The Pumpkin Spice Hot Toddy: A Heart-Healthy Drink for the Season

During the winter season, there’s nothing quite like a hot toddy to get you through a cold night. The holidays are often a time for indulgence. While it’s perfectly okay to indulge in moderation, it’s important to stick to a healthy diet and lifestyle most of the time. If you love everything pumpkin spice–related, here’s a pumpkin spice hot toddy recipe you should try this season.

• What Is a Pumpkin Spice Hot Toddy? 
• Pumpkin Spice Hot Toddy Heart-Healthy Benefits
  • Rich in Antioxidants, Fiber, and B Vitamins  
  • Help Control Blood Sugar and Prevent Cholesterol Build-Up 
• Pumpkin Spice Hot Toddy Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Directions
• Indulge in Moderation
• Enjoy a Healthier Pumpkin Spice Beverage

What Is a Pumpkin Spice Hot Toddy?

As soon as the weather changes, you start seeing pumpkin spice tea and coffees to brighten up your day. There’s a reason pumpkin spice is such a popular option. But what exactly is pumpkin spice? Well, it’s a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. While it contains no actual pumpkin, it does boast plenty of heart-healthy benefits.

Traditionally, a hot toddy uses bourbon, hot water, and lemon to create a soothing drink. Many people believe the hot beverage is beneficial for easing cold and flu symptoms. Although there is currently no cure for the common cold, people are always looking for more natural ways to manage their symptoms.

Honey has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, while lemon is rich in antioxidants. Hot drinks are a common home remedy for symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, and sneezing. The homemade mixture of lemon, honey, and bourbon may help soothe congestion while helping lift any winter blues. 

Nowadays, there are a ton of varieties and twists on the classic hot toddy recipe. The hot drink contains several powerful ingredients that will warm you up on the coldest of nights. 

Pumpkin Spice Hot Toddy Heart-Healthy Benefits

When you combine pumpkin spice with a hot toddy, you get a mix that’s sure to be a winter favorite. By switching up the traditional drink, you can reap the heart-healthy benefits. If you’re looking to indulge a little, why not try a healthier option so you can stick to your routine and enjoy the taste at the same time? 

Rich in Antioxidants, Fiber, and B Vitamins

Pumpkin spice is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants help to protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, known as oxidative stress. Things like smoking, environmental pollution, and highly processed foods can lead to oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can damage your cells and DNA, contributing to aging and a multitude of health conditions.

Cinnamon contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory effects. Like cinnamon, nutmeg has powerful antioxidant properties as well as being delicious. It’s also high in fiber and numerous B vitamins. A diet with plenty of fiber supports regular bowel movements and is essential for maintaining a healthy weight. 

Help Control Blood Sugar and Prevent Cholesterol Build-Up

Another benefit of the cinnamon content in this pumpkin spice hot toddy is that it can help control blood sugar. It’s thought to lower blood sugar by imitating the effects of insulin in the body. This helps to increase insulin sensitivity and make insulin more efficient. 

A key ingredient of a hot toddy is the heart-healthy alcohol, bourbon. Bourbon has potent antioxidant effects and the ability to prevent cholesterol build-up in the arteries. Too much bad cholesterol can clog up your arteries. Eventually, this can make it harder for blood to flow through your arteries, which can lead to a stroke or heart attack.  

Sometimes when you think about healthy drinks, you think of water. Luckily, there are plenty of healthy drinks besides water to try over the holidays. From herbal teas to healthy cocktails, you can find something that suits your mood without overindulging in high-sugar beverages.  

Pumpkin Spice Hot Toddy Recipe

Here is a healthier way to get your pumpkin spice fix this season. Instead of your regular pumpkin spice latte, put a seasonal twist on the classic hot toddy. A traditional hot toddy consists of bourbon, honey, lemon, and hot water. Mix up your hot toddy with flavored decaf tea or herbal tea for an easy cocktail perfect for winter. This recipe makes one cup of pumpkin spice hot toddy. 

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces brewed pumpkin spice tea or your favorite decaf or herbal tea 
• 1 ounce of bourbon 
• 1 ½ tsp honey 
• 1 ½ tsp lemon juice 
• 1 cinnamon stick 
• 1 strip of lemon zest 

Directions:

1. In a mug, combine the tea, bourbon, honey, and lemon together. 
2. Garnish your hot toddy with a cinnamon stick and a strip of lemon zest. 

Indulge in Moderation

No doubt you have heard the phrase “everything in moderation.” This means that around 90% of the time, try to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet. Save your 10% for those less-than-healthy options like pizza, fried foods, and cookies. Although it’s tempting to overeat, especially during the holidays, it’s a good idea to choose a healthier option. 

Being mindful during times of indulgence can help you really enjoy the moment but not overindulge. With mindful eating, you consider quality, emotional triggers, and whether you’re actually hungry. The majority of the time, moderation and mindful eating go hand in hand. To begin eating mindfully, think about removing all distractions when you eat so that you can enjoy every bite.

Enjoy a Healthier Pumpkin Spice Beverage

If you love a Christmas tipple, why not try some low-calorie cocktails? An Old Fashioned, Martini, and Gimlet all come in at under 200 calories per drink. Whether you’re looking for mocktails, cocktails, or a healthier alternative to your go-to pumpkin spice drink, you can find something that you enjoy. 

There’s nothing more soothing and warming than a hot drink on a cold night. That’s made all the better with a little alcohol goodness. The mixture of bourbon, pumpkin spice tea, and lemon not only tastes great but provides several health benefits. With potent antioxidant effects and a good source of fiber, this pumpkin spice hot toddy recipe could become your new holiday tradition this season.