuffy nose too. 

If you do not have whiskey, this recipe is also nice with rum or whatever you have on hand. 

Raw honey is best for this but when times are tough, use whatever you can get your hands on. 

The original recipe does have alcohol in it, and it is NOT recommended for children or those with liver disease.

We have also included a kid friendly (no alcohol version) of homemade cough syrup for children older than 12 months of age and have no other allergens in our recipe card. Please consult with your pediatrician before initiating. Do not give honey to children less than 12 months of age. 

As always, before starting any new home therapy, you must discuss this homemade cough syrup idea with your primary care physician before initiating self-treatment. You need to make sure this is okay for your condition, any pre-conditions you may have and to make sure that it does not react with any medications that you are currently taking. (okay, the nurse is now stepping down from her soap box). We love you guys and we just want you to be safe!

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 35kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin C: 2mg

The post Whiskey Honey Lemon Cough Syrup appeared first on Healthy World Cuisine

Have you wondered what exactly is a ketogenic diet? In this article, we are going to cover how a keto diet works, health benefits, how to prepare, and easy meal plans for you to try this week.

The ketogenic diet (aka the keto diet) is one of the most popular eating plans to emerge in the past couple of years. Defined as a high-fat, low-carb diet, keto definitely goes against the grain and traditional wisdom of what constitutes healthy eating.

But despite appearing counterintuitive, the diet is heavily backed by research. Researcher have found evidence that the diet is an effective tool for achieving better health and a slimmer waistline.

What is it?

The ketogenic diet is defined as a very-low-carbohydrate, moderate-protein, and high-fat diet. The term "ketogenic" means "to generate ketones" - acidic molecules that replace glucose as fuel. When your body is making ketones on a keto diet, it is in a metabolic state called nutritional ketosis - the main goal of the ketogenic diet.

Macronutrient ratio

• 5-10% calories from carbs
• 20-25% calories from protein
• 65-75% calories from fat

This macronutrient ratio creates somewhat of an energy crisis - carb intake is too low to provide enough glucose to the brain. The body adjusts to this energy crisis by producing ketones, which now replace glucose as fuel. But to make ketones, the body needs to burn fat. It burns fat from the food you eat. It can also burn its own fat stores providing you're also restricting calories.

How it All Began

The keto diet was originally designed in the 1920s to treat childhood epilepsy. The idea was to make a diet that mimics the metabolic effects of prolonged fasting. Fasting also increases ketone levels, but it cannot be followed indefinitely.

The keto diet proved to be a feasible alternative to fasting and that has helped thousands of children with epilepsy. Research carried out in decades to follow discovered the countless other potentials and benefits of this diet (more on that later).

What Keto Looks Like

It can be hard to imagine what a diet that consists mostly of fat should look like. Does that mean eating globs of butter and bacon with every meal? Well, not really. Take a look at our Asian Keto Recipes for Chinese Thanksgiving as an example.

The keto diet consists of a number of foods you can eat and a whole list of foods you need to exclude. It also relies on keto-friendly substitutes for carb-rich ingredients to help you make delicious meals you can actually enjoy.

Foods Allowed

• Fatty cuts of meat like minced beef and ribeye steak
• Fatty fish like sardines and salmon
• Full-fat dairy, especially butter
• Nuts and seeds
• Avocados
• Low-carb vegetables and berries
• Nut milks, nut butters, and nut flours
• Herbs and spices
• Sugar-free condiments

Foods Forbidden

• All cereal grains as well as pseudo-cereals
• Legumes such as beans, chickpeas, lentils, and soy
• Starchy vegetables and most fruit
• High-carb vegetables
• Sweeteners like sugar, honey, and corn syrup
• Dairy milk and soy milk

Since the keto diet excludes many dietary staples, keto dieters need to be creative with meal preparation. Luckily, there are plenty of free and affordable resources online to help you learn how to prepare keto-friendly food.

Health Benefits?

Since the keto diet was first developed back in 1921, countless studies on the health benefits of this diet have been carried out. So far, there's strong evidence that the diet can provide these benefits:

Epilepsy

A keto diet can reduce seizure frequency to 40%, and it is as effective as some anti-epileptic medication. The diet is still used in cases of drug-resistant epilepsy and with great efficiency. Nobody knows how keto really works to help reduce seizures, but the main theory is that ketones improve the way brain uses energy.

