​I’m so excited to share this recipe with you!  I have recently fallen in love with turmeric lattes after trying Gaia’s “Golden Milk” which is a delicious and easy to use powder that you simply add to warmed almond or coconut milk. This led me to creating my own recipe because when I get obsessed with a food I want to know how to make it.  So, I dove into playing with different versions until I had a recipe with the ideal combo of yumminess, healthiness, and ease of preparation. I’m happy to say this recipe hits the mark on all counts!
 
Let’s first take a look at why turmeric is awesome.  Basically, it’s a ninja spice that, due to its active ingredient curcumin, has the potential to help with multiple health concerns such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, ulcerative colitis, and some forms of depression. One of the reasons this one small compound is such a powerhouse is because it has two main benefits for the body:

| #1 Anti-inflammatory
Chronic pain, as well as countless other diseases such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes, and stroke, are all associated with inflammation. Anyone who is highly motivated to be as healthy as possible, for as long as possible, will want to reduce inflammation to give their body the best support possible. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory properties are widely recognized, which makes adding it to your daily routine an easy yes.

| #2 Antioxidant
Antioxidants are vital to our health because they provide protection from free radicals and turmeric is being shown to be one of the most powerful antioxidants available to us. We want all the protection we can get from free radicals because these unstable atoms place oxidative stress on the body which contribute to chronic disease, speed the aging process and causing cell mutation as in cancer and tumors. 

So, does this make turmeric a cure all? No, nothing is that simple in the nutrition and health world. How effectively your body uses the compounds found in turmeric depends on many factors including current diet and medications. For optimal health, it’s essential to eat a varied diet of nutrient dense foods, avoid foods that stress your body, and take care of your emotional body as well as your physical one.
 
This might seem like a daunting task, especially if you’re unsure of where to start, which is why I am here to make it EASY and FUN and YUMMY by offering a detox as a perfect place to begin. By shaking up your current patterns, feeding yourself deeply nourishing foods, and making yourself and your health a priority, you will learn invaluable tools that will allow you to thrive in all areas of your life.
 
Do not miss the opportunity to join the other fearless detoxees who've committed to the Mind-Body-Spirit Detox beginning May 16th. It is the easiest, most effective way to optimize your health, re-energize your body, and rejuvenate your mind and spirit; simply one of the most profound commitments you can make to your health! People have come up to me years, after doing this detox; they tell me it changed their life, their relationship with food, and how they care for their body… not bad for a two-week commitment!  

Note:  If you’re currently on medications or have health concerns always check with your doctor before making any changes with diet or supplements.

The black pepper may seem like an unusual addition, however, not only does is give the latte an nice bite it is also necessary for our bodies to access the full benefits of turmeric.

Yield:  3 cups
2 Medjool dates
2 tsp grated ginger or 1 tsp ground
1 cup water (or coconut or almond milk for a creamier latte)
----
2 ½ tsp turmeric powder
¼ tsp ground black pepper 
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups coconut or almond milk
1/8 tsp cardamom (optional)
Cinnamon to sprinkle on top, if desired

​Note:
If you want to eliminate the blender step replace the dates with 1T honey or maple syrup and use the ground ginger.

I recently completed a 14 day whole-foods detox as a way to reboot my energy and step back from some habits that weren’t supporting me to feel my best.  It felt so good to do this for myself and unlike some detoxes in the past, where I struggled from beginning to end, this one felt easy and natural.  I realized there are two main factors for this difference. 

The first is mindset.  All the work I’ve done to find peace with food and my body are most noticeable when I challenge myself to a detox and only eat 100% clean food for 2 weeks.  I still remember my first detox where each craving felt like torture and each food I had to give up felt like a sacrifice… a totally exhausting approach to food! Now I have so much more flexibility and range of choice with how I respond to triggers and challenges.  Much more empowering!
​
The second difference is that I take extra care to prepare foods that bring pleasure, are satisfying, and taste delicious.  My favorite smoothie, the "Super Charged Cacao" is one of the best examples of how food can be both healthy and delicious and is why I'm excited to share this recipe with you!

| Packed with antioxidants  
The raw cacao, spinach, blueberries, and maca in this smoothie are rich in antioxidants which are essential to protecting our bodies from the damage (think premature aging and illness) caused by free radicals.

| Boosts mood and energy
Raw cacao and maca powder are both great for energy, something I’m always interested in having more of! And as an extra bonus cacao turns on the hormones that help us feel happy while maca has been shown to help support our adrenals, the hormones responsible for our stress response.

| Brain health 
Coconut milk, raw cacao, and maca all play a part in keeping our brains sharp and healthy.  If you want better memory, more clarity, and sharper focus these foods are a great place to start.
​
| Reduces inflammation   
Both spinach and blueberries are known to be top anti-inflammatory foods.  Why is it important to include these in your diet?  As outlined in this article from the Harvard Medical School “Many major diseases that plague us—including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, depression, and Alzheimer's—have been linked to chronic inflammation.”   That kind of info always inspires me to up my nutritional game!

| Stabilizes blood sugar
Because it has the magic combo of fat, fiber, and protein (the essential foundation to stable blood sugar) and uses low glycemic fruits you will get sustained energy from this smoothie rather than the roller coaster ups and downs that come from highly processed and sugary foods.

