HookedOnPlants

When getting hooked is a good thing

blueberry smoothie

Immunity-Boosting Mushroom Smoothie

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Well, it’s official. The world is in freak out mode.

There’s no doubt we’re living in a time that will go down in the history books.

My heart goes out to those affected by the COVID-19, and immense appreciation for the doctors and nurses, as well as cashiers on the front line.

It’s important to remember to do things that make you feel good during this time of social distancing. Is there a passion project you’ve always wanted to start? Now is an awesome time! But, also don’t feel pressure to be productive during this time. There’s fear and anxiety all around, so some of the best actions are reconnecting with nature, resting your mind, moving your body, amping up your immunity and treating this like a forced staycation. What are you doing with your time? Let me know on the ‘gram @hookedonplants.

Here’s an immunity-boosting smoothie recipe that will help your body to combat any thing coming it’s way.

I’ve been especially been loving Spud right now for grocery delivery, to avoid the awkward supermarket isles, and to avoid unnecessary close contact. If you’ve never ordered from them before, you can use ‘CRVAN-MURJUB’ for 20$ off your first order at Spud.Ca

What’s so great about the ingredients?

Greens:

DUH, right?! They’re packed with phytonutrients, plant fibre, chlorophyll and micronutrients.

Turmeric with a dash of pepper:

Anti-inflammatory king! Adding a tiny amount of pepper will increase the absorption of curcumin (the active ingredient) by 2000%!

Ginger:

Immune system stimulator that can help kill foreign invaders. 

Berries:

Antioxidants + phytonutrients. The more berries in your life the better.

Medicinal Mushrooms:

I’m using Stay Wyld Organics, a company I believe in and am helping co-create.

All of these mushroom powders are beneficial for your gut health by acting as a prebiotic. Healthy diverse microbiome = strong immunity. Your gut wall houses 60-70% of the cells that make up your immune system.

These mushrooms are all packed with antioxidants to ward off free radicals and minimize inflammation. 

They act as adaptogens in your body, by helping combat stressors and bringing it back to homeostasis (balance).

They’re North American sourced, organic, vegan, and steam extracted for optimal bio-absorption.

  • Chaga: The King of Mushrooms! Chaga has the antioxidant ORAC score out of any natural food, and has been shown to selectively kill cancer cells, while leaving the healthy cells untouched. Chaga is also the richest source of (ready for this?) superoxide dismutase… aka ‘SOD’, which is known to protect cells and repel viruses! Great timing to get a daily dose of this mighty mushroom. 
  • Turkey Tail: Powerful immune-defense! In Japan, turkey tail has been used to strengthen the immune system for over 30 years, especially when given with standard chemotherapy. Turkey tail mycelium (Stay Wyld uses the mushroom fruiting body and mycelium in the powders) excretes strong antiviral compounds. 
  • Reishi: This ‘chill out’ mushroom has incredible anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory properties. It’s also been shown to have the ability to stimulate macrophages (a type of white blood cell), an important part in combatting viruses and any kind of sickness. 
  • We also have Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps. All come in capsule or powder form! Use ‘Julia10’ for a discount.

Whole food protein powder:

When it comes to protein powder, it’s important to avoid any ‘fluff’ ingredients…extra sugars, natural flavours, words you can’t pronounce. Sticking with simple whole food ingredients is the way to go. That’s what I love about Complement Protein. 6 high protein plant ingredients ground up, with the lowest heavy metal count in the industry. Getting all essential amino acids in your diet is super beneficial for your immune system.

Feel free to use ‘hookedonplants’ on www.lovecomplement.com for a discount!

Vitamin C (amla fruit) powder:

Back to the basics! You can take a large daily dose vitamin C, but you have to make sure that your vitamin C source doesn’t have extra (not so great) ingredients like sugars or natural flavours. I’m in love with Pranin’s whole food powders, especially their vitamin C made from 2 ingredients: Amla Fruit and Moringa Leaf. A serving of two whole food powders give you the same vitamin C as 20 organic lemons!

You can use my discount code ‘hooked’ for this Vancouver company’s whole food powders here: Pranin.com.

I personally use all 3 of these products daily, especially right now, and only like to promote things that I’m actively using and loving, in hopes that it will help you guys out too. To be transparent, I do get a small kick back if you use my code for any of these, which helps support the work I do to spread veganism and nutrition tips, but don’t feel like you have to use my codes! Up to you… but you will get a discount too 🙂

I wouldn’t promote anything to this amazing community that I wouldn’t be urging my Mom to get on board with at the same time.

