At long last I’m able to give you a bit of an update on my recent health struggles! If you’re catching up, read this post and this post (and the comments) first.
Well, where did we leave off? To start, I’m so thankful to have found a great naturopath after not having an overly helpful experience earlier in the year. I’ve been struggling with my symptoms on and off for years now, so it’s been a huge relief to finally get some answers! Slowly but surely I’m starting to feel like a new person. My recent tests showed that my hormones are a hot mess…estrogen is too high, my morning cortisol is way too low (hello, feeling like a zombie even after a decent night’s sleep), and one of my thyroid hormones is also too low. My doctor had suspected many of these results based on my symptoms, but it was interesting to see them on paper! I’m definitely no expert on this stuff, but I learned that when one hormone is off, it can impact another…and on and on the cycle goes, often throwing your entire system out of whack in the process. I felt such relief knowing that how I was feeling wasn’t just in my head all this time.
It’s so easy to push through feeling awful, blaming your symptoms on other things. I can’t even tell you how many times I told myself that I felt like crap because I was a new mom, or I was nursing and up in the middle of the night, or I was working out too hard (or not enough), or I wasn’t taking my vitamins, or my diet wasn’t balanced, or I was just feeling anxious about changes in my life. Some of those things may have been part of the issue, but I overlooked the real possibility that something beyond my immediate control was at work.
Dear self: it’s okay to ask for help.
Speaking of which, my biggest regret is that I didn’t get help for my symptoms sooner. It’s easy to put off, especially when Dr. Google is at your fingertips. Everyone would tell me how important it is to take care of myself while raising two young kids, but most days I just pushed it aside and tried to rely on the fact that I am a generally healthy person who eats well and exercises. My mom and Nicole were the ones who finally pushed me to get help…we all need those people in our lives who look out for us! Sometimes you have to learn the hard way, but I’m grateful for this lesson and wake-up call. I may have ignored my body’s messages for quite some time, but once I commit to something, I’m all-in, and I’ve been such a good “student” these past few months!
Taking the time to heal has set me back on some career goals this year, but sometimes there’s no better goal than good health. I actually can’t think of a better way to celebrate OSG’s upcoming 10-year milestone than circling back to my journey to health, which is the reason I started my blog! It’s just another reminder that our journey is always changing and evolving over time.
I’ll try to update you again as soon as I have more to share, but in the meantime if you have any questions, or would like to share your own experiences, I would LOVE to read them below.
Oh, and I should probably mention this recipe before I go! My naturopath recently encouraged me to add more green tea to my diet, and this has been my go-to mix. I had requests for the recipe after sharing it on Insta Stories last week, so I decided to put it up on both the app and blog! I hope you’ll find this warm, creamy matcha blend as calming and gently energizing as I have.
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Sleepy Morning Blender Matcha
Yield
1 1/3 cups (330 mL)
Prep time
Cook time
0 minutes
Total time
You know when you wake up on a chilly morning and need a hot drink now? Well this is my go-to on fall and winter mornings (or afternoons!) when I want a change from coffee. The thought of this smooth, warm, creamy drink seriously lures me out of my cozy bed. I love how effortless this recipe is, especially on those half-awake, barely functioning mornings (just make sure you’re alert enough to operate a blender with hot liquid!). I love matcha green tea powder because it delivers calming, jitter-free energy as well as powerful antioxidants. Be sure to see my Deluxe Version in the Tips section below for a more decadent way to make this beverage—when I want an especially comforting treat, I’ll forgo the water and only use canned coconut milk.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 mL) water
- 1/3 cup (80 mL) canned light coconut milk, room temperature*
- 1/2 teaspoon matcha green tea powder, or to taste**
- 1 teaspoon (5 mL) pure maple syrup, or to taste (optional)
Directions
- Add the water to a kettle or pot and bring to a boil.
- While the water heats up, add the coconut milk and matcha powder to a high-speed blender.
- Once the water has boiled, remove it from the heat and let sit for 15 seconds. Carefully add it to the blender along with the maple syrup (if using).
- If your blender’s lid is vented, secure it on top. If you don’t have a vented lid, keep the lid slightly ajar so air can escape. Blend on the lowest speed, very slowly increasing to medium, for about 20 seconds until frothy and combined.
- Immediately pour into a mug and enjoy your cozy cup o’ green!
Tip:
* If using already chilled canned coconut milk, add an extra 1/3 cup (80 mL) hot water to ensure your blend is hot enough (nobody wants lukewarm tea, if you know what I mean!). Be sure to stir the coconut milk before measuring.
