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Hello everyone! I hope all is well and that your autumn has been off to a great start. This is my favorite season and I have been loving the cooler, more comfortable weather and have started to dive back in to enjoying the richer teas that my palate prefers :)
The Women's Expo is less than a week away on Thursday 10/10! Pre-orders are highly recommended to ensure I have what you need, so please see details outlined below - thank you to all who have already placed an order for pick-up. I look forward to seeing whoever can make it to the event!
Autumn teas are available! We've also been able to get a bunch more mugs, infuser mugs and cast iron tea sets up on the website. We're adding teaware every week, trying to get as much there as possible in case you are looking for holiday gifts.
This month is Liver Awareness Month and, in this month's newsletter, I am focusing on the importance of keeping this key organ healthy. While there are some wonderful herbs that can help our livers maintain optimal function, it is also important to understand the factors that can negatively impact its ability to perform at its best. Below is an update and expansion of my newsletter from January 2020.
Also, a reminder that a pick-up option is in effect. Pick-ups are on Wednesdays and orders must be received by the end of day Sunday each week in order to make the deadline. Details are outlined below.
An update from last month's newsletter - back in January's newsletter, I announced that the shop would be closing and that I would be moving to the mountains early next year. I also included a beautiful picture of the westward facing view from my land - a place of peace and tranquility. That view is in the mountains of Tennessee and I am still on track to move there in March 2025. I have a lot to do over the next five months in preparation for the move, while ensuring that operations continue to run smoothly. I would like to get on your radar now, since the interruption in business operations will be longer than it was at the close of the shop during the month of April. I am currently developing my plan for the transition and details will begin to be communicated in November's newsletter to ensure that everyone has enough time to prepare and stock up. I have already begun putting an insert in everyone's orders, whether being shipped or picked up, that informs about the upcoming transition. This will continue until the transition and I apologize beforehand to those of you who may get duplicate inserts over the next several months - trying to cover all bases. My primary goal before the transition is to ensure that you are able to purchase all the tea you need to get you through the duration of the service interruption. Stay tuned for these important details!
As always, I appreciate your continued support of my small business!! :)
-- Kristine, FDN-P
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This year's Women's Expo is next week!! :)
I am honored to have been selected again for one last time as an exhibitor at the annual Women's Expo. A not-to-miss-event, this annual Expo showcases the creativity and talent of women entrepreneurs from Suffolk and Nassau Counties. The timing is perfect for the upcoming holiday season, so be sure to stop by to show your support for all of the exhibitors and get some gifts knocked off your list.
When: Thursday, October 10th
Time: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Where: Middle Country Public Library
101 Eastwood Boulevard, Centereach
Check out the event's website womensexpoli.org or Facebook page Women's EXPO LI
Please note: If you are planning to stop by to pick up anything particular, please place your order in the online shop and indicate Women's Expo in the Comments section. A shipping charge will be applied, but I will remove it. I will not have much of the time required to prepare for this show and, therefore, will not be able to bring as many teas as I have in the past. The focus will be on the autumn teas, samplers, and a few other items. To ensure you get everything you would like, please be sure to place your orders no later than Monday 10/7. After this and depending on the volume of orders coming in, I cannot guarantee that I will be able to pull your order together in time to bring with me - although I will do my absolute best to do so.***
I look forward to seeing you there!! :)
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Pick-Up Option
Donna from West Sayville Flowers (my former business neighbor) has generously offered her shop as an option for order pick-ups! This service will ONLY be available on Wednesdays from 9:00 to 5:00, so as not to interfere with Donna's business. Orders will need to be placed before the end of day on Sundays so that I will have the time to pull them together and get them over to her. If you would like to take advantage of this option, please indicate so in the Comments section of the cart. Please note that a shipping charge will be applied when you place your order, but it will be removed when I manually finalize and charge the order :)
Please be advised that, at times, her shop is closed for a short period of time while they are running deliveries. They will have a sign posted stating this, so please be aware that this may happen if you decide to use this service.
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Gift Certificates
You may redeem any outstanding gift certificates in the online shop! To redeem, please input the following information in the Comments section in the cart: compliments of, especially for, gift certificate number, amount, and date. You will still need to input your credit card, but only the balance will be charged, if there is one. Gift certificates never expire - I put an expiration date on them because I want them to be used, not forgotten in a pile of paper ;).
Need to purchase an e-gift certificate? Feel free to email me at kristine@infuseteabarny.com - be sure to include name from and to and the gift certificate amount. I will email you an invoice that you may pay online.
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Blended up a fresh batch of Black Currant Lavender Black Tea (I forgot to take a pic before blending it up) and Tulsi Spearmint Organic Green Tea! | |
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The Importance of Liver Health
I remember learning in my Anatomy & Physiology class years ago, and every course I've taken about the liver since then, that this vital organ (not that our other organs aren't vital) has over 500 functions. Yes, that is correct - over 500! I remember thinking that it must have been a misprint - how is this possible? But it's true. The liver is such an important organ in our bodies and, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the liver is usually treated no matter the condition or symptoms. This is the case even with conditions that are not "connected" with the liver in Western, allopathic medicine that we are all so familiar with. TCM and other traditional medicine systems consistently incorporate addressing the liver because everything in our body is impacted in some way by the liver and it is one of the first organs that can get "gunked up". Think of it - everything we eat, drink, breathe, touch, or put on our skin gets metabolized through the liver at some point. While we do not have the space here to discuss all of the functions, we will highlight just a few and how herbs and other practices can help to provide support.
