Chocolate Cherry Cayenne Smoothie Bowl(s)

SmoothiesBreakfast
Written By Bethany Davis

Happy Valentine’s Day, my loves!

I really do love this holiday. While the original origin of this holiday might be unclear, I’ll take any reason to celebrate love! It also means that we are soon coming into spring and warmer weather, something that my vata-pitta body type craves.

Even when it is winter my smoothie bowl game is still strong, mostly because I just feel so good in my body when I have them. My smoothie bowls in general tend to be less fruit focused and more fat focused in order to fill me up and sustain me a bit longer, but especially throughout the colder winter season. Since we tend to express our love on Valentine’s day with chocolate, I decided to take a banana-free and spicy spin on a smoothie bowl, and it definitely did not disappoint. This smoothie bowl is made for two so you can share with a loved one - and that doesn’t always mean romantically. This can be your mom, sister, partner, friend, co-worker, or anyone who is craving something smooth, sweet, and chocolatey (but also loves a spicy kick!), but also something that literally fuels your body and health on a cellular level. What I love about this smoothie bowl is that it has so many benefits to your heart and vascular system, which only fits the Valentine’s Day theme more!

This smoothie bowl is also something you can do as an activity with a loved one, decorating the top however you please. Remember that food is supposed to be FUN, and we are supposed to enjoy nourishing our bodies. Don’t take it too seriously! Try something new with a loved one and know that together you are bettering your health (physically and deepening your connection together)!.

Nutrition:

Cacao contains plenty oft catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidins, which are flavonoids (chemicals in plants) that have extreme antioxidant properties. These antioxidants in cacao will help with vascular health by promoting nitric oxide production, as well as help improve insulin resistance and management of diabetes (in the right types of course - raw non-alkalized cacao powder is the best). Cacao can also help to protect nerves from injury and inflammation, as well as promote satiety (fullness), cognitive function, and mood.

Cacao is different than cocoa. Cacao is the minimally processed form of cacao bean with all of the amazing vitamins like monounsaturated fatty acids, magnesium, copper, potassium, and calcium. It is the much less processed form, and you should always look for raw, un-alkalized powder. Cocoa is alkalized, meaning that is has had alkalizing chemical solution added to it to bring it to a higher pH level, since chocolate is naturally more bitter, or has added sugars to help sweeten it. My absolute favorite cacao powder is from Navitas, a company that is also fair trade and B-corp certified.

Cherries and chocolate is a classic combination that never fails to satisfy, but together have immense antioxidant properties. Like chocolate, cherries have high antioxidant content and can help to reduce hemoglobin A1C levels (a blood marker that is high in those with diabetes), cholesterol levels, as well as improve blood pressure, arthritis soreness, and even improve sleep due to their high serotonin, tryptophan, and melatonin content.

The subtle hint of cayenne in the smoothie bowl adds some heat and fun. Capsaicin, which is the part of peppers that burns and tingles and brings the heat to your tongue, is shown to inhibit substance P (1), as well as stimulate digestive enzymes, decrease blood pressure by reducing inflammation, and help treat other inflammatory disorders such as cluster headaches, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, and fibromyalgia.

Sourcing of cacao:

I also took a deep dive this week into the sourcing of cacao after reading a beautiful article about cacao in Farmer’s Footprint. Brent and I also recently watched Netflix’s Rotten episode on the cacao industry. Both of these informational sources really hit me hard simply I buy cacao almost every single week. My eyes were opened to the poor treatment and pay of cacao industry workers and farmers who are paid so little that they couldn’t even afford the chocolate they are working so hard for us to have, as well as the child labor that this industry is rooted in. Not to mention, the deforestation of the West Africa from modern agricultural practices in order to produce more, more, more cacao at a lower cost.

The consumer demand for chocolate is so high, but we must open our eyes to how this demand is impacting those who are giving it to us, as well as our planet. You should always buy fair trade, (not just on chocolate, but all food items) to ensure that the ingredient sourcing of the product allowed for safe working conditions and sustainable livelihood for those who are literally GIVING you this food as a possibility to eat.

The cacao industry was a matriarchal industry (hell yes, queens) and the cacao bean was truly honored, celebrated, and used in ceremonies, and we have come so far from that.

Good sources of cacao powder and other chocolate products are Navitas Organics, Imla'k’esh Organics Mandala Chocolate, Lake Champlain, Equal Exchange, Theo, and Alter Eco.

You can find plenty of petitions to help change the cacao industry here.

I am informing you about all of this because it’s really freaking important that you know where your food is coming from. Not only does it help us to change industries when we are informed, but the energy of our food is so important. It effects our bodies as we consume it. Aryuvedic practices teach that the energy that goes into the sourcing of the food and even the preparation of our food will impact our digestion, and I 100% believe it. When I prepare my food with love, recognizing all of the hard work that it took for the food to arrive to the grocery stores and when I have gratitude and stillness before I eat, my digestion is better. The absolute same goes to those who are doing a lot of the hard work for you in bringing the food to you, something that we often take for granted.

Don’t let your love just be for a partner or loved one - have love for the ability to nourish your body and ability form new habits at any time. Have love for those who made your meal possible. Have love for the planet.

Most importantly, have love for yourself enough to choose to take care of YOU.

Yields: 2 medium smoothie bowls.

Smoothie Ingredients:

  • 1 cup frozen chopped zucchini (chop the night before)

  • 1 cup frozen black cherries

  • 1 ripe organic avocado

  • 2 heaping tablespoons raw, un-alkalized cacao powder

  • 1 handful spinach

  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 tablespoon chia seeds

  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk

  • Add 1 tablespoon organic honey or maple syrup if you want it sweeter

Toppings:

  • Gluten-free granola or oats

  • Nut mixture of choice

  • Yogurt (I like the Forager Cashewmilk yogurt) for decorating. You’ll also need a toothpick and ziplock bag

  • 1 small piece of fair-trade chocolate of choice

  • Oil-free almond butter (I love Woodstock)

Recipe:

  • Add all ingredients into a high powered blender and blend until very smooth (about 5 minutes).

  • Pour smoothie into a bowl and top with ingredients (be creative!)

  • Eat with love and gratitude.

Sending you so much…. LOVE.

Xo, B

Nutritional References:

Bethany Davis
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