Stomach Soothing Thirst Quenching Lemon Ginger Iced Green Tea

In keeping with our January Theme - The Four Rules, today I offer this terrific recipe for flavored herbal tea that both soothes the stomach, quenches thirst, and meets our Rule #2 - Lots of Water requirement. Remember, a goodly amount of daily water is essential for weight loss and in continuing weight maintenance with bariatric surgery. Earlier this month we talked about the benefits of lemon water. This Lemon Ginger Tea has the added benefits of green tea (including powerful antioxidants that promote fat loss) and the stomach soothing properties of ginger.

I use this recipe often and enjoy it served warm, freshly brewed or over ice. There is a certain clean feeling that comes from drinking beneficial herbal tea. I think if you are not already including green tea in your healthy weight management plan that once you do, you'll be hooked. Give it a try! Herbal tea counts towards water intake and provides many health benefits.

Lemon Ginger Iced Green Tea
Ingredients:
2 cups water
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
6 green tea bags
juice of 1 lemon
low-calorie sweetener of choice, to taste

Directions:
Add water, ground ginger, and lemon peel to medium saucepan and bring to boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to where it sustains a gentle boil and cook for about 7-8 minutes. Remove from heat and add the green tea bags. Steep this tea mixture for 10 minutes, stirring or dunking the bags often.
Remove tea bags and stir lemon juice into the tea liquid. Cover and refrigerator for up to 1 to 2 weeks.

For a warm cup of pre-brewed tea simply heat to desired temperature in the microwave. To make a cup of iced tea, pour 1/4 cup of the concentrated tea mixture into a tall glass and stir in 3/4 cup of cold water, add sweetener as desired.  Add ice cubes and enjoy!

Further Study: Restrict Liquids, Drink Lots of Water - HUH? Making Sense of WLS Guidelines
In a country where food and drink go hand in hand weight loss surgery patients are challenged to follow the liquid restrictions as instructed by their bariatric center. But understanding and following the liquid restrictions plays a key role in long-term weight maintenance following gastric bypass, gastric sleeve, or adjustable gastric banding (lap-band) surgeries. Learn more: Restrict Liquids, Drink Lots of Water - HUH? Making Sense of WLS Guidelines