by Chef Kendall Huff
Native Foods Cafe
Everyone wants a life of peace, joy and tranquility right? How great would it be to wake up every morning with a warm tingling sensation, overall happy feeling and spend your day with a balance for work, friends, personal time and family?
In the reality of things, not many of us get to achieve this feeling on a daily basis.
Perhaps some more than others, but man wouldn’t it be great!! More and more people are having these “funks” so to say. You know what I’m talking about. The feeling of staying in bed ALL day or the crashing on the couch after a deadline has been met and turning into a “sloth’. Knowing what causes or triggers these funks will make it easier to target your remedies. Everyone is different and some herbs take longer to work than others(say within minutes to a month). Turn your frown upside down with one of these magical herbs….
Need to Move and Shake…
Adding high caffeine plants like coffee or guarana into your diet may aggravate irritability and insomnia. Instead, I like adding small amounts of green tea and yerba mate into my diet. The health benefits on those bad boys are far more superior to a straight up latte or energy drink. Check out www.teavana.com!!
Dog, yerba mate, Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant
Other non-caffeine uppers are cayenne, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg!
The Wort:
I also like St. John Wort!! It has loads of befits and uses like the flowering tops are used to prepare teas, tablets, and capsules containing concentrated extracts. Liquid extracts and topical preparations are also used. Today, St. John's Wort is used for depression, anxiety, and/or sleep disorders. All in one kind of a healing! I like it so much that I have it one my arm!!
Chef Kendall, Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant
Stimulate the Mind…
Brain Fog oh Brain Fog…how I loth thee. It’s like my Monday and Thursday morning ritual. Not sure where it comes from, but man is it consistent! Adding a little Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) into your morning tea or morning supplements helps boost brain function and relieve anxiety.
ginkgo biloba, Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant
There are also fragrances that will help clear the fog. Peppermint and Rosemary oils have shown to perk up your day. Place a few drops in the bottom of your shower and start your day nice and clear...
peppermint, Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant
SUNSHINE…
When your down, sometimes all you need is a little sunshine!! Even if it’s a 5-minute walk to the EL, or taking lunch in the park, get some of those rays!! Vitamin D plays a huge role in boosting your mood. And hey Chicagoans….you can take a Vitamin D supplement till that sun finds its way back!!
Sunshine, Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant
Sleepy Time…
Sleep can easily make or break your mood. They say no less than 6 hours and no more than 9 is the goal. To enhance into the “shut down” mode, try some restful herbs an hour before bed. For example, try chamomile tea, lemon balm or passionflower (I have this tattoo also, but we’ll keep my arms to a minimum).
passionflower, Native Foods Cafe, vegan, vegan food, vegan restaurant
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