Paula Youmell, RN 1/22/15 Paula Youmell, RN 1/22/15

Weight Loss with Chai Tea

**My Yummy, Warm, Soothing, Morning Chai**

Ah, caught your attention didn't I? I have discovered that when an article has information about weight loss it, that article:

Flies around the internet at break-neck speed and
Gets more reads than almost any other topics I write about.

Wait! Just one second there, don't you go clicking "delete!" I am a woman of my word and I DO promise to deliver on my weight loss information but I am wrapping it in a package with so much more. I want to sing the praises of Chai tea:

the health benefits of the spices and the black tea, (herbs and spices are so medicinal!)
the calming ritual of making and enjoying it (sharing it with loved ones too; like how about a Valentine's Chai Party with Girl Friends?! Guy Friends too! Share the Chai Love!), and
the thermogenic and weight loss benefits of sipping a bit of Heaven.

So how does Chai tea help with weight loss?

1. Herbs and spices can help boost your metabolism.

Black pepper increases your body’s metabolism and burns unwanted fats, including the fat on your belly. Black pepper stimulates blood and lymphatic circulation. Better fluid movement in the body creates better nourishment, better oxygenation, and better waste removal from body cells. This all stacks up to better metabolism and weight loss benefits. Black pepper contains a substance called piperine which blocks the formation of new fat cells.
Black tea has caffeine like compounds that stimulate metabolism. A healthy weight loss plan includes eating a 100% whole food diet and moving your body. Adding black tea can help keep your metabolism humming along at a healthy rate. (No, black tea will not help you burn the extra calories when indulging in high calorie foods. Whole food eating for weight loss is the answer. And, black tea's caffeine like properties are easier on the body than coffee. Coffee, in excess and over the long haul of life, tends to burn out the adrenal glands from over-stimulating them. Black tea has 1/2 the caffeine punch of a typical cup of coffee, unless you long brew - steep your tea bag or loose tea. Black (and green) tea has the balancing ingredient called l-theanine, an amino acid which promotes GABA uptake in the brain and is thus calming and helps to counter epinephrine surges. L-theanine also increases Dopamine. Thus, one can enjoy a nice combination of both focus and calm from tea. Tea is not as hard on the adrenals as coffee.)
Cinnamon (real Ceylon cinnamon, not cassia bark) increases your body's circulation of fluids. See black pepper above. Cinnamon contains compounds called polyphenols and the mineral chromium. Both of these compounds help improve how your body uses insulin in turn regulating blood glucose. Cinnamon has been shown to increase glucose metabolism by about 20 times, which would significantly improve your ability to regulate blood sugar.
Cardamom is another thermogenic herb that helps boost your metabolism and may boost your body's ability to burn fat.
Ginger is a warming spice that has anti-inflammatory properties. Ginger may have thermogenic properties that help boost your metabolism, as well as an appetite-suppressant effect. See ginger for its potential role in your weight management goals.
Nutmeg is a good digestive aid. When we properly digest food we better use the nutrients in the food. When body cells are better fed, better nourished, we do not crave food in unhealthy ways.
Some Chai recipes include turmeric as a spice to add to the mix. Curcumin, turmeric's most active ingredient, reduces the formation of fat tissue. Turmeric suppresses the blood vessels needed to form new fat tissue (it is an anti-inflammatory herb and excess fat formation is an inflammatory response) and therefore may help prevent fat build-up. Curcumin use, from turmeric, results in improvements in insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and other inflammatory symptoms associated with obesity and metabolic disorders.
Cayenne. Ok, this is not a regular chai spice. It just happens to be in the honey I gently sweeten my chai tea with. Cayenne is another thermogenic herb. Capsaicin is the compound that gives cayenne peppers their heat. Cayenne may help fight obesity by decreasing a person's calorie intake, lowers blood fat levels, and helps to shrink existing fat tissue.

2. Regular consumption of chai spices stimulates digestive and pancreatic enzymes.

See nutmeg above. Good digestion is key to obesity prevention, reduction, and healing.

3. There is also improved oxygen uptake and fat breakdown with chai spices.

This has to do with better circulation throughout your whole body, better digestion, and the stimulation to all body cells from improved circulatory effects.

Healing Suggestion: Herbs and spices of the thermogenic nature work best in the context of a whole food eating and whole health living plan. Herbs cannot help shed excess weight within the context of an unhealthy diet that is comprised of calorie dense and nutrient poor manufactured foods.