** My preferred brand of matcha powder is DoMatcha Organic Summer Harvest Matcha Powder.
Deluxe Version: Heat 1 cup (250 mL) canned light coconut milk on the stovetop over medium heat, watching closely to ensure it doesn’t boil over. Once it starts to simmer and froth, immediately remove it from the heat. Add this to the blender along with the matcha powder (and maple syrup, if using). Follow steps 4 and 5 above and enjoy your extra-creamy tea!
Nutrition Information
(click to expand)
Hey! I suggest checking out the beautiful piece below ( I attached a link ) discussing the origin (or relevance) of physical symptoms. It has helped me profoundly.
Cheers <3
https://melodyfletcher.com/2012/09/06/loa-and-healing-or-changing-the-physical-body/
Thank you Lauren! I will check it out soon :)
Hey Angela, I’m glad to hear you got some answers – it’s brought me relief when dealing with injuries to finally figure out what’s going on and what actions I can take to help. You’re so right about learning to take care of yourself. It’s easy to find excuses not to do it, whether those are conscious or unconscious choices (especially when taking care of a family, working, etc). I hope things keep looking up for you!
Hi Laura, I so agree that getting answers, even early answers, can take such a huge weight off. I know it did for me. I’m glad you figured out your injury issues!
Thank you for being so transparent with your health – us mamas need to know we are not alone! I am still breastfeeding baby #2 (7 months old) and it for sure has its toll. More so this time around tahn I found with my first.
I’m actually a health professional in the midst of writing an ebook where I share my favourite recipes for moms and would like to feature some of yours because you have some really AWESOME ones! Please let me know if approved. All credit for the recipe goes to you with your website link as I will not be adjusting anything.
Love your blog!
Hi Sacha, Thank you :) I hear you on the second time around feeling more draining…I heard that with each pregnancy (especially when they are close together) that hormonal issues can be more common. Congrats on your ebook! For recipe reprint requests if you could email [email protected] that would be appreciated. :)
Hello, Your story is my story! Just a suggestion – Research two Doctors who are amazing at providing information on Hormone imbalance, Thyroid dysfunction and Autoimmune Disease – Dr. Amy Myers and Dr. Isabella Wentz. Both wrote amazing books. It is overwhelming but stay the course, look for functional medicine or Integrative health praticioners who treat the root cause and not just the symptoms. I am one of your biggest fans! God bless you on your journey to health and wellness! Betsy Gustafson
Hi Betsy, Thank you so much for the recs…I’ll be sure to look them up! I’m fascinated by these topics and can’t wait to learn as much as I can. And I really appreciate your support!
What about using a hand immersion blender instead of my regular blender?
Hey Abigail, I can’t see why that wouldn’t work…let me know if you try it out.
Glad you’re on the path to renewed health. It can be confusing when you’ve got so much health info on the interwebz. Hormones are powerful, for sure! I admire your openness and transparency, which can be so helpful for others.
Thanks Lisa…I appreciate your support so much!
Thank you for this blender method! I’ve been making my matcha like this the last couple of days and it’s soo much easier and more efficient than all the extra steps I was doing. And tastes better!
I’m so glad to hear that Sarah! I love the blender method too…don’t have to worry about any clumps.
Love love love this recipe first thing in the morning, i’m such a huge matcha fan. Would love to know also where you found those gorgeous gold colour utensils! Are they your everyday silverware or do you use them for photography most?
Hey Lauryn, thank you! They’re mostly for photography and I purchased a set from West Elm.
I’m so glad to hear you’re seeing a practitioner and getting some help. It’s so important to ask for help and take the time you need to heal. The tea recipe sounds wonderful. I wish you success in your healing path.
Bernadette
Thank you so much Bernadette!
You popped into my mind this morning and I thought, I really need to let Angela know how much I appreciate her. Now after reading this recent blog, I also want to add that I love your candidness.
After nearly 15 years of being trapped in my own body, I too found a naturopath that got me the help I needed. I was diagnosed with late stage Lyme’s disease and my specialist highly recommended a vegan diet. I grew up on a cattle/swine farm, so you can imagine how unbelievably foreign and overwhelming a vegan lifestyle sounded.
I had to acknowledge my new normal, fight for my health, dig deep, and look for the good stuff in every situation. Your hard work and dedication has helped me embrace my new normal and I wanted to thank you!
