Lemon water | Healthy Stacey – Paleo Recipes by Stacey Clarke

Some Like it Spicy (Spicy Tea & Spicy Smoothie Recipe)

January 6, 2015

Almost every morning, I drink this fiery concoction:

Kick in the Pants Tea

¼ slice of lemon
Dash of cayenne
Dash of turmeric
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
Hot water
1 tsp. honey (if you like it hot and sweet)

I love coffee. But I was looking for a better way to start my day. Oftentimes, I noticed that coffee would give me headaches, or would make me crash hard mid-morning.

I decided that I needed something that wouldn’t just caffeinate me, but really wake up my entire body. Something that was working for my body rather than against it. So I did some research, and then I did some tinkering, and created this beauty. And HOLY SCHNIKES. This baby gives me a bigger jolt than java ever did. The reason? Because every ingredient serves a purpose.

WARNING: It can get pretty spicy if you let it. Start light on the cayenne and add more if you can take the heat.

Lemon (1)

Transforms toxins into digestible material (vitamin C)
Stimulates the liver’s natural enzymes by helping to oxygenate the body
Contains antioxidants and electrolytes (potassium, calcium and magnesium)

Cayenne (1)

Opens up the capillaries
Aids digestion
Helps regulate blood sugar
Increases the temperature of your body, in turn, speeding up metabolism first thing in the AM

Turmeric (2)

Supports healthy joint function
Promotes healthy skin (considered “skin food” for thousands of years in India)
Helps improve digestion

Apple cider vinegar (3)

Supports healthy immune system
Promotes digestion and pH balance
Helps soothe dry throats
Helps remove toxins

Don’t freak out. If you are a coffee drinker, I am not suggesting that you replace your coffee with lemon water. I am simply recommending that you use this as a coffee pre-gamer. Seriously, try it once. Add a teaspoon of honey the first time you do. You may fall madly in love. I know I have.

In fact, I have been trying to figure out how I can incorporate these potent ingredients into other recipes. After last week’s post on gluten-free breakfast ideas, it hit me:

I could turn this super drink into a super smoothie!

Duh. Now, not only is it really good for you, but it tastes amazing and it’s part of a complete breakfast. Sweet!

Spicy Smoothie

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup greens (I used kale)
1 cup frozen mangoes
1 cup coconut water
1 tsp. coconut shreds
1 tbsp. Goji berries
½ lemon (without peel)
Dash of cayenne
Dash of turmeric
(Add more water for desired consistency)

Directions:

Throw all ingredients, in order, into your blender, Bullet or whatever you have.
Blend for about 30 seconds.
Taste with a spoon – can you handle more cayenne (I like it spicy)? Do you want it less thick (add more water)? Do you need it sweeter (add honey or a date)?
After taste-testing and adding additional ingredients, blend it for about one more minute or until desired consistency.

I got a lot of feedback from you all on the smoothie recipe in the last post so I would love to hear how this one goes too. Please – good, bad, or ridiculous – comment on the post!

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