Sometimes it’s the simplest ingredients that pack the biggest punch.
This holds true for garlic, lemon, and ginger— a trio that have potent health benefits separately and give your body an even bigger disease-fighting boost when combined into a “super tonic”.
There’s nothing exotic about this trio (though ginger is technically a tropical plant). You can easily find them at the grocery store and likely already have at least one in your cupboard.
But that just goes to show how powerful “ordinary” foods and spices can be, and you may be astonished at all this trio can do.
Garlic, Lemon, & Ginger: A Powerhouse Trio
It would be hard to find a more potent trio flavor-wise than garlic, lemon, and ginger.
The strong, vampire-repelling fragrance of garlic is matched by the spicy heat of ginger, and both get taken up a notch by the sour and refreshing presence of lemon.
However, the powerful flavors of this trio aren’t just there for your taste buds. They give you a hint at the mighty plant compounds hidden within each spice and fruit that have massive benefits for the human body.
To give you a hint at what they can do together, it would be fair to say that any garlic-lemon-ginger recipe would be full of immune-boosting, cancer-fighting, heart-helping, and brain-protecting potential— a true tonic against disease.
For a more in-depth look at what each member of the trio brings to the table, here are some of the most outstanding benefits of garlic, lemon, and ginger. (Followed by a super-powerful and super-simple recipe.)
Top Benefits of Garlic (A Heart & Brain Protector)
Enhances Immunity & May Work as an Antibiotic
One of the most notable benefits of garlic is its immune-boosting power. Not only can it strengthen your immune system to fight off illness, it may also have direct action against specific pathogens.
To the first point, several studies have found that supplementing with garlic during cold and flu season can reduce your chance of getting sick.
In one trial, participants taking garlic were less likely to catch a cold than the placebo group and had a faster recovery time if they did get sick. Another large study found that garlic extract reduced the severity of cold and flu symptoms specifically by improving immune cell function.
Certain compounds in garlic can also directly fight infectious pathogens, including diallyl sulfide, which was found to be 100 times more effective than two common antibiotics at fighting Campylobacter bacterium.
Reduces Blood Pressure & Supports Your Heart
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, and high blood pressure is a big risk factor for cardiovascular conditions.
This is a top reason to regularly consume garlic because it has been shown to significantly reduce blood pressure in multiple studies. In fact, one long-term study found that garlic was just as effective as atenolol, a commonly used drug for high blood pressure!
To add to its heart benefits, other research has shown that garlic can lower total and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
May Reduce Your Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease
Garlic is packed full of antioxidants that protect your body against oxidative damage. Researchers have found that these antioxidants specifically possess neuroprotective properties that may slow age-related cognitive decline, keeping your brain sharper for longer.
Even better, there’s some indication that regularly consuming garlic could cut your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Researchers believe that these findings are due to the antioxidants present in garlic as well as its ability to lower blood pressure and cholesterol— both of which are associated with a greater risk of dementia, not just heart disease.
Natural Detoxifier
We live in a world that constantly overloads our bodies with toxins. This means that detoxification has never been more important, but often our bodies can’t keep up without some outside help.
Garlic is a top natural detoxifier because it’s rich in sulfur compounds that can help your body rid itself of heavy metals and enhance the action of glutathione, the “master antioxidant” heavily involved in detoxification.
Research shows that garlic is particularly effective at detoxifying lead, reducing blood levels by as much as 19% in one study. The participants— who all had lead poisoning— even experienced fewer symptoms of lead toxicity when taking garlic.
Significant Cancer-Fighting Potential
The powerful compounds within garlic give it cancer-fighting properties that have been demonstrated in numerous studies.
Just to give you a quick overview, researchers have linked the consumption of garlic to a decreased risk of lung cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Sulfur compounds within garlic have also shown an ability to increase cancer cell death and destroy cells in glioblastomas (a deadly type of brain tumor).
Because it enhances immune response, garlic may also cut your cancer risk by helping your body to stop malignancies from gaining a foothold.
Top Lemon Benefits (The Original Immune Booster)
High in Vitamin C that Boosts Immunity
Lemons remain one of the best sources of vitamin C. This essential nutrient became well known for scurvy prevention back in the 18th century and is involved in the production of certain white blood cells that help ward off infection.
A vitamin C deficiency can leave your body more susceptible to infectious diseases (particularly respiratory ones), so it’s vital to get enough of this nutrient. Boosting vitamin C intake may even shorten the duration of respiratory tract infections, including the common cold.
Vitamin C also enhances your body’s natural detoxification process, which makes it a key nutrient for getting harmful toxins out of your body.
