Why Your Smoothie Isn’t Healthy
It’s time to re-think that sugar bomb you’re drinking each morning and take control of your nutrition. What could be one of the best ways to prepare your body for the hectic and stressful day ahead is turning into a calorie cow that does very little for your body except spike your blood sugar, leaving you hungry and craving more sugar soon after.
You only have one body. You can’t run over to Target and pick up better skin, more energy, or a stronger heart as needed. I know, I’m shocked too. Those are probably the first things I haven’t been able to find at Target.
You can “cheap-out” and “lazy-out” on a lot of things but your BODY CAN’T be one of those! We all know lots of people who complain of so many maladies like, allergies, bloating, fatigue, insomnia, constipation, chronic pain, headaches, etc etc. And they try every last gimmick and product they can buy, they suffer for years instead of doing what EVERYONE knows they should be doing. (Don’t worry I’m not talking about you, remember I’m talking about those “other people” we know.)
Here’s What To Do About It
Eating healthy whole foods full of macro and micronutrients, drinking water instead to sugary drinks and sodas, sleeping well, moving our bodies, and taking care of our minds for better stress control is a whole-body approach to health.
What I’m proposing is giving yourself a daily shot of health…OK, it’s basically what some people call a smoothie but this is much, much different! Whole foods have always been the best way to get all your nutrients. Supplements have their place, but it’s only in the place where food can’t do the job. Depending on the foods you eat and don’t eat there are very few supplements you need to take. Click HERE to see the list.
Why Water Is Crucial
You should be starting every morning with a large glass of cold water. I guess the temperature doesn’t matter but cold water has been shown to be more satiating and hydrating than warm water. In my family, we have the saying, “You just can’t bust a cold glass of water”. Nothing hits the spot and satiates your dehydration quite like it. Remember, you haven’t had any water in that time you were sleeping and every organ and cell in your body is craving hydration by the time you wake up. Hydrating is the quickest way to wake-up, clear the fogginess, and or headaches when you wake up. The #1 culprit for headaches is dehydration. Before you pop a pill, grab a glass of nature’s easiest healer. Click HERE to learn more about “The Benefits Of Water…The Easiest Way to Get Healthier And Lose Weight”.
The Right Ingredients Make All The Difference
Next, we need to line our gut with all the nutrients it needs to function properly throughout the day and that starts with fiber and all our micro and macronutrients. This isn’t a breakfast smoothie…this is a “shot of health.” It regulates the functioning of our organs and gets our body ready to meet the day. Think of it as taking our vitamins but the way they were intended, through the food we eat. Not only will we be getting the fiber that we can’t get from supplements but we will also be getting essential nutrients and antioxidants that we can’t get from supplements.
Throw all of the following into a blender. It doesn’t have to be fancy, I don’t care what “vita-mix,” tells you. I’ve had the same standard blender for over ten years. Here’s the one I use. But..I was just given this super cool and amazing looking blender and I LOVE it even more, but it’s not cheap.
1. LIQUID BASE– Use filtered water and add coconut water and lemon juice for more nutrients and hydration.
Coconut water provides vital glucose and critical mineral salts, including potassium and sodium, to the bloodstream. This is a fundamental component of our neurotransmitter chemical production. If we don’t have the neurotransmitter chemicals we need, it can lead to insomnia, neurological sleep apnea, and other sleep disturbances. The best thing you can do to avoid these issues is to drink coconut water—it is the best tool of all time for neurotransmitter support. For those who struggle with infertility or other disorders of the reproductive system, take note that coconut water’s trace minerals and electrolytes nourish your reproductive tissue. Coconut water is also incredibly important for people with hypoglycemia and other blood sugar disorders, including diabetes. It’s critical for people with over or underactive adrenals. It’s good for every single brain and neurological disorder. Coconut water can greatly benefit people with Parkinson’s, and it’s also a must for those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. It’s incredible for helping to prevent the onset of seizures and offers special support for eye conditions. THIS is the coconut water my family uses.
Lemons are a powerful healing fruit that contain phenomenal antibiotic, antiseptic, and anti-cancer properties. Lemons are rich in vitamins C and B-complex and minerals such as iron, calcium, magnesium, silicon, copper, and potassium. They are considered to be a wonderful tonic and can help to cleanse and detoxify the entire body. Lemons are also rich in bioflavonoids which can significantly boost the immune system and reduce inflammation in the body. I love having THIS lemon juice on hand for a quicker easier way to add lemon juice.
2. GREEN LEAVES– Spinach and kale (switch off each day or mix the two). Take advantage of green leafy veggies and cruciferous veggies: the two veggie powerhouses.
Kale is a nutritionally packed leafy vegetable that contains incredible healing and rejuvenating properties. Kale is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, chlorophyll, amino acids, vitamins A, C, E, K, B-complex, and minerals such as iron, magnesium, copper, and potassium. Kale is an anti-cancer powerhouse and contains phytochemicals such as glucosinolates that help protect the body from breast, colon, prostate, ovarian, and bladder cancer.
These glucosinolates are also known to detox the body on a genetic level and have the ability to literally transform your body and health. Kale also contains an exceptionally high amount of antioxidants such as carotenoids and flavonoids which are essential for protecting the body from degenerative diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, prostatitis, osteoporosis, and neurological disorders.
Kale contains organic sulfur which has potent antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties that work to boost the immune system and provide significant benefits for chronic inflammation and oxidative stress seen in conditions such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic sinusitis, chronic fatigue syndrome, COPD, and irritable bowel disease. Kale also contains isothiocyanates which have been shown to help protect the stomach from H. Pylori bacteria.
