Tropical Sensation Smoothie

Photo: Ta'llah Saadiq Nehru

Ingredients:

​3 cups coconut water or alkaline water, (used coconut)

3/4 cup fresh wheat grass or 1/2 cup, juiced

3/4 cup blueberries

3/4 pineapple, chop medium

3/4 cup strawberries
1/8 cup fresh squeeze lemon

1 inch fresh ginger root

1 medium ripe mango, skin, peel, chop

1 tbsp Astragalus* root or hemp protein powder, almond, or flax seed meal

1 tbsp organic ground turmeric

2 tbsp organic unrefined coconut oil
1/2 tbsp agave nectar, maple syrup, or Coconut Secret raw coconut nectar *

1 handful of ice (optional)

Organic superfoods, and alkaline plant-based cooking is my specialty. That I been doing for over 5 years now. As always, with ALL of my recipes, be organic as much as possible because I know the "struggle," is real, but, preferably just be organic if you can; as I am.    There will be more to come in the near future from me; that I will be writing on food and spirituality. I have been a writer for over a year in the past for a online magazine that went global; which I left, to pursue my ventures. Great thing is I have also received some offers for books prior to me leaving that platform. My 16 year old Sun, Ta'llah, is my photographer and we are a family based team in this. Stay tuned, for what I have to release and unleash unto this planet by getting to know my work, what is to come, and what I am truly about as a melanin enriched, Organic Being.

I cook with superfoods and with a 9.5 pH Kangen water (alkaline water) from our Kangen water machine by Enagic; which I am a distributor of also. My goal is to re-educate you into better and over all wellness of your entire Being.

I will be blogging many of my recipes that have already been in that magazine for you all to have as a thank you to all who have supported me in this venture as a "jump off," for my cookbook that I have been working on diligently; stay tuned. Just about every Monday I do a meatless Monday on my Facebook page, "Each One Teach One," to help others out in their plant based venture which is a lifestyle not a diet. My goat is to show you as a guide that you can and should incorporate more plants into your daily intake to aid in your overall health. I am not here to convert anyone, for the choice is your in the end with anything you do in your life as your,"choice of free will;"bestowed unto by the Creator.

I have come to learn that many of your local family grocers do carry organic foods from local farmers. The fact is many of these farmers cannot afford to be certified with the larger companies such as The GMO Project; it is expensive. However, now there is a label, "Certified Naturally Grown (CNG) a non profit organization," that helps to small business farmers that I encourage you to get the word out to these local farmers, and local grocers to help in this food movement of eating real foods that are now labeled as "organic," and not GMO.

Here's a tip when purchasing organic foods. Make sure to read your labels. Turn that package or product around and look for a third party certifier. Please do not purchase products that only says USDA. The USDA is known to be in the pockets of companies who use GMO in their foods and plant production. Tehre are several companies out here that are third party certifiers that I do speak about and have given a list of on my Facebook page and also on my blog.

Note: Make sure to read up on the Astragalus on my blog, before you consume it. Also, speak to a health provider to see if it is right for you and that you do not have any allergies to this plant; more reasons why I gave you options as alternatives. Within this recipe the sweetener is optional; however, I did use it and my choice was the agave nectar this time around. Coconut nectar is great for diabetics it has low glycemic levels. It is one of the most healthiest organic sweetener out here that is fill with nutrition from that might coconut; which has over 300 uses (coconuts). Get to know about and use the mighty coconut and you will see what I am saying.

Photo: Ta'llah Saadiq Nehru

Photo: Ta'llah Saadiq Nehru

Photo: Ta'llah Saadiq Nehru

Supplies:

Large high speed blender (7 cups or more)

Large cutting board

Large mug w/lid

1 rubber tip spatula

Photo: Ta'llah Saadiq Nehru

Method:

1. Cut pineapple into medium sizes on cutting board; skin and core. There are also the options of the store bought cored cylinder sliced pineapple, the ring version without core, or the chunks already peeled and cored; just make sure it is organic, as with all ingredients used.

2. In high speed blender, add in all fruits and other ingredients: pineapple, blueberries, strawberries, mango, coconut water or alkaline water, choice of powder (optional), turmeric, ginger root, coconut oil, wheat grass, sweetener (optional), ice (optional).

3. Blend on high until smooth. Scrap out any excess liquid with rubber tip spatula. Be careful not to cut it on the blades of the blender.

4. Store in to large mug with lid in refrigerator. Good up to 3 days.

5. Stir well, before reserving chilled.

Cheers to optimum health. Be inspired and stay creative!

