Vegan Moontime Blood Muffins
Vegan Gluten-Free Blueberry Oat Muffins
Strengthening the Blood of our People + Moontime Treats
Oh the beauty of food medicine! It's one of my most favorite things about being a human!! No lie, It takes definite effort to upkeep my health but what makes me so satisfied is to support myself through fun eating with foods that contain nutrient dense energy and medicine!
Now why blood?
Blood is like our inner river system. It's what carries information like nutrients to all parts of our body. The state of its flow is vital to the health of our entire being. Especially for women, being in-tune with our blood when we shed monthly allows us to have a personal checkin with our bodies.
Around my Moontime, I am always the closest to my body. I crave different foods that my body needs to support myself right before and during bleeding. It seems to tell me very loudly what it wants and doesn't want. That is why, when sharing this recipe, I made so many options to choose from so you can cater to how you feel and listen to what your body needs.
I really like following food bloggers that are keen on mostly sharing very simple plant-based and whole food meals because it gives me a recipe skeleton to work with when I want to turn it into an even more medicinal meal. The fact this it is vegan, gluten free, oil free and refined sugar free makes it very supportive to our entire body, especially reducing inflammation and going with the flow of our hormones!! This being said, the recipe below is a modified version of a vegan food blogger's oat muffin recipe. I am not a recipe developer and all I intend to do is share how I make my meals more medicinal with nourishing herbs.
Here are the benefits of the Foods+Herbs in this recipe for Supporting our Blood, especially our Menstrual Flow.
When choosing ingredients, make sure to work with foods that will cater to your specific body. Even though all foods are safe and nourishing to our blood, some foods gear specifically towards increasing or decreasing blood flow.
Stinging Nettles: High in nutrients like Iron, Calcium, Manganese, Potassium, Selenium, Vitamin A, K & Bs, this plant nourishes our adrenals, wombs and endocrine system and diligently remineralizes our blood cells, giving it the strength and energy it needs to do its job. It can also aid in toning our organs helping to reduce a heavy flow and cleanse our system, helping to reduce cramps.
Just make sure to make it as an Infusion and drink regularly, as this will give you the large amount needed to nourish your body.
Red Raspberry Leaf: High in nutrients like Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Phosphorous , Vitamin A, C, E and Bs. Very tonifying and cleansing to the blood, womb and pelvis muscles. Extremely supports reproductive organs and helps with increasing fertility. Aids in tightening reproductive organs which in turn helps to decrease heavy blood flow.
Red Clover Blossom: High in vitamins and minerals. Circulating and building to the blood and regulates menstrual cycles. Phytoestrogen Rich, very supportive to hormonal health. Supports reproductive organs and increases fertility. One of the leading anti-cancer and anti-tumor herbs.
Just make sure to make it as an Infusion and drink regularly, as this will give you the large amount needed to nourish your body.
Goji Berries: Increases qi and circulation of blood, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, immune support
Rose: Tonifying and relaxing to the heart and reproductive organs, decreases inflammation, is cleansing to the blood and reduces the flow of heavy menstrual bleeding.
Hibiscus Flower: Cleansing to the womb, increases blood flow, decreases overall blood pressure and healing to the pelvic floor.
Dulce Seaweed: High in Vitamins and Minerals needed to help in the rebalancing of hormones, nourishing of cells and remineralization of blood.
Ceylon Cinnamon: Warming, circulating, stimulating and tonifying to the blood. Anti-flammatory properties aid in reducing cramps and body tension. Helps to reduce blood pressure and decrease a heavy flow. Make sure to listen to your body and regulate intake when using cinnamon as a spice. Too much can be too stimulating on the body and decrease flow of menstrual blood to the point of effecting the regularity of your cycle.
Blueberries: Phytoestrogen Rich (blocks & in turn regulates high levels of estrogen) Anti-oxidant rich and anti-inflammatory to aid in the release of tension, aches and anxiety.
Bananas: High In Vitamins and Minerals like potassium to aid in reducing PMS symptoms like bloating and cramps, regulates bowel movements
Rolled Oats: Great source of healthy carbs and fiber filled with vitamins and minerals like magnesium and zinc to aid in rebalancing hormones, uplifting mood, regulating blood pressure and sugar levels, and nourishing our reproductive organs and nerves system.
Almonds: phytoestrogen rich + good source of fat, protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals
Chia Seeds: Phytoestrogen rich and a food source of fiber, healthy fats and protein to regulate digestion and balance blood sugar
Coconut Sugar: An unrefined sugar that better supports the body by not spiking blood pressure or causing inflammation.
Dark Chocolate: High in Blood supportive nutrients like magnesium, iron, zinc and copper to help with the reducing of fatigue and inflammation.
Make sure it is dark chocolate or just straight cacao nibs because the added refined sugar and possibility of dairy will not help support the body in its ability to nourish itself.
RECIPE
This recipe is a modified version of Rawvana's (Yovana Mendoza) recipe from her video and blog post '7 Breakfasts with Oats'. Most baking instructions are directly copied from her sight. I am not a recipe developer and only intend to share what I have done to add medicinal herbs to my food.
Click for original recipe: https://rawvana.com/7-breakfasts-oats/
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons flax seeds or chia seeds 1 to 1.5 bananas 2 cups oats 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup blood tonic (see below) 3/4 cup plant based milk
1 tablespoon apple sauce
3 tablespoons coconut sugar pinch of sea salt 1/2 cup blueberries (fresh/frozen or both)
Optional Add-Ins:
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
1/2 handful goji berries
1/2 cup puffed millet
2 tablespoons chia seeds
1/4 teaspoon vanilla bean extract
80%+ Dark Chocolate Chunks
Blood Tonic options:
1. Stinging Nettles & Seaweed Nourishing Infusion
- Put 1 large handful of nettles and a pinch of dulce seaweed into a 32oz jar
- Pour boiling water all the way to the top, then lid tightly
- Let sit for 6-8 hrs or overnight
- Strain
3. Red Raspberry Leaf & Hibiscus Nourishing Infusion
- Put 1 large handful of red raspberry(or red clover blossoms) and a few dried hibiscus
flowers into a 32oz jar
- Pour boiling water all the way to the top, then lid tightly
- Let sit for 6-8 hrs or overnight
- Strain
2. Hibiscus & Rose Tea
- Put about 1/2 handful of dried hibiscus flowers and a pinch of rose petals in a pot
- Boil on the stove with 16oz of water for about 10-20min
- Strain
Method:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Make your Infusion overnight or Tea on the stove and let it cool down before baking.
Soak the flax seeds or chia seeds with 1/2 cup of water for about 5 minutes to create a “flax egg.”
While the flax seeds soak, mash the banana thoroughly. Mix the mashed banana with all the other ingredients adding the flax egg when it’s ready, and stir to thoroughly combine.
Divide the batter between the cups (or spread out in deep dish pan) and bake for 25 minutes.