The best gingerbread smoothie
No gingerbread people were harmed in the making of this amazingly delicious gingerbread smoothie. Why would I make a vegan recipe and toss in gingerbread people? Or even their home? Nah!
Throughout history and many cultures, ginger has been effectively used to treat ailments. Most of us think of nausea, indigestion, gas, bloating and the like. But ginger has been shown to suppress inflammation (1). Aside from its digestive benefits, it has been used to promote cleansing through sweating, stimulate the appetite and even used as an expectorant and astringent agent. In Ayurvedic medicine, its uses are broad from disordered eating, dyspepsia, sore throats. In China, ginger has been used via ginger tea to help turn breech babies (2).
Some common benefits for ginger include (2):
Relieving arthritic pain
Indigestion, nausea, vomiting
Prevention in parasitic infection
Exercise caution if using ginger during pregnancy or undergoing elective surgery. While some practitioners promote using ginger for migraines, there seems to be no clear evidence of its effectiveness. However, that being said, if you are finding success with ginger and it’s not causing you harm - your life is improved and that’s what matters. There is little risk of toxicity from ginger unless you’re reaching for the ginger that’s genetically mutated and larger than a catcher’s mitt. Stick with the organic ginger root. Cook with it, drink it, enjoy it raw and chew it well.
Ingredients & Directions
Estimated time: 5 minutes
Effort/Skill: Easy
âś“ 1 cup of frozen oat milk (about 6 frozen cubes)
âś“ 1 banana
âś“ 2 medjool dates
✓ 1 nub of ginger, size of a gingerbread person’s head
âś“ 1 tbsp molasses
âś“ 1/4 cup of cold chai tea
âś“ 1 tsp cinnamon
âś“ 1 tbsp almond butter
âś“ 1 tsp vanilla, optional
➡Mix well together in your best blender.
Optional but decadent:
1 tsp #veganwhitechocolatechips
(I used @enjoylifefoods)
2 candy canes
Makes two small dessert sized smoothies.
Sources:
(1) Murray, M. T., & Pizzorno, J. (2012). The encyclopedia of natural medicine third edition. Atria Books.
(2) Balch, P. A. (2012). Prescription for herbal healing, 2nd edition: An easy-to-use A-to-Z reference to hundreds of common disorders and their herbal remedies. Penguin Books.
