Need some TLC?  One of favorite comforts is a mug of tea sweetened with Stevia.  Check out the benefits of Tulsi Tea or also known as Holy Basil.  It does wonders for heart health, stress, and respiratory issues such as allergies and asthma.

This is a nice twist on your summer beverage, healthy and tasty. Yerba Mate is one of my favorite tea’s. A bit of a stimulant due to the vitamins, minerals and a tad bit of caffeine. It’s not a late night tea for me.  No jitters if you are caffeine sensitive. This weekend when I was making my pot of tea I added fresh pineapple mint from my garden. Pineapple mint has a subtle flavor. It added a nice twist, plus the wonderful digestive benefits of mint. Get additional health benefits by sweetening with stevia. No calories, no effect on blood sugar. It takes a fraction of the amount to sweeten compared to sugar.

Growing mint is easy. It’s a hardy plant but can be invasive. I recommend keeping it in a pot.  It is an attractive plant and will look good among your other plants or on your patio.  When brewing it in with my tea I cut it up to help the oil release.

I like using loose leaf tea at home because I drink several cups a day and it’s less expensive and environmentally friendly.  A French press pot allows maximum contact between the water and herbs.  You can allow the herbs to steep for longer periods of time.  Brewing herbal teas longer is more beneficial to allow the vitamins, minerals  and all the good stuff to seep into the water.

In Joy.

I’m having my morning tea and working the sleep out of my body and mind.  I love a leisurely morning when possible to have my tea, do some exercise and journal.  I feel more prepared mentally and physically.

One of my favorite teas is Tulsi or also known as Holy Basil.  I found it a few years ago and it just seems to be getting breaking into a larger market now.  It’s from India and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine.  It is said to help lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol and help you stabilize mood swings.

I can tell you it tastes great and I do find it helpful.  I find it relaxing, but not in the sleepy kinda of way.  More calming.  My sweetener of choice is Stevia.

Have a great day!

I’m excited to be puttering around my yard.  It’s one of my forms of meditation.  I get more grounded, calm and peaceful wandering around the yard with no intense agenda.  My plants have no pressing needs right now.  I do a little weeding, feed the fish and water where needed.

I connect to myself and the earth.  I fall into rhythm with her breath.  I feel nurtured here.  I almost don’t want to leave sometimes.

My deck becomes an extension of my living space.  I generally leave the sliding door open.  My animals are happy with that arrangement.  That reminds me of a Sunday last year when I had opened the door in the morning so Mandy could venture out.  I went upstairs for a minute and when I came down a chipmunk had boldly come into the living room.  He turned tail and bolted out.  I had the door closed more after that.  That didn’t last too long.  The door is slid open again.

I’m sitting on my deck with one of my favorite teas, Tulsi or also known as Holy Basil.  It’s not related to the herb Basil.  It comes from India and has a mild, pleasant taste.  I like my tea sweetened with Stevia so I’m not adding calories and it has no effect on the blood sugar like sugar does.  I found Stevia years ago when I discovered I had some Candida issues.  Stevia helped me avoid feeding the candida but still have a bit of sweetness.  I think it enhances the flavor of my tea.

Besides the great taste of Tulsi the other reason I drink it on a regular basis is all the positive attributes it has.

Tulsi Benefits:  Reduces stress, supports the immune system, abundant in antioxidants, builds stamina, aids digestion, supports adrenal and lymph health, powerful adaptogen, helps to balance the metabolism.

Cheers to a peaceful evening even though I’ll be working on my taxes next.  Hmmm, I’ll put on another pot of Tulsi first.