Chai Tea

I love tea.  I have learned though over the years, and with lots of trial and error, that I don't like all teas.  I am primarily a green or a white tea drinker, that loves spice and fruity flavors.  I stay away from the Lipton teas (no offense - just don't really like the black tea flavor) and any of the black tea - if I am drinking it straight.  If you are one that says, "Ugh. Tea!" take another look - try a different type... experiment.  Tea has so many benefits that you are crazy not to give it another try.  In March I wrote a post about the benefits of teas.. start there with your experimentation..
I have a beautiful friend that has a tea site online (www.konitea.com.)  She has a blog she writes with recipes, ideas, how to use tea in your cooking, etc.. She has a beautiful outlook on life and some great ideas for you to try!  My favorite tea is Chai.  I love cinnamon, cloves, and all the warm spices... I have a hard time finding the proper blend for me - Phuong has several options and I am going to add several more below for you to try.

Phuong's options for loose leaf chai teas:  https://www.konitea.com/advanced_search_result.php?search_in_description=1&keywords=chai&osCsid=65ijo0n9irhcd9rpso227j7t74&Submit=Search
Phuong's blended chai latte recipe: http://www.theteachick.com/2010/12/30/Masala-Chai-Latte
Phuong's aphrodisiac chai cake recipe: http://www.theteachick.com/2011/07/23/Koni-Aphrodisiac-Chai-Cake

Chai tea is a combination of either green or black tea leaves and a variety of warming spices - cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, licorice, cardamom, etc... The health benefits are quite numerous when you think of all the spices that you add to your Chai concoction. 

Gentle Green Chai
This is a yummy variation of kahwah, a Kashmiri green tea that serves two.
• 1½ cups cold water
• 2 heaping teaspoons green tea
• Seed of 1 cardamom pod
• 2 whole cloves
• 2 strands saffron (optional)
• 6 blanched almonds, chopped
• ½ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon honey
1. Combine water, tea, spices and almonds in small saucepan. Cook over low heat until hot (do not boil). Partially cover; steep over low heat 10 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in milk and honey.
2. Pour through fine wire-mesh strainer into warm teapot, discarding solids. Serve.

Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/cooking/make-chai-gentle-green-chai.aspx#ixzz1dnMUVRd6

Basic Black Chai
If you prefer, omit the milk and sugar and offer them separately.  Or try soy / almond / rice milk as an alternative.  Serves two.
• 1½ cups cold water
• One 2-inch piece cinnamon stick, broken
• 2 heaping teaspoons black tea
• Seed of 3 cardamom pods
• One ¼-inch-thick slice fresh ginger
• 3 whole cloves
• 2 black peppercorns
• ¼ to ½ cup milk
• 1 to 2 tablespoons sugar (or honey)
1. Bring water to a boil in small saucepan. Add cinnamon, cover, remove from heat; steep 2 minutes. Return pan to heat; bring to a boil. Add tea, spices, milk and sugar; cover, and remove from heat. Steep 3 minutes.
2. Pour mixture through fine wire-mesh strainer into warm teapot, discarding solids. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/cooking/make-chai-basic-black-chai.aspx#ixzz1dnMvYlBr

Tulsi Chai
In India, Tulsi Chai, made from holy basil (Ocimum sanctum), is used to treat colds and reduce stress.  Sweet Basil can replace the Holy Basil if none is available.  Serves two.
• ½ cup holy basil leaves
• 2 cups cold water
• 2 heaping teaspoons green tea
• Seed of 1 cardamom pod
• One 1⁄4-inch-thick slice fresh ginger
• One 2-inch cinnamon stick, broken
• 2 whole cloves
• Pinch of nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon honey
• Milk, to taste
1. In small saucepan, boil basil and water. Reduce heat, cover and simmer 3 minutes. Stir in tea, spices and honey: bring almost to a boil. Remove from heat, cover and steep 3 minutes.
2. Pour mixture through fine wire-mesh strainer into warm teapot, discarding solids. Serve with milk. Garnish with skewered crystallized ginger cubes, fresh basil leaves and grated nutmeg.

Read more: http://www.herbcompanion.com/cooking/make-chai-tulsi-chai.aspx#ixzz1dnT0Gp5U

Hot Chai Latte

By: RILEYCARLSON
"A delicious, warm, old-fashioned style Chai Tea. With yummy spices, and authentic flavors, it's bound to be a hit with the whole family!"

Ingredients

* 1 cup milk
* 1 cup water
* 1 large strip of orange peel
* 3 whole cloves
* 1 (3 inch) cinnamon stick
* 3 whole black peppercorns
* 1 pinch ground nutmeg
* 4 teaspoons white sugar
* 2 teaspoons black tea leaves

Directions

Combine the milk and water in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Once this mixture has warmed, place the orange peel, cloves, cinnamon stick, peppercorns, nutmeg, sugar and tea leaves into the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until the color deepens to your liking. Strain out spices, and pour into cups.

Nutritional Information Per Serving Calories: 111 | Total Fat: 2.8g | Cholesterol: 10mgPowered by ESHA Nutrient Database

Read More: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/hot-chai-latte/detail.aspx

Health Benefits: Antioxidants abound in Chai tea.  Warming spices are always beneficial to migraines, muscle aches, digestive tract, respiratory system, and your heart.  Why would you not give this flavorful, aromatic tea a try?  Blessings... E

Foods You Should be Eating - Spirulina

Spirulina is a blue-green algae that is very high in many nutrients and while it is little known to the majority of the meat eating world, it is very well known in the vegan / vegetarian / pescatarian and naturopath worlds... don't let the fact that it is an "algae" put you off... let's start with the stats and move on to the good stuff... take a walk with me..

