Shamrock Shake with Peppermint Herb aka Peppermint Chocolate Shake

Skip the extracts and go straight to the herb source. Peppermint!  As much as I'd like to use fresh, that is not possible in the beginning of March (I seriously need a green house). So instead we used dried. I buy my herbs from Mountain Rose Herbs.

 

 

I used cut & sifted peppermint. If using ground peppermint herb, start with 1 tsp. If using fresh peppermint leaf, try a handful fresh and move up from there.

 

Usually associated with candy canes and toothpaste, peppermint has a lot of wonderful herbal properties. The smell alone can enhance alertness and memory. The peppermint herb can help with stomach upset, gas, colic, nausea, and headaches. Rosemary Gladstar calls peppermint "a blast of pure green energy" in her book Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health (page 356). Also Demetria Clark, another Master Herbalist, writes in her book Herbal Healing for Children that peppermint is gentle enough for most children's conditions. It's a gentle energy! Just like a walk in nature.

 

 

Peppermint is a staple in my herbal apothecary. I like to add it to my mineral-rich herbal teas for better flavor. We drink an infusion of peppermint with thyme and honey for sore throats. I drink an infusion for headaches particularly one from eating dairy or nasal congestion. If heading to bed, I like to add valerian to the infusion. For a delectable treat like tea, I brew the infusion with dried vanilla bean pods and add honey or stevia.

 

Peppermint is a great choice for a container garden as some of likened the herb to a weed - it's growth is more easily managed if planted in a pot.

I hope you enjoy this delectable and refreshing milkshake-like treat.

And Happy Saint Patrick's Day! What delicious green-inspired recipes will you be making? Three years ago, we made Egg in a Clover. And last year, we made 2-Ingredient Green Ice Cream.

 

 

Peppermint Chocolate Shake aka Shamrock Shake with Peppermint Herb

4-6 tsp peppermint,  dried, cut & sifted*
Seeds from 1/3 Vanilla Bean**
2 cups coconut milk
2 frozen bananas
1 oz dark chocolate
Large handful fresh spinach or kale

Blend all ingredients in blender. Serves 2-3.

 

* Peppermint from Mountain Rose Herbs.

**I buy really juicy and plump Premium Bourbon-Madagascar Vanilla Beans from Amazon (link here).

 

This post contains affiliate links. Buying through these links may help to support Sweet Roots! I thank all my sweet readers for your support!

 

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!

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!
 

This post contains affiliate links. Buying through these links may help to support Sweet Roots! I thank all my sweet readers for your support!

 

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!