Much love!

OK, on with the recipe!

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Ingredients

  • Greens, fill your blender with spinach, kale, or romaine

  • 1 inch thumb of ginger

  • 1 inch thumb of turmeric

  • Dash of pepper

  • 2-3 frozen bananas

  • 1-2 cups of berries

  • 1 tsp Pranin vitamin C powder

  • 1/4 cup Complement plant protein powder

  • 1 tsp each of Stay Wyld Medicinal Mushrooms (Reishi, Turkey Tail and Chaga especially shine when it comes to immune system support)

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Directions

  • Add all ingredients to your blender, and BLEND
  • Sip away in the morning and afternoon.

If you make this tag @hookedonplants + @staywyldorganics so we can see your health in a cup!

Chocolate Blueberry Turmeric Smoothie

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Smoothies….The best way trick your body into eating an entire head of greens.

My day isn’t complete without one.

Typically, the blender is packed 3/4 with greens, then topped off with a big handful of berries, and a couple frozen ‘nanas.

Sounds like a whole forest of greens, but once you blend it all up they hide from your taste buds just like black beans in brownies.

Blending is one of the best ways to get your fruits and veggies in. In smoothie-town, you get to keep the fibre, along with all of the vitamins, phytonutrients, and minerals. Efficient or what!

The more whole, plant foods you can get into your day, the better your body will feel, and the more energy you will have. In other words… a blender is definite BFF material.

Adding in a scoop of this chocolate vegan protein powder that packs in sacha inchi, spirulina, chlorella, maca, greens and all 22 amino acids, takes this smoothie to the next level! The beauty of adding this powder is that you can add even more veggies, and the bitterness of extra kale or chard will be masked by the chocolatey goodness.

And it’s chocolate goodness to the max, with the only sweetener being stevia (a zero calorie plant that’s 200 times as sweet as sugar and related to the daisy!).

Smoothie tips:

  • chew your smoothie! This is why I like to add less liquid sometimes and make it into a smoothie bowl I eat like a soup. Sounds weird, I know, but it’s important to chew your smoothie to start the production of digestive enzyme, amylase, in your saliva. The mouth is where the breakdown of carbohydrates starts. Adding cacao nibs to your smoothie is a great way to remind yourself to chew your smoothie, rather than guzzling it down in a hurry. This makes sure you’re not sending undigested chunks of food down to your stomach.
  • add the greens and additional powders first, then the heavy stuff like berries and bananas on top. This order of things will help the greens blend up without air bubbles and stalls.
  • start your blender on low and pulse a few times, then crank er’ up to the top speed. If it’s not blending, use a tamper.
  • make a mega smoothie in the morning (fill your blender to the brim). Then you’ll have a smoothie in the morning and more waiting for you in the fridge for the afternoon. Having a smoothie ready to grab all day long will kick that afternoon junk food craving in the a$$ and give you a burst of clean energy.

Benefits:

  • Blueberries are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C. The vitamin C helps you absorb all of the iron from the spinach and other greens, and the antioxidants protect you from cell oxidation that comes from pollutants and other stressors leading to early aging, illness or cancer.
  • Turmeric is nature’s anti-inflammatory. All disease begins with inflammation, so the less inflammation you have, the healthier you’ll be and the better you’ll feel!
  • Greens are the most nutrient-dense food group, packed with minerals, vitamins and fibre. Get them in ya whenever you can. Pack that blender with greens… then add one more handful.


Chocolate Blueberry Turmeric Smoothie
 
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An easy, chocolate-y smoothie recipe packed to the brim with greens, with a kick of anti-inflammatory turmeric.
Author:
Recipe type: breakfast, snack
Cuisine: Raw Vegan
Serves: 2 large full mason jars
Ingredients
  • 1-2 cups blueberries (or other berries of choice)
  • 3 cups (or more) of packed greens (spinach, lettuce, kale, collards)
  • 1 cm of fresh turmeric, or ½ tsp turmeric powder
  • 2 -3 frozen bananas (un-frozen works too)
  • 1½ cups almond milk or this hemp milk
  • 1 scoop of chocolate Ground Based Nutrition powder
  • 1 tbsp cacao nibs (optional)
  • water (optional)
Instructions
  1. Add everything except the cacao nibs to the blender. Start with the greens, turmeric and powder on the bottom, then top it with everything else
  2. Blend! Pulse a few times, then slowly increase the speed to max and blend until smooth.
  3. Add water if you want a thinner consistency
  4. Pour into your fave jar and top with cacao nibs

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