Tea With A Twist
It's been 3 years since I've given up coffee. When I think back to brews at home in the mornings and the conversations shared over lattes at the coffee shops, I shake my head in amazement as to how much java one junkie can consume. It was a lot. But cold turkey I went back in 2014 when I found out I was highly allergic to the oils in the coffee bean. It wasn't even something that I thought about reintroducing into my program as it seemed to cause a tremendous amount of inflammation for me......and that's not something that I really care to play with. Truth is.....I don't even miss it.
I've played around with different teas over the years and about 2 years ago settled on Yerba Mate......it was the closest thing to coffee for me as I could actually brew it through a coffee maker.....and for me the tradition of coffee was what it was.
I'm do not truly enjoy eating a meal when I wake up in the morning and want something that will stay with me, give me some energy, focus my mind, carry me through a workout, and be easy on my digestive system. I'm a huge believer in the traditional ways of eating. Natural foods in their natural states to feed our natural bodies. That said, we all have individual needs that require tweaks in order for us to create the healthy, abundant, and optimal body we want to live in. For my physical constitution, I simply require a diet that is very high in "quality" fats. Fats that are great for the adrenals, thyroid, digestive system, brain (your brain is primarily made up of fat FYI), hormones, integumentary system (skin, hair, and nails), and your overall sense of well-being. A low fat diet compromises these systems and literally can break down your body's innate defenses to protect you from inflammation and illness.
I have gone back and forth over the years between higher fat/lower fat styles of eating depending on what my goals are physically and for my adrenal/thyroid health. We are bombarded with blogs, media, and experts who advocate a higher carb diet....which I'm not going to debate. Clearly the majority of us need a certain load of carbs in our diet. But truly, like most things, a little goes a long way. I find that if I get a decent load of healthy fats in the forms of non-hydrogenated saturated fats like coconut oil, butter (specifically ghee or grass fed butter) and grass fed meats and a good load of omega 3s with quality omega 6 fats, that I am well on my way to having a good day.
Remember that what works for one person won't necessarily be exactly what another person needs. However, nobody needs processed junk food. Many feel that the addition of simple carbohydrates, preworkouts, and powdery electrolytes is what their bodies are craving when really it's whole foods, real fats, complex carbohydrates, and high quality protein. Everybody will thrive on solid nutrition from real wholesome foods.
With that , I start every morning these days with my Tea With A Twist. With it being winter and still pretty cold in the mornings, I do a blend of coconut oil and ghee. For some reason, the ghee warms me up a bit more. But in the summer time I generally go straight for coconut oil:
The hemp seeds will rise to the top of the cup as a foam....so you'll have to stir the down into the liquid after you pour.....
I have completely given up any extra energy enhancers. I don't have to have extra caffeine throughout the day. And my digestion feels so much more on point. When you have to fuss around with inflammation and digestive issues, you're not able to focus on other areas of life that need your attention......like your work, workouts, relationships, and just "being."
Have a Beautiful Day!!
It's been 3 years since I've given up coffee. When I think back to brews at home in the mornings and the conversations shared over lattes at the coffee shops, I shake my head in amazement as to how much java one junkie can consume. It was a lot. But cold turkey I went back in 2014 when I found out I was highly allergic to the oils in the coffee bean. It wasn't even something that I thought about reintroducing into my program as it seemed to cause a tremendous amount of inflammation for me......and that's not something that I really care to play with. Truth is.....I don't even miss it.
I've played around with different teas over the years and about 2 years ago settled on Yerba Mate......it was the closest thing to coffee for me as I could actually brew it through a coffee maker.....and for me the tradition of coffee was what it was.
I'm do not truly enjoy eating a meal when I wake up in the morning and want something that will stay with me, give me some energy, focus my mind, carry me through a workout, and be easy on my digestive system. I'm a huge believer in the traditional ways of eating. Natural foods in their natural states to feed our natural bodies. That said, we all have individual needs that require tweaks in order for us to create the healthy, abundant, and optimal body we want to live in. For my physical constitution, I simply require a diet that is very high in "quality" fats. Fats that are great for the adrenals, thyroid, digestive system, brain (your brain is primarily made up of fat FYI), hormones, integumentary system (skin, hair, and nails), and your overall sense of well-being. A low fat diet compromises these systems and literally can break down your body's innate defenses to protect you from inflammation and illness.
I have gone back and forth over the years between higher fat/lower fat styles of eating depending on what my goals are physically and for my adrenal/thyroid health. We are bombarded with blogs, media, and experts who advocate a higher carb diet....which I'm not going to debate. Clearly the majority of us need a certain load of carbs in our diet. But truly, like most things, a little goes a long way. I find that if I get a decent load of healthy fats in the forms of non-hydrogenated saturated fats like coconut oil, butter (specifically ghee or grass fed butter) and grass fed meats and a good load of omega 3s with quality omega 6 fats, that I am well on my way to having a good day.
Remember that what works for one person won't necessarily be exactly what another person needs. However, nobody needs processed junk food. Many feel that the addition of simple carbohydrates, preworkouts, and powdery electrolytes is what their bodies are craving when really it's whole foods, real fats, complex carbohydrates, and high quality protein. Everybody will thrive on solid nutrition from real wholesome foods.
With that , I start every morning these days with my Tea With A Twist. With it being winter and still pretty cold in the mornings, I do a blend of coconut oil and ghee. For some reason, the ghee warms me up a bit more. But in the summer time I generally go straight for coconut oil:
- Brewed Yerba Mate (or coffee if you prefer) I just brew it in my 5 cup coffee maker
- 3 tablespoons whole organic hemp seeds (adjust to your specific needs)
- 1 tbsp collagen powder or grass fed whey protein
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- 1 tsp ghee/grass fed butter
- 1/4 tsp pink Himalayan Sea Salt
- 1/4 tsp turmeric
- Stevia to taste (optional) Don't use sweeteners that have a glycemic load....it ruins the purpose of fueling on fats.
The hemp seeds will rise to the top of the cup as a foam....so you'll have to stir the down into the liquid after you pour.....
I have completely given up any extra energy enhancers. I don't have to have extra caffeine throughout the day. And my digestion feels so much more on point. When you have to fuss around with inflammation and digestive issues, you're not able to focus on other areas of life that need your attention......like your work, workouts, relationships, and just "being."
Have a Beautiful Day!!
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