I love the chocolate and cherry combination. Black Forest ice cream was always a childhood treat at my house, which was my inspiration for this incredible superfood smoothie bowl. Loaded in fresh fruits and veggies, blood stabilizing protein and healthy fats, we eat this as a meal replacement in my house. The whole family enjoys it and it’s secretly loaded in superfoods: dark cherries, cacao, and maca.

Good Mood Food

Did you know that 95% of Serotonin is made in your gut, not your brain? Yup, our healthy gut bacteria helps make neurotransmitters that regulate our mood and emotions. Which means, our microbiome is directly proportional to the health of our brains. This is what we call the gut + brain axis.

And that’s exactly why nutritional deficiencies are linked to almost every psychiatric disorder (not to mention autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders and allergies. Add chronic stress and a poor diet and now you’ve got leaky gut syndrome which is associated with low grade inflammation, depression and anxiety.

But, heal the gut, balance the body, heal the brain. Such a good reminder that what we eat directly affects how we feel. This black forest smoothie bowl is loaded with gut and brain healthy ingredients to keep you feeling good all day long. And once you’re done with this, check out some of my other Good Mood Food recipes here.

Health Benefits of Cacao

Cacao may just seem like a way to get a healthy chocolate flavor into your recipes, but did you know how good it is for your body?

High in flavonoids, polyphenols and antioxidants
Shown to lower blood pressure
Increases blood flow to the brain improving cognitive functioning
Aides in preventing blood clots which can lead to stroke
Heart protective
Improves insulin sensitivity
Lowers inflammation
Boosts alertness
Improves energy
Promotes feelings of contentment without addiction
May assist in weight loss
May help prevent and fight cancer cells
May help people with asthma

Health Benefits of Maca

Maca is a root, sometimes referred to as Peruvian ginseng, that mainly grows in the central Andes of Peru. It is a cruciferous vegetable related to broccoli, cauliflower and kale. Studies on this ancient root are new, but the results are show some promising health benefits.

Enhances libido in men and women
Improves fertility in men
May relieve menopausal symptoms in women
May help prevent bone lost in post menopausal women
Can enhance mood and reduce anxiety
May improve endurance performance in athletes
May improve cognitive function and was in fact, typically used by Native Peruvians to improve their children’s performance in school
May reduce prostate size in men with BPH

Health Benefits of Cherries

Cherries also have multiple health benefits. To read about them, see my post here.

A few notes if you are AIP:

You can use some simple swaps to make this delicious smoothie bowl autoimmune friendly.

Instead of Almond milk, use coconut milk. Instead of almond yogurt, use coconut milk yogurt. You can replace Nuzest protein powder for a vanilla collagen protein powder. And you can add some coconut butter instead of cashew butter for richness, or just omit altogether. Viola! An AIP friendly smoothie bowl!

Now that you are excited about all these nourishing ingredients, gather your ingredients and get ready to make this incredible mood boosting smoothie bowl!

Black Forest Smoothie Bowl

The ultimate GOOD. MOOD. FOOD. This bowl is loaded in nourishing ingredients that is healthy for your body, but tastes like ice cream.

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Course smoothie

Ingredients

2 scoops vanilla protein powder I used Nuzest in Smooth Vanilla
3 tbs organic cacao powder
1 banana, frozen
1/2 cup frozen riced cauliflower
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 cup frozen cherries
2 tbs organic maca powder

Toppings

1/4 cup frozen cherries
2 tbs cashew butter
2 tbs unsweetened almond milk yogurt
2 tbs cacao nibs

Instructions

In a high speed blender add all smoothie ingredients. Blend well. Add more almond milk if it's too thick for your liking.
Pour into a bowl and top with desired toppings. I listed mine. Enjoy!