Gut Healing Choc Hemp Smoothie

Words HELEN MARSHALL

Before I cleaned up my diet seven years ago, I used to love chocolate milk or a low-fat chocolate dessert as an afternoon pickme-up. I believed because it was low fat it was healthy and the dairy made it full of calcium and good for my bones, right? Wrong. Turns out those desserts were full of carcinogenic sweeteners and the milk made me constipated, and we haven’t even started on the additives and preservatives. Yuck!

Eating plants and animals most of the time was fine, but I really missed that afternoon treat – so, I made a primal alternative, so I didn’t need to miss out.

Humans hate deprivation, as you’ll have experienced first-hand. When you tell yourself you can’t have chocolate, – what’s the thing you can’t stop thinking about? Chocolate!!! So, if the deprivation approach has failed you, congratulations, you’re normal! Why not try finding primal alternatives to the foods you love, to make your version of clean living easier?

‘No deprivation’ is the premise I have built the Primal Alternative brand on. Primal Alternative is a network of home bakers producing grain-free food including bread, pizzas, cookies, pastry, waffles and wraps. Producers get the recipes and resources to create their own Primal Alternative business. I’ve created this business model to empower women to be accountable to their purpose. It’s a new model of freedom for women, that meets the needs across all areas of their lives.

Anyway, back to the smoothie – this one has cacao which packs in more calcium than cow’s milk, is densely packed with iron, magnesium and antioxidants.

Hemp seeds are rich in healthy fats. They’re also a great protein source and contain high amounts of vitamin E, and minerals.

Chia seeds have antioxidants and are a quality protein, containing fibre and Omega-3 fatty acids.

I added a quality gelatine and L-glutamine to make this delicious

smoothie gut healing. L-glutamine is one of the most important nutrients for a healthy digestive tract because of its ability to maintain the integrity of the intestinal wall, especially those irritated tissues in the digestive tract.

Even better, it is low carb, dairy free and freaking delicious! You can try it for yourself with this easy recipe – makes 2 smoothies.

Ingredients: 140g coconut milk 400g filtered water 40g cacao 20g chia seeds 40g hemp seeds 40g any nut butter (I love peanut) 15 drops of stevia liquid 10g L-Glutamine (optional) 80g gelatine (optional) Method: Place all ingredients in a high-speed food mixer and mix for 2 minutes.

To find out more about Primal Alternative – visit: www.primalalternative.com