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Herbal teas to make you healthier June 10, 2010
If you’re the typical north american you probably consume hundreds if not thousands of calories a day in sugar-laden nutritionally devoid drinks.
We turn to caffeine and sugar to give us a pick-me-up and to activate the pleasure centers in the brain. However, these bad habits stress our adrenals causing worse fatigue in the long run and overload our blood stream with glucose, causing insulin resistance, diabetes and weight gain.
What if I told you that you could get the same pick me up without the crash or jitters or calories?
Herbal teas can do just that and have a host of health benefits. Plus, one box costs about as much as that caramel machiato. They also provide a comforting ritual that makes you feel like you’re pampering yourself. If you’retrying to lose weight they can help you feel full, hydrate your cells, flush out toxins and keep you from indulging in late night high-calorie snacks.
Let’s look at a few of my favorites:
Peppermint- Not just for grandma anymore. This zippy tea is great to aid in digestion and give you a sustained energy lift at the 3 o’clock slump. There’s a reason someone with energy is called “peppy”.
Ginger- My personal fav. This spicy, warming brew aids digestion and is anti-inflammatory, meaning it helps control pain and cellular damage. It is the perfect tea for cold winters because it is thermogenic, allowing the body to better tolerate cold and burn calories too. Plus, it’s an immune booster. I love to steep a pot and add lemon and stevia then put it in the fridge for refreshing iced tea in the summer.
Pau D’ Arco- Similar to Echinacea tea in that it supports immunity. Perfect for when you feel you are coming down with something or are already sick. It is antifungal, so it helps to lower yeast in the body, antimicrobial and antiparasitic.
Ginseng and/or Astragalus These teas are considered ‘adaptogens’. They are known to help the body deal with stress. They also give a great natural recharge of energy.
Nettle- Due to the standard american diet (SAD) we commonly have deficiencies in B vitamins and iron, two nutrients essential for energy production. Nettle tea provides both. It is also great as a weight loss boost and gets the bowels going. Who needs coffee?
Dandelion- Helps to increase gastric acid production thus aiding the stomach in breaking down food, making nutrients more absorbable and giving you the energy from your food. It also helps nourish the kidneys and is mildly diuretic therefore helpful for the times when you retain water .
Camomile- This well-known soother really does work. It soothes the central nervous system giving you a relaxed sensation. Best used before bed as it can really wind you down.
Others to try:
Chick weed (said to help melt cellulite), Fennel (digestive aid), Hawthorn, Horsetail, Lemon Balm, Licorice, Melissa, Red Clover and Sage (for hot flashes), Red Raspberry, Rose Hips, Slippery Elm (the name connotes the effects, it helps with constipation), and Valerian Root (a natural soother)
That’s just a tip of the teapot when it comes to the vast benefits and types of herbal tea. I hope it piques your interest to learn more and maybe try a few. I like to make different combinations by adding two together. Don’t add sugar or milk because you’ll just negate the health giving benefits by doing so. Allow tea to brew for at least 5 mins. covered. Don’t drink it too hot. loose-leaf is best but if using tea bags squeeze out the bag to be sure to get every last drop.
Here’s to your health and making a cup of herbal tea your cuppa tea.
NutritionNat;)
Read what your tongue is telling you June 2, 2010
There are hundreds of different symptoms that correlate to various deficiencies and diseases in the human body. Many of which don’t require drawing blood or invasive testing to uncover but simply a little knowledge of how our body whispers or screams its’ needs to you. All cells and systems in the body are linked and “communicate” to each other. Your body shows external signs of internal issues but most of us don’t know how to read what our bodies are telling us. The eyes may be the window to the soul but the tongue is the window to the organs. Here’s a quick lesson on what your tongue is telling you.
A crack down the middle and/or a burning tongue- you may have weak stomach acid and have difficulty with complete digestion. You are likely nurtrient depleted and are low in energy and have gas and bloating. You should take digestive enzymes to help break down your food and better absorb nutrients. Also, stop drinking liquids at mealtime so as not to dilute your stomach acid further. Slow down and chew your food thoroughly. Take swedish bitters, drink dandelion tea twice daily and take a teaspoon of apple cidre vinegar before meals. Look into food combining to kickstart your gastric acid production and give your stomach a break.
Teethmarks around the sides- this is a sign of nutrient deficiency especially due to a sluggish spleen when accompanied by gas and bloating. You may also be iron deficient and catch colds easily. Add these foods and herbs to your diet to wake up a tired spleen; garlic, ginger, cayenne, ginseng, cinnamon, horseradish, fennel, blackpepper, aduki beans, kidney beans, and mung beans, squash, pumpkin and root vegetables, deep water fish, oats, and foods high in chlorophyll such as leafy greens, chlorella, spirulina, kale and chard.
Do you have a sore tongue? This could be due to iron and/or B6 deficiency. Drink nettle tea and take a good liquid vitamin and mineral multi. Have your iron levels checked by a doctor because you may need to supplement.
Is your tongue swollen or have a thick white or yellow coating? These symptoms indicate too much mucus in the body. This is also a sign of lack of beneficial bacteria in the gut and elevated yeast levels. Cut down on dairy, introduce a supergreen food to your diet like spirulina or chlorella, Start taking a 6 month supply of probiotics to replenish healthy flora, drink Pau D’Arco tea, eliminate sugar from your diet, and also follow the tips to aid the stomach given above.
Horizontal cracks and grooves? These are a sign of malabsorption especially of B vitamins when accompanied by a lack of energy. Add a B-complex to your daily regime, Take digestive enzymes with meals, eat a diet high in enzymes from raw vegetables & fruits, drink nettle, sage, camomile, slippery elm and peppermint tea, take 2 table spoons of aloe vera juice before meals. If you’re brave, try a colonic.
Do you have a red tip? This indicates an emotional upset or stress that you’re holding onto or are currently experiencing. Emotional upsets cause energy disruptions in the body. Don’t let your “biography become your biology”. Deal with what’s bothering you and find ways to manage stress. Exercise, and meditate. Try 10 uninterrupted minutes of free-writing per day to get it out on paper. Then, burn it, symbolically releasing the burden.
Now, go stick your tongue out and see what it has to say!
Hello world! May 11, 2010
Welcome all of you brilliant people who are just trying to make the best choices you can everyday. This time two years ago I was overwhelmed by the idea of overhauling my diet and making what I thought were BIG changes. I can’t believe how far I’ve come in two years just by taking baby-steps! I used to be intimidated by whole grains, had no idea what oil to use for cooking and felt quite comfortable hiding in my size 10 pants. All that has changed! I was tired of feeling tired and made the decision to take control of my health through diet and exercise and I’ve never looked back. I am fitter, healthier and happier than I’ve ever been, even than in my playing days. I can help you get there too. Your first step; make a commitment to yourself to make your health a priority. The best gift you can give yourself , your family and the world is a healthy you.
