Have you been looking for the perfect vitamin for yourself or your kids only to be disappointed with the additives, the price, the taste, or even how they make you feel? If so, have you thought about using herbs as your daily multivitamin or at least as a way to bring in more whole food nutrition to your diet? If you answered yes to both of these questions, then keep reading because today I’m going to show you how I use Erin’s Super Green Drink or Daily Boost mix as my daily multivitamin for myself and my kids by sharing a recipe for homemade herbal nutrient boost balls you and your family will LOVE!
Erin’s Super Green Drink Mix
This combination of herbs consists of 28 tonic herbs that are full of vitamins and minerals your body needs… not to mention additional things like fats, carbohydrates, proteins (macronutrients), and essential fatty acids. This blend of powdered herbs has been well researched, and each herb is chosen for its nutrient content. It can be used in many ways, from being mixed in water or juice to adding it to smoothies or applesauce. I will say that it does alter the flavor of whatever you add it to, so if you really don’t care for the flavor, you could always put it in capsules and take it that way. Unfortunately, capsules have their downsides too. One, they take longer for the body to break open, so the absorption is decreased, and two, many people can’t swallow them, especially kids. That’s where “herb balls” come into play. We’ll talk about how to make them in a minute, but first, I want to talk about using herbs for their vitamins and minerals.
Are Herbs Good Sources Of Vitamins & Minerals?
At one point, I wondered about this too. Can I really get my recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals from herbs? Well, there are a few things I had to consider before answering that question.
1. God made food to supply our bodies with nutrients.
I always ask myself these questions regarding popular new diets and new supplements. Is it real food? Is it whole? Is it the way God created it? When I think about the most basic way we sustain ourselves, it’s through nourishing foods… whole foods. Those foods include everything God gave us to eat, such as vegetables, fruits, beans, nuts, meat, dairy, grains, etc. Sure, we all will vary based on individual needs and preferences, but what I’m trying to get at here is that God has provided us with nourishing food to eat to keep our bodies healthy. That includes herbs. Herbs are plants, and all plants have vitamins and minerals. They were meant to be eaten as food, not to be used only for their medicinal properties. You can use herbs for nourishment in many ways, such as drinking them in teas, adding them to your meals as spices, and adding them to smoothies or other sweet treats. The point is this… nutrition comes from food, so for my family and me, we start there.
2. Everyone doesn’t need the same amount of the same things.
When thinking about “recommended daily allowances” for vitamins and minerals, I have to remind myself that these numbers are based on dietary intake levels sufficient to meet healthy individuals’ needs. Basically… they’re what you need daily to maintain health, which may be different for everyone. If you’re sick, you’ll most likely need more vitamins and minerals for a time. If you’re healthy, you probably need less. If you live in colder climates, you may need more of certain things and less of others. The same goes if you eat a particular kind of diet.
The point is this… one set number for each vitamin and mineral isn’t the answer for us all. We all have different needs. When it comes to my family and me, eating a varied diet of nutritionally dense foods, including herbs, daily serves us well. We are all healthy and don’t run into problems with deficiencies, which I’m very grateful for. Now, of course, that’s my family, and it’s not the same for everyone because we all have different lifestyles and living situations. We all have different genetic makeups and propensities towards certain health problems. That said, if you can’t get what you need from food alone, herbs can help bridge the gap between foods and supplements.
3. Real, whole foods are more bioavailable than many lab created supplements.
The last thing I want to bring to mind is that real, whole foods are recognized by the body and are more likely to be absorbed and utilized by the body than a synthetic or partial substance. When people buy multi-vitamin and mineral supplements, they often shop for the cheap, one-a-day versions created in a lab. The body has a hard time recognizing and using these kinds of vitamins, so if you wanna get the most out of your efforts, herbs can be a better way to go.
So what was the answer to my original question about getting the vitamins and minerals I need from herbs? Well, for my family and me, I think it’s an excellent option. I don’t know if it will replace a multi-vitamin exactly, but I do know that it’s a better option than using any old vitamin-mineral supplement or not using anything at all.
Did Someone Say Herbal Nutrient Boost Balls?
This brings me to today’s recipe… Herbal “Nutrient Boost” Balls!
These are some of my family’s favorite ways to take herbs. I love putting Erin’s Super Green Drink or Daily Boost mix in my smoothies. The flavor doesn’t bother me at all. My kids don’t mind it either, but my husband is not a bit fan of it, so I had to devise a better way of doing things.
This recipe combines a few “raw ball” recipes I’ve come across over the years. Basically, I just decided to put a bunch of yummy foods together to mask the flavor of the herbs as much as possible. The great thing about this recipe is that you can tweak it in any way you wish. Cut back on the herbs if the herb flavor is too strong for you. If you can’t taste them at all, maybe add a bit more to the mix. The choice is yours! Enjoy!
Homemade Herbal Nutrient Boost Balls
Ingredients:
- 4 c. nut butter
- 2 c. raw honey
- 1/4 c. cranberries/raisens
- 1/2 c. shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 c. cocoa powder
- 1 c. Erin’s super green drink mix or Daily Boost mix
- Cinnamon powder – to roll balls in
Directions: Mix all your ingredients together in a bowl except the cinnamon powder. Mix thoroughly. Take 1 tsp. of your mix, roll it into a ball, then roll it in some cinnamon powder to keep it from sticking to the other balls. Once all of your balls are made, put them in a container and place them in the refrigerator. They should keep 2-3 weeks. Kids can eat 1-2 balls per day while adults eat 3-4. Enjoy!
Love and light,
Meagan
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