My Adaptogenic Date Shake

For the majority of pregnancy, my appetite has been pretty unremarkable. I haven’t had any terribly strong or outlandish cravings, I haven’t felt particularly ravenous, or nauseous. For the most part, I’ve eaten the way I did before I was growing a small human, only paying more attention to getting the most nourishment from my foods as possible. But about the time I crossed the line at 36-weeks, that all shifted. The hunger was real now as this bigger baby keeps moving and grooving, and I keep moving, grooving, hiking, riding and living life as I know it. The cravings I had were more specific, and the things my body needs are more specific too; ingredients and nutrients that will keep my energy high, my body strong, and soft. Dates are one of the first things our midwives recommended. “Do you eat them?” they asked me, being completely unaware that at any giving time I (honestly) have about 15lbs of fresh, juicy Medjool dates from Rancho Meladuco on hand. Oh, I eat them. But now I needed to figure out how to eat MORE of them. The first thing that came to mind was a sweet, smooth date shake – just like the ones that they sell by the roadside in Mexico and Southern California. And my Adaptogenic Date Shake was born.

By now, many of you know that it’s pretty tricky to get my stamp of approval on anything that even looks like a smoothie. For starters, they’re often ice cold which trashes our digestion. They contain raw fruits and combine them with fractioned protein powders, which further taxes digestion and they’re basically modern society’s way of “mainlining nutrition” without having to spend much time or effort to take best care of ourselves…and by the way, there are no shortcuts to maintaining our health, especially when it comes to balanced nutrition. And what is a smoothie anyway? Any food that packs a nutritional punch that you can sip through a straw?

BUT, there are ways to make a soothing, smooth quick-to-make bevvy packed with superfoods that WILL positively impact your digestion, energy levels and well-being: this Adaptogenic Date Shake is my favorite example.

Happily dating

Dates are an Ayurvedic superfood, and they’re all too easily overlooked for athletes, high-achievers and anyone who wants to fuel and feel their best. They’re a tremendous source of energy, provide a generous amount of fiber with little fat, and are still easy to digest. Rich in minerals, potassium, manganese and copper as well as a host of B-vitamins, they’re nutritional powerhouses perfect for athletic fuel (and pregnancy fuel too!)

Seek out dates that are plump and juicy-looking (if you’re buying from a market, ask to try them first), that their skin is intact, and that they are neither glossy or dusty. I store my dates in an airtight glass jar in the fridge to extend their shelf life, and protect their flavour and nutrients. Kept this way, dates will last up to six months. Outside of the fridge at room temperature, dates will last about a month and a half, or you can freeze them for up to a year.

The *perfect* Ayurvedic smoothie recipe

…is one (from an Ayurvedic perspective) that pretty much turns every smoothie on it’s head.

A smoothie that honors Ayurvedic recommendations for maintaining healthy digestion and nourishing the body whole is one that would include the following considerations:

• would be consumed at room temperature or slightly cooler (or hot!)
• would not combine fresh fruits with proteins, fats, fiber or other foods that require longer digestion periods
• would not attempt to be a “meal substitute”
• would honor the state of digestion
• would include nourishing ingredients that fortify the body
• would wisely combine proteins, fats and carbohydrates in an easy-to-digest form

Why adaptogens?

You could absolutely buzz up this date shake and leave the adaptogens out. The healthy serving of vitamins, minerals, fiber, fats and sweet, soothing carbohydrates here is deeply nourishing without these “boosts.” But, there are reasons to consider weaving adaptogens into your diet to reap the benefits of their stress-reducing, adrenal-loving, hormone-balancing powers, and turning your Date Shake into an adaptogenic potion is an easy way to incorporate them!

These are the adaptogens I use frequently as they suit my body and constitution, and they’re the adaptogens I wove into this shake. That said, these aren’t for everyone, and it’s smart to do a doshic inventory before you start using any of them on the regular.

• Maca: increases stamina, elevates mood, regulates sleep, helps to balance hormones in both men and women, supports fertility and healthy libido. Maca is bitter, pungent, and sweet in flavor, and pacifies vata and pitta, but aggravates kapha so use it with caution.
• Ashwagandha: This comforting adaptogen restores strength and stability and helps the nervous system recover after an overstimulating day. Highly supportive of healthy adrenal function as well as bolstering immunity, soothing insomnia, and strengthening reproductive health. Supportive for vata and kapha types, ashwagandha can be too much for pitta types (which is many athletes!) If you are experiencing digestive issues (diarrhea, acid reflux, bloating) steer clear of this commonly overprescribed herb.
• Chaga: This fungus offers profound antioxidant support, meaning it helps encourage healthy cellular growth and turnover. It’s also a natural prebiotic, supporting healthy digestive function as well as acting as an anti-inflammatory. That said, the sturdy cellular walls of this mighty mushroom can be too challenging to digest for those with low digestive strength, so if you’re experiencing constipation, low energy, or loose stools don’t toss this one in the blender with your smoothie.

Other super boosted ingredients that are herbs, but technically not “adaptogens:” 

• Cinnamon: warms the body with it’s sweet and pungent flavors from the inside out, stimulates and regulates digestion, sex drive, mood and circulation.
• Nutmeg: reduces anxiety by reducing vata in the system directly. This sweet and pungent herb helps with insomnia, stress and digestion.
• Ginger: this super root has myriad benefits. ginger is hot, sweet, dry, spicy, oily and heavy. It thus reduces vata and kapha and increases pitta if taken in larger amount. So pittas, be careful not to light yourself on fire with ginger!

To protein powder, or not to protein powder

This is – of course – entirely up to you.

I’ve never met a protein powder that I liked; I genuinely have a distrust of foods that are fractioned (just some of their parts, and so not whole foods.) When something is no longer ALL of it’s original ingredients, it’s now fractioned. It doesn’t really matter what it started as and whey protein, yellow pea protein, soy protein, collagen nd others are all fractioned. This belief is in line with Ayurvedas coda that whole foods are the best foods for us, and that without their complete essence, they’re worth far less to our bodies (and, often, cause clear digestive issues.)

If you have a protein powder you just can’t stand leaving out of things that look like smoothies, do as you wish here. For the rest of us, it’s totally fine to drink this smoothie as is and eat a high-protein snack later (sip on bone broth, eat some cottage cheese, or slather hummus or almond butter on crackers. Voila!) OR, add a dollop of almond butter to the blender (and omit the banana.) Either way, we’re getting that protein hit we need, in a whole, real, rad form.

The recipe notes below give you some best practices for how to make – and enjoy – this incredible Adaptogenic Date Shake. I hope you enjoy it as a filling breakfast, post-workout recovery snack, or happy boost anytime you need a little sweet date love.