Q: Hi. I am sorry to bother you, but I have been reading through archives and books, and I cannot find my answer yet.
I have a good friend who is morbidly obese. She is involved in a program with nutritionists, and has lost 35 pounds, but she has a good 150 to go. I'm collecting recipe adaptations for her, but I would like to include some herbal teas for her to infuse, pack for work and enjoy. I can make tasty teas, but I would like to make some that benefit her weight loss efforts (and don't taste horrible while she's getting used to the idea of tea that looks like weeds:) ) Could you suggest herb combinations that compliment weight loss. I'm so excited for my friend to reclaim her life and mobility.
Thanks, D.
A: Hello D., congratulations on you and your friend on caring for her health. Of course there are many different theories on what is the source of obesity and how to work with one dealing with it, as well of course how to define it.
One I imagine is overall accepted is simply nourishing one's overall health. For this I would recommend herbal infusions. If you are unfamiliar with them you can read here. I prefer to work with herbs singly though have occasionally added a pinch of horsetail to an infusion for its benefits, or a pinch of mint to an infusion for its taste. What I like to do with infusions, to help them appeal to some is, once strained mix it with something like fruit juice or honey if warm enough and then serve as a warm (even if watered down) tea, or an iced tea. One for this I like is Red Raspberry. Nettle leaf infusion is like a rich green soup so can be made as a soup base adding all that would appeal, or simply having added tamari or miso and a little sliced scallions perhaps and drunk warm in the morning. Oatstraw is an infusion that is probably easiest for some to drink since it is a bit sweet, to my tastes, and quite mild in flavor.
I would also love to invite you to our Wise Woman Forum and Email groups accessed through www.wisewomanweb.com as further sources of ideas and support. I know with the variety of people at the forum, they can help you perhaps concoct some tea combinations, or recipes, or other creative ideas to make the whole process for your friend an enjoyable nourishing one! It may also offer her a place to celebrate her successes with the support of others. Please let us know if we can help further!
Blessings,
Karen Joy
[email protected]
www.wisewomanweb.com
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