Making Chai Tea

Black tea of the organic nature, spicy / raw honey, chai spices, peppercorns, local / raw goat's milk.

First, I gather my chai ingredients:

black tea (sometimes I use loose black tea)
cayenne and ginger raw honey
a spice blend of cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, and cinnamon (I keep this pre-mixed in my cupboard)
I recently added star anise and cloves (use 1/4 cup each spice EXCEPT the nutmeg and cloves, 1 heaping tbsp of nutmeg, slightly less than 1 tbsp cloves)
black pepper corns in the mortar waiting to be ground
raw, local goat's milk
missing in the picture is the organic vanilla extract

Making the tea:

Bring 1 cup water to boil and turn off heat.
Add black tea, cover, and steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Yes, time this.
Remove black tea from how water.
Add 1 tsp. of chai spice mix.
Cover and steep 2 to 3 minutes.
Add 1/2 to 3/4 cup full fat milk from well raised and well fed lactating animals.
Cover pot and re-warm gently on low heat for a minute or so. Do not walk away or you will over heat and scorch the milk.
Grind the black pepper so you are not tempted to walk away to get that load of wash started.
Pour tea into tea mug.
Add a bit of vanilla.
Add ground pepper.
Add 1/2 tsp. or so of local, raw honey.
Stir, sip, enjoy, and relax!

Are you looking at all the steps and saying... I don't have time for this Paula? Can't I just use one of those Keurig cups of chai tea? Sure go ahead but the above results are so much tastier. And the process becomes a meditative ritual. Think Asian Tea Rituals... sacred time.

Compare the taste a cup of Keurig coffee to a cup that you fresh grind the coffee beans and brew in a time honored fashion. There is no comparison.

Fast and easy is, well, fast and easy.

But taste is so much more! Would you prefer instant mashed potatoes or homemade mashed potatoes from local, organic potatoes cooked with the skins still on, mashed to perfection with plenty of butter from grass-fed cows, and a splattering of full-fat local raised, raw milk. Your choice! I am very clear on which one I would choose!

Share your thoughts. It is good to hear other's voices, thoughts, ideas...

Courtesy of: BeHealthyToday

Paula Youmell, RN 9/20/14 Paula Youmell, RN 9/20/14

Naturally Simple Ways to Weigh LESS...

Naturally Simple Ways to Weigh Less

and Live More Every Day of your life!

This is all about re-balancing your body, mind, and spirit to create a vibrantly healthy you... inside and out. So much more than the number on the "scales!"

Feed your soul with primary food. Friends and family, physical activity, spirituality and a satisfying career feed us. Lack of primary food creates over-reliance on secondary, edible food.
Drink water. Most people are chronically dehydrated. We often mistake thirst for hunger. If you feel hungry between meals, drink a glass of water before giving into cravings. Limit liquid calories from soda, juice, sports drinks and “enhanced” waters. Stick with nature made!
Eat a plant-rich diet. Plant foods are typically lower in calories and higher in fiber than meat, dairy and processed foods, while providing loads of essential nutrients. Purchase your animal products from farmers who raise the food in a natural manner; healthy and naturally balanced foods make for a healthy, naturally balanced human. Make certain you do get enough fat and protein in your daily diet to satisfy hunger, appetite, and nutritional needs for YOU. Each of our needs is different!
Chew your food well. Digestion begins in the mouth. By thoroughly chewing your food, your body will better assimilate nutrients; you will also slow down your eating. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register that it is full. By slowing your eating, you’ll feel full, satisfied, and better nourished on less food. More nutrients in each cell mean a healthier body!
Eat real food; avoid processed, packaged foods. Avoid products with high-fructose corn syrup or a long list of unpronounceable ingredients. (Reduce or eliminate refined sugars from your diet; glucose, fructose, any “oses”.) Packaged and convenience foods tend to be highly processed, lacking the nutrients your body needs, and are often loaded with empty calories. Avoid artificial sweeteners. Avoid refined sweeteners, even stevia products.

If you have attended my workshops or been supported by me as a client: Remember the cellular health information from the Whole Food slide show? Feed your cells well! Need to experience this workshop? Join me and the Local Living Venture on Thursday, September 25th for the start of the Whole Health and Healing Academy!

A few more tips for balancing mind, body, and soul weight.

