A Matcha Latte for Adrenal Fatigue

Depending on what stage of adrenal fatigue you are in, your tolerance for caffeine may vary.

For many of us, it's a crutch and for those with adrenal fatigue, mustering up enough energy to get through the day can be tough. We totally feel ya on this. This is where many fall into the cycle of drinking coffee for more temporary energy because they are fatigued, while at the same time putting more wear and tear on the adrenal glands over the long term. Do you see how this is a double-edged sword? 

If you are struggling with adrenal fatigue is any caffeine okay!?

This question comes up a lot.  The answer really depends on where you're at and how depleted your adrenals are. 

Typically, I'd recommend taking a good 30 day break from coffee while you give your adrenals some time to recover.
Why would I recommend this torture you ask? To help you regain balance and control.  30 days is enough time to release you from the clutch of caffeine addiction and to reset your relationship with it. It will also support you in re-establishing hormonal balance. 

Is there a better way to energize without coffee?

We think so! We wrote a blog all about this that you can check out here! 

I recommend tindering down your daily consumption slowly, rather then going cold turkey. This will just make things a little easier on you.  Start with smaller cup sizes or switch to decaf. 

I love substituting in matcha or raw cacao in place of one of my daily coffees during this phase.  These alternatives provide smaller amounts of caffeine to help prevent withdrawal headaches, while also offering comfort, deliciousness, and lots of great nutrition. 

WHAT IS MATCHA?

Matcha is finely milled, premium green tea leaves. The difference between this and regular green tea is that you actually consume the whole ground leaf (rather than steeping it in the water), because of this you consume all the nutrition from the leaf too. Because your consuming the whole leaf, you are getting a much more concentrated green tea with exaggerated benefits. 

The Benefits:

• It is amazingly high in free radical scavenging antioxidants! ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) is a method in which we rate the antioxidant capacity of things, and matcha is up there amongst the highest rated foods.

• Matcha has 137 times more antioxidants than 1 cup of regular green tea

• The nutritional equivalent of drinking 10 cups of regular green tea per 1 cup.

• It boosts your energy! Studies have shown that a cup of matcha can boost endurance by nearly 25%. Matcha does contain caffeine, but about half the amount of a regular cup of coffee. With matcha, the buzz is longer and more sustained, not up and down like a cup of coffee.

• At the same time that it is stimulating, it is also calming. Matcha is rich in L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes alpha waves in your brain promoting zen and calm. You won't get those jitters like you may from caffeine, just a blast of non-anxious energy!

• It is rich in detoxifying chlorophyll and fiber.

• It's amazing for skin health!

A CREAMY MATCHA NINJA LATTE RECIPE FOR THE ADRENALS

The Recipe:

• 1 cup steamed almond milk

• 1/2 tsp Matcha Ninja matcha

• 1 tsp coconut oil

• 1/2 tsp maple syrup

• 1 tbsp collagen protein powder

• a splash of vanilla extract

• a pinch of sea salt

Directions:

In a blender, combine all ingredients and blend until mixed well and frothy. Transfer to your mug and enjoy. 

Alternatively, add a 1/2 of your steamed almond milk and the rest of the ingredients to your mug. Mix well with a mini hand frother and then gently pour in the rest of your steamed milk. 

This matcha latte is special. The maple syrup and sea salt bring out a really delicious flavour and provide trace minerals that our adrenals crave for repair. The addition of collagen protein gives this drink a blood sugar balancing boost as well as extra gut nourishment. The coconut oil and collagen balance things out helping to energize you and fuel you- you'll find this is a perfect mid-morning or mid-afternoon energizer snack.

Hope you love it! 
xo  Danielle + the HYAF Team

Treat Adrenal Fatigue Symptoms Naturally - 5 Kitchen Remedies

What if I told you, you don’t have to buy expensive supplements or go on crazy elimination diets in order to heal your gut, detox your body or improve your digestion. Would you want to know more? It took me years and thousands of dollars before I realized that some of the most powerful and inexpensive remedies to treat adrenal fatigue symptoms were right under my nose. I am going to share with you 5 kitchen remedies to treat adrenal fatigue symptoms and my favorite ways to easily incorporate these into your diet.

#1 Turmeric

This vibrant colored and highly aromatic spice used often in Asian cooking belongs to the ginger family.

The main active ingredient in turmeric is curcumin which gives turmeric many of its healing and cleansing properties.

To start, turmeric is a potent antioxidant packed with vitamins A, C, and E.

Vitamin C is key for adrenal fatigue sufferers because the more cortisol you make the more vitamin C is used. During the stress response the body burns up many times the daily requirement of vitamin C. So as stressful events increase, the need for vitamin C also increases.