P.S. I have two boys (12 & 14), and I love them with everything I have. However, when they were little, there were many days I thought I might lose my mind. Hang in there and enjoy the good stuff and remember to take care of yourself! (You wouldn’t be the first mom to hide in a bathroom for a couple minutes of peace) ;)
Hi Jenna, What a lovely note to write to me! I am so very touched. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I’m so glad to hear that you also found help for your health issues…it can be such a long road. I really appreciate all your support and encouragement! And I totally laughed at the hiding in the bathroom comment…Eric and I have a running joke about how we will hide in the pantry with the door closed where the dark chocolate is. It’s a moment of parent escape! ;)
blender matcha tea looks delicious, I am definitely adding this to my list of drink to try thank you for sharing these recipes :D
Hi Angela
This might be an essay, so I apologise in advance for that. I just wanted to let you know that I’m a long-time reader of your blog (since 2012) and have bought both of your cookbooks. Your recipes are on regular rotation in our household. We eat vegan probably 80% of the time (we have fish occasionally and avoid dairy products wherever possible, but absolutely no red meat or poultry has passed our mouths in many years!).
I am relating to your health struggles at the moment (sans children), in terms of the hormonal issues, and the anxiety. It can at times feel like it’s taking over. Functioning like a normal person during those times is quite literally impossible. The hardest thing, I think, is learning to let go and just let life happen. It’s going to do what it’s going to do, and we are pretty much just here for the ride. I am going through something right now that is out of my control, and it’s hard trying not to jump too far ahead and thinking about what the future might bring. But I can’t let the anxiety win. It gets enough air time and feeding negative energy only makes it stronger. So I am thankful every day for what I have, and leave the future rest in God’s hands.
Right now, I am making your avocado-coriander cream enchiladas. A personal favourite of mine. Thank you for being on my journey with me too, Angela. It is humbling and comforting to know that we are not alone in this.
Whytney
Hi Whytney, What a lovely note to kick off my week…I can’t thank you enough for all your support! Your story and words are so inspirational and I get strength just from reading them. I wish you all the best with everything!
If we want to make it for 5 people, then how much Ingredients should we use for it??
Hi there,
For 5 servings, this would be the conversion:
5 cups water
1 cup plus 2/3 cup canned light coconut milk, room temperature
2 1/2 teaspoons matcha green tea powder, or to taste
5 teaspoons (5 mL) pure maple syrup, or to taste
I hope this helps! I’m not sure if you’d want to make it all at once since you’re blending hot liquids though. Might be best to half the recipe and make it in two batches?
What a great way to start to the day! Thanks for all the wonderful recipes and wish you the best of luck with your health issues.
Thank you so much for the kind words and support, Dan!
What are the cookie/crackers shown in the pictures?
Hey rebecca, those are some store-bought oat cakes! Not something I usually have in the morning, but I was desperate for a photo prop…haha
Hi, daft question but for super busy folks, would it be ok to just pop the ingredients into a cup, add hot water and stir? If I could get out of having to blend (make noise and wake the kids!.. oh and wash up too) would be great ..a anything for a simpler life!
Oh and on another note, I read your “before and after” journey.. and noticed Erics hair did in fact change for the last pic :)
haha yes Eric’s hair did have quite a before and after didn’t it?! He’s now found a middle ground with it, so I’d say it’s inbetween the buzz cut and longer curly locks now. ;) I should post a picture of myself as a teen when I dyed my hair red!
Not a daft question at all! The reason I blend it is because it removes any “clumps or bits” of coconut milk and matcha instantly! So there’s no fussing with whisking, but you can absolutely try that too if you wish!
Would it be possible to substitute almond milk or cashew milk (unsweetened) or something instead of coconut milk? I have a suspected coconut sensitivity.
Hey Nico, for sure! It just won’t be quite as creamy as the canned coconut milk.
Can we use almond milk and coconut milk together as I want to have mixed taste?? I like creamy so cant miss coconut milk and almond is tasty.
“Before and after” is really interesting, specially Eric.
Yes you absolutely can mix if you’d like, I can’t see why not.
Oh yea that before and after is a hoot! I love looking at old pics ;)
I didn’t read through the comments, but a frothing wand will stir all of this together just as well as a blender and is much easier to clean! I love my frothing wand.
Oh good call on the frothing wand!! I’ve forgotten all about mine! lol
Thank you for the great drink idea! I added 1 tsp macha and think it was a bit too strong. But very good!