Eat raw foods: raw fruits & veggies, raw nuts and seeds, raw nut & seed butters. Raw foods are rich in nutrients that are not altered by the heat of cooking and provide natural enzymes needed in the body for many processes including digestion.
Eating enough healthy fats and protein to satisfy your appetite and your body’s nutritional needs: choose naturally raised animal products for protein and fat and the omega 3's found in naturally raised meat, eggs and dairy products, wild salmon, avocados, walnuts, raw nuts and seeds.
Eat breakfast. Skipping meals causes your blood sugar levels to peak and dip, affecting your energy and moods. It can also cause overeating later on because you’re so hungry. With this said, listen to your own body and what you know works for you. Some people do much better without breakfast and have no problems with the rebound overeating later in the day. Be conscious of you and your needs. I can personally admit I am not a breakfast eater. I get hungry by 11 AM or so. I listen and follow my body's requests for food.
Eat mindfully. Turn off the TV. Get away from the computer. Sit down and savor the food you are eating with no distractions. Eat from a space of unconditional self-love!
Get moving. Do any type of physical activity every day. Find movement or exercise you enjoy.
Get outside. Your body needs fresh air and natural light. You will create life long health benefits!
Sleep, rest and relax. Breath work creates relaxation, slow down & breathe deeply. Ask me for my educational handout on breath work. When you are sleep-deprived or stressed, your body will crave energy, causing cravings for sugary snacks and caffeine as an energy boost.
Schedule fun time. Boredom and stress can lead to overeating. Make sure to take time to laugh, play and participate in activities that bring you joy.
Find a mindfulness practice and use it every day. (Yoga, Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do, Meditation, Prayer...)

PS Just a reminder about the Whole Health & Healing Academy that starts Thursday, September 25th. Join us to create vibrant health in your life!

Paula Youmell, RN 8/29/14 Paula Youmell, RN 8/29/14

Stalking the Wild Nettle

Nettles are my favorite healing herb. This fact about me is something I do not hide. Now I have plenty of other herb friends, both cultivated and wild, that run a semi-close second in my favorite herb department. Nettles are #1!

In the above picture you are looking at the beautiful tiny seeds that dangle in strands from the nettle plant. These seeds are powerhouses of nutrition for nourishing thyroid health. The dose is 1/4 teaspoon daily. I would take this as 1/8 teaspoon, twice daily.

To dry nettle seeds I cut the entire stalk at the base and hang them upside down in a warm and dry space. Make certain you have a screen or something similar underneath the hanging plants to catch any falling seeds. When they start to dry, I carefully cut each strand from the stalks. I put them in a paper bag, poked with a knife to make many air holes, and hang the bag to completely dry the seeds. Leave the top of the bag wide open for better air flow. You can also use a very fine mesh bag to hang and dry the seeds.

The remaining stalks can be left to dry out the leaves. Again, trim the completely dried leaves off the stalks and store them in an air tight container. You now have dried nettle leaves for adding to soups, stews, sauces, and for making healing tea.

**The beautiful nettle plant displaying her seed strands.**

**Looking straight down at the nettle plant. The seeds strands form a whorled pattern about this beautiful, healing plant.**

Nettle's many healing gifts to your body:

strengthens the kidneys and adrenal glands
builds natural energy from the inside of the body (which is the opposite of coffee's effects in the body, coffee wears out the adrenal glands, nettles builds and heals the adrenals
nourishes the hair and skin making you shine with vibrant health
is an adaptogenic herb, helps a living organism adapt to stress (adrenal health!)
rebuilds and restores the body cells as nettles is a powerhouse of nutrition
great for reducing allergies on its own or make an herb honey with raw, local honey and nettle puree, take 1/4 teaspoon twice daily (This is basically making a tincture using honey as the base.)
great for nourishing the male and female reproductive tracts
nourishes thyroid health and contributes to body weight balancing

This is but a partial list of all the benefits nettles has in the human body. I suggest you become friends with nettles and learn all you can about her healing ways.

What you are observing, below, is a chicken nettle salad sitting on top of a romaine lettuce, carrot, and cucumber salad. In the upper left corner is a big dose of my late spring, wild leek infused sauerkraut. I got carried away and made 8 quarts! 5 quarts down, 3 quarts left to enjoy!

