A Quick Energy Fix for The Afternoon Slump

The afternoon slump can hit both our bodies as well as our minds.  We may find our posture slouching right along with our brain.  The demands of a busy day can really hit us and as we glance at our "to do" list for the rest of the day, we wonder how we are going to make it through.

Sound familiar? Maybe I can help.

Let's steady our energy levels right along with inching up our metabolism with a familiar ritual: afternoon tea. But, hold on! This tea is no ordinary afternoon tea. It has a bit of an island feel to switch it up from the many pumpkin flavoring foods we all tend to consume this time of year.  So, take a break with me from the pumpkin spice and let's head for the tropics, palm trees and all.  Grab your flip flops and pull out your blender, and, I promise, this will only takes a few minutes from that busy day of yours.

Ingredients to Increase Your Energy and Your Metabolism, Too

I wrote about a green tea called matcha here and the many health benefits, one of which is a nice, even energy boost.  It is a main ingredient in this tea, but, I have thrown in a few other metabolism boosters as well:

• The EGCG found in green tea, and in much greater quantities in matcha, promotes fat-burning as well as many other health benefits.

• Cayenne contains capsaicin, a chemical compound that can inch up our metabolism.

• Hemp seeds are full of protein that provides energy and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) which are a great anti-inflammatory and help your metabolism too.

• Coconut oil is a fat that can help with your metabolism function and in many other ways too. In this recipe, it is a fat used to help absorb all the other nutrients in this tea.

Tropcial Matcha Energy Boosting Tea

Pop in a paper umbrella, sit back and sip this tropical energy boost and transport yourself to your favorite beach next time you feel the afternoon wilt coming on. You can make this tea ahead at home, too, and chill it in your refrigerator at work to reach for when that slump may hit.

Gather

• 1 tablespoon matcha powder
• 1 teaspoon organic virgin coconut oil
• dash of vanilla extract
• 1 cup almond milk
• dash of cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon hemp seeds
• 1 teaspoon or a bit more raw honey
• 3/4 cup frozen pineapple 

Now do this

• Place all the ingredients in your blender.
• Swirl and blend.
• Watch your energy climb!

Go ahead and give us some tips on how you stay focused for your afternoons. Just post your energy boosting suggestions in the comments.

Need a bit more?

• Here are some other benefits of tea drinking in general. 
• If you prefer something warm, here are two elixirs that taste great and nourish your body.

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umbrella: photo credit: <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/madamemeow/5466937178/">Madame Meow</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a>

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