Keeping your energy, digestion and mood in check during the holiday season is key to feeling your best and enjoying the weeks ahead. While it can be a festive and joyful time, it can also be stressful and taxing on the system due to travels, gatherings and parties, and eating things outside our regular dietary routine.  Excessive sweets and alcohol may also come into play! Teas are a great way to chill out and reset during the holiday season. These 5 teas are superstars to combat holiday stress and rocky digestion:

1.  Matcha Tea: A specially processed green tea, matcha offers a smooth, steady energy without the jitters of coffee or other caffeinated teas and beverages. For many, it aids mental clarity.  Providing vitamin C and rich in catechins and chlorophyll, it’s a rich antioxidant. Matcha comes as a ground powder or in tea bags.  The powder is my preference. It's very strong and a little goes a long way. 
 
2.  Licorice Tea: An age old remedy for stomach ailments including bloating, constipation and heartburn, licorice tea has been known to protect the lining of the stomach. It’s natural sweetness makes it a perfect after dinner tea, a digestive and a relaxer.
 
3.  Milk Thistle:  Another digestive aid, milk thistle tea, has also been traditionally taken for its detoxifying effect on the liver. This herb is a demulcent, a substance that relieves inflammation or irritation of the mucous membranes in the system, specifically the digestive tract. For those suffering from gastritis and heartburn, it’s been found to have a soothing effect on the esophagus and upper digestion.

4.  Rooibos: This red tea is rich in a variety of minerals such as zinc, iron, magnesium and potassium. It's been known to relieve headaches, stress, insomnia and hypertension. With a little honey and almond milk it's a perfect dessert or before bed tea, and it certainly has a soothing effect on the whole system. 
 
5.  Orange Tea: Made from dried orange peels, as well as its cousins, tangerine or mandarin tea, made from their respective dried peels, these teas, offer vitamin C, A and potassium, and are great immune system boosters. Their bright zesty flavors are a great perk up in the middle of the day or early evening. Usually the store bought versions are mixed with other herbs, making some wonderful mixtures.   I often add some fresh ginger slices to my orange tea.

Work with me! Would you like to achieve your dietary and wellness goals? Click here to schedule a free consultation or email info@greenbeatlife.com​​​​​

Having a green smoothie recipe in your culinary repertoire is invaluable.  For those times when you need a boost, e.g. you overdid it on the sugar, alcohol or heavy meals or need a nutritious meal on-the-go, just knowing ahead of time what to throw in the blender makes it a lot easier.  Of course, you can also enjoy green smoothies as part of your every day clean eating too.

I named my business Green Beat Life with a nod to eating greens for a healthy heart and a healthy planet, so this smoothie raises a glass to that.  Lots of nutrients from green here!

• Kiwi: Loaded with vitamin C, serves as an anti-oxidant and key nutrient for a healthy immune system. 
• Spinach:  A good source of vitamin K, aiding heart and bone health; vitamin A, an anti-oxidant; magnesium, iron and plant protein.  Vitamin C with iron present increases iron absorption and there is plenty of C in this smoothie.
• Kale:  A cholesterol lowering plant, high in vitamin K, A and C.  A great anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.
• Chlorella: A detoxifying superfood bursting with chlorophyl, that green pigment in plants known for its healing properties.

I've always wrestled between too grassy or too sweet when building a green smoothie.  This one offers a perfect balance.  Give it a try!

Prep time: 10 minutes
Blending time: 1-2 minutes
Servings: 2-3

Ingredients
1 cup coconut water
1 cup coconut 'yogurt', plain, unsweetened
½ - 1 cup chopped kale
8-10 spinach leaves
½ pear
1 kiwi
¼ avocado
1 Tbsp. golden raisins
1 Tbsp. ground flax seed
1 Tbsp. hemp seeds
6 chlorella tablets

Additions/replacements:

• Use a date instead of raisins.
• Add a protein powder, but beware of added sugars. 
• Use spirulina instead of chlorella.
• ​Other green options:  dandelion greens; collards or parsley.

Instructions

1. ​Soak raisins for 5-7 minutes.
2. Chop all ingredients accordingly.
3. Blend until smooth in blender.
4. Serve.

Work with me! Would you like to achieve your dietary and wellness goals? Click here to schedule a free consultation or email info@greenbeatlife.com​​​​

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