Mindful Mornings + Superfood Lattes
A healthy outside starts from within.
And that means a lot of different things honestly.
What you feed your body physically and your mind spiritually is ridiculously important, and something I have put a lot of time, energy and focus into over the last year.
I've mentioned before that my approach to diet has been full of constant experimentation. It came about after being faced with some thankfully not serious, but still troubling health news, where my only options were to spend hundreds of dollars a month on supplements and treatments that "may" work -- or clean up my act and heal through food.
I chose the latter.
As my love for nutrition and healthy eating evolved, I became hungry {no pun intended!} for information. I read countless wellness blogs, began seeing a registered dietitian and really put myself out there in the health/wellness/fitness community; much of the reason why I created my Instagram account.
The more I read about the physical benefits of fueling with whole foods, the more I began to also explore how food can impact mental health. And then it spiraled from there...in a good way of course. I became much more interested in mindfulness, stress management techniques, reducing toxicity in my life and so on. Because whether you realize it or not, we are consuming a shit ton of negativity and stimulation as we go about our day to day lives.
It comes from multiple sources: the news, social media, friends, family, work and colleagues. Some of it is intentional, but most is probably not. And we get so caught up in our routines and schedule that we almost become numb to the constant barrage of crap being flung our way.
As a career-driven, overachiever, perfectionist with high-functioning anxiety {yup, thats a mouthful}, I knew that my health and well being had to include more than just the food that I eat. I was going to have to learn how to control the racing thoughts, slow down and unplug. So during my last few appointments with my fab RD Dianna, we began to map out a plan that would help me break free from the chaos and carve out a bit of time where I could just be me.
It started out slow with drinking 16 oz of warm water upon rising.
Just that simple act of consciously drinking room temp water and giving my body the morning hydration it craves set my new morning routine in motion. Now I like to add lemon and mint, but more on that another time.
From there we added other things like setting my alarm 20 minutes earlier so I could enjoy a few extra moments of peace before jolting into action. And like making my morning coffee in silence -- yup, no TV, no news babbling in the background, just me, the birds and my sweet little rescue pup.
Most recently Dianna has me practicing gratitude.
Each morning as I sip my new obsession aka golden lattes, I quitely say five things I am grateful for. I try to mix it up so I am not always repeating the usuals like my amazing future husband Michael or my free-spirited furry child Jax {shameless plug for both these guys}. I like to think about what I am truly grateful for in that exact moment; things like my health, my family's health, that the sun is shining, that I get to live in such a beautiful place like Cape Cod, that even when things feel tough financially, I have a career that allows me to take care of myself. I've only just started to apply this practice of gratitude to my morning and it's been amazingly helpful and calming.
So back to that golden latte, because that's what you're really here for right?!
Golden Root was kind enough to send me some Turmeric Latte sachets that have all your spice fixins' prepped for you, this has saved time and allowed me to take my golden lattes with me on the go!
These babies have become a staple in my diet, they are beneficial for SO many reasons. So before I get into the deets of how you can create your own, let's breakdown why these yellow frothy drinks are so damn good:
It's great for your skin. Not only does it have great health benefits, turmeric's anti-inflammatory properties mean it can help to reduce redness and skin irritation.
It's good for your noggin. Turmeric produces a compound known as curcumin, which has a number of medicinal properties including that it can help to keep your brain healthy, while promoting repair to stem cells.
It helps relieve muscle pain. Because of those anti-inflammatory properties, the curcumin in turmeric can help to relieve joint pain and arthritis, while also reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness...perfect for this bride-to-be who has been hitting the gym hard!
It fights infection. This was a big one for me, boosting immunity was critical for my body to heal and prevent further illness. Turmeric's anti-bacterial and anti-parasitic qualities help to prevent stomach ulcers, and reduce infection in the gut. Even better, it can also help to relieve stomach pain, making it great for people with irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease.
It gives cancer a run for its money. Another biggie for me and one of the many reasons I was sold instantly. During studies, turmeric was found to kill cancer cells, inhibit cancer cell growth, and boost antioxidant levels and the immune system. Read more about that here and here.
So you're totally ready to try right? Well here are my tips for creating the perfect golden latte!
Spicy Superfood Golden Latte:
1 cup nut milk - I opt for unsweetened almond or vanilla coconut if I want a creamy treat!
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
Optional add ins: 2-4 oz of coffee, cacao powder {Trader Joe's now carries cacao and it's super affordable!}, maca powder {Navitas Organics is my go-to}, ground black pepper which helps with absorption, coconut oil, raw honey or vanilla extract {I use Simply Organic} if you need sweetner.
Start by warming your milk of choice over low heat in a small sauce pan. Gently stir in your pre-made latte mix {like this one from Golden Root} or your equal parts turmeric, cinnamon and ginger. Let simmer on low for 10-15 minutes, stirring gently. Mine occassionally starts to bubble a bit if I'm not paying attention, but it's all good!
Be sure to also mix in any of your healthy additions. I personally have become a fan of adding 1/2 a tbsp of cacao powder and 1/2 a tbsp of extra virgin coconut oil...I love me those healthy fats!
If you plan to make a true latte, brew your coffee separately and pour into your mug, before layering on the warmed golden milk.
Want it extra frothy? Toss everything {coffee and all} into your blender and blend on high for about 10 seconds. I love to top with a little extra cinnamon too!
Sipping on this spicy little bev has really brightened my morning. It's a simple treat with good-for-you benefits and can help bring a little zen to a busy morning.
Fun fact! You can go sans-coffee and cut the milk in half, mixing your spices with 4 oz nut milk and 4 oz water for a relaxing night cap. Definitely helps me fall asleep faster and warms the soul.
Whether you are a golden milk newbie or veteran, let me know you fave way to mix it up below!
- XO Kelly