DIARY OF A VEGAN » Smoothies

Chocolate Sweet Potato Smoothie

Shannon — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:13:59 +0000

Sweet potato in a smoothie? When I saw this recipe in Susan Smith Jones’ The Healing Power of Nature Foods, I was intrigued. Who puts a root vegetable in a drink? Susan Smith Jones and many others it seems.

So I took my intrigue into the kitchen and whipped up my own chocolate sweet potato smoothie. It was downright delicious.

As all good things deserved to be shared, here is the recipe in all its glorious flavour. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Yum!

Chocolate Sweet Potato Smoothie
(Serves 2-4)

• 2 cups juice (orange, apple, cranberry or almond milk, or any combination). For this step I made my own almond milk. See recipe here.
• 1 cup cooks sweet potato or yam flesh
• 4-5 pitted medjool dates
• 1 ripe frozen banana
• 1 1/2 tsp of cocoa (or raw carob powder)
• Dash of cinnamon

Preparation:

Blend until smooth. For a sweeter taste, add a sweetener of your choice (such as more dates, granulised date sugar, pure maple syrup or stevia). If your banana isn’t frozen, add a few ice cubes for more of a shake.

VARIATION: Sometimes I’ll elminate the cocoa and use carob powder and/or fresh ginger, vanilla extract, apple pieces, or the fresh juice of the raw sweet potato so it can be an all-raw tasty treat. I also serve different variations of this “antioxidant” smoothie/shake as a chilled soup.

Check out more of Susan Smith Jones’ delish recipes, including more blender recipes, at www.susansmithjones.com

Some of the reported health benefits of sweet potato include:

• Rich in Vitamin A (betacarotene) and Vitamin C, these vitamins are powerful antioxidants that are said to remove free radicals (which damage cells).
• Aid in relieving stomach ulcers and colon inflammation.
• Helps to lower blood pressure.
• Are said to be beneficial for diabetics as they may assist in lowering blood sugar levels.

An Eye for Good Health

Shannon — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:32:22 +0000

I’ve been spending loads of time in front of the computer screen (and reading books), which has resulted in some nasty eye strain. While I’m none too pleased about limiting my time on my beloved Mac and reading less, I’m looking at it as an opportunity to up my intake of foods that are über good for eye health.

Carrots are at the top of my list to put my eyes back on track. Why? Besides the fact they look like an eye—nature’s signature to show they’re good for eyes (see below)—they’re also loaded with antioxidant compounds and are rich in pro-vitamin A carotenes. Beta-carotene helps to protect vision, especially at night.

Carrots also protect against macular degeneration and the development of senile cataracts, which is the number one cause of blindness in the elderly.

Some other great foods that are said to be super beneficial to eye health, thanks to their A, C and E vitamins, include:

• Spirulina;
• Raw sunflower seeds;
• Green leafy veges such as kale and spinach;
• Oranges;
• Apricots;
• Capsicum (peppers);
• Tomatoes;
• Raw green beans and peas;
• Grapefruit;
• Kiwi fruit.

There are some delicious smoothies that are quick and easy to make, which are loaded with eye-loving vitamins and minerals. Raw food chef and herbalist Brigitte Mars’ recommends this recipe (see below) from her book Beauty By Nature. If you want a step-by-step on how to whip it up, also check out the video below from The Renegade Health Show.

Eye Health Raw Smoothie

1 cup fresh carrot juice
1 cup water
1/4 cup unsalted raw sunflower seeds
1 Tablespoon spirulina

Blend until smooth.

A Big, Fat Health Boost

Shannon — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:28:25 +0000

Today is day three of my planned 7-day nutritional fast, which means loads of fresh fruit and veges smoothies (and water). It’s a great way to introduce yourself to fasting, because you’re still getting the fibre of the fruit and vegetables, which can be a lot more satisfying that just water or juice. I’m also a big believer of needing the whole fruit or vegetable to reap all of the nutritional benefits.

Fasting (or juice feasting) is a great way to give your digestion a break, while giving your body an opportunity to dump all built-up those toxins from your organs, including your skin. Plus it’s a fabulous way to ring in the new year—physically rejuvenated and mentally clear.

While I’m going with instinct and my own knowledge to put together a plan, there are plenty of books and websites that can help guide you on a fast/feast that suits you.

Here are some of my faves:

The Blending Book
JuiceFeasting.com
GreenSmoothieRevolution.com
Green For Life
GreenSmoothieGirl.com
GreenSmoothieBlog.com
How Green Smoothies Saved My Life

If you’re tempted to get blending and need a recipe, here’s my organic breakfast smoothie:

• 1 banana
• 3-4 silverbeet leaves
• Big handful of spinach
• 1 apple
• 1/2 small cucumber
• 2 teaspoons Kal’s Nutritional Yeast
• 1 teaspoon of Nutrex Hawaiian Spirulina
• Fresh parsley to taste
• Add water for desired consistency

Also check out Rhonda Lee’s 7 Ways to Make Green Smoothies on The Green Dove.

Hot tip: Be sure to “chew” each mouthful of your green smoothie, to ensure the digestive juices do their work. This allows the body to absorb all of the nutrients.