Full of Cancer Fighting Compounds
Lemons are rich in antioxidants and other plant compounds with documented cancer-fighting properties. This includes D-limonene, a compound concentrated in the peel of lemons, which has shown antitumor and chemopreventive activity in studies.
Overall, lemon juice and lemon compounds have been shown to inhibit breast cancer cells, suppress tumor growth, and suppress cancer cell proliferation. Some research even indicates that consuming citrus fruit regularly could lower your risk of certain cancers.
Help Prevent Kidney Stones
Kidney stones are small, hard deposits that form when waste products crystallize in your kidneys. They can be very painful to pass and large stones may require medical intervention.
Lemons and lemon juice can be extremely helpful for kidney stone prevention because they contain citric acid. Citric acid increases urine volume and raises the pH of urine, which creates a less favorable environment for kidney stone formation.
Studies have shown just 3-4 ounces of fresh lemon juice a day can be enough to stop kidney stones from forming. Even lemonade seems to help prevent kidney stones, though you really don’t want to overdo it on sugar.
May Lower Your Stroke Risk
Lemons and other citrus fruits contain a specific group of antioxidants known as flavonoids that are linked to a lower risk of ischemic stroke. (This is the type of stroke caused by a blood clot that blocks blood flow to the brain.)
According to one study, women who consumed the highest amount of citrus fruits had a 19% lower risk of ischemic stroke, which is fairly significant. Researchers put this effect down to an increased intake of flavanones, which are a subgroup of flavonoids.
High flavonoid intake is also associated with better heart health— another point in favor of lemons.
Anti-Aging Effects for Skin
The vitamin C inside of lemons isn’t just beneficial for your immune system. It also acts as a natural collagen booster, which is critical for keeping your skin looking firm, plump, and wrinkle-free.
In addition to boosting collagen— one of the most critical proteins for young-looking skin— vitamin C also helps to protect your skin from something known as photodamage.
Photodamage occurs when your skin is exposed to too much UV radiation. The result is skin damage at the cellular level that shows up (often years later) as wrinkles, dark spots, uneven skin tone, etc. Because this type of damage is difficult to reverse, preventing it with nutrients like vitamin C is the best way to go.
Key Benefits of Ginger (A Digestive Superstar)
Eases Indigestion and Nausea
Ginger has been used for thousands of years to support digestive health. It can help relieve many symptoms of indigestion, including gas, bloating, and stomach cramps and has also shown an ability to speed up stomach emptying.
But perhaps the biggest digestive benefit of ginger is its anti-nausea effects. Multiple studies have confirmed that it can ease nausea associated with chemotherapy, surgery, motion sickness, and pregnancy (aka morning sickness) with minimal side effects.
In short, ginger is one of the best “digestive tonics” you can take.
Lowers Cholesterol and Blood Sugar
Ginger is an all-star when it comes to protecting your heart and lowering your risk of metabolic disorders.
Several studies have found that ginger can reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol by up to 17.4% and may increase HDL (good) cholesterol levels. It has also shown an ability to lower fasting blood sugar levels AND dramatically improve HbA1c, which are risk factors for both diabetes and heart disease.
If that weren’t enough, one study found that daily ginger consumption may reduce your risk for a number of chronic diseases, especially coronary heart disease.
Fights Infections and Supports Immune Health
Ginger and ginger extracts have shown activity against numerous infectious pathogens. Most notably, they can inhibit a viral strain that commonly causes respiratory infections, bacteria that cause gum disease, and multiple strains of drug-resistant bacteria.
Ginger further helps your body to fight off infection by providing immune support, including strengthening antibody response. Overall, it’s a great herb to include in your daily diet during cold and flu season— and the rest of the year, too.
Combats Pain and Inflammation
Gingerol is the main active compound in ginger, responsible for giving the spice much of its heat. Research has shown that this one compound alone has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidant power.
Because of its gingerol content, ginger can help to ease inflammation in your body and has shown some pretty incredible potential for combating pain. Studies have shown that it appears to be particularly effective for osteoarthritis and menstrual-related pain, sometimes with comparable effectiveness to NSAID pain relievers.
Ginger likely combats other types of pain as well— like exercise-induced muscle soreness.
May Protect Against Alzheimer’s and Cancer
The antioxidants present in ginger, including gingerol, provide powerful protection for your body against disease.
As a prime example of this, several studies indicate that ginger has potent neuroprotective properties that may prevent Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. One study even found that daily ginger consumption improved working memory and reaction time in middle-aged women.
Along with protecting your brain, ginger has shown potential for fighting various types of cancer. So far, it has proven to be most powerful against gastrointestinal cancers, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer, although quality human trials have yet to be completed.
Simple Garlic, Lemon, & Ginger “Shot” Recipe
Now that you’ve gotten a glimpse of the individual benefits of garlic, lemon, and ginger, you can see why they make the ultimate disease-fighting tonic when combined together.
