Suaimhneas: Living Goddess

Tea is the elixir of life.

Lao Tzu

When I created my Best Life Practices list I didn’t pay any attention to the order. I believe that all 15 practices are equally important. To me! That’s the key. These are the small things I can do every day that I think will positively impact my life the most. Your list may and probably should look a bit different from mine. I thought it might be beneficial to do a series of posts explaining why these practices are on my list at all and what I hope to get out of it.

1. Drink water, matcha, green and hibiscus teas

Everyone knows water is important. Our bodies are composed mostly of water. Hydration helps everything to run smoothly from internal organs and constipation to physical activity and keeping your skin looking good. Humans need water! But I grew up drinking very little water. I disliked it and was well into my 30’s before I even tried to increase my water intake. It’s only in the last 15 or so years that I have developed the habit of drinking water everyday … or at least pouring that one glass of water that I sip from throughout the day. I can still benefit from making a conscious effort, it doesn’t come naturally for me.

Green Tea

I have always been a tea drinker though and hydration doesn’t have to come only from drinking water, most liquids will help in moderation. Though some like alcohol and energy drinks really don’t provide much hydrating benefits. I grew up drinking King Cole orange pekoe tea with whole milk. I can remember the baby sitter letting me have it when I was as young as eight years old, but I was closer to 12 when my parents started to allow me to drink tea. They were never coffee drinkers, so I didn’t discover the joys of a double double until I went to university. At some point in my 20’s I stopped taking sugar in my coffee and then in my 30’s I dropped the cream and milk and started drinking black coffee and tea. This was solely a weight management strategy and I had to learn to like my hot beverages all over again in this new state. In my 40’s I discovered dark roast coffee and herbal teas, falling in love with rooibos, chai, and peppermint vanilla. Off and on I have tried to get into green tea, but it’s only in the last few years that I have found blends that I enjoy green chai or green mint.

Matcha

Last month I decided to try matcha, which I have always avoided because I really don’t like the taste of green tea. This has been a game changer! My coffee consumption has all but disappeared. I begin each morning with a matcha. I add just a little oat milk to make it creamy. It reminds me of the cups of King Cole laced with whole milk that I enjoyed as a child. The energy and clarity and focus from one cup of matcha is amazing! And there is no crash, like from coffee or black teas. One cup of matcha a day may be one of those things that changes my life forever. Matcha is high in antioxidants, helps protect your liver, boosts brain function, helps prevent cancer, promotes heart health, enhances weight loss, supports dental health, and reduces inflammation. I look forward to my daily matcha and always take time to sit with it and enjoy it with a focused intention that I don’t usually take with any other food or drink.

Hibiscus

Very recently I have learned about the many benefits of Hibiscus tea and I’ve started to incorporate it into my daily diet as well. Hibiscus really excels at lowering high blood pressure and is also full of antioxidants and vitamin C. The only issue for me is that I don’t enjoy fruity teas and this is a fruity tea. To counteract this I’ve been making a mixed pot of tea using one hibiscus tea bag and one ginger tea bag. I enjoy this taste much more and I get the added benefit of ginger, which aids in digestion, reduces inflammation, promotes good heart health and much more.

Hypothesis

I believe that focusing on staying hydrated and consuming a variety of teas with proven health benefits will produce a positive effect on my own health, improving the look of my skin, aiding in my weight loss, reducing inflammation, easing arthritic pain, and stabilizing my blood sugar and blood pressure. If I focus my attention to this area for an entire year, I believe I will create a life-long habit, as I’ve done in the past with the shift away from sugary creamy coffee and soft drinks toward black tea and coffee and water.