Spiced Coconut Milk Tea Recipe

Here is a great Paleo tea recipe. I have been using this to keep my adrenal glands and stress levels in check as we move into the busy holiday season. I have been craving spicy mixes that are available this time of year. Cinnamon, clove, nutmeg just sounds so good right now. Since I am staying away from dairy, the holiday favorite Egg Nogg is not an option. I use chopped herbs and you can find most of these at your local Co-Op or natural food market. Or you can mail order them from Radiance Herbs & Massage 360-357-5250
 So try this recipe:

Spiced Coconut Milk tea
2 cups Water
1 tsp licorice roots, chopped
1 tsp Eluethero root, chopped
1 tsp Yogi Tea (usually cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, black pepper, cardamon, ginger)
5 Tbsp of coconut milk

I start with cold water and add the spices to the water. Then bring the mixture to a boil in a sauce pan. Then I cover the pan and turn off the heat but leave the pan on the hot burner. Let it stand for about 5 minutes. You can cook it longer for a stronger flavor. Then strain the herbs pouring the tea into your cup. Next I add my five tablespoons (yes that is right five) of coconut milk to my cup. I like mine creamy and my intent is to get a little more fat in my diet so add as much as pleases you. The coconut milk will melt and cool down the tea just a little bit.
A little about the herbs

Licorice- This roots adds a sweet flavor, being 100 times sweeter than cane sugar. It has a low glycemic index so it does not raise your blood sugar. The longer you boil the tea the sweeter it will become. Licorice is known to boost immunity, reduce stress, reduce inflammation, soothe the respiratory system, and to help with feeling generally run down.

from www.herbwisdon.com

Licorice Root Herb Notes / Side Effects

Latin Names: Glycyrrhiza glabra, Liquiritia officinalis
Common Names: Chinese Licorice, Gan Cao, Kan-ts'ao, Kuo-lao, Licorice, Licorice Root, Ling-t'ung, Liquorice, Mei-ts'ao, Mi-kan, Mi-ts'ao, Sweet Licorice, Sweet Wood, Yasti Madhu
Properties: Anti-allergic, anti-arthritic, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, emollient, estrogenic (mild), expectorant, laxative, pectoral (moderate), soothing
Indicated for: Addison's disease, allergic rhinitis, arthritis, athlete's foot, baldness, bronchitis, bursitis, canker sores, catarrh of the upper respiratory tract, chronic fatigue, colds, colitis and intestinal infections, conjunctivitis, constipation, coughs, dandruff, depression, duodenal-ulcers, emphysema, exhaustion, fibromyalgia, flu, fungal infections, gastritis, gingivitis and tooth decay, gout, hayfever, heartburn, hepatitis, inflamed gallbladder, liver disease, Lyme disease, menopause, prostate enlargement, psoriasis, shingles, sore throat, spleen disorders, tendinitis, throat problems, tuberculosis, ulcers, viral infections, yeast infections. Reducing stomach acid and relieving heartburn and indigestion. Increasing bile flow and lowering cholesterol. Improving resistance to physical and emotional stress.

Do not confuse with licorice confectionery which contains very little, if any, licorice and is in fact flavoured by anise.
Can cause water retention and raised blood pressure. Prolonged use should be avoided if you suffer from high blood pressure.
Can cause mild adrenal stimulation.

Eluethero
Also known as Siberian Ginseng, but not to be confused with American or Panax ginseng. Eluethero is a strong adaptogen that helps your body deal with things like stress, immunity and fatigue.
From www.anniesremedy.com
Eleutherococcus senticosus, also known as eleuthero ginseng or Siberian ginseng, is one of the primary tonic herbs and one of the most widely used herbs in the world. Eleuthero is often recommended as a general tonic to revitalize people who are fatigued. Because it enhances immunity and helps the body deal with stress eleuthero is frequently included in nutritional support programs for people with fibromyalgia, arthritis and other autoimmune disorders. Eleuthero restores overstressed adrenal glands, working wonders for people who are chronically stressed. The adrenal glands have a big impact on our sexual health because of the their role in producing a variety of hormone that regulate many physical responses, not just gender-oriented ones. Tonic herbs such as eleuthero help to prevent "adrenal burnout" caused by ongoing physical or mental challenges. Helping the body deal with chronic stress is the very definition of an adaptogenic herb, and ginseng may be one ofthe most effective herbs in this category. Eleuthero boosts concentration and focus without the letdown than comes from stimulants like caffeine.
Eleuthero is sometimes combined with other adaptogens, like Korean, Chinese or American ginseng, astragalus, or schisandra, to increase its effectiveness.

