We at Healthshifter often “shift” our behaviors to help us achieve optimal health. Our shifts are small, subtle, timely, sustainable lifestyle changes that make us feel physically and mentally good. Change is hard- we know this first hand as we have studied change and experienced A LOT of it! One of our superpowers as Functional Medicine Certified Health Coaches is helping people to change. Today we want to share a shift we have made from drinking a second cup of afternoon coffee to drinking matcha-the bright-green elixir made of powdered whole tea leaves. Though coffee has many benefits, some individuals who drink it suffer from stress, insomnia, or gastrointestinal disorders. We have found that simply eliminating coffee may help eradicate these problems. Dr. Andrew Weil, Harvard educated MD and advocate for alternative medicine, describes his 60 year love of matcha tea in the article below. He discusses that this “magic brew” has antioxidants including polyphenols which extinguish byproducts in our bodies which can damage our cells, and cause aging and disease. He states that matcha has been found to “lower blood pressure, reduce risk of type 2 diabetes and death from cardiovascular disease[…and] has also been shown to inhibit cancer stem cell propagation in tissue cultures.” In addition to fighting diseases, matcha helps you to feel alert, focused and calm. It is very important to buy a high quality matcha. We, at Healthshifter use Organic Burst Matcha and Encha Organic Matcha. We love both and typically use our frother to make our matcha lattes. Simply follow the product instructions, add your favorite nut or dairy milk, 1 teaspoon of vanilla, 1 teaspoon of maple syrup(or other clean sweetener of choice). We sprinkle Simply Organic pumpkin or cinnamon spice on top, sip slowly and savor the taste and feeling!
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