Following is a simple recipe for a garlic-lemon-ginger “shot” that will boost your immune system, heart health, and much more. Be sure to take it daily for the best results!
Ingredients:
- 2-3 organic lemons, peeled or unpeeled (*see notes)
- 2-3 cloves of garlic, peeled
- A few chunks of fresh ginger, peeled
- Filtered water (optional— *see notes)
- Raw honey to taste (optional)
Instructions:
- Add all ingredients, except the honey, to a blender, including 1/4-1/2 cup of water if using.
- Blend until the mixture is smooth, adding more water if desired to get your preferred consistency.
- Add honey if using and blend or stir until it’s incorporated.
- Store the mixture in your refrigerator, and drink a small glass daily. It will be most potent if you warm it first and take it on an empty stomach.
*Notes: Leaving the peel on your lemons ensures that you get all the highly potent compounds (including D-limonene) found only in the peel, but please make sure to buy organic lemons if you do so to avoid pesticide residue. If you don’t want the entire peel, at least grate some of the zest into the blender.
You can make this recipe without any water, but it will be more of a paste than a liquid. In this case, you only need to take 1-2 teaspoons daily to get the full effects, since it will be more potent.*
This incredibly simple recipe is sure to wake you up and will provide your body with countless compounds that help you to stay at peak health. Consume it regularly, especially when you feel under the weather or feel like your body needs an extra boost. It makes a great before-meal digestive tonic, too!
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Brian. Thank you for the immune boosting recipe with garlic, ginger and lemon. I will try it. To good health, Alice.
bass. Thank you very much for all the wonderful recipes we receive and also for free.
whawww great news. simple ingrediants and so powerfull. I am starting today. thank you
This recipe sounds simple and practical. I often drink water with a squeeze of lemon. I will add the other ingredients for the extra health benefits and share it with my mom.
If you don’t use the skin, does it have to be organic?
I think that is always good to use organic. The pesticides can penetrate the skin. When you are trying to be healthy, it is best to use organic. I even wash organic lemons when I use them. The less toxins we put in our bodies, the better. It’s like filling a bucket. When our bodies are full up of toxins, then we start to show symptoms. Toxins are cumulative. I try to limit the toxic load as much as possible.
This is a great recipe – thank you! I add cayenne sometimes. Be sure to use unwaxed lemons! In health.
If you can’t but organic, you can always soak & wash your fruit in salt water or water with baking soda. the chemicals in Pesticides will bond to the salt or baking soda. Rinse well after!
THANKS 👍 For This GREAT Health Tips on (Salt, Baking Soda Binding to pesticides!)
I read that 10 parts water, 1 part vinegar, 5 table spoon of baking soda gets rid of up to 90% of pesticides. I use it to wash all fruits and vegetables, except the ones I peel of course.
Looks like a great way to stay healthy! I am certainly going to use it. Thankyou:)
Thank you for the valuable information.
Certamente sono quattro componenti che sono ottimi per la salute.
Thank you for your healthy help. We really need it.
Thank you. I’m wondering if using these ingredients in cooking will be the same as taking it as a shot. I realize taking something on an empty stomach is best however a shot like this one is not something I want to wake up and do right away.
Hi Therese,
Is vitamin C destroyed by heat?
Vitamin C can be destroyed by heat and light. High-heat cooking temperatures or prolonged cook times can break down the vitamin. ( circa 70 degree Celsius or 158 F).
Because it is water-soluble, the vitamin can also seep into cooking liquid and be lost if the liquids are not eaten.
Furthermore, like many other vitamins and other healthy components in fruits and vegetables, it oxidizes when exposed to air.
Honestly, I never understood the food prep movement. Make a juice or smoothie, cut up all the veggies up to 5 days before cooking or drinking? There is not much nutrition left in such food…
Hey Brigitte, I’m new to this healthy helping group and very glad to be here!! So, you said about losing the good stuff can be lost in the liquid, so to use in a soup would be ok? These ingredients sound great for an asian soup!! Same as Therese, I can’t imagine having it as a shot or drink 1st thing in the morning. Do you have any other suggestions on how to consume it? Have a great day! 🙂 Thanks, KD
Brian. Thank you for the immune boosting recipe with garlic, ginger and lemon.
With nowadays common exposure to EMR I have problems – “My body is boiling inside”! (as I have been told by TCHM practitioner)
I do like all the ingredients in suggestion, use garlic and lemon regularly, ginger as spice occasionally…
Any cooling help?
Regards
Iva
When my husband eats any form of garlic he develops dreadful belching which can go on for many hours. Do you have any suggestions for that?