Spirulina is a fresh water bacteria that has some impressive numbers attached to it... it is 60% protein.  When compared to meat's 27% and soy's 34% it translates to a WOW for those that want to transition away from meat.  Asian countries add Spirulina to their feed to help naturally increase the bulk of their cattle.  Beyond protein there are many additional mineral benefits - iron, manganese, beta carotene, and calcium among them. 

Some additional medical / dietary benefits for you to consider.  The Japanese use Spriulina more than any other country because of the high nutritional value.  Some researchers in Japan have found that it helps diabetics control their cravings and decrease their insulin intake.  Many people use Spirulina to help maintain a healthy weight.  It has been used to fight hay fever, inflammation caused by arthritis, reduces bad cholesterol levels, and helps remove heavy metals and toxins from the body.  In short it is an excellent anti-aging food source.  Another benefit is that it is easily digested and absorbed into the body.  It is great for your heart health, digestive health, immune health, etc...

Recommended reading: http://www.naturalnews.com/031779_spirulina_radiation.html
Recommended reading: http://www.herbwisdom.com/herb-spirulina.html

But you say... it is still algae... Yes it is.  But there are many ways to eat and drink it that will make it much more palatable.  So, the first question is... Where do I get it?  I get mine from my natural health food store - but you can get it online as well.  http://www.iherb.com/ has a good supply of different brands and types.  You can use the powder in so many different ways.... There is a juice drink from naked that is high in spirulina - Green Machine... if you read the ingredients you probably wouldn't pick it up and try it.. but it is rather good.  Just make sure you get one that is fresh.

Recipes: http://spirulina.org.uk/recipes.htm
More recipes: http://www.spirulina.co.nz/recipeMain.htm
More recipes: http://www.growing-algae.com/spirulina-recipes.html

The most common way of adding Spirulina to your diet is through smoothies... but don't stop there.  Add a little bit to anything that has green foods in them.. and even some that don't... anything that is cooked... experiment and enjoy!! 

Blessings... E

Thyroid or Iodine

I highly recommend that you do research before you go visit the doctor.  No one knows your body better than you do.  A doctor is trained to know how to put things together, but if you don't include the right symptoms, you have a high possibility of being diagnosed incorrectly.  Let me share an example..

Anemia, cold fingers and toes, weight gain, swollen fingers, hair loss, increased need for sugar.  Many people are diagnosed with either diabetes or hypothyroidism with these symptoms... yes tests come up positive.  BUT what questions should be asked? WHY.  What is causing these diseases?  Diabetes and Hypothyroidism are serious. 

I was really concerned when I started needing fruit several times a day and my hair started thinning.  I talked to several of my naturopathic contacts and they asked me the right questions.  Are your fingers and toes always cold?  Well, yes.  But I was raised in the north and got mild frostbite as a child - I thought that was the reason.  Are you gaining weight without adding food?  Uh huh... I am not as active as I was in Nebraska but it has been difficult to lose even with daily exercise.  Now I am curious... Why?

Iodine Deficiency.. wait, did you say IODINE?  Isn't that the reddish yellow stuff my mom put on cuts and scrapes as a kid?  Yes, one and the same.  And yes, iodine is an essential mineral.  I was SHOCKED by what I read.  Symptoms that I didn't even realize were symptoms were right there in front of me.  I am anemic have been for a very long time.  Once I started taking iodine supplements, my longtime symptoms started going away. 

So here are some statistics for you:
In the US, it’s estimated that one in seven women suffers from iodine deficiency.
— Caldwell, K., et al. 2005.
— Hollowell, J., et al. 1998.

1/3 of the world's population lives in iodine depleted locations

Women that are severely iodine deficient run the risk of having a child  born with "cretinism"

Breast cancer can be a result of iodine deficiency

Children that are iodine deficient run the risk of stunted growth, retardation, problems with speech, hearing, and movement

Iodine in the body helps regulate several major centers: thyroid, temperature, heart, breast, mental, and musculature

How do I know if I am iodine deficient?  There is a very quick and simple test that you can perform at home.  Go get that bottle of iodine for scrapes and cuts and put a 1" circle on the inside of your thigh or upper arm.  If the reddish yellow goes away w/in 30 minutes, you are iodine deficient.

The best foods that naturally contain iodine are saltwater fish, sea vegetables, and iodized sea salt.  Other foods with iodine include dairy products, eggs, radishes, onions, and watercress.  IF you are in an iodine deficient area (upper Midwest) your root vegetables will not be a viable option for you.  I always recommend consuming foods with the vitamins / minerals you need daily - but sometimes that isn't much of an option.  I take iodine supplements daily along with my omegas. 

For those of you taking Thyroid medication, if you are shown to be iodine deficient, I am told that you may be able to get off those meds within 30 days of going on the iodine supplements. 

Here are a couple good articles to read for more information:
http://www.womentowomen.com/hypothyroidism/iodinedeficiency-thyroidhealth.aspx
http://www.staytuned.ws/iodine.html
http://www.thyroid.org/patients/patient_brochures/iodine_deficiency.html

Happy healing!  E