​And just in case all of those ninja nutrients aren’t enough to convince you to add this to your daily routine the flavor will definitely be a selling point. Because seriously… why not start the day with chocolate!

Happy sipping!
​Janna

Serves 2+
​
1 cup coconut water or plain filtered water
½-1 cup almond milk
2 Tbs full fat coconut milk
1 scoop protein powder (Garden of Life Raw is the one I use)
1 Tbs raw cacao powder
1 Tbs ground flax meal
1/5 of an avocado
Pure vanilla extract, to taste (I like a lot)
5-8 drops stevia or to taste
1 tsp. maca powder
2-4 oz. baby spinach
1 pear, seeded and sliced
½-3/4 cup blueberries
4-6 ice cubes if you like it cold 

• Add everything to blender and blend very well.

Notes:

• Frozen fruit is fine.
• Any of the ingredients can be adjusted to your taste.
• If you need it a little sweeter you can add ½-1 banana but note that this will raise the glycemic index.

These are a much healthier option for your body than any of the artificial, mass-produced drinks.

The first recipe comes from Lauren at Empowered Sustenance and you may be interested in checking out the benefits she listed for each of the ingredients here on her page.

Tulsi Twist
8 cups filtered water
6 teaspoons loose tulsi tea or 6 tea bags
3 Tbs. raw honey (or more to taste)
Big pinch of unrefined salt such as Celtic or Himalayan
15 drops trace minerals (approximately), optional but recommended
From Empowered Sustenance

Citrus Zing
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1½ to 2 cups water, depending on how strong you want the flavor
1/8 teaspoon of sea salt
approx. 2 tablespoons raw honey, to taste

Toss everything into a food blender and blend until the honey is dissolved, or blend it by hand using a whisk. Pour over ice and enjoy.
**Lightly adapted from Everyday Roots   

Herbal Cooler

• 4 cups herbal tea (Citrus flavored or a zinger style tea would work well)
• 2 - 4 tablespoons raw honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon Celtic or Himalayan salt
• a few drops of trace minerals (optional)

**From Mommypotamus   

Sipping on a fun cocktail is one of the pleasures of summertime; my personal favorite is a well-made margarita with a smooth tequila and plenty of fresh lime juice, yummm!  However there are times that I don’t want the alcohol (yes it happens) but I do want the fun drink, so I decided to play around a bit and create a few non-alcoholic alternatives: “Mocktails!”  I’ve had a great time experimenting and today I’m sharing my top 3 favorites from the past month.

Things that matter:

• Fresh ingredients are always best and do make a difference in the final product.
• Unflavored seltzer is a great component to have on hand and livens up many different drinks.  It can also be one of the fastest and freshest mocktails all on its own when you combine it with any citrus juice and a little stevia.
• Use stevia whenever possible to reduce the amount of sweetener used.  Even if you’re not usually a stevia fan you may be surprised at how well it works with sour and citrusy flavors.
• Presentation: Choosing a glass that is fun to drink out of is key!  I love the feel of martini glasses and since I don’t drink martinis I use them for lots of other things, and same goes for champagne, wine, and old fashioned glasses.  Decide what strikes your mood and will add to your pleasure.
• Garnish:  This technically could also go under presentation but makes a significant difference to the final look so deserves to be highlighted by itself.  There are many ways to garnish your drink; consider everything from a simple slice of lime, lemon, or orange to making mini fruit kabobs to balance on the rim.  You can also use fresh herbs, frozen fruit in place of ice cubes, little umbrellas, and fancy straws…let your imagination play!
• Awesome flavors to consider using when inventing your own drinks: ginger, mint, basil, rosemary, citrus zest, cucumber, chia seeds, jalapeno, coconut water, fennel….Add your favorite inspirations in the comments below!

                   The Recipes

Watermelon Spritzer

Serves 1
½ cup watermelon juice
2 T fresh lime juice
2-3 mint leaves
½ cup chilled seltzer (use more or less to taste)
2 frozen strawberries, sliced in half lengthwise
Optional: crushed ice for serving

• To make watermelon juice, place seedless chunks in blender or run through a juicer, (strain if you want your juice completely smooth).
• Using the back of a spoon gently crush the mint leaves in the bottom of the glass.
• Add the watermelon and lime juice to the glass (I like margarita glasses for this drink).  If you plan ahead it’s wonderful to let the juices and mint leaves marinate together in the fridge for at least 30 minutes…I’m not usually that patient.
• Top with seltzer and garnish with the frozen sliced strawberries and a few whole mint leaves.

Peach Basil ‘Sangria’

Serves 1
½ peach, diced (peel first if desired)
2 T fresh lemon juice
4 basil leaves
2 drops stevia
½ tsp honey
1 cup (or more) chilled seltzer to fill glass

• Place peaches, basil, and lemon juice in glass of choice and gently crush with the back of a fork.
• Add stevia and honey then top with seltzer.
• Garnish with lemon slice and whole basil leaves.

Strawberry Da-Da-Daiquiri

Serves 1
3 T lime juice
1 cup semi-frozen strawberries
½ cup fresh orange juice
2-4 drops stevia (start with less and add one drop at a time until you have desired sweetness).
2-3 ice cubes

• Place all ingredients in blender and blend well.  If too thick add a little water or more orange juice.
• Serve in a wine glass or classic daiquiri glass, garnish with a mini umbrella for a tropical vacation touch.