Stay Warm without Raising your Thermostat this Winter!

Tea

How cool is it that you could be drinking liquid warmth? Well, tea is right up your alley...and we're talking the non-caffeinated kind. Look for warming spices like cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves to help ignite those fires within. Teas like chai are a great option. Look for rooibos tea as the base so that you're guaranteed an caffeine-free (not de-caffeinated) option. Yogi teas has a delicious blend called Chai Rooibos which I love!

Or! You can make your own warming cinnamon tea with cinnamon sticks and water. First you must understand something about cinnamon. There are two types of cinnamon. The most common type sold in stores looks like a hard peel of only one layer. This is NOT the right kind. You want to look for the other variety that looks like a flaking roll of layers as shown to the right.

Use a small pot and fill with however much water you desire. Add in a stick of the cinnamon broken in half or pulled a part a bit. Bring to a boil and simmer until the water turns a rich brown color. Remove from heat and let steep for about 5 minutes more. Strain out the cinnamon pieces and serve hot. Adding some raw honey or agave is a great way to bring some sweetness to this as well. I guarantee that it will warm you up!

Roasting

Have fun roasting root vegetables and gourds. Think sweet potatoes, onions, garlic cloves, carrots, beets, squashes. Not only are these food items in season, but they are passing on to you the heat that was applied to them during the roasting process. 425 degrees is a good roasting temperature. Toss them with some EVOO, sea salt, pepper and rosemary for added taste!

Stewing

I don't know anyone who would turn down a warm stew on a cold day. Get out your crock pot and use it to your advantage if you are limited on time. Prep the day before and cook overnight, or set it to cook while you're at work. Keep in mind that you want to make enough for leftovers. Cook smarter, not harder!

Baths
Hands down the UltraBath is the way to go... It's both warming and relaxing. And it's great for tired muscles after a hard workout.

Hot bath water
2 cups Epsom salt
(optional)
1-2 tsp Jojoba Oil (added moisture for dry skin)
8-10 drops Lavender Essential Oil (relaxing fragrance)

While tub is filling, pour in the Epsom salt and swirl around to encourage it to dissolve. If you'd like to add the Jojoba Oil, just drizzle in a small amount over the top of the water and swirl around. It will coat your skin on it's own without making it greasy. If you'd like to add the Lavendar Oil, you must mix the drops in a 'carrier oil' or jojoba oil. So, mix the two in a small cup with a few swirls and then drizzle it in. Enjoy!

Kick the ice and cold smoothies!
Don't give your body license to cool off in the winter when all you probably want to do right now is keep warm. Start your day with a warm breakfast and kick those cold smoothie and cereal options to the curb until warmer weather passes our way. What you put in your body directly affects your core body temperature! So, when you dump in cold items, you make the body do a lot of work (aka. expend extra energy) to warm you back up. Plus, a cold body equates to a lower immune system...now I know you don't want that. I know I certainly don't after getting some of those viruses that are floating around.