What does it mean to use Food as Medicine?
Food as Medicine means that each food that you eat has a purpose.
That purpose is to be an essential tool for your cells on projects like screening for cancer and repairing DNA.
Nutrients are the tools that your cells need to complete projects. Projects like screening for cancer, repairing DNA, regulating hormones, moderating inflammation, protecting you from invaders like viruses and bacteria. These are big purposes. Everything we eat either has the ability to heal cells (food as medicine) or to overwhelm and harm cells. It’s your choice – you do have control. Choosing whole, real foods in proper portions – that is using food as medicine. It is that simple (and delicious).
CARE Recipe: Coconut Berry Puree
A Delicious Way to Use Food as Medicine
Purpose of the Foods in our Coconut Berry Puree Recipe Berries
- Contain anthocyanins which neutralize free radicals
- Cardio-protective by increasing strength of vessels
- Protect against macular degeneration & improves night vision
- Provides cognitive protection and ↓ neural inflammation
- Fiber for digestive health
100% Pure Maple Syrup (Grade B)
- Prebiotics which are the preferred fuel source for our gut microbiome (friendly gut bacteria) which increase digestive, immune, and cognitive health
- Anti-oxidants and anti-bacterial properties; it’s believed that the sap protects the tree from the oxidative properties of the sun, making it a beneficial anti-oxidant in our systems, too
Coconut Milk
- Source of medium chain triglycerides – a healthy type of fat used as fuel by intestinal and brain cells
- The right amount of fat is needed in your diet to absorb ‘fat-soluble’ nutrients like vitamins A, E, D, and K, and phytonutrients like curcuminoids, lycopene, and CoQ10
CARE Recipe: Vegan Coconut Berry Smoothie (Simple. Beautiful. Nutrient-rich)
The purpose of just TWO of the foods in this recipe… 1. Berries: Contain anthocyanins which 1) neutralize free radicals, 2) are cardio-protective by increasing strength of vessels, 3) protect against macular degeneration and improve night vision, 4) provides cognitive protection and decreases neural inflammation, and finally, berries contain fiber for digestive health. 2. 100% Pure Maple Syrup contains ‘Prebiotics’ which are the preferred fuel source for our probiotics (friendly gut bacteria) which increase digestive and immune health. Maple also contains anti-oxidants, anti-bacterial, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic properties (presented in 2010 at American Chemical Society’s Annual Meeting). It’s believed that the sap protects the tree from the oxidative properties of the sun, making it a beneficial anti-oxidant in our systems, too!
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup strawberries, (frozen can be used)
- 1 cup blueberries, (frozen can be used)
- 2 tablespoon plant based protein powder, (whey could be used making it vegetarian vs vegan)
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (100% maple)
- 1/2 cup light coconut milk
- 3 cups of baby spinach (or baby kale)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds, (optional)
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, mix all ingredients and blend well.
- Add water if needed for desired consistency.
- Enjoy as either one full serving for breakfast (nutrition provided) or portion into 1/2 cup servings for snacks.
Notes
- If using frozen berries, the saturated fat in coconut milk could get too firm and not mix well. You could add a little more water and substitute a nut butter.
- This antioxidant-rich puree also freezes well and can be used as a gluten, dairy-free, and vegan alternative to ice-cream or used to make home-made popsicles.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: no cook
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 14g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 4mg
This is a favorite in my household! We reduce the protein powder and chia seeds a bit to keep the protein and fat a little lower. My (picky) kids love it, too!