The Sip of the Day
What am I sipping today? It’s the kind of tea that is sure to pick you up and boost your energy when skies are gray! It’s Earl Grey! Earl Gray is a British, black tea, that is infused with Bergamot oil. Bergamot oil gives Earl Grey a citrusy aroma and taste, but it’s not too overpowering.
Some have even compared the taste of Earl Grey to Fruit Loops. I wouldn’t go that far, but you definitely taste hints of citrus.
If Earl Grey is not your cup of tea, he has a companion who has a softer side - Lady Grey. Lady Grey is a black tea with a milder taste and has lemon and orange peel added.
I like both, but I most often go for the strong taste of Earl today.
The Caffeine meter
An 8-ounce cup of Earl Grey has about half the amount of caffeine of a cup of coffee of the same size. Coffee is a 10 out of 10 on the caffeine meter while Earl Grey is a 5.5 out of 10.
How to Make Earl Grey
You can make Earl Grey using loose-leaf or tea bags. I tend to opt for tea bags simply because of the convenience. Here’s what you’ll need:
Loose-leaf tea or tea bags
Hot water, but not too hot because you can burn the leaves if you’re using loose leaf tea.
Let it steep for at least 4 to 5 min
To dull the citrusy flavor - Add milk and sugar
If you want to amp up the citrus flavor – Lemon and sugar (most people in the US drink it this way)
What I use - French vanilla coffee creamer and no sugar
The Health Tea
Earl Grey is packed with nutrients such as:
Vitamin C, A, and B vitamins
Amino acid
Bergamot oil
Bergamot oil can improve metabolism, digestion, help lower blood pressure, and reduce visceral fat AKA belly fat.
More Tea
Getting rid of belly fat ain’t just about having a snatched waist, it’s about your health!
Visceral fat is the fat that is deep inside that you can’t see. It surrounds your liver, stomach, and intestines, and can build up in your arteries. This puts you at risk for diabetes and heart disease.
So let me just drop the tea on diabetes and heart disease in the Black community:
Black people are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than White people and twice as likely to die from it.
Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S.
Black women are 50% more likely to have high blood pressure than white women – a risk factor for heart disease.
Black people are 30% more likely to have heart disease than white people, but we are less likely to have it under control.
Check Your Belly Fat
How can you tell how much visceral fat you have since it’s on the inside? Well, a CT or MRI can show you, but that can get really expensive so you can do what is called a waist-to-height ratio measurement.
According to studies, a waist to height ratio measurement is more reliable than BMI. Here’s how you can do it at home:
Measure the smallest part of your waist.
Divide that number by your height in inches – ( Ex: 5’8” is 68 inches)
If your number is higher than 0.5, then you are at risk for abdominal obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other health conditions.
Accountabili – TEA
How can you hold yourself accountable when it comes to managing your body’s visceral fat? You can:
Manage and reduce your stress.
Cut back on processed foods and sugar.
Go for a walk, even if it’s around your house.
Use low-cost tools like a tape measure to monitor your progress.
Remember, all you get is one YOU and no one can take care of you like YOU can!