Here are just a few of the functions that this amazing and important organ performs:
- produces and secretes bile, which is used in digestion
- metabolizes nutrients - carbs, lipids, protein
- filters the blood of and metabolizes any toxins, foreign invaders, medications - basically anything that we ingest, inhale, or touch
- stores blood and some vitamins and minerals
- has a role in immune function
- metabolizes our hormones
- metabolizes glucose to store it as glycogen, which can be used in the future as an energy source when converted back to glucose
- produces cholesterol, which is much-needed for brain health
Unfortunately, we usually do not treat this critical organ very well and it takes a lot of abuse. Our diets, lifestyles, slathering on of toxic body care products, usage of toxic household chemicals or those in the workplace, etc. all strain the efficient functioning of the liver and can lead to sluggish performance in the areas of digestion and detoxification. This, in turn, can lead to a host of other symptoms and issues in the body. A few signs of dysfunctional liver detoxification include: abnormal metabolism, hormonal issues, blood sugar dysregulation, digestive issues, immune system dysfunction, and nervous system dysregulation.
To complicate matters, there are three phases of liver detoxification. Phase I breaks down compounds into more toxic metabolites. Phase II conjugates, or binds, these toxic metabolites into other less toxic forms that can be excreted through urine or feces during Phase III. Each phase requires a variety of nutrients and co-factors that aide the process and dysfunction will occur without these nutrients. Some may have issues with all three phases, but others may only have impact in one phase and it can be difficult to identify where or in which phase the issues may be coming from.
Some important diet and lifestyle factors to consider in order to maximize liver function include:
- eat a whole foods, nutrient-dense, diversified diet - know how your food was grown or raised.
- minimize/eliminate ultra-processed foods - these are high in inflammatory industrial seed oils, sugar (in all of its many forms), preservatives, artificial colors and flavors, which has led to the increase in Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), along with imbalances in the intestinal microbial community.
- eliminate/minimize alcohol consumption - alcohol is a toxin (sigh). While this is true, I am not yet in the camp that alcohol must be avoided at all times. I believe that moderation (which, I believe, is less than current recommendations) is acceptable and will not lead to liver damage, unless there are underlying issues. As a result, I do enjoy an occasional well-crafted whiskey or red wine, since life is short and I take the time to appreciate the experience - I consider this balance :)
- get adequate sleep and at the proper time. In TCM, the hours of 1:00AM and 3:00AM are considered "liver time". This is the time when the liver is most active at performing its functions. Sleeping during this time is the most rejuvenating for the liver. Have trouble sleeping or find that you consistently wake up during this time? You might have a sluggish liver.
- look at the ingredients in your body care, cleaning, and home fragrance products.
- run high quality air filtration in your home. The best ones will remove small particles, mycotoxins and chemicals.
Fortunately, there are many herbs that can help to support the liver and optimize its function. There are different types of liver-protecting and liver-stimulating plants that are classified by the action they perform. Listed here are four of the types of actions with just a few of the herbs that perform these actions. You will notice that some herbs can perform multiple actions in helping to support the liver:
- Hepatoprotectant - protects liver cells from being overloaded with too many toxins. Such herbs include burdock root, dandelion root, licorice root, and milk thistle seed.
- Anti-hepatotoxic - provides anti-oxidant function, increases the production of proteins in the cell, and stimulates Phase I and Phase II enzymes that are involved with the metabolizing of toxins. Such herbs include licorice root and milk thistle seed.
- Hepatic trophorestorative - increases liver cell regeneration through nutrients; provide a tonic and nourishing action. Such herbs include milk thistle seed, and oregon grape root.
- Cholagogue - stimulates bile flow in order to aid in digestion. Such herbs include burdock root, chicory root, dandelion root, oregon grape root, and yellow dock root.
Some of the above herbs are available for sale in the online shop https://www.pleasuresoftea.com/ and the remaining will be added within a few days. On the website you will also find my own Liver Support Organic Herbal Tisane, which is a blend that includes all of the above listed herbs.
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New Teas
Two new teas were added to the the menu and online shop last month! Cinnamon Apple Decaf Black Tea and Bitaco Tea Estate Organic Wulong Tea. Fig & Lavender Black Tea is back in stock.
Your favorite autumn blends have returned and are also now available in the online shop! Here's the line-up: Apple Molasses Black Tea, Gingered Vanilla Toddy Black Tea, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Black Tea, Pumpkin Pie Black Tea (back in stock), Roasted Chestnut Black & Green Tea with Yerba Maté Blend, Maple Walnut Green Tea, Rooibos Maple Walnut Herbal Tisane, Rooibos Pumpkin Crème Herbal Tisane, Rooibos Pumpkin Spice Herbal Tisane and Mulling Spice Organic Tisane. And Cinnamon Chip, Lemon Ginger, and Maple Scone Mixes are back, and join all the other flavors that are available. Please note that Pumpkin Pie Scone Mix is now out of stock and will not return until next autumn.
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The Pleasures of Tea
www.pleasuresoftea.com - online shop
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500+ Loose Leaf Teas, Herbal Tisanes & Functional/Medicinal Herbs
Certified - Tea Professional, Tea Sommelier & Tea Health Expert
Forever Student of the Art & Science of Herbalism
Certified Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner, MRC Certified Healthy Gut Practitioner, Certified Terrain Advocate, & Certified in Functional Nutrition - Vitality Holistic Wellness
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