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Banana Tea

Banana peels are rich in potassium and magnesium, but can you imagine eating a banana peel? Making a tea from a whole banana is a remarkable way to get all the benefits of these nutrients deliciously. Drinking banana tea helps the blood vessels, as well as the muscles relax. It also helps you fall asleep more quickly and stay asleep longer. After drinking the tea, try eating the banana, peel and all – it’s surprisingly yummy.

• Simply boil water in a pot.
• Cut off the ends of one banana and place it in the water.
• Boil the banana for 10 minutes or so, until the peel is soft.
• Pour the water through a strainer into a mug and serve with a cinnamon stick, if you want to make it look a bit fancy.

Variations on the Tea Theme

If you are using ready-made tea bags, you can put a few different flavors in your cup or teapot. If you’re using loose tea, you can mix the flavors dry and put the blend in an infuser. You also might add one or any combination of the following ingredients to your chamomile or mix them up to make your own unique sleep brew.

LAVENDER is another flower that has been used for centuries to induce drowsiness. It pairs beautifully with chamomile.

TURMERIC, also known as curcumin, is well known to help ease inflammation. Turmeric root is delicious with chamomile tea. Simply add a few thin slices to your cup for extra sleep benefits.

LEMON BALM reduces stress and helps to relieve both indigestion and anxiety.

VALERIAN is a muscle relaxant and a strong sleep aid. Valerian root on its own, however, tastes kind of earthy and is not enjoyable to drink. Blending it with chamomile or any of these other ingredients makes it a lot more palatable.

GINGER ROOT is great for digestion and has antiviral and antibiotic properties. If you can’t sleep because you have an upset stomach or a cold, adding a few slices of ginger to your tea can be soothing.

CINNAMON is high in cinnamaldehyde, which is responsible for many of the spice’s health benefits. Cinnamon helps lower blood sugar levels and fight infections. Stir your tea with a cinnamon stick to get the small amount you need, while not overpowering the other flavors.

ROSE helps calm and bring bliss to the mind. Rose tea can be made from rose hips, rose petals or both.

HONEY contributes to the release of melatonin in the brain and gives a natural sweetness to the tea. Honey also supplies the liver with glycogen storage, giving it fuel to recover during rest so it doesn’t have to produce stress hormones. This way the body can rejuvenate more easily, helping us sleep more soundly.

HIMALAYAN SALT contains minerals, such as magnesium, essential for relaxation and stress reduction. You just need a little bit – a pinch will do.

COCONUT OIL is a healthy fat that helps in the production of sleep hormones. Half a teaspoon melts easily in the hot water of tea and helps herbs to assimilate in the body more quickly.

MILK or plant-based milks are rich in an amino acid called tryptophan. Tryptophan helps boost melatonin.