Another reason turmeric is a great remedy for adrenal fatigue is because of its anti-inflammatory effects.

As you probably already noticed, inflammation is common with adrenal fatigue and autoimmune diseases. Inflammation is the result of an overactive immune system. Particularly with chronic autoimmune disease, the amount of inflammation present is determined by the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is produced by the adrenal glands, so when the adrenals are weak your body is more prone to inflammation.

The anti-inflammatory potency of turmeric has been compared favorably to anti-inflammatory pharmaceutical drugs…minus all the side effects.

Ways to Consume Turmeric:

1. Add small amounts (a teaspoon) to your daily smoothies

2. Make a yummy dish, once or twice a week that uses turmeric. My favorite is a red lentil curry dish like this one

#2 Clove

Clove has been used for thousands of   years in India and China as not only a spice and condiment, but as medicine.

Like Turmeric, clove is a powerful antioxidant. It is also anti-fungal, antibacterial, antiseptic and a natural pain-reliever.

Inflammation and digestion are common issues for most adrenal fatigue sufferers and clove comes to the rescue as it’s capable of addressing both.

For example, clove relaxes the smooth lining of the GI tract and stimulates the secretion of digestive enzymes. As a result, clove helps alleviate vomiting, diarrhea, intestinal gas, irritability and stomachaches.

Clove is also a good source of manganese, omega-3 fatty acids and fiber.

Ways to Consume Clove:

I prefer to consume clove by incorporating it into my food and drink. It’s not something I want in my smoothies, but that’s just me. Here are a couple great recipes to try. If you like chai tea you can make a big batch on Sunday and enjoy a cup each morning.

1. Chili Recipe

2. Homemade Chai Tea

#3 Garlic

Garlic is a plant in the same family as the onion. The compound allicin is responsible for garlic’s many health benefits.

Garlic is a potent natural antibiotic and boosts the function of the immune system. Garlic is high in vitamins and minerals, many of which are on the recommended list of vitamins important for those suffering from adrenal fatigue. To name a few: manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Selenium and fiber. Garlic also has decent amounts of copper, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron and vitamin B1.

High doses of the allicin compounds have been shown to protect against organ damage from heavy metal toxicity.

For example, a 4-week study of employees of a car battery plant who had excessive exposure to lead, found that garlic reduced lead levels in the blood by 19%.

Toxicity is an issue for adrenal fatigue sufferers because the body has a hard time cleansing and detoxing when digestion is slow, the lymphatic system is sluggish, inflammation is high and blood flow is compromised.

Ways to Consume Garlic:

1. Chopped up fine and sprinkled on toast with butter or olive oil

2. Chopped up fine in fresh, homemade guacamole or salsa

3. Add chopped up garlic to almost any savory food recipe, soup, pasta sauce, curry, chili, roasted vegetables or stew

4. If I’m suffering from a severe cold, I’m not afraid to throw a whole clove in my mouth, chew it up and swallow

#4 Ginger

Traditional Chinese medicine has relied on ginger for more than 2,000 years. Ginger is a pungent spice known historically for increasing blood flow and for its anti-inflammatory properties. It is especially known for its effectiveness in eliminating intestinal gas and for treating chronic ingestion, common issues for adrenal fatigue sufferers.

Ginger also has the ability to reduce muscle pain and soreness and menstrual cramps.

It is also known to help fight the flu and common cold. Adrenal fatigue sufferers typically have a compromised immune system. Having a cheap and easy remedy like ginger for these seasonal bugs, is key.

Ways to Consume Ginger:

1. Chai Tea (already mentioned)

2. Make a Wintery Tonic by adding a chunk of ginger to boiling water, add honey and fresh lemon

3. Red Lentil Curry (already mentioned)

4. Try other recipes with fresh ginger like yummy soups or stir-frys

#5 Thyme

For many of us who suffer from adrenal fatigue, getting the proper amount of vitamins and minerals for healing and optimal health can be challenging. Luckily, thyme is packed with Vitamin C and Vitamin A.

If you feel a cold coming on and your immune system needs a boost, thyme is a perfect supplement.

Thyme is also a good source of copper, fiber, iron and manganese.

Way to Consume Thyme:

1. Homemade Pasta Sauce

2. Make your own Thyme Tea recipe here

I just shared with you the top 5 adrenal fatigue remedies already in your kitchen and my favorite ways to incorporate them into your diet.

 Now, I would love to hear from you. Share a comment below. Have you tried these magical herbs or spices as healing remedies? If so, what was your experience? And what are your favorite ways to incorporate these herbs and spices into your diet? Your comments could help someone else on their healing journey.

All my best,
Angela

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