I Have Chronic Inflammation & This Is the Anti-Inflammatory Beverage I Drink When I'm Sick

It’s the season of ���everyone is sick right now,” and I know it firsthand. A few weeks ago, I caught perhaps the strongest cold I have ever experienced, and it felt like my symptoms were going to last forever. Luckily, I had my favorite antioxidant-rich drink on standby, so I could easily pour myself a glass once I started to feel sick. 

Want to know what my feel-better drink of choice is? Here’s a hint: remember when that sleepy girl mocktail was taking the internet by storm? It featured probiotic soda, tart cherry juice and magnesium supplement powder that was purported to make you fall asleep in no time. In our own version, we skipped the branded soda and extra supplements to focus on our favorite ingredient, the tart cherry juice. Our Tart Cherry Juice Mocktail was then born, including ingredients like lime, sage and honey for added flavor.

The easy drink that helps me sleep is a simplified version of this mocktail. Trust me, I tried the full recipe and it was delicious—you can even watch my taste test on EatingWell’s TikTok—but I really only need three of the ingredients to whip up a drink that helps me feel my best.

In an iced glass, I pour in tart cherry juice and seltzer water—it can be plain, but I think lime-flavored seltzer works great here. Then, for sweetness, I thin out a tablespoon of honey by mixing it with a tablespoon of hot water before adding it to the drink. Stirring all of this together makes for an easy drink with delicious nutritional benefits.

Tart cherry juice is a great source of antioxidants, which are important for your overall health but can also help reduce inflammation in the body. As someone that struggles with chronic inflammation, it’s really important to relieve my inflammatory symptoms, especially when, on top of that, I’m sick. One thing at a time, please!

Plus, staying hydrated is important when you’re under the weather, so when I feel like I’m starting to show signs of sickness, a refreshing drink like this alongside water throughout the day is really helpful in easing oncoming sinus pressure.

And because of its antioxidants (specifically polyphenols) and its source of magnesium, tart cherry juice can also help you sleep, which is something I personally have trouble with when I’m sick. So I recommend my concoction or our mocktail to be enjoyed in the evening for a pre-bed ritual.

For more drinks and recipes featuring tart cherry juice, take a look at our Tart Cherry Superfood Shots or our Whipped Frozen Cherry Limeade for a sweet treat.