Yogi tea
This tea originated in the US from Yogi Bhajan, a spiritual teacher from India. He would offer this tea to his yoga classes in the 1970s. It typically consists of cloves cardamon, black pepper, ginger and cinnamon. And a pinch of black tea.  It is a tonifying tea used by many Ayurveda practitioners. It is used to maintain or creat health.

Paleo- Fat is the key for me!

It makes such a big difference to be eating a higher level of fats. Good fats. Like the saturated ones that we have been told for years to avoid. Whole fats, like avocado, bacon, coconut oil. Boy they make such a difference for me.
Ok So I am back on track with a new Paleo plan.
New plan is this:
Strict paleo-
No Paleo breads, gluten free treats- NONE!
No wine (Boo)
No dairy
Carbs consumed at breakfast or lunch only
Carb consumption between 40- 80 grams per day
Drink 120 ounces of water a day
Take supplements that support good food choices- for me that is B vits, Forskoli, Chromium, and Holy Basil.
No eating after 7pm
More protein and veggies!
Nuts are my snacks (with moderation, lots of carbs in a little bit of nuts)
More coconut milk in general
Avoid sugars
More salads
Drink more tea (Licorice, Eluethero, Cinnamon, Clove, Black pepper, Nutmeg, Ginger) I think I will put this recipe in my next entry.

Well we'll see how this goes.

Holy Basil Tea

reprinted from Your Organic Gardening Blog (http://yourorganicgardeningblog.com/start-your-mornings-with-holy-basil-tea-to-slow-aging-process/
Holy basil (Tulsi) tea is the beverage originated in India thousands of years ago. It is known for its rich antioxidant properties that promote wellness and longevity.

This means that it has the ability to slow oxidation in the body. The process of oxidation damages cells in the body and may contribute to the worsening of pre-existing conditions, as well as effects caused by aging.

As Tulsi is rich source of antioxidants, it neutralizes harmful radicals present in body to damage the cells and tissues. It enables the immune system to function properly and mitigates the joint pain.

Although many foods you eat contain antioxidants, today’s poor diets likely don’t provide you with all the free radical scavengers you need. This is one area where tea can come in handy as several types of tea have been shown to contain healthy antioxidants, including green tea and black tea. And,

The tulsi plant is referred to as the “queen of herbs” for its healing powers. The use of tulsi leaves have been documented since around 5000 BC.

Today holy basil is a common house plant grown in the home and garden of families in India. The plant achieved its recognition from the West as well and you can easily find it in many home gardens in the US.

It has a very pleasant smell that is known to help prevent the gathering of mosquitoes. Holy basil is a popular patio plant and makes a great addition to any herb garden.

Tulsi has a kind of spicy flavor, comparable to cloves. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as “hot basil” or “pepper basil”. It is different from sweet or Thai basil, whose flavor is more like licorice.

Holy basil is one of my favorite plants or bushes in my garden. It grows as a bush, so we do not pinch it out. We let it flower and it has lots of leaves. It has long purple flowers and smooth green foliage with a spicy fragrance.

Usually I try to harvest young shoots in early morning for maximum flavor and scent. Small stake helps me to grow it as a lovely bush.

The bees in your garden will love it. I prune it back hard after the seeds have formed. Save the seeds and you will be able to grow hundreds of plants.

The leaves of the holy basil plant are used to make a delicious tea that promotes health and well-being

Consuming the warm brew of holy basil herbal tea can promote a more balanced metabolism, build stamina, as well as increase mental clarity.

Holy basil is traditionally made into remedies for headaches, heart disease, colds,asthma and bronchitis, gastrointestinal disorders, and inflammatory illnesses.

Even though holy basil is known for its antibacterial, and antiviral properties, it is most known for its role in reducing cortisol or stress levels in the body.

Personally, I frequently drink tea instead of coffee, as I never acquired a taste for it.

Considering the questionable benefits of starting your day off with a cup of coffee, I highly recommend you try switching to Tulsi tea instead for a far healthier wakeup call.

Drink holy basil tea to calm the mind. Rich in essential oils, holy basil tea is as much a pleasure to drink for its fragrance as its taste.