I’ve been doing herbal smoothies for about a year now and I love them. Mixing various dried, cut herbs together to make a vitamin and mineral packed powerhouse powder for smoothies is a great way to get your daily requirements in without the use of over-the-counter multi-vitamins, which many people have trouble absorbing.

Years ago, I had to switch to chewable and liquid vitamins because I couldn’t absorb the vitamins in the stores or ones prescribed by doctors, but once I heard of herbal smoothies, I had an Aha! Moment and decided to give them a try. Wow! What a difference! I will also say that in addition to herbal smoothies, I also make green smoothies and they too have made a HUGE difference in my health and how my body absorbs vitamins and minerals. I juiced for years and absolutely loved it, but I am convinced that smoothies are the way to go now, at least for me.

Before you can make an herbal smoothie, you need to make an herbal powder to add to that smoothie. Choosing which herbs you use depends on what you want that smoothie for. Some people have made powders with herbs that are good for circulation and heart health, others make them for herbs that are good for relieving stress. I wanted a powder that would help me get the much needed vitamins and minerals that I needed, so I made a multi-vitamin and mineral packed powder. Regardless of what you choose to make, make sure that you CAREFULLY research all herbs that you are considering using. For example, I will not use herbs that are unsafe for children, and nursing or child-bearing aged women. Anything that could be contradictive to pregnancy is an automatic no for me. When I first developed this recipe, I included gingko leaf in it because one of my original resources said it was okay, but then I later found out that it is not good for nursing moms, babies and pregnancy, so out it went. I now only recommend it to women if there is absolutely no chance of pregnancy and nursing in their future and no children consuming it. I have a friend who is sensitive to any mint herbs, so mint would be excluded for her. My point is that you must research carefully and in light of the knowledge of your own body to decide which herbs will work best for you.

Here is my current herbal smoothie powder recipe that I use daily and even give to my children. (To my knowledge, it is safe for most people and children and even during pregnancy- however, some mints may be known to cause uterine contractions in women who are pregnant, thus raising the risk for miscarriage/and or premature labor, though I myself never had this issue.)

 

 

Nicci’s Herbal Smoothie Powder

Alfalfa- 1 cup –

 The name alfalfa means “Father of all Foods.” It has been called the king of plants because it is extremely rich in vitamins and minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sulfur, chlorine, sodium, potassium, silicon, and trace elements.

•          A good source of carotene (Vitamin A) and a little known vitamin – Vitamin K, the blood clotting vitamin which has been known to help peptic ulcers.

•          Has eight of the essential amino acids and the highest chlorophyll content of any plant. Note: Essential amino acids are not made by the body, but have to be supplied daily by our food or supplements.

•          Permits rapid assimilation of plant elements; this is one of the reasons alfalfa is used as a base in many combinations and in vitamin formulas.

•          Prevents tooth decay and helps rebuild decayed teeth, contains natural fluorides.

 

 

Oatstraw-1 cup-

 Little is known about the chemistry of oatgrass. It ranks as the best terrestrial source of magnesium. Magnesium deficiency has been linked to menstrual disorders, irritability and poor calcium absorption. This may contribute to its folk uses.

Oatstraw contains mucilaginous compounds as well as crude fiber that encourage normal bowel function. These compounds reduce bowel transit time, absorb toxins and enhance the efficiency of digestion. Oatstraw is an excellent herbal source of magnesium. The herb has been used to treat hysteria, calcium deficiency, nervous disorders, urinary tract infections and osteoporosis.

Oatstraw is high or very high on the following nutrients:

•  Calcium       •  Chromium

•  Crude Fiber            •  Dietary Fiber

•  Magnesium            •  Vitamin A

•  Silicon         •  Sodium

 

Peppermint- ½ cup

Peppermint herb provides numerous nutrients. The list includes:

•          Vitamins A, B2 and C

•          Dietary fiber

•          Iron

•          Folate

•          Calcium

•          Magnesium

•          Potassium

•          Copper

•          Omega-3 fatty acids

 

Red Raspberry- 1 Cup-

Red Raspberry is high or very high on the following nutrients:

•  Calcium       •  Iron

•  Magnesium            •  Manganese

•  Niacin         •  Selenium

•  Vitamin A   •  Vitamin C

 

Cinnamon- 2 sticks, freshly ground:

 Cinnamon is rich in magnesium, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. It has good amount of sodium, iron and manganese with small amount of zinc, copper and selenium.

 

Vitamin Content of Cinnamon: Cinnamon is rich in choline and has good amount of vitamin A, C, E (Alpha Tocopherol), Niacin and Betaine. It also has small amount of vitamin K, B6 and pantothenic acid.

 Spirulina powder- ½ cup –

Spirulina is a Micro-algae, which is highly nutritious and an excellent source of protein, chlorophyll, vitamins and minerals and amino acids. It has 26 times the calcium of milk, contains phosphorus, B12, RNA and DNA, and easily digested. It is a safe food with no side effects. It would be good for survival purposes as it is easy to store. Today, spirulina is consumed as a health food and nutritional supplement. It is a highly concentrated source of protein, vitamins and minerals but its price is commensurately high. It contains high quantities of bioavailable iron and all minerals generally. The drawback of spirulina supplements is that you have to consume 10 or more grams daily to get a reasonable amount of nutrients. Ten grams is only two teaspoonfuls, which makes spirulina a very concentrated food source.

 

 

Instructions:

1. 1.      Take all the ingredients except the cinnamon and spirulina and mix in a large bowl.
2. 2.      Grind the mixed herbs in a coffee grinder in small batches till all the herbs are ground into powder.
3. 3.      Add the spirulina and cinnamon to the herbal powder and mix well.
4. 4.      Store in an airtight container.
5. 5.      To use: 1-3 teaspoons per 12 oz. smoothie.

 

My favorite way to use the powder:

In a blender combine:

1 ½ cups of water

½ cup frozen strawberries

¼ cup vanilla yogurt

2 teaspoons of Herbal powder mix

Some ice

Blend until smooth. Enjoy!