Week of Love: Golden Smoothie

Turmeric is a powerhouse of antioxidants and anti- inflammatory properties. It has been scientifically proven to help prevent and/or treat alzheimers, arthritis, and cancer. It's a powerful anti-inflammatory thanks mainly to curcumin, turmeric's active constituent. This bright orange root helps protect the liver and detoxify the body by binding heavy metals and neutralizing free radicals.

According to Rosemary Gladstar, turmeric "is one of the best herbs for immune health and is often overlooked because of the huge popularity of Echinacea" (Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health, page 110). She continues to say that turmeric is antitumor and antibiotic as well as a metabolic tonic and blood purifier. Michael Castleman, author of The New Healing Herbs, states that consuming antioxidant herbs such as turmeric helps prevent oxidative damage - the underlying cause of heart disease, cancer and stroke (the top three killers in the United States).

Safety concern for Turmeric: If you take blood thinners, consult with your physician before consuming medicinal doses/supplements of Turmeric. Culinary use is considered safe.

God gave us these wonderful herbs that are already so powerful in their healing capabilities. It is best to introduce each herb to the body and increase the amount taken over a period of time. With turmeric, low amounts taken over a long period of time are proven to be more effective than high doses over short period. Once introduced and by including this herb in your diet regularly, you can reap its many benefits.

I had this smoothie for a week straight and I could definitely tell my energy was more boisterious!

Enjoy this for Valentine's Day with the one you want to grow old and gray with!

 

Golden Smoothie
1/3 cup soaked cashews
1 cup water
1/2 cup coconut cream
1/2 tsp to 2 tsp turmeric powder
1 orange
1 frozen banana
1 TB raw local  honey * optional
Ice *optional

Variations:
1. Substitute coconut or almond milk for cashews, water, and coconut cream.
2. Add chia seeds for omega and protein boost.
3. Use a scoop of tahini for calcium.
4. Substitute orange for a small organic apple (cored) and 2 tsp cinnamon
5. Add a handful of greens

Turmeric is available at your local grocery store or Mountain Rose Herbs. I buy my herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.

  Another on-the-go way to incorporate turmeric is the yummy vegan and savory Indian Spice Sipping Broth. I love this green tea-infused drink. It's so delicious on a cold, winter morning!
 

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And last but not least, I'm not a doctor. I'm not licensed to diagnose or prescribe. This is for educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Use information at your discretion, taking into account medical history. Always research! 

Sweet Potato Frosting

This is something a little new - up until now. I've spent hours creating one post - the pictures consuming most of the time. Pictures have always been my forte but I realized you sweet readers were missing out on some of my favorite recipes or tips simply because I couldn't make the time to take photos and edit them. Hence, the instagram picture... At first, I hesitated. Surely I was not going to inundate my blog with instagram pictures. But as a busy mom of two and taking on a new business with my husband, I realized the beauty of simplicity. Instagram can be really fun and really wonderful. Plus it makes it a little easier to get a post out there on the world wide web. I want to be able to share with you but sometimes I can't get my camera/spend time editing photos because the baby is fussy or my four year old needs help. Of course, I will continue to post my old-style (wonderfully edited photos and all) but I wanted to let you know, you might see a different kind/way of posting from this point forward - now being a great time to start since my computer is on the fritz and I can't get the post I originally photographed.

And now to the recipe, this is inspired by one of my favorite cookbooks - Nourishing Meals: Healthy Gluten-Free Recipes for the Whole Family by Alissa Segersten and Tom Malterre. If you don't have this book, you seriously need to buy it. It helped me with introducing foods to my now four year old. It also describes the symptoms associated with gluten and dairy intolerance (wish I had known these growing up - would have made my life so much easier). Big Blue Eyes and I recently made the hazelnut gingersnap cookie dough recipe out of it and baked it with the cousins. Totally yummy!

Here is my version of her dairy-free cream cheese frosting. I love the orange of the sweet potatoes! It's so fun without any fake dyes!

Sweet Potato Frosting
2 Steamed sweet Potatoes (still warm)
6 TB coconut oil
2 tsp tapioca flour or arrowroot starch
1/2 cup maple syrup
Pinch of salt

Blend in blender and put in fridge to thicken. Then it can be spread over cakes or squeezed onto cupcakes (pictured here with my vanilla paleo cupcake - anyone interested?).

Enjoy!

And by the way there is a Book Promo on Amazon, use code HOLIDAY30 for 30% off one book shipped and sold by amazon. Ends Nov 30th.