As I’ve been slowly getting back into working out after my broken foot, I’ve noticed I need a lot more for recovery than I used to. This is probably because I try to do the same amount of work that I used to in my workouts, which isn’t exactly feasible when I’ve been down for the count for almost three months. I’ve been doing shorter workouts, but my foot still hurts the next day because I pack so much power into those short periods of time. Maybe I should take it easier on myself. I’ve never been one to slack once I make the decision to do a workout, so this “taking it slow” is pretty hard for me.
My go to recovery smoothies always have a good bit of protein, fruit, and maybe some greens if I have any left in the fridge. Now, I’ve been adding Natural Vitality’s Calm Plus Calcium to every smoothie, and I’ve noticed that I don’t feel as tired later on in the day like I usually do after a tough workout. The soreness is obviously still there, since I’m working muscles that haven’t been used as often, but it’s not as bad as I would expect it to be (I’ve always been a fan of sore muscles – it tells me that I’m improving). Magnesium deficiency causes muscle cramping, so I’m thinking that adding the Natural Calm Plus Calcium is really helping with that.
I’m a huge, huge fan of cinnamon, so I just had to make a cinnamon roll flavored smoothie similar to the chocolate one I made previously. It’s sweetened completely by frozen banana, but the banana flavor isn’t totally overpowering that you don’t notice the cinnamon roll flavor. I don’t know why I never thought of adding cinnamon to frozen banana milkshakes; it is ridiculously good. Definitely a “milkshake” worthy of a dessert. I always use whey protein (which is derived from dairy), so if you’re dairy intolerant completely, use your favorite protein that doesn’t have any dairy in it. This is dairy free in the way that it isn’t going to hurt those with lactose intolerance, being made without any cream or milk.
As I mentioned previously, be on the lookout for more fun drink recipes, and with the next recipe I post, there’ll be a chance for you to get some samples of Natural Calm of your own! This is definitely a product I’ll be using regularly – it’s already helping me out a ton!
Other recipes with Calm Plus Calcium:
Calming Chocolate Banana Milkshake
Calming Piña Colada
- 2 tsp original Calm Plus Calcium powder*
- 1/2 cup water, hot
- 2 medium bananas, frozen
- 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 2 scoops vanilla protein powder (use your favorite)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp salt, optional
Dissolve the 2 teaspoons of Calm Plus Calcium in 1/2 cup hot water. Place in the refrigerator to cool (and feel free to store it in the fridge until you're ready to use it).
Once cool, place all ingredients in a blender, and blend until smooth. Add more coconut milk if you like it a little thinner. Serve immediately, sprinkling some cinnamon on top of the shake.
*If you don't have Calm Plus Calcium but still want to try this shake, just add 1/2 cup more coconut milk, and voila! No problem.
Disclosure: Natural Vitality sent me free samples of their products, and I was compensated for my time. All opinions are my own, and I was not paid or expected to write a positive review. I may be in pharmacy school, but this does not mean I am giving out medical advice – you should always check with your doctor before taking any supplements.