Hi All~
As the sun gets warmer and warmer on this side of the equator, I’m revisiting one of my favorite smoothie recipes. This one is an adapted and tweaked version of a smoothie served at a vegan eatery I once had the…unique pleasure of working for.
Laughable local workplace drama aside, I really loved this smoothie’s spice and vibrance. Here I’ve merged it with another recipe and added some more healthy ingredients; the result is tangy, sweet, spicy, balanced and packed with nutrients and vitamins.
This smoothie is great for Summer and any time you want something with a little more kick.
Medicinal Values: Goji Berry & Cayenne
One of the most potent ingredients in this smoothie is the goji berry. While I personally avoid validating the term ‘superfood’, these China natives, also known as Lycium barbarum, are often considered such due to their high antioxidant and beta caroteine count as well as them being a strong source of Zinc, Iron, Phosphorous and other trace minerals. Their overall nutritional power is so strong they are indicated as preventatives for Alzheimers and many other aging-related diseases. Known as Gǒu Qǐ Zi in Pinyin, Goji berries are indicated for Yin deficiency in TCM. Their benefits are many and can’t really be covered in a smoothie recipe, so I definitely suggest looking into them more!
Additionally, Cayenne (capsicum) is used here as a warming energetic that increases circulation which is great for digestion and the assimilation of medicine into the system. Interestingly, consumption of capsicum in hot weather cools the body by moving blood (and the heat it carries) through the extremities and triggering perspiration! There’s not enough in this smoothie to make you sweat (unless you want there to be) but the overall effect is there- while hot internally, spicy food is externally cooling; think of it as stimulating you to ‘let out’ all your excess heat.
If you eat a lot of raw food, ‘warm’ medicines like cayenne and ginger are necessary to avoid causing a ‘cold’ energy imbalance in the body which can be taxing to the organs who need to generate excess heat and energy to properly digest and function, namely the stomach and spleen.
Additionally, kale has been added to this originally green-less recipe because I find that the bitterness balances the sweet and completes the overall spectrum of nutrients available. Kale and other cruciferous veggies in the brassica are high in Vitamin C and Selenium, immune boosting and protective against various cancers. Leaving it out of this smoothie leaves you with a brighter orange hue which is nice, but not as nice as getting in a serving of bone-supporting green veg.
Read the full recipe >HERE< on my Patreon for free (though content supporters are welcome and appreciated!)