Banana + Papaya Calm Smoothie

Times have changes. People are busy with life + work + family that we often forget to just be still and be calm.

I have been battling anxiety since my early 20s myself so I know how our bodies and minds work. Or don’t when we’re stressed. I’ve been a busy girl starting up my own business right after college at 22, riding the success train for a few years…. but with success, there is stress, sleepless nights or even just busy days where you forget to eat or forget to sit and relax and just breathe.

Years later, this busy girl became a busy mom and somehow the wheels didn’t stop turning. I was multitasking with a business and baby and trying to run things like a Superwoman (that I thought I was). Right about then, I learned that life has a great way of teaching us to slow down and smell the roses because I got very very sick.

And even when I was very sick and could hardly walk, or drive a car or do anything really…. I now see that it was a way for my body to tell me to slow down… Only I didn’t know what slowing down was then. My mind was spinning with why’s or why me’s and my anxiety grew and grew.

It was around those busy crazy times of uncertainty that I was saved. My sister introduced me to a great supplement called Calm that really helped me to change my life. For years, she was a loyal fan of the brand and I was happy to hear all about it. CALM helped me slow down and relax my whole body and mind and heal.

That’s why I’m really happy about this recipe post today from Natural Vitality’s CALM + Calcium supplement. Our bodies need proper nutritional balance to be healthy and to preform well. Nutrition from food is very important but I always like a good quality supplement that helps me stay healthy in an easy and convenient way.

Now, I’m still busy with my family, with work and blogging but somehow everything is different. I am calm. I am balanced and I am knowledgable about foods and supplement to let them nourish my body and mind.

I no longer suffer with anxiety or sleepless nights. I no longer get agitated over little things, I do not have an urge to scream or cry from little triggers. I believe these last 5 years have really opened up a new way of living for me. And this new way of living is with calmness, clarity and complete nourishment.

 

BANANA + PAPAYA CALM SMOOTHIE
WITH CALM PLUS CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT

INGREDIENTS :

1 ripe organic banana

1/2 cup organic papaya

1 teaspoon CALM + CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT by Natural Vitality

1 – 1 1/2 cup rice milk (or any other non-dairy milk)

1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

 

DIRECTIONS :

You can do a cold version or chilly version. For the cold version keep all the ingredients in the refrigerator (even bananas, just place them in for about 1/2 hour before making the smoothie, otherwise bananas are best when they are at room temperature). Peel and mix all the ingredients in a blender, pour into a glass and serve.

For a chilly version, prep the fruit by dicing it and layering it in a single layer in a food container and freezing overnight. Then blend the iced fruit cubes with the other ingredients in a blender, pour into a glass and serve.

These ingredients really enhance the nature of the Calm supplement. Both bananas and papaya contain tryptopha, an amino acid that is converted to serotonin, an inhibiting brain neurotransmitter which makes bananas a calming food. Bananas are high in the B-complex vitamins, which are known to have a calming effect on the nervous system.

Both fruits also have lots of nutritional benefits for digestion and the nervous system. Papaya is rich in natural enzymes and has natural Folic Acid. All together, a wonderful smoothie for nutritional support especially for women.

Both cinnamon and ground cloves contains numerous bioactive compounds, which several of it is found to be potent antivirals. Compounds in cinnamon help lower blood sugar and reduce risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Clove contains a chemical compound, called eugenol, that may help prevent digestive problems. This chemical may help ease stomach pain as it may also soothe the lining the stomach and protect it against damage caused by hydrochloric acid, a digestive acid naturally produced in your stomach. This may help reduce the frequency of heartburn, a condition that occurs when excess stomach acids leak into your esophagus.

Both spices very beneficial to add to your diet and I find add great depth of flavour to this Banana + Papaya Calm Smoothie.

Millions suffer daily from symptoms that can result from a lack of magnesium. Due to the fact that magnesium is so vital to so many bodily processes, deficiency can contribute to a wide variety of conditions, such as:

• Stress
• Fatigue & Low Energy
• Inability to Sleep
• Muscle Tension, Spasms & Cramps
• Anxiousness and Nervousness
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Weakness
• PMS and Hormonal Imbalances
• Weakening Bones
• Abnormal Heart Rhythm
• Calcification of Organs

Magnesium and calcium are fundamental nutrients that need to be in balance with each other in order for you to fully experience good health. Their importance on a cellular level is critical. Calcium and magnesium are like opposite sides of a coin. Calcium excites nerves, while magnesium calms them down. Calcium makes muscles contract. Magnesium is necessary for muscles to relax. Calcium is needed for blood clotting, but magnesium keeps the blood flowing freely.

But Magnesium needs Calcium to be properly absorbed. That’s why I like this all-in one supplement especially because I live dairy-free and my diet is based on vegan plant-based foods, I find this is just an easy way to get all these minerals. And the best way is to add it to a delicious smoothie like this one. But essentially, on busy/lazy days I mixed it with some juice and I was good to go! Simple and easy and you get your vital minerals.

I’ve been a fan of Natural Vitality’s CALM for over 5 years now and I’m thrilled to support and recommend their products and happy to have them join Pure Ella as one of the newest sponsors. I have started with CALM but I was happy to hear about the extensive line of amazing pure supplements which I will be sharing with you over the next two posts. Check back tomorrow to see what products my husband loves and even my daughter ;)

To find our more about Natural Vitality and see their full product line visit their website here. And you can like them on Facebook for promotions and more recipe ideas.