Chicken Nettle Herb Salad

left over chicken breast from dinner at the ADK Cafe in Keene, NY. If you are ever passing through here, stop and eat. The food is divine, the meat is local and pasture raised!
sprigs of fresh rosemary
fresh chives
nettle top leaves
homemade mayonnaise made with 3 tablespoons whipped heavy cream, 1 small egg's yolk, and a dash of yellow mustard. I whipped the cream well, added in yolk and whipped some more, then added mustard. The cream and eggs were both from local, pasture raised animals cared for with love.

The chicken was chopped up, mayo blended in, added in the chopped herbs and nettles, and stirred all together. I plopped this decadent chicken salad on top of my veggie salad (all local veggies from Martin's Farm Stand) that was dressed with my homemade herb vinegar dressing. The finishing touch: wild leek sauerkraut!

Eat healthy, eat whole... your body cells with thrive with vibrant, radiant health!

Paula Youmell, RN 8/20/14 Paula Youmell, RN 8/20/14

Eat Several Small Meals A Day... or not?

Are you a grazer like this sweet "lil goat? Aradia is quite sweet as well!

I do not agree with this current health trend, health advice.

Now I will tell you, as always... figure out what works for you, in your life, so you feel your very best, vibrant self every day.

So back to the several small meals a day advice... that I do not agree with, my diet myth buster:

Why?

1. If a person struggles with over eating, this only gives license to over eat more times in a day.

2. If one eats well balanced meals: fruits and veggies (fruit in am, veggies with lunch & dinner), quality protein, and quality fat... you will be well satiated for a good 4 to 5 hours. No need to snack or eat several small meals in a day.

3. Eating several small meals trains your blood sugar to want to be "up." When we get used to meals that sustain us comfortably, without overeating, our bodies get used to feeling gently full and then feeling empty, gently empty. Empty is good. Revel in this feeling as you innately know you are not going to starve if you feel hungry for a while. We live in a culture with ample food. Pick 100% whole foods to fill yourself at meals.

4. Eating constantly will leave you feeling hungry all the time. It is the blood sugar is "up" constantly issue. Once your blood sugar goes down, even just a little, this triggers the "Oh my, I am hungry" feeling again. Feeling empty is ok.

5. If you constantly are giving your body fuel, calories, when will it have a chance to go into fat burning and use up your stored fat calories?

6. Do you really want to spend all your time preparing food and doing dishes?

7. The digestive tract needs rest. If you eat every 2-3 hours, it never gets a rest. Your digestive tract will always be working to digest and eliminate food. Would you want to be working your skeletal muscles constantly, no rest, no sleep?

This is my thoughts, using common sense and wisdom gained from years around food and as an eater myself! Use this in any way that works for you and makes your life a better place to be!

Cheers & Blessings! Paula

Paula Youmell, RN 8/12/14 Paula Youmell, RN 8/12/14

The Final Tip: Divine Weight Loss

This is it... the final weight loss tip coming to you with LOVE.

Truly, I could write many more. I want to inspire you and not overwhelm.

Final Divine Weight Loss Tip:

Gratitude: An attitude of gratitude for everything in your life and all you are as a divine human being does wonders in the quest to make healthy choices. When you see yourself, truly for the divine spirit you are, the natural tendency is for TLC towards self.

Practice gratitude for you.

Every AM, wake up and make your first thought about what you are grateful for today. Make something up if you have to and stick with it. Every PM, as you are shutting your eyes for the day, visualize one thing that happened today that you are grateful for. Anything counts, even that you made it through the day. Heart centered thanks to self for that fact. Each day, finding 1 thing to be grateful as the sun comes up and again, as the moon shows her face, will get easier & easier. It is a practice.

Remember: There is no perfection and yet you are perfection.

If this sounds counter-intuitive to you, try practicing honoring your divine being every day in everything you do. Let me know how this changes your attitude about you and your actions towards yourself. I love to hear people's amazing stories about their health and healing.

I often have people say to me things like: "I can't be as perfect as you, Paula, around food choices and exercise." Trust me... I am not perfect. But, I do make choices from this space:

Is this natural for my body?
Will it feed my cellular health?
Will this choice inspire my highest good on this planet so I can best serve myself and others?
I move on from this space and make my choices. This attitude, coming from my mind,heart, and soul, makes it easy for me to choose healthy lifestyle options. Then I slather my choice with gratitude! Much as I slather my life with butter. But that’s another story.

