With the new year comes often comes new diets, new gym memberships- a whole bunch of new that doesn’t always last. I like many fluctuated up and down right along with this system. Weight gain in the winter, weight loss in the summer and of course feeling the need to detox after the holiday season.
I was thrilled when my friends Hallie and Lexie invited me to join in on their New Year, New You event this month! This week its all about staying hydrated.
Roughly 6 months ago, I was forced to give up sugar. My inflammation was off the charts, and it was taking over my life , as well as my ability to function. Sugar of course triggers inflammation. The amount of peanut butter and chocolate chips that I inhaled on a daily basis was lethal.
Giving up sugar, was hard. For about 3 weeks it was all I thought about. Then one day I woke up and I didn’t care. Didn’t miss it, didn’t want it. My skin starting looking clear and bright, my skinny jeans started to fit like they once did before my thyroid issues took over my life. To my amazement, all my other junk food cravings also diminished. I don’t crave chips, or empty carbs anymore. Its wonderful! I believe there is a strong link between these cravings going away and my sugar free lifestyle. Now, I feel in control of my diet.. My weight does not fluctuate and I never feel the need to detox. While my health is still not perfect, I appreciate the stability that being sugar free has brought to my eating life.
Ginger being highly anti-inflamitory is my best friend. I put it in and on everything. On the days Im having a bad autoimmune attack I find it lessons my symptoms. Here is a simple, healthy recipe that I love, and use often. Staying hydrated is important, this is my favorite way to do so.
Sugar Free Ginger Ale.
2 Cups Water + 3 Inches Finely Chopped Ginger
Stevia to taste (I used 3 (1 gram each) packets.)
Pinch of Salt
1 1/2 Tbs Lemon or Lime Juice
3 cups Chilled Sparkling Water
- Combine in a sauce-pan the 2 cups of water and the ginger. Bring to a rapid boil until the liquid reduces in half. Place in the fridge overnight.
- The next day strain the ginger pieces out and add Stevia, Lemon or Lime Juice, the pinch of salt and the sparkling water. These ingredients can be adjusted to suite your taste.
Don’t throw away your strained ginger! It can be used multiple times. Try using it to make a quick hot tea.
Be sure to check out the other New Year, New You post’s this week!
To good health!
-Brittany-
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
That looks so incredibly refreshing, Brittany! Thank you for participating in NYNY…I love your positive perspective. Ginger is one of my favorite ways to fight inflammation and soothe the belly, too.
SO EXCITED about this recipe!
I drink carbonated water like it’s going out of style, and this looks like an awesome way to mix it up! I love ginger ale, but I’m noticing sugar bothers me more and more too after giving up 99% of my grain consumption. Thank you!!!!
Brittany … enjoyed what you said about sugar. I feel the same. I really don’t miss it and FOR SURE can’t handle it in the quantities I used to. If I have a craving I just eat a square of quality chocolate. Thanks for participating and you can bet I will be making your gingerale. xo
Sounds perfect! I love gingerale, love ginger tea, so I know I’d love this, too. And what a great pic!
Do you have any idea how much of the pure white stevia extract(NuStevia)powder to add? The bottle says that 1 serving contains 40mg of Stevia extract and that the serving size is 1/64 tsp(like that is going to be easy to measure). I can’t have the packets because of the additives in them(usually corn based). Otherwise it sounds like a great recipe!
I would just add to taste!
I never measure with the liquid. Start with one dropperful and add until it reaches the sweetness that you like!
thank you this sounds fantastic ill be getting the ingredients tomorrow for this
Hi Brittany!
First, I love, l love,love that photo! Homemade ginger ale is something I’ve never had, but I’m totally on board with a sugar-free version! Yours looks and sounds divine.
You are a testament to sugar-free living, gal! 
I’d call this healthy and happy hydration!
xo,
Shirley
thank you for that deelish recipe and equally deelish reading. i am so happy. i have been looking for a good sugar free blog for my dear friend. she has rheutamtoid arthritis and a horrible sugar attraction….addiction???? i’m going to be making a lot of your recipes for a bit to entice her over.
I’m Mailing this to myself because I am diabetic and LOVE ginger ale so I HAVE to give this a try! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much for this post! Giving up sugar is incredibly difficult — I struggle with it all the time. I wish there was a pill or supplement I could take! Did you give up all refined carbs as well?
Yes! I gave up carbs ( not really by choice) several months before sugar.
All grains and starches were causing attacks for me. I found that I stopped craving all carbs once I pulled the plug on sugar too.
I cooked the ginger last night and made the ginger ale today. I can’t taste anything today (stuffy nose) but my TWO YEAR OLD has informed me that it is sooooo good. She asked for more “soda” and when I told her no because she did not finish her lunch she cried and cried… but did not eat her lunch, so that was nap time. So thanks for posting this recipe! We use ginger for stomach aches often. I will probably become an addict now and have “soda” in my house all the time. LOL. Also hoping this will help with my latest wheat allergy skin reaction.
This looks awesome! I too have Hashimoto’s so I am always looking for anti-inflammatory foods! I am not a huge fan of ginger, but I love everything else here so I need to give it another try. Thank you for another great recipe.
Kate
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