Photography & Editing: Ta'llah Saadiq Nehru

Astragalus

Image via: Herbal Extract Plus

Astragalus has been used in Traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years and it is still being used in this current day. Astragalus membranaceus plant (Astragalus Huáng Qí), is in the, legume, Fabaceae, and Faboideae family. The Fabaceae also known as Leguminose, that are quite large and economically important to flowering plants; they commonly known as the legumes, beans, and pea family. The legume family is the largest of the flowering plants. Fabaceae are mostly herbs, however, it includes shrubs and trees that grows in both temperate and tropical climates. Faboideae is the subfamily of this plant and Astragalus has a large genus of about  3000 species of herbs and shrubs. Some of these species  of Astragalus have the toxin swainsonine that is poisonous and is harmful to livestock. I will add, that swainsonine is also used in some chemotherapy drugs. Make sure to check if you are on chemotherapy, they affects maybe different than it is in animals; so check with your health provider. My advice is to look into a more holistic approach that heals; minus all of the side effects that chemotherapy has because there are PLENTY of other options.

Astragalus root: Image via: Aliexpress

Photo: Ta'llah Saadiq Nehru: Organic Astragalus root powder

The Astragalus plant is known as a protector, a shield for the immune system, and for the overall wellness of your health. It strengthens the immune system as it forms a defense mechanism against pernicious threats; so, it is excellent for those with HIV/AIDS, cancer, herpes, or can be used as preventive medicine for those dis-eases, with guidance from a certified practicing Holistic or Naturopathic practitioner.

This plant is great also for stress; taking this herb will aid your body to adapt to it. Stress destroys the immune and nervous systems which causes the blood to inflame. The depth of the immune function of this herb helps it promote normal healthy levels of specific cells and tissue function. This plant is not only an anti-oxidant, but also, an anti-inflammatory; so it will give the cells the oxygen that it needs to regenerate properly. It is also great for the liver (a tonic is usually made for the liver), spleen, kidneys, kidney dis-ease, allergies, common cold, upper respiratory infections, asthma, chronic fatigue, mood, stamina/endurance (athletic performance), diabetes, chest pain (angina), heart dis-ease/heart failure, high blood pressure, anemia, blood disorders (Hepatitis B), hearing loss (sudden due to loud noises or deafness), menopausal symptoms, and fibromyalgia. This herb can also be applied onto to skin which it will increase the circulation in the area that it is needed in and it will to speed up a wound in its healing process when it is applied the area of that wound.

Astragalus with a combination of other herbs can help to treat breast, lung, and cervical cancer when taken orally.

Side effects of this herb is not really known, but, it is advised for pregnant women and women who are breast feeding, not to ingest, it may be toxic to the fetus/newborn. Also, for those with auto immune dis-eases such as lupus (SLE systemic lupus erythematosus), Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), muscular sclerosis (MS) to avoid Astragalus because it may just increase and worsen these
conditions.

If you are to purchase this herb in an extract, make sure you read to see if it is organic and alcohol free. It will state it right on the top part on the front part of the labeling on the bottle. If it doesn't, then you know it has alcohol in it; which is normal in the process of extracts. It is the simple fact, that many do not want the alcohol version of extracts and they are given this option by the manufacturer.

This herb can be mixed with organic licorice root, Ashwagandha root, wild oats, holy basil, ginseng, Ligustrum lucidum, Chinese skullcap, Reishi mushrooms, Maitake mushrooms, burdock root, black cohosh, red raspberry leaves, Buplerum; this is not a complete list of herbs, research and questioning is still needed on your end. If you are to drink it in a herbal blend it is 1 tsp of the root, leaves, or flowers to one cup of water; preferably alkaline water that is higher than a 7.0 pH, but, no higher than a 11 pH. That is when the water goes back to being acidic that causes inflammation in the blood due to the lack of alkaline (antioxidant/anti-inflammatory), that oxygenates the cells that helps regenerate them instead of them degenerating (free radicals), by attacking each other. The more measurement of herbs by the teaspoon that you add; the more you must increase the liquid to one cup per each teaspoon being used for the other herbs. The Astragalus powder can be sprinkled in to soups, smoothies, and juices also. 1 tsp to 1 cup of liquids. This herb can also be taken in supplement form also just make sure that if you are in a plant based life style such as myself that the castings around that pill is not made with glycerin/gelatin  that has animal fat in it; the pig to be exact You want a vegetable glycerin/gelatin instead that is plant based; so make sure to read the label on the back of the product. If you are going to take this herb, do not self medicate with any other root without the proper knowledge, training, and guidance from a trained professional. The above dosage is to give you an idea ONLY of what is needed.

As a reminder, if you are on prescription medications; you must NEVER mix herbs with it. Most doctors will inform you to wait 3-4 hours before or after your prescription medication, but, here's the thing, sometimes that pharmaceutical mediation will interact with herbs in such a dangerous way that it can harm you and even take your life. So please be wise and not the fool when it comes to your health and seek the proper care from a certified health professional. 

I live by the motto, "prevention before cure!" Cheers to optimum health and healthy living! Hotep!

Each One Teach One

Sources:
GaiaHerbs
WebMD
Altmedicine