Strive for Purr-Fection: Ever notice how cats are Purr-Fectly content in just about any situation? Approach life from a cat mentality and make the situation Purr-Fect in the moment!

I wish you calm and peace as you heal mind, body, and spirit and re-balance your weight and health.

Cats being Purr-Fect:

Dogs are Purr-Fect too but in a totally different way. ; )

Divine Weight Loss Tips 1- 7&8&9&10

5 Shocking Ways Yoga Causes You To Lose Weight

Paula Youmell, RN 8/10/14 Paula Youmell, RN 8/10/14

Divine Weight Loss Tip #7, #8, #9, #10

Jake, my oldest son, practicing Tree Pose in a tree!  Teaching lifestyle habits for a lifetime of wellness! — **Jake, my oldest son, practicing Tree Pose in a tree! Teaching lifestyle habits for a lifetime of wellness!**

Wait, what?! Tips #7 through #10 in one fell swoop?

My answer is yes. These are basic lifestyle habits that make your body soar with feel good energy, happiness, and balance your body weight. When you feel good... you want to feel better. Health begets health; wellness begets wellness. It is an addictive thing!

Now that I have brought up the issue of addictions... Have you labeled yourself as an addictive personality type? "I can't give up sugar (or soda, or chips, or whatever), I am so addicted."

Why do addictions always seem to be for "bad" things, unhealthy choices? If we can get addicted, why not get addicted to:

healthy choices,
fitness,
fruits and veggies,
choosing to be happy despite what is going on around you,
real food grown by real farmers,
yoga,
walking in the woods,
gratitude,
taking your health into your own hands?

Go ahead; ponder over what being addicted to healthy things could be like in your life. Sit. Be quiet. Breathe. Visualize healthy living coming from your core being. What does that look like? Feel Like? How can you put it into action, reality, in your life?

Eli, my youngest son, doing what he does when frustrated, angry, or overwhelmed with energy: quiet, breathe, visualize being calm. Seeing 2 of Eli? Can you guess why? Leave a comment with your guess. — **Eli, my youngest son, doing what he does when frustrated, angry, or overwhelmed with energy: quiet, breathe, visualize being calm.**
**Seeing 2 of Eli? Can you guess why? Leave a comment with your guess.**

OK, now for Tip #7 through Tip #10

#7 Get plenty of sleep! Skimping on sleep to “get things done” is not a whole health habit! Getting to sleep before 10 PM maximizes production of melatonin and works with the earth's circadian rhythms for great sleep and health.

Going to sleep, before 10 PM, reduces cortisol levels. Cortisol is a stress hormone that helps the body put on and keep on abdominal weight. Sleep peacefully to reduce your cortisol levels.

Stay away from bright lights and screens (computers, etc.) for 3 hours before sleep. Bright lights make your body think it is daytime and impair the sleep cycles. Get all lights out of the sleep area; even LED lights disturb good sleep hormone production.

The moon and stars are fine!

#8 Daily physical activity. Start now and continue for life. Your body is a beautiful creation meant for movement, poetry in motion. Your bones, muscles, and joints are singing out to be put into this motion. Listen; hear your body begging to be moved!

Hint: Get outside and move. Fresh air and natural light are imperative to good health, endorphin, hormone, and neurotransmitter production. See below.

#9 Daily exposure to natural sun light and fresh air. Exercise, work, play, read, and relax outside! And for an extra bonus... get to sleep (before 10 PM) outside! Seriously, sleeping outside is a health enhancing habit!

The natural light exposure, again, enhances the body's circadian rhythms. Fresh air and the sounds of nature calm and soothe body, mind, and spirit.

When our bodies function, with the rhythms of the earth, we are so much more balanced as human beings. This inner balance makes it easier to choose healthy lifestyle habits.

#10 Increase your intake of water; clean, pure water! Water is crucial to healthy cell function. Just as your body cells need to be nourished with whole foods, so too they need water to carry on the processes of metabolism. Keep your cells happy, feed them water.

Use clean, pure water to make herbal teas. Herbal teas are high in minerals and nutrients that add to body cell nourishment.

Your gorgeous body cell. You want all of them to be healthy! There are trillions. One thing I find amazing about this is that every thing we eat has an impact on trillions of life forms (all a part of you!).

If your water supply is chlorinated, filter it. Use a chlorine shower filter so you are not absorbing and breathing in chlorine as you shower.

Divine Weight Loss Tips 1-6 & final Tip: