23 Nov Fresh + Easy Digestive Tea Tonic // Thanksgiving Edition
Happy Thanksgiving! Like many holidays, food is a key component that brings us all together. We share our favorite recipes and treats from heart-to-stomach. Warmth. It soothes us to the core.
This is, of course, is also a time to gather with loved ones and form ripples of sweet moments and memories. Taking time off to rejoice in gratitude with those we deeply care about is priceless. Precious moments of gathering may also be a time when grief (refer to autumn post) may surface from missing those whom we wish could be there.
This quote holds true in moments of reminiscence:
“Don’t grieve. Anything you lose comes round in another form.” ― Rumi
Take a deep breath. Cherish the moments of joy as they come. Share your smiles and feel the good qi around you.
After a delicious time with multiple flavorful dishes to try, our digestive system could use a nice *Thank You* for helping us to enjoy every bite! 😋 I have a recipe to follow–but first, I’ll provide some general healthy-eating tips below.
THANKSGIVING (+beyond) QUICK TIPS:
Some quick tips to prevent the cloak of regret that may come with holiday grub-indulgences include:
❥ Eat fiber rich foods earlier in the day + stay hydrated. This will keep your gut flora nourished and reduce hunger cravings.
❥ Drink raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar + water (2 tbsp/16oz water) about 30 mins before (and after) the big meal. The benefits are endless, however, some benefits specific to this discussion are:
〰 helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
〰 primes the body to increase absorption of minerals, especially iron.
〰 increases satiety–preventing over-eating.
❥ Eat within a 10-12 hours window today, tomorrow (most days, really – as this is a healthy habit of eating anyway.) So, if you started eating at 8am, stop eating by 8pm. You may have water, ACV water, or non-caffeinated herbal teas afterwards, if desired. Eating late at night messes up our hormone balance (insulin, melatonin, ghrelin, leptin, etc) and causes issues with regulating our circadian rhythm.
Time-restricted feeding has many benefits, including:
〰 reduction in daily hunger swings.
〰 increased fat burning during night/sleep hours.
〰 improved metabolic flexibility (the body’s ability to switch between burning carbs and burning fats.)*
❥ Enjoy! Have belly laughs with loved ones and be in the present moment. 
Now, here is a simple + fresh digestive tea tonic in perfect timing for Thanksgiving:
“Tea is the elixir of life.” – Lao Tzu
I couldn’t agree more Mr. Tzu…so, here we go! 
Fennel + Mint // Digestive Tea Tonic
INGREDIENTS
- 10-15 of fresh mint leaves
- 1-2 springs of fresh fennel leaves (cut from the stalk)
- Optional: 3-4 fresh sage leaves
DIRECTIONS
- Pour 1 quart of very hot water on the fresh leaves. You may repeat this a few times until the leaves loose their potent aroma.
- Sniff, sip, and enjoy ~ your tummy will thank you right back.
Wishing you well in every way ~
@pixabay
Have you tried this tea? Tell me about it. ♥
* Reference:
University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Time-restricted feeding study shows promise in helping people shed body fat.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 January 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170106113820.htm>.
Cell Metab. 2016 Jun 14;23(6):1048-1059. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2016.06.001. Fasting, Circadian Rhythms, and Time-Restricted Feeding in Healthy Lifespan. Longo VD1, Panda S2 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27304506
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