Um.
It’s been a while.
I’ve been on a bit of a journey.
Sheesh.
These past months, my life has taken me places I never imagined I’d visit. To be clear – I haven’t been traversing the globe, exploring new cultures and finding exotic foods and friends (but globe-trekking IS on my bucket list) – rather, I’ve been on that magical, mystical journey inward, to that very place that some of us get all wild-eyed and queasy about. It’s been challenging and painful at times… with many beautiful and joy-filled moments, and lots of reflective me-time for healing and growth. We all have stuff to sort, right?
Along the way, I lost the words – for me and my story. I was living it but not able to pen it. I HAVE been writing a-plenty, and with great pleasure, about the lives of others instead. My paid work has gifted me this opportunity to bring forward my passion for writing, but I’ve been curiously observing my personal block at writing and sharing my private voyage. What gives, I thought?
Well, I’m back. With lots to share about nourishment and tapping into the wisdom of our bodies. And to explore how our relationship with food permeates our being in all ways – physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Yikes. That’s deep chatter.
I’m excited to share my insights, my freshly renewed perspective on nourishing our minds and bodies. Kick off your shoes, roll up your pant legs and prepare to dip a toe. The water here is perfect!
In the meantime, it wouldn’t be a very grand re-debut without a bit of a toast – somewhat belated – to the opportunities of 2018, and to our best health, always!
So, then. What’s in my mug these early, cozy mornings?
Matcha Tea Latte/Elixir
Ingredients
2 T flax or chia seeds (or combination)
1 heaping tsp matcha tea powder
1 T maca powder
1 T collagen powder
1 tsp virgin coconut oil, optional
2 – 2 ½ cups hot water or heated non-dairy milk (for creamier latte)
Preparation
Heat liquid (to just before a boil). Meantime, place all other ingredients in blender. Add hot (not boiling) liquid and blend 30 – 60 seconds until smooth and creamy. Pour and enjoy! (Sweeten to taste, if desired.)
Nourishment Notes: Matcha powder is made from whole green tea leaves – the entire leaf is delicately and finely ground into a silky-smooth powder, as a way of maintaining the highest levels of nutrients. Matcha is known for its health-promoting properties:
- one of the highest sources of antioxidants, possessing as much as twenty times more antioxidants than pomegranates or blueberries
- rich in chlorophyll, a powerful detoxifier that helps to eliminate both chemicals and heavy metals from the body
- rich in L-theanine, a rare amino acid that acts on the brain’s functioning to promote a state of relaxation and well-being (lowers anxiety); L-theanine may also help improve memory and the ability to learn (matcha has up to five times more than common black and green teas)
- considered a superfood because of its catechin content, containing high levels of EGCg (epigallocatechin gallate) – cancer-fighting, and age-defying!