This spicy smoothie is not just delicious, it’s also packed with healthy good-for-you goodness.

Maca is a relative of the radish and has an odor similar to butterscotch. Its root is used to make medicine. People take maca by mouth for “tired blood” (anemia); chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS); and enhancing energy, stamina, athletic performance, and memory.

As a spice, cardamom is extremely versatile, and is used all over the world in coffee, sweet breads, and in savory meat and fish recipes. You can buy it already ground, but the entire pod, opened to release the tiny black seeds inside for fresh grinding, offers the most intense, spicy-sweet, and completely unique flavor. The health benefits of cardamom include gastrointestinal protection, cholesterol control, control of cancer, relief from cardiovascular issues, and improvement of blood circulation in the body.

Turmeric has chemical compounds called curcuminoids, of which curcumin is the most beneficial. Curcumin is an anti-inflammatory agent (which may offer protection against certain cancers, treat arthritis, benefit those with inflammatory bowel disease, reduce blood sugar etc) and an antioxidant. It also helps the body to absorb other antioxidants.

The root of the ginger plant can be consumed fresh, powdered, dried as a spice, in oil form, or as juice. Ginger is part of the Zingiberaceae family, alongside cardamom and turmeric. It is commonly produced in India, Jamaica, Fiji, Indonesia, and Australia. Possible health benefits include relieving nausea, loss of appetite, motion sickness, and pain.

Makes one glass

Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
3/4 cup of chopped parsley or spinach
1 apple
3/4 of a cup of water/almond milk/coconut water
1 tablespoon of maca powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cardamom
1 teaspoon peeled ginger root
1 teaspoon of spirulina
Optional: 2 medjool dates (this sweetens it)

Directions:
Simply place everything together in the blender, peel the banana, cut the apple in smaller pieces  and pit the dates first though! Then blend for a minute or so until smooth.  Add more water/almond milk/coconut water if you like it runnier. Then sip and enjoy!