Enjoy an Earl Grey Iced Tea Latte!

Summertime is supposed to be a time of less stress and carefree days and nights,
but it’s not this way for everyone and if you’re one who gets stressed easily this time
of year, you can blame it on a nerve.

The Nerve:
It’s called the Vagus nerve and it travels from the brain throughout the body, sending
signals that keep stress in check. Plus, it plays a key role in optimizing energy, immunity,
digestion and mood. But stress itself can impair the nerve, which in turn creates more
stress. So, if your vagus nerve needs some shaping up, try the 3 tips listed below.

Tip. No. 1-
Ho-hum, ho-hum!
If you’re one who enjoys humming, but those around you hate it, just tell them
it helps lessens stress levels. That’s right, the habit often associated with kids,
strengthens the vagus nerve. Humming for 15 minutes a day enhances the
vagus nerve by 175% in a single day. The vagus nerve connects to the vocal
cords via muscles at the back of the throat. Humming produces vibrations
that activate these muscles to stimulate the nerve.
And even more good news: If you’re one who prefers to sing, please continue,
it too, (singing) delivers the same benefits to your vagus nerve.

Tip No. 2-
Chill More-
Literally.
The “Cold Water Plunge” is not only gaining in popularity in Hollywood,
(Kevin Hart and Kate Hudson)
but all over the country and if you’re doing it, continue to do so.
Applying cold to your body increases vagus nerve function by 160%.
Cold water activates thermoreceptors that fortify the nerve.
Not willing to sit in a tub of Iced cold water or Ice cubes?
No problem, get the same benefits by applying a cold water
bottle, a can of cold beer or soda or fill a plastic ziploc bag with
Ice and apply it to your head, (cheeks and forehead), neck or the
top of your chest (the Decolletage) for a few minutes each day.

Tip No, 3-
Drink Like The Brits!
If you’re thinking of visiting more pubs and having a pint (of Ale), sorry, the
beverage we’re talking about is tea. Iced Earl Grey tea to be exact.
Often criticized for their diet, drinking tea like the Brits is one of
the best things you can do for your health. Drinking the tea and taking in its
citrusy scent can boost vagus nerve function by 40% in about 10 minutes.
Give credit to bergamot, the Mediterranean fruit that gives Earl Grey its
distinctive taste and aroma. Plus, bergamot’s limonene and linalool act on
olfactory nerves in the nose that link to the vagus nerve, increasing its activity.

So, there you have two simple tips to help you lessen your stress levels
this Summer, and in addition to copying the recipe below to make an Iced
Earl Grey tea, you can also do some other tried and true methods for
eliminating stress.
* Get outdoors and take in all of the greenery.
* While outdoors, also take in the scents, (trees, plants, flowers, etc)
* If you’re able to- walk outside without your shoes off.
This is called grounding, and allowing your feet to touch the ground (grass
and even concrete) will help you relieve stress.
* Watch You Eat- Yes, your appetite may be reduced thanks to the warmer weather,
but remember, filling up on all of the summer fare (burgers and hotdogs, especially
the buns, Ice cream and sweet beverages) can wreak havoc on insulin levels,
not only raising sugar levels, but stress levels as well.
* Take advantage of the warm weather and reward yourself by moving more.
Take long walks, swim, and do some yoga or stretching on a patch of grass in
your own yard or head to a park. Any type of movement helps to alleviate stress.
Another tip: If you have a small or large garden, use this as your time spent exercising.
Pulling weeds, carrying baskets of vegetables, pouring fertilizer, etc, are all great ways
to relieve stress levels.

And lastly, a recipe for Extra Creamy Iced London Earl Grey Latte!
A tea recipe that’ll increase vagus nerve function by 45% in a matter
of minutes.
Ingredients:
2 Earl Grey Tea Bags
3/4 cup of water
2 Tbs. of Honey
2 Tbs. of pure Maple Syrup
1/2 cup of whole milk
1/4 tsp. of vanilla extract
1 cup of Ice cubes
1/2 tsp. of dried lavender (optional)
To make:
In a small pot, add the first 4 ingredients and bring to a boil.
Reduce the heat to low and let the ingredients simmer for
8 to 10 mins. Throw out the tea bags, allow the tea to cool
for 10 mins.
The last step:
Pour milk and vanilla extract into a jar with a tight-fitting lid
(Mason jar); cover. Shake until mixture is slightly frothy, 30 secs.
Add the Ice to a 12 oz. glass. Pour the tea over the Ice, stir well
and chill. Top with the frothy milk and dried lavender.

Sources:
* Complementary Medicine
* Indian Research Study
* Scott Noorda, D.O. Functional Medicine Specialist

Please make sure to pass this article (and recipe) on to family
and friends who love Iced Lattes and want to reduce their stress
levels. Share it over at Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Pinterest,
Reddit, Tik-Tok and Twitter.

Thank-You!