It’s been years since I’ve had coffee. When I was in college, I was so stressed that I got an ulcer, and it was just too painful to drink coffee…so I gave it up.

But I never gave up walking down the coffee bean aisle at the grocery store and deeply inhaling that lovely coffee aroma. I do love the smell and taste of coffee.

I’ve never jumped back into the coffee habit because coffee:

  • Adds stress to your adrenal glands
  • Irritates the digestive track
  • Inhibits nutritional absorption of essential nutrients
  • Increases anxiety
  • Contributes to blood sugar swings
  • Disrupts natural sleep patterns

Over the years, I’ve tried coffee substitutes, but nothing got that rich-but-bitter-taste quite right…until I created this special Healthy Iced Coffee.

I use Dandy Blend which is a gluten-free coffee substitute that contains several grains and dandelion root.

And, I use Hemp Seeds. If you haven’t discovered hemp seeds, it’s time for you to try them.

Hemp seeds are high in protein and healthy Omega 3 Fatty Acids. I add them into smoothies, bake them into cookies and muffins and basically sprinkle them onto anything I can. You’ll find delicious recipes that incorporate hemp seeds in my book Feed Your Kids Well In A World That Doesn’t (it even includes Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies with hemp seeds!).

I love this ‘coffee,’ it’s…

  • Protein rich
  • No caffeine
  • Good for detoxification due to the dandelion root
  • Gluten Free
  • No refined sugar
  • Delicious!

Healthy Iced Coffee:

makes 2 cups

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups water
  • 4 Tablespoons Hemp Seeds
  • 2 Tablespoons Dandy Blend
  • 1/8 tsp vanilla
  • Natural Sweetener of your choice: I like 5 drops liquid stevia + 1/4 tsp honey or 2 dates. Sweeten to your taste.

Blend well in a blender (I use my Vitamix) and serve over ice.

I’ve also played with adding a frozen banana. It makes it a bit richer, more latte-ish. Yum!

 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 

Nina Manolson, MA, CHC, certified Health Coach and Psychology of Eating Coach believes that every women deserves to feel good in their own body. She helps women create a healthy and positive relationship with their food and body so they can love their body and life!  She’s the founder of NinaManolson.com and NourishedWomanNation.com 

She helps busy women look and feel their best. She specializes in working with women over 40 who have tried other diets and approaches but are still struggling with their body and food. She helps women step into a new wellness paradigm that makes it real and do-able and makes self-care a sustainable healthy habit.

She’s the author of “Feed Your Kids Well In A World That Doesn’t: an everyday guide to make healthy food happen in your home and beyond”. She’s also the recipient of the prestigious Health Leadership Award from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

To get your F.R.E.E. Video Series “What to do now, when everything you’ve done hasn’t worked” by mail and receive her healthy recipes and wellness tips click here.