Notes by Nourish

Merry December everyone!
With the festive season in full swing, I wanted to give you all some final tips for supporting your sanity this silly season. Today we’re sharing 7 amazingly grounding, supportive and nourishing tips and tricks.

With a lot more socialising, cooking, eating and partying than we’re often accustomed to, plus the obligations and expectations this time of year can bring, it’s always a wise idea to support our bodies (and mental states!) during this time.

Whilst there is no magic pill for preventing stress, there are many ways we can tackle it. Today we’re covering just some of my personal favourites to include as part of a holistic approach to supporting your sanity.

No. 1 – Matcha Tea

Matcha is a type of green tea made by finely stone-grinding young delicate green tea leaves into a powder. This type of green tea is unique in the fact that the entire leaf is consumed rather than the leaves being discarded after brewing. Brewing matcha involves whisking the powder into a paste with warm water and gradually adding more water until it becomes a tea. This is opposed to simply steeping the leaves and then removing them.

So how is tea going to save the day?

Well, matcha green tea contains the amino acid L-theanine. This helps to:

• enhance mental focus
• induce a balanced state of relaxed alertness
• improve mood and concentration
• decrease anxiety and stress
  (Though who are we kidding, tea is the answer to everything!)

L-Theanine plays a key role in mood support by helping to improve GABA levels in the brain. This is a neurotransmitter that leads the body to relaxation. Consequently, it promotes a calm, relaxed state without causing drowsiness.

Somebody… put the kettle on!

For more in-depth info about matcha and how to make it, see my previous blogs here and here.

No. 2 – L-Theanine

Yes, you are reading that correctly.

We did just mention L-Theanine, however, not everyone is a big fan of green tea. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t join in on the balanced mood and decreased stress journey with us tea drinking folk.

So here comes supplementation to the rescue.

Viridian’s L-Theanine and Lemon Balm complex offers natural relaxation without sedation. It’s a great remedy for those with a busy lifestyle. That’s because it helps to promote calmness, improve focus and memory, and help sleep.

With a combination of L-theanine to work with our natural alpha-brain wave activity to promote relaxation, we also have Lemon Balm. Lemon balm assists in improving mood and evoking clear thinking. Combined, these two ingredients can assist with stress, anxiety, nervousness and tension. Happy… days!

No. 3 – Passionflower

Passionflower is a fantastic herbal remedy for anyone feeling:

• burned out
• exhausted
• nervous
• anxious
• for those who are prone to worrying or feeling under pressure
• for those having trouble sleeping

This herb is wonderful at helping to maintain a healthy response to stress. Plus, it’s a natural sedative, a nerve-calming agent and a sleep aid. That’s why it is often able to help people relax, unwind and enjoy a well-deserved good night’s sleep. Something that doesn’t always happen the days around the festive season!

If you’re having trouble relaxing, sleeping, feeling under pressure, stressed or just generally struggling to wind down, try taking some Passiflora herbal tincture.

A Vogel’s Passiflora Complex is a herbal tincture containing only freshly harvested, organically grown Passiflora and Avena sativa herbs.

Simply take 20 drops twice daily, in a little water. Done!

No. 4 – Magnesium

A personal favourite of mine when it comes to managing stress is Magnesium.
It’s an essential mineral in the body and is used in over 300 reactions on a daily basis.

In terms of stress management, magnesium is responsible for a multitude of things. Simplified, it helps the body transition into a restful state, eases tension and reduces our reaction to stressful stimuli. And since our stress reaction can actually be worsened due to a deficiency in magnesium, it only makes sense that keeping our levels tip-top is going to help us out in our time of need.

And that’s just covering stress. How about the following situations?

Can’t sleep? 

Magnesium helps ease insomnia and provide a deeper night’s sleep as it allows the body and mind to wind down.

Sore from lugging around Christmas shopping bags or carrying your bags to and around the airport?

Magnesium is required for the relaxation of muscles and so ensuring your levels are up will help ease sore muscles.

Constipated from stress, overeating or travel? 

Magnesium helps to soothe constipation and indigestion.

Hungover?

Magnesium can relieve various kinds of headaches. Since magnesium is depleted with alcohol consumption, magnesium-rich foods and supplements may help you avoid headaches.

Magnesium is easily absorbed through the skin which is why baths or sprays are my preferred method. That being said, liquid formulas, powders and tablets work very well too.
Simply soak/spray or swallow your chosen method and let your body do the work.

Supplementing with magnesium is easy, but so is eating your magnesium. Especially since we’re in the season of the following delicious things that just so happen to be high in magnesium:

Nuts, seeds, raw cacao, whole grains, leafy greens and avocados.

No. 5 – Reishi Mushroom

Reishi is the ultimate balancing adaptogen. It supports the immune system, soothes the nervous system by easing anxiety and promotes relaxation and sleep.
What more can you ask for?!

I’m coming for you reishi hot chocolate!

It’s important to know that reishi needs to be taken regularly to get the full benefits. So, grab yourself some reishi now and take it daily around this festive season for optimal results.

For more info about reishi, see my previous blog here, which also includes a few ways you can incorporate it into your diet.

No. 6 – Tulsi Tea (Holy Basil)

Tulsi is an adaptogenic herb. This means it helps balance, restore and protect the body from the effects of internal and external stress.
Tulsi helps the body respond better to stress by protecting the nerves and helping prevent you from becoming completely frazzled!

This herb helps to:

• soothe anxiety
• fight fatigue and stress
• support the immune system and hormone levels
• balance blood sugar levels
• support good sleep

Tulsi blends well with ginger, jasmine, and rose.

Try Pukka’s Three Tulsi tea bags.

No. 7 – Nip holiday stress in the bud

Incorporating a holistic approach to help support you on multiple levels is my goal at all times. Therefore, I won’t pretend that simply drinking a single cup of tea will cure you of all stresses this year. It’s about combining various methods to fight in your corner and give you the strength of mind to conquer whatever comes up.

That’s why I won’t just leave you with a handful of delicious teas and herbs to take, but also a few tips on lifestyle options. These are ways to help support a healthy response to whatever comes up this festive season. Just click here to read my blog on 7 Ways to Nip Holiday Stress in the Bud.

And if you couldn’t keep your cool and knocked back one too many glasses of wine, I’ve got your covered there too!

And that’s a wrap on our 7 tips to Support Your Sanity this Festive Season.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Emily Nöth

Any questions? Drop into your local Nourish store to chat with our expert team and explore our full range of foods, supplements and skincare. You can also find our full product range in our online store.

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*Please note that while we are knowledgeable about our products and nutrition, this blog should never be a substitute for medical advice and attention.

Please remember that you should always obtain the all-clear from your doctor before starting any new supplement plan or diet if you’re on any medication.