When it is cold outside it is good to eat warm foods, but the smoothie addicts out there can use warming spices to make cold smoothies a little more seasonally appropriate. Spices can be cooling or heating, affecting how we feel on a very subtle level but affecting our digestive function more noticeably. Warming spices generally promote more efficient digestion and have a detoxifying effect. We want our digestion to move along fairly quickly, if food gets blocked up (many causes can attribute to this including too much acidity, not enough acidity, not chewing thoroughly enough and pancreas and/or liver overload) it can sit in our large intestine and start to ferment, in which case toxins can be released back into our blood stream and we can experience bloating and the socially awkward body’s warning sign of flatulence. Continue Reading →
Black and Blue Cardamom Smoothie
What I like best about golfing this time of year is the succulent blackberries that line the edges of some of the holes. There is something that feels very “hunter-gatherer” about picking wild berries, even if they are right next to perfectly manicured land meant for dedicating hours of leisure time to, something that was in much shorter supply before we developed agriculture and cities. Berry picking also takes me back to my childhood, it was one of the few times that I would have access to an unlimited amount of sweets, and when they were ripened on the vine and warmed from the sun I liked them even more than five cent candy. Continue Reading →
Pineapple Blueberry Buzz Smoothie
Bee pollen is available in many health food stores and markets in small orange and yellow granules. It is considered to be a very nutrient dense food because of its high concentration of carbs, proteins, antioxidants, phytonutrients and vitamins. There have not been enough extensive studies done to equivocally prove all the benefits that bee pollen is purported to have. However, among people that use it there seems to be a general consensus that it does in fact help elevate energy levels and also naturally reduces the discomfort associated with seasonal allergies. Continue Reading →
Homemade Almond Milk
Dairy alternatives and replacements are growing in popularity, due in part to the increasing interest in vegan and paleo diets, both of which eschew standard milk products and to people discovering previously unknown allergies and intolerances. Continue Reading →
Chocolate Hemp Milkshake
This has the healthy ingredients of a smoothie but the thick creaminess of a chocolate milkshake. Hemp is a pretty amazing plant, every part of which can be used and transformed into textiles, soap, paper, plastic, paint and more. The seeds are anti-inflammatory nutritional powerhouses rich in magnesium, protein and essential healthy fats. Continue Reading →
Super Green Smoothie
The first time I had a fresh green smoothie I could not believe how energized and alive I felt. Over the past few years and lots of kitchen fails I have learned some tricks to making them totally edible and even delicious. The first trick is to blend the greens with the liquid before putting all the other ingredients in, unless you have a Vitamix, putting everything in at once can make an end product with chunks of green leaves… gross. Continue Reading →
PB&J Recovery Smoothie
This smoothie is all about the strawberries… and peanut butter. It has lots of natural sugars from all the fruits, making it a good option to refuel after a tough workout. Strawberries have the most vitamin C out of all berries, and they are also the best source of iron and potassium. Peanuts are actually a legume, resulting in them being higher in B vitamins than most nuts. They also have substantial amounts of calcium, iron, zinc, potassium and magnesium. 
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Infused Water
Water makes up around 60% of our bodies and it is the primary component of our blood, sweat and tears as well as our lymphatic fluid, digestive juices and urine. It is involved in almost every single function our body performs and plays an integral role in digestion, absorption of nutrients, circulation and elimination of wastes. When we do not consume enough water we basically dry ourselves out, becoming dehydrated. Continue Reading →
Vanilla Spiced Yogi Milk
This comforting drink is all about turmeric. It is a bright orange member of the ginger family and has commonly been nicknamed the poor man’s saffron. However, it should not to be underestimated-turmeric has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties and it helps increase bile flow, which makes it particularly helpful for digestive upset and recovering from illness or physical activity. Continue Reading →
Piña Colada Smoothie
Smoothies are great not just because they are fast and delicious, but also because they are easy to digest. Generally, most people do not chew their food enough so their digestive system has to work harder to break down the pieces of food, this takes away energy that could be devoted to something else. Because well blended food is easier to digest, it also means that the nutrients are easier for our bodies to absorb- making for a great après workout refuel. Continue Reading →