5-Checkmark Spicy Ginger Latte

You can whip up this fabulous latte in a flash!

Then sit back and read some How Not to Die by Michael Greger.

Spicy Ginger Latte

2 c hot water (or up to 4 c)

1 Tbsp ground flaxseed

½ banana (optional)

2 pitted dates

¼ c hemp seed

¼ - ½” slice fresh turmeric (the recommended dose is ¼")

½” slice fresh ginger

½ Tbsp pumpkin pie spice

Dash of black pepper – this will increase benefits of turmeric!

Blend all ingredients until smooth, and enjoy! (this is under a minute in my Blendtec)

Enjoy 2 full mugs of latte!

Spicy Ginger Latte happens to have no tea/caffeine, but you could easily use tea instead of water.

Fresh ginger and fresh turmeric are much milder in taste than their powder forms. Only use 1/4 tsp each of turmeric and an ginger if using powder.

Fresh turmeric can be found in some mainstream grocery stores! Here in Cleveland, OH, we can find it at Heinen’s. Otherwise, head to an Asian market to get a year-long supply, probably for only $2-3/lb. Remember, you just need a ¼ inch slice per day per Dr Greger. I think even at $10/lb, I got about 35 slices for $2.

Maybe it’s a project for another day, I encourage you to make your own pumpkin spice. Here's my recipe!

Coming soon! Terrific Turmeric, Spices Mixes Roundup, and so much more!

Sugar-Free Lemonade!

The temperatures are going to be dropping all day here in Cleveland, so this is an odd post, but I'm sharing anyway!

Wait, I can tie this drink into health for cooler days, and healthier ways! Citrus fruits have been found to decrease blood pressure, reduce stroke risk, and increase overall blood flow, including to the brain!

This is why you may have heard about consuming citrus for an energy burst of concentration and focus!

Also, increased blood flow means better body warming in the cold. In fact, when women whose fingers and toes are especially sensitive to the cold, consumed OJ, their bodies responded 50% better to cold, as well as significantly improved post-cold rewarming responses.

APPLICATION: have some Healthy Lemonade before going out for a long winters run or before building a snowman! You'll stay warmer outside, and warm back up faster when you go back inside.

We've been eating so many Lemon Bar flavored Laraballs, which require the zest of a lemon, leaving a fresh lemon waiting for use.

Lemon Bar Larabars

Lemon Bar Larabars

Hence, Sugar-Free Lemonade!

1 lemon, thinly sliced, first remove just the yellow part of the lemon peel (use yellow slivers of peel to make above snack recipe!)
1 large, ripe banana
1 c ice water, fill measuring cup with ice, then water
1-2 Tbsp pomegranate arils (optional)

Blend all ingredients until smooth and enjoy! I use my Blendtec and it's done in a jiffy (similar to Vitamix). For a regular blender, it'll take a bit longer. Add pomegranate to make pink lemonade!

So refreshing after a great workout!

Sugar and artificial sweetener free Lemonade

My baby boy's has plans as president:

"If I were president, my meetings would be good food meetings, and I would teech people to eat [healthy]."

Easy OJ with Extra Creaminess and Fiber!

Easy OJ -- Too simple to even be a recipe, but still I wanted to share!  I only have my super-blender, a Blendtec (similar to a Vitamix), so you'll have to let me know how it goes with a regular blender!

Simply trim the orange of the orange peel (as you would for Orange Almond Biscottis...heck, why not make a batch you're y at it!  No waste!).

Then cut the orange in a few pieces., including the white of the peel -- nutritional BOOST of extra fiber!!

Add a large handful of ice, about 1 cup.

BLEND UNTIL SMOOTH and enjoy!

With a power blender this is ready in less than a minute!  Otherwise, it should still only take a few min, I hope!

TIP: Sometimes blending more is easier for the blender -- I used 3 oranges and 2-3 cups of ice cubes! Adding a little water might help too.  If you add milk, it'll more of a smoothie.  Of course you could add all kinds of fruit, flax, wheat germ, chia, etc.  I was going strictly for OJ since my daughter wanted some and we were out!

COMMENTS: Do you have a super-blender?  If you do, what is your favorite thing to make with it?

3-Ingredient Super-Shake!

3-Ingredient Super-Shake

1 c almond milk (substitute non-dairy kefir* or other non-dairy milk)
¼ c chia seeds (read about healthy fat!)
1 c berries
Optional: 1/4 c unsweetened cocoa (click here for more chocolate and berry treats!)
Blend and enjoy! *I haven't ever made my own non-dairy kefir, but here is a link if you want to try!

KEFIR is awesome! It has lots of vitamins, minerals, and protein! The best part-- it's loaded with HEALTHY BACTERIA! Have you heard of the health benefits of yogurt? Immunity, digestive, vaginal, and bladder health, and much more -- read here! Well, kefir can provide “yogurt benefits” much more POTENTLY, since it contains many different cultures, while some yogurts only offer one!

CHIA seeds are awesome! Jam-packed with nutrients and used for 1000s of years as a sports and energy staple! The coolest nutrition it provides is omega-3 fat: the thing that is so great about FISH, AND a nutrient in which 98% of the American population is deficient!   The seeds are teeny tiny, super cute, and you can add them to just about any food! This of course could be a whole other post too, but for now, just read this great article if you want to know more about chia! And/or read this book: Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Ever Seen by Christopher McGougall.

BERRIES are awesome! Full of ANTIOXIDANTS (a bit more here under #3), vitamins, sweetness, and flavor! You’ve probably heard all about them. They help your brain keep working well, and keep the cancer away! You can get them frozen and organic at Costco, for a fraction of the cost at another grocer, and frozen makes this drink really like a dessert! You can even eat it with a spoon if you eat quickly!
 

 

 

The finished product!

A very happy and satisfied taster!

 

TELL ME IN A COMMENT! Do you make smoothies? Do you add sugar/honey/juice? Have you tried skipping those sweeteners? What is your favorite flavor? What about adding veggies? Other powders, flax, wheat bran, powdered milk? Nuts/nut butters?