It’s that time of year again, when the sun disappears behind a blanket of gray drizzle and we wonder how many months it’s going to be before we see it again.
Thankfully, we have coffee, that secret weapon of the Pacific NorthWesterner that turns a rainy sky into a cozy ambience. Sipping coffee is even better with a nice patter of rain on the window.
And, we can feel doubly good about it because we know that drinking coffee is actually good for our health! Phew! 2-5 cups a day can lower your risk of depression, type 2 diabetes, liver and endometrial cancers, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease. Coffee even makes you nicer to people in traffic according to one case report from a local chiropractor I know well.
Lest we have too much of a good thing, I have another delightful hot drink I like to throw into the mix in the fall. I learned it from my Grandpa, who added large amounts of honey and lemon to a good British black tea (I recommend Tetley or PG Tips, never Lipton!). For a non-caffeinated and even tastier option, sub the black tea back for a bag of Lemon Zinger from Celestial Seasonings. You’ll be glad you did!
Honey is antiviral and lemon has plenty of vitamin C, so not only will your tea taste great, it will also help keep cold and flu bugs away, while also proving to yourself that you won’t die if you take a short break from coffee. Just don’t take too long a break or you’ll never make it to spring!
Stay Cozy Seattle,
Cheers!
Josh Penner, D.C.