For any thing that reacts, yoghurt is a good source. My husband takes 1 – 2 tablespoons and it settles very quickly. Mine is capsicum and raw onion, yoghurt piled into the 1/2 shell of the Capsicum solves it, and as for onion, boiled in a little water for 1 – 2 mins, cool and use in salad, or drain well for casseroles, and for frying drain and pat dry or lay on a tray until dry enough to fry. If on a diet, fry minced meat using water and not oil, can also add some spices or herbs to the water, then make the recipe as stated.
I’ve just made a batch , thank you 🙏🏾
Thank you for this Immune boosting recipe, it sounds great. I will try it
Marija
Very interesting lesson, and important
I like it. and follow the instructions
thanks for the recipe I used this before. excellent booster
Thank you for the great recipe and health tips.
I have an old regular blender not a vitamix or one similar to it.
I will try the receipe and so, I expect a lot of chunky peel. I want to benefit from the peel.
Thank you for the receipe.
Brian, this is great. I am on it now. I suffered a heart failure in March 2022. I am getting better by the day. I surely shall double up on this recipe.
Thank you for the recipe for garlic,
lemon and ginger. I will try it 🙂
thanks for the recipe, very powerful medicine! God bless ur ministry.
EDGAR
uganda
So can you use frozen lemon cubes.
I make my own taking the whole organic lemon, blending it with filtered water and make ice cubes out if it. I used a small muffin tin for the ice cubes.
Hi Joan. Once I’ve squeezed my unwaxed lemons, using a flexible ice cube tray I fill each section to the top and freeze them, that way the juice will last for a couple of months – though mine are never there that long – and just pop 2 into the mixture with a drop of hot water to defrost them before drinking.
Do you remove the lemon seeds?
I have heard of bringing the garlic and ginger to a boil then take off the heat and add the lemon and let set of awhile . Is this method any good ?
I have food intolerances and, like my father who had the same thing, avoid citrus fruits (and several other things). I substitute vinegar for lemon juice and try to get my vitamin C from daily strawberries and veggies like Brussels sprouts. I drink a ginger tea most evenings and put garlic in many dishes so maybe I am covered there.
I do a similar recipe with the whole lemon. I just strain it first. You still get the benefits.
Grateful for this healthy recipe, so far have been using in the mornings but without garlic, an enhanced formula by all accounts.
Thank you
I have reflux. Is there a way to take it without causing problems?
Heal the gut
Have doing the blended whole lemon, with warm water, drink in the morning for years to clean the kidneys – will add the garlic, along with a ginger/Tumeric mix to the recipe. No kidney stones over past 2 decades, and rarely sick! (at 79)
Garlic,ginger,lemon and onion are also good for our lungs to avoid TBC and other lung conditions.
Thanks for your healing tips!
Thank you so very much for the facts about Ginger Garlic and Lemon, all sent information. Amazing, I am so thankful to have read their nuritional value. I will make and use daily,
Truly
Thank you so much for this recipe. I will definitely try it.
Thank you so much for a wonderful, healthy and very necessary recipe for our health! Sincerely Margarita.
Garlic causes me abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation within an hour of consumption. I would take the garlic and honey out to avoid upsetting my IBS-C.
IBS Symptoms means your gut needs healing
Brian, Thank you for the fantastic information! I have been following you for years and love all the fabulous information, jokes and Summit doctors!
thanks.. plan to make it and try it, likely adding a teaspoon into my cup of morning hot tea…. as a unique and healthy flavoring….yum..
I am grateful for this recipe. I’m going to make a huge effort to includei t in my early morning routine, t seems to apply to healing all of my problems that I now take meds for. The migraines made me do it thank you, namaste
Thank you! I appreciate it.
A healthy recipe that boosts immunity and general wellness is always helpful. Thank you.
Great recipe cant why to put it up taste!! All the best
Thank-you so much for the recipe. Will do it today. Sounds healthy!
Thank you Brian, looking forward to trying this simple easy recipe for garlic, lemon, & ginger as a tonic!
What can be done to eliminate the bad breath from the garlic?!?
I have been starting my day for 50 years with a hot lemon juice drink the added benefit of garlic and ginger will be come my new way to start my day Barry This is my first and only comment
Thank you also that this recipe is a whole lot less expensive than some of the other suggestions out there!!! Not only do I thank you, but so does my pocketbook. I know of a deceased woman who overcame rheumatoid arthritis completely by the time of her passing with daily ginger tea mixed with lemon juice. I wonder if the addition of garlic would have expedited her recovery?! At any rate, I sense that I’m on to something and am going into the kitchen to make some right now!!!!!!!!!! Talk about being in the right place at the right time . . . .
Many thanks – will make a mix up tonight.