C.S. Lewis said, "You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me."

There's something very simple and very true about that. It reminds me of the importance of rest, self-love and restoration. One of my favorite things is to make myself tea lattes at home, sit down, and treat myself to a good film or simply sit and be present. I haven't done that in awhile, and I can tell the difference.

We live in a world of constant stimulus: media, music, our phones, our friends, our Facebooks, instant messaging, text messaging, and everything in between. Every week there's a new show to stream, a new video trending, a new thing that demands our attention.

And wastes our time.

If I was given a choice of choosing to be born without an illness, I wouldn't choose it. Do you know why? Because my illness taught me the importance of being present. It awakened me to the reality of distraction and its negative effect on the human soul.

I am a firm believer in you are what you eat. I do my best to stay away from foods that I know exacerbate my IBS or cause an inflammatory response in my body like dairy products, gluten, and spicy foods. I try to eat simple small meals every couple hours. I don't eat large amounts in one sitting and I try to drink a lot of water throughout the day.

Well frankly, I don't have a choice.

If you eat junk foods, never drink water, never exercise and find yourself tired, lethargic, depressed or more anxious than normal... then you really need to take a look at your lifestyle choices. Are you staying up late? Are you not making your body's needs as a priority? If so, I suggest you start. Healthy eating and disciplined lifestyle adds to your life, it doesn't subtract.

If you already struggle with anxiety and depression like me, then you want to do everything you can to help your body fight back and stay healthy!

Here is a yummy (and super easy) latte recipe and the healthy properties of the individual ingredients that you should try! I encourage you to take your mental, physical and emotional health into consideration every time you swallow this week!

Cinnamon & Turmeric Tea Latte

INGREDIENTS NEEDED

Turmeric

Ground Cinnamon

Non-dairy milk (Almond or soy preferably)

Vanilla Extract

Chai (Roobios or black are both acceptable)

TOOLS NEEDED

Microwave or kettle to boil water

Handheld milk frother or a steam wand*

*These are not needed, just adds foam to the latte and makes it extra tasty!

Boil your hot water and put 1-2 teabags (based on personal preference) to steep in a mug. Put 1/3 cup of non-dairy milk into a microwavable container or saucepan. Heat. Add 1 tbsp of ground cinnamon and stir. Then, add 2 tbsp of turmeric and stir. Add 1 tsp of vanilla extract and stir.

IF USING HANDHELD MILK FROTHER: If heated in a saucepan, transfer hot mixture into small mug or container. Use a handheld milk frother to aerate mixture and cream foam. Pour into tea and add cinnamon and turmeric to top according to personal preference.

IF USING STEAM WAND:

Put ingredients in mug and steam! Simple as that!

Turmeric has so many health benefits and I think it's super tasty. It's loaded with Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, zinc, and magnesium. It also is an anti-inflammatory and can help with indigestion. If you have tummy troubles, I would recommend replacing the tea base with boiled ginger root! It's so yummy! And ground cinnamon is not just a tasty way to warm up any treat, its good for you too! It can lower blood sugar levels, reduce heart disease risk and is a high source of antioxidants!

When making your own turmeric tea latte, add or subtract ingredients according to preference. There're no rules! Maybe you want more vanilla, less cinnamon. Or maybe you want to go crazy with the turmeric or try a new kind of milk (hemp milk works well too). It's completely up to you! But, regardless, you will be getting a healthy treat perfect for fall evenings by the fireside.

Now, go out there and make healthy choices!