As clichéd as it sounds, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day—especially when it comes to supporting healthy adrenal function. If you’re anything like me, you wake up before sunrise to a blaring alarm clock and a whole bunch of stress carried over from the night before.
After working out (if you’re lucky) and rushing to get ready for work, you may or may not grab a quick breakfast and a cup of coffee before heading out the door, only to finally crash a few hours later. But with the help of this simple caffeine-free adrenal elixir, you can start your day with energy, focus, and mental clarity to make it from sunup to sundown.
Energy-Boosting Adrenal Elixir Recipe
Diet plays a major role in adrenal health. Everything can impact the adrenal glands, from skipping meals or eating too quickly to consuming too much caffeine. The adrenals naturally keep a host of other aspects of health in balance—immune function, sleep, focus, and clear thinking.
Because our bodies use cortisol to help us wake up and get moving in the morning, our adrenal glands are naturally more active during the early morning hours. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to nourish our systems with a healthy breakfast. To keep our adrenals healthy, we should be fueling our bodies with antioxidant-rich foods, lean protein, and calming herbs.
This adrenal elixir has it all. It’s naturally caffeine-free, and it’s packed with vitamins and minerals, protein, and antioxidants to support healthy hormone regulation and help you feel relaxed throughout the day. Here’s how it works:
Coconut milk
Coconut is high in saturated fat, lauric acid, and medium-chain fatty acids [source], making it a highly usable source of energy for the body, without the cortisol-boosting effects of coffee.
Rooibos tea
Also known as red tea, rooibos is a caffeine-free tea that is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals [source] and has been used for thousands of years as a medicinal plant and for promoting relaxation. In recent years, its cardiovascular benefits and antiaging effects have also made its popularity soar [source].
Holy basil leaf extract
Holy basil, also known as tulsi, falls into the class of herbs known as adaptogens, which have been shown to help the body respond to stress in a healthy way. It is traditionally used to prevent the toxic effects of chemicals and infections, heal psychological stress, and help restore the body’s overall balance [source]. This Holy Basil Leaf Extract makes it easy to add holy basil to drinks and smoothies.
Himalayan salt
Unlike traditional sea salt, Himalayan salt provides a whopping 38 trace minerals, all of which help nourish the body and support healthy hormone production.
Collagen protein
Collagen (in the form of collagen hydrolysate or gelatin) is a more digestible form of protein that dissolves easily in everything from drinks to soup. By eating adequate protein at breakfast, along with fiber, you’re supporting normal blood sugar levels, which in turn helps regulate the adrenal glands.
Maca root
Maca root is an adaptogenic herb that supports the body in balancing hormone levels [source], optimizing energy, and promoting a healthy mood [source].
Cinnamon
Studies show that cinnamon helps support normal blood pressure and blood sugar levels, regulating insulin and cortisol production [source].
Raw honey
One thing that makes raw honey so good for you is bee propolis, a waxy substance produced from tree resin and sap collected by bees. It is an excellent antioxidant and antimicrobial that has been used to maintain a healthy immune response [source].
Energy-Boosting Adrenal Elixir
Equipment
- 8 ounce glass
Ingredients
- ½ cup filtered water
- 1 rooibos tea bag or 4 teaspoons loose rooibos tea
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 tablespoon collagen protein
- 1 teaspoon raw honey
- ½ teaspoon Organic Maca Powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 15 drops Holy Basil Leaf Extract
- A pinch of Himalayan salt
Instructions
- Bring the filtered water to a boil. Pour the boiling water into a mug with the tea bag and allow the tea to steep for 5 minutes.
- Remove the tea bag (or strain loose tea), then add the remaining ingredients and whisk to combine.
Notes
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified pediatrician with over 20 years of experience in practice. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor before using this recipe to determine what’s best for you.
Photos by Ana Stanciu
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Just shared this great recipe! Thanks
It comes from South Africa..
Just a small note for corrections. Himalayan salt is not sea-salt, as it comes from Himalaya mountains.