Weight loss

The keto diet can help people lose weight quickly. The diet mainly works by up-regulating fat burning. However, keto also suppressing appetite by lowering insulin and through the direct hunger-suppressing effect of ketones. The diet may also contribute to weight loss because maintaining ketosis is an energy-costly process.

Type 2 diabetes control

Diabetes is a disease of glucose metabolism, so it makes sense to use a low-carbohydrate diet to treat this metabolic disorder. By reducing carbs, type 2 diabetes patients see an improvement in their blood glucose and insulin levels. Studies even show that the diet helps patients rely less on medication.

Cardiovascular disease prevention

Normally, we associate high-fat diets with a greater risk of heart attacks and stroke. But the keto diet has a uniquely beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system despite being high in fat. The diet leads to weight loss and improved blood glucose levels, which is good for your heart and arteries. It also lowers triglycerides and total cholesterol while increasing HDL cholesterol and LDL particle size.

There's also evidence the ketogenic diet can be helpful with acne, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), brain trauma, psychiatric disorders, and even cancer. However, research in these areas is still new.

How to Start Keto

Before you consider starting the keto diet, it's a good idea to learn about this diet as much as possible. This will help you understand what you need to focus on to make the diet work for you. It will also prevent dieting mishaps.

With that said, here are some steps you need to take to start a keto lifestyle:

Stock up on keto food

Buy keto-friendly foods mentioned earlier in this article and avoid foods not allowed on a keto diet. Having keto food available at all times will help you stick to this way of eating and keep you from cheating on your diet.

Make a plan

Making a weekly or monthly meal plan that includes a keto shopping list and recipe ideas will also help you stay on track. The keto diet involves lots of planning and meal preparation - you simply can't leave anything to chance on this die, unless you're experienced, that is.

Track your keto macros

Diet apps like MyFitnessPal and Carb Manager can help you track your keto macros. The term "keto macros" refers to the macronutrient ratio of the keto diet mentioned at the beginning of this article. In other words, keto macros are the grams of carbs, protein, and fat you need to eat on a keto diet to get into and stay in ketosis. You can also track your macros with the help of food databases like SELF Nutrition Data.

Prepare for the keto flu

The keto flu is a common way of referring to side effects of carbohydrate withdrawal. These flu-like symptoms happen as a result of glycogen depletion, which happens within the first week of the keto diet. When people lose glycogen, they also tend to lose a lot of water through frequent urination. To prevent the keto flu, it is recommended to increase your electrolyte and fluid intake in the first week of starting keto.

Check for ketosis

Since ketosis is the primary goal of keto, it is important to know whether the diet you're eating has helped you reach this state. You can check for ketosis by using ketone test strips or looking for ketosis signs and symptoms like a fruity breath, increased energy, and weight loss.

Takeaways

While the keto diet may seem unusual at first, there's plenty of evidence that this low-carb, high-fat eating plan comes with a plethora of health benefits. From boosting weight loss to possibly preventing chronic diseases, there's a lot to be gained from starting a low-carb lifestyle. However, for this diet to work, it is important to learn as much about this diet and its effects on the body as possible.

Keto Meal Ideas

Did You Like Our Recipe? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and/or a review in the comments section below. Your feedback is always appreciated! Follow us for more delicious recipes on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! Don't forget to sign up for our email list for more free recipes.

About the Author:

Sophia Norton is a Dietary Expert at Kiss My Keto. She is a driven, dedicated and team-oriented professional with more than 6 years of experience providing wellness and nutritional support in various capacities. After Sofia learned about "food deserts" as a kid, she became determined to devote her life to like making healthy foods accessible to everyone, regardless of income or location. Sofia has traveled around the world, teaching nutrition to communities in extreme poverty. In her spare time, Sofia loves long bike rides and exploring local farmer's markets.

Please Note: A keto diet is a medical diet and/or a therapeutic diet. The keto diet can be very helpful for some individuals. However, each person is different and has different medical needs. The keto diet may not appropriate for some individuals with different medical conditions. Please discuss any diet changes with your physician BEFORE starting a new diet plan.

Disclaimer: The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice.  The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.  Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.

In the event of a medical emergency, call a doctor or 911 immediately. This website does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on the Site. Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk.

The post What is a Ketogenic Diet? appeared first on Healthy World Cuisine