plantlife

Hello Friends!

I am busy in my Spring cleaning! I decided to make my annual gut buster to keep my flora thriving. A few years ago, I only experimented with dandelion greens and cabbage. It was ok tasting…very cabbagy and fermented tasting. Honestly, it wasn’t my favorite morning chore. This year, I decided to add a few of my favorite flavors to the party. Ginger and lemon. You can definitely add your favorite flavors as well and we can all be friends!

Dandelion greens, nettles, cabbage, ginger, and lemon are going to make a healing gut buster shot.

I was hanging out at my local health food store and the prices of gut flora shots are shocking! Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy the benefits. I also enjoy the benefits of having money in my pocket. You can make your own, it just takes planning since it takes up to 7 days to ferment. Plus, the cost is a head of cabbage, time it takes to forage for good medicine, and any flavors you want to add to the mix.

I decided on using nettles, dandelion greens, and cabbage as my base. I went to my mother in laws house and foraged for nettles and dandelion greens. She had a lot! She also said she was about to mow them over 🙁 I promise you that these amazing plants have a host of benefits and taste so good! I am also planning on tincturing it to get the benefits in the wintertime.

I cut up my cabbage and wash my dandelion greens and nettles. My nettles need a hot bath for 90 seconds to rid them of their sting. I quickly add them to an ice bath, and they keep their bright green color. I add all to a blender and whirled them with spring water, ginger, and peeled lemons. I placed it in a jar and added saran wrap on top of the liquid and tucked it in a non-drafty area to sleep for 5 – 7 days.

This gut buster will replenish any lost gut flora lost from winter and get your digestion back. I need this and look forward to my morning routine. I love my lemon ginger G.B. (gut buster) and may add honey,adaptogens, and fizzy water for a fun attempt at a mocktail. The sky is your limit, add your favorites and let me know what flavor combination to try next!

Enjoy!

Recipe:

1 C. cabbage cut up.

1 C. Dandelion greens

1 C. Nettles

1 hand size ginger (I did not peel but peel if you like to)

2 lemons (I cut off the peel and pith)

5 C. Spring water

Directions: Whirl all ingredients in a blender. Place in a glass jar and place saran wrap or a breathable milk bag/screen over the liquid. Check each day and I lightly swirl the ingredients. After day 5 I will begin tasting and stop fermenting to my taste. I wouldn’t recommend going over 7 days just because I never have.

When it’s done fermenting you will strain it in a nut milk bag or double layered cheesecloth, twice. Bottle it and place in the fridge up to a year.

Enjoy a shot or 2 a day!

**Take note with how you feel and journal. Remember food is an experience and taste is so super important. If you don’t like an ingredient I shared then replace it with your favorite(s). Food is personal and if you can tweak this to fit your tastes then I have done my job. I love to share my experiences and most importantly if what I’m eating will pay me and my body back with health and nourishment then I will try it all!**

This information is for education purposes, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Life Asanas and Pranayama Mama recommends that you consult with a qualified healthcare professional before using any recommended herbal products, particularly if you take other medications, or if you are nursing, pregnant, or expecting to become pregnant.

Photographs are created by Life Asanas and Pranayama Mama.

Happy Tuesday!

The beautiful healing wonderland shared some much-needed medicine with me today. Wanishi! (“Thank you” in Lenape.)

I began my 1st day of my Spring reset yesterday and it was a beautiful jump into Spring! I woke up at my usual time of 5:30 AM and began my morning routine with a meditation and some yoga. I have been keeping my thermos full of hot water to sip on throughout the day. Per Ayurveda, the hot water moves the Ama out. Ama is the built up “bad stuff” that accumulates in our bodies. Especially, after the winter feasts and lazy body syndrome. It makes sense to me, so I do it.

It was a workday, so I had a late breakfast of mango and sliced pears. I finished my 1st thermos of hot water and heated up a refill. By my next break, I was dying to get out into the weather. Me and my dogs went for a leisure stroll.

Red lentils, corn, coconut milk, and spices make this a comforting and satiating meal.

Afterwards, I ate one of my favorite vegan meals. It’s a corn chowder and you can find the recipe HERE. It has Indian spices, and I didn’t have any chili powder this time, so I used chana masala spice and it tastes just as great as I remember. I also, had my matcha moringa latte later in the afternoon.

My favorite latte at the moment. 1/2 tsp. Moringa powder, 1/2 – 1 tsp Matcha powder. Mix well with hot water. Add almond milk. Enjoy!

My friend and I planned on meeting up this week to forage together. She showed me how to identify nettles and we began cutting and she explained to me where to cut so the plant can still thrive. I got a lot picked before we realized we’d be late for yoga if we didn’t book it. I didn’t mention that we climbed up a hill and went down a steep hill that we now had to climb up now and fast.

It’s mind-blowing how much food is out here in the woods.

Yoga class was a great finale to my Monday. We stretched and did A LOT of core work, but it was amazing! I was really connecting with my breath and enjoying the flow until I saw something fall off me. I looked down and it was a bug. I was going to pick it up with my hands but quickly realized it was a tick! LOL! I picked up my yoga mat as calm as possible and heaved its tiny body out the door off my mat. I proceeded back to my spot with my mat after I dropped off my arachnid friend outside. I love my Monday yoga group!

I couldn’t wait to get home and process my nettles in hot boiling water. That is what takes the “sting” out of them, so they are edible. I learned so much today and I’m planning on sharing my nettle recipes as they unfold. I’m feeling a pesto so stay tuned!

I had a later than normal dinner at 6:45. No biggie. I whirled up some pineapple, spinach, ginger, and adaptogens in my blender and stirred up some bagged Asian sesame salad. Voila! I was satiated quickly and definitely before 7 PM.

My smoothie: 1 C. pineapple, 3 C. fresh spinach, 1 “thumb” of peeled ginger, water or ice. Blend.

Usually, after dinner I curl up with a good book. I’m currently reading “It Ends With Us” by Coleen Hoover and it’s a page turner! Tonight I needed to reflect on the days events and my upcoming week. It’s going to be pretty busy so I hope the ride is smooth and uninterrupted but even if it’s not I’ll be ok. One day at a time is all I can handle for now. Have a great rest of the week and enjoy some nature! It’s great for the body, mind, and soul.

Namaste, friends!

All artwork created by Amaia.

All pictures by Lenape Spiritual Yogi Awakened.

Self-Diagnosed Yogi

Learning to slow down and digest my experiences and share my awakening:)

Lemon Ginger Gut Buster

A day in a Yogi life while Spring cleaning