We can sometimes view food as something that we have to restrict or feel guilty about, but the truth is, when we look at food from nature’s perspective, we can see that it is simply a gift full of color, nutrition, and taste – and that is what makes it a valuable food source.
This week I spoke with Anne Kennard, DO a Board Certified OBGYN, Fellowship trained in Integrative Medicine, an herbalist, and a registered yoga instructor. about how your mental, emotional, and spiritual needs affect your physical health and offered some tips on how we can offer care in these areas of our life.
Dr. Kennard also shared how she uses nature for self-care and healing. As an herbalist, of course, herbs were at the top of her list.
I asked her to share her top 3: 
1. Chamomile is a very humble herb they’re safe for very, very young babies, the elderly, and pets. It’s a mild calmative. And so good for mild anxiety, even in small children.
2. Ashwagandha is really lovely for women that are just tired and wired. It helps to regulate the cortisol patterns decreasing that evening stress, kind of that mental overactivity and allowing somebody to drift into sleep.
3. Hibiscus is a powerful adaptogen helping us just kind of settle in and unwind a little bit in terms of stress, sleep, and all those things.
Since we are on the heels of sober-October, I also asked her for her favorite mocktail recipe.
Recipe for Making a Hibiscus Mocktail/Cocktail 
- Dug the Hibiscus tea bags a hot cup, leave it on the counter for a couple of hours
- It will make this deep red beautiful syrup,
- You can add a tablespoon to a glass of sparkling water.
- Garnish it with a little mint, and it is summer perfection.
We can all take something away from this segment, including the mind-body benefits of brewing tea daily, our need for little mini sabbaticals, and how simple practices grounded in presence can support our mental and emotional well-being. You can find the whole episode here.
