Adaptogenic Chocolate Smoothie

Maca will support your body’s own production of numerous hormones, increasing or decreasing their levels according to your individual needs.

This magical smoothie is boosted with delicious raw cacao and the sweet-tasting South American  adaptogenic root called Maca. Maca helps support the body’s own production of numerous hormones, increasing or decreasing their levels according to your individual needs.

What does adaptogen mean?

Adaptogens are natural substances like herbs and plant extract that increases the body's ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.

Think of adaptogens like a thermostat. The keep your body’s stress response at a desirable level, much like the way a thermostat keeps the temperature from becoming too high or too low. They’re good for you all the time, not only when you have a high level of stress.

I'm not really stressed, one might think. I'm sure you feel that way and it might be true for some people but most of us are kind of semi "stressed" all day long. Think about stress as what is commonly called your “fight or flight” response. Today, most of us don’t have to worry so much about lions or other obvious dangers like that. However, most modern-day stresses are ongoing. Like sitting at your comuter and working on a project with a deadline. When your adrenal system remains in a constant active state, it throws your body out of balance. Constant stress can create a lot of imbalances in your body, especially on your digestive system and energy levels.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1 zucchini
• 2 medjool dates
• 1 tbsp almond butter
• 3 tbsp raw cacao
• 1 tsp maca powder
• 1/2 tsp ashwagandha*
• 1/2 tsp reishi
• 1/2 tsp Ceylon cinnamon
• pinch pink Himalayan salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Place all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.
2. If you prefer it sweeter add a banana or another date. If you prefer it thinner add some almond or oat milk. This serving serves two small glasses or one big.

* Ashwagandha Dangers for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Plain and simple, please do not use Ashwagandha during pregnancy. There is evidence that it could cause miscarriages. I don’t know enough about the effects of using this herb during breastfeeding. It may be unsafe. If you are trying to become pregnant or if you have had previous miscarriages in your life, Ashwagandha is not for you. It's natural and safe to use if you're not taking any medication. But with that being said. It's very powerful.

The small adaptogen pantry. This choloate smoothie is a pretty basic smoothie that I drink quite often. I sometimes make it green with plenty of spinach and kale instead of raw cacao, but one thing that's always the same is my adaptogens. These are 4 of the adaptogens that I use on a daily basis.

Maca

Some women get life-changing results from maca and others feel worse. If you are thinking of trying it or have tried it in the past with mixed results, try different phenotypes (colors of maca) and change up the amounts, dose can make a big difference. Phenotypes, the different color types of maca contain some different active ingredients which trigger specific health benefits. Maca is a nutrient-rich root that is known to relief PMS, help with libido stimulation and balance Peri- and Menopause.

Reishi

Also known as the “mushroom of immortality,” reishi is a Chinese herbal mushroom that comes in six different types. The most potent variety, red reishi, is used for it's immune-boosting properties. Reishi mushroom benefits the liver and heart organs foremost. Reishi is able to down-regulate alpha-glucosidase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down starches into sugars. This magic mushroom has also shown to help with kidney problems and wound healing in diabetics.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha is one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda (a form of alternative medicine based on Indian principles of natural healing). Many of it's health benefits are attributed to the high concentration of withanolides, which have been shown to fight inflammation and tumor growth. In a controlled study of chronically stressed adults, the group that supplemented with ashwagandha had significantly greater reductions in cortisol than the control group. The group taking the highest dose had a 30% reduction, on average.

Ceylon cinnamon

Cinnamon is known to have an anti-diabetic effect. It helps lower blood sugar levels and also can improve sensitivity to the hormone insulin, which is the vital hormone needed for keeping blood sugar levels balanced.

I try to avoid too much fructose in my smoothies. As you can see in the recipe, the base of this smoothie is zucchini instead of the more common base of bananas. What I love about zucchini as a smoothie base is that it's completely natural in flavor but still creamy in texture. So it's perfect for those of you who doesn't really like that banana flavor that overshadows pretty much anything.

I also try to add as much good fats to my smoothies as possible. Nut butters, seeds, full fat coconut milk and algae oils.

I hope you'll enjoy this thick and creamy chocolate smoothie. If you're one of those people who doesn't like thick smoothies, be sure to add some water or plant milk to make it thinner.

Enjoy!