3. WILD BLUEBERRIES– I use frozen because it helps to make the drink colder and thicker, more smoothie-like, and tastes better. All berries are amazing and extremely rich in nutrients but the wild blueberries are net level.
They draw heavy metals out of your brain tissue, healing, and repairing any gaps created by oxidation when the heavy metals are removed. They also possess unique phytonutrients with special detoxifying capabilities. The potent antioxidants help reverse any oxidative damage left behind by the heavy metal removal. This is especially important for your brain tissue—in fact, wild blueberries are the most powerful food for halting or in some cases reversing Alzheimer’s and dementia.
4. BANANA– Bananas are full of potassium and are a healthy way to “sweeten” up your breakfast shot.
Bananas are one of the most nutritional and healing fruits readily available today. They are 76% water and are packed with vitamins such as vitamins C and B6 and minerals such as potassium, copper, and manganese. This high water/nutrient ratio makes them a great electrolyte food perfect for busy moms, workout enthusiasts, and people on the go. Bananas are also an excellent “brain food” great for heavy thinkers and are known to help build strong muscles as well as strengthen the nervous system.
Bananas contain powerful anti-fungal and antibiotic compounds as well as protease inhibitors which can help stop viruses in their tracts. This makes them highly beneficial for chronic illnesses such as shingles, Epstein Barr, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, and lupus. Bananas are also particularly good for lowering blood pressure, irritable bowel syndrome, neurological disorders, diarrhea, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, coronary artery disease, chron’s disease, stroke, and kidney, colon, and lung cancers.
Bananas contain high levels of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) which along with insulin helps to promote nutrient absorption and assimilation. Bananas support the natural acidophilus bacteria in the bowel which helps promote a healthy and functional digestive tract as well as keep the immune system healthy and strong. Bananas can prevent ulcers by strengthening the surface cells of the stomach lining which helps to create a thicker barrier against digestive acid and pepsin-the two main causes of ulcers. Bananas are also an excellent food for athletes as they can help replenish energy and revitalize the body instantly.
5. CILANTRO– Cilantro is another powerhouse in terms of removing heavy metals and is able to remove mercury and aluminum from where it is stored in the adipose (fat) tissues. It is packed with vitamins A, K, & C, minerals such as iron, calcium, and magnesium, and has more antioxidants than most fruits or vegetables.
I love all things cilantro but I have a few friends who say it’s the worst flavor ever so either you chuck it down for the health of your body or if it really makes you gag then skip it. Sucks to be you 😉 If you still want the benefits of Cilantro without the taste, try Cilantro tincture or extract which can be found in most health food stores.
Cilantro contains an anti-bacterial compound called dodecenal which has the ability to kill salmonella bacteria and prevent salmonella poisoning. Cilantro is highly beneficial for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Arthritis, Diabetes, Viral and Bacterial Infections, Hepatitis, Colitis, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders, Autism, Tourette Syndrome, Infertility, and Bell’s Palsy. Cilantro is also very helpful with autoimmune disorders such as Fibromyalgia, Addison’s Disease, Guillain-Barre syndrome, IBS, Multiple Sclerosis, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Cilantro is known to support the stomach, spleen, adrenals, thyroid, pancreas, bladder, and lungs. It is also highly beneficial in reducing LDL (bad) cholesterol and raising HDL (good) cholesterol. This shot is a great way to get at least one bunch or more of cilantro in you a day.
6. OMEGAS– switch off each day between one of the following: ground flax seeds, hemp seeds, or chia seeds.
They are highly caloric but worth every calorie when absorbed. Too much of anything is a bad thing. You’ll get all the calories and none of the absorption if you overdo it. I just switch off each day and enjoy all the benefits without the excess of calories.
Omegas are essential fats—the body can’t make them from scratch but must get them from food. Foods high in Omega-3 include fish, vegetable oils, nuts (especially walnuts), flax seeds, flaxseed oil, and leafy vegetables.
They are an integral part of cell membranes throughout the body and affect the function of the cell receptors in these membranes. They provide the starting point for making hormones that regulate blood clotting, contraction and relaxation of artery walls, and inflammation. They also bind to receptors in cells that regulate genetic function. Likely due to these effects, omega-3 fats have been shown to help prevent heart disease and stroke may help control lupus, eczema, and rheumatoid arthritis, and may play protective roles in cancer and other conditions.
The strongest evidence for a beneficial effect of omega-3 fats has to do with heart disease. These fats appear to help the heartbeat at a steady clip and not veer into a dangerous or potentially fatal erratic rhythm. Such arrhythmias cause most of the 500,000-plus cardiac deaths that occur each year in the United States. Omega-3 fats also lower blood pressure and heart rate, improve blood vessel function, and, at higher doses, lower triglycerides and may ease inflammation, which plays a role in the development of atherosclerosis.
Below are the flax seeds I buy. I buy whole flax seeds and then grind them in a small coffee grinder for a month’s use at a time ( keep them in a sealed container in the fridge after grinding). Flax seeds must be ground before use to release all the healthy flax oil. You can buy already ground flax meal but the potency of the omegas decreases soon after so I just prefer to buy the seeds in bulk and then grind about a cup at a time and store both in the fridge. Below are my 3 favorites because of their great quality and price.
7. GINGER– helps protect your body from overuse and stress. In reaction to stressors in our lives and the havoc it reaks on our health, ginger can help from letting stress ruin our health.
A the end of the day when you’ve finally given into the fatigue your stressful day has produced the physical body often stays reactive, in a heightened, spasmodic state. This is how stress-related illnesses such as adrenal fatigue, acid reflux, sleep apnea, spastic bladder, insomnia, digestive issues such as spastic colon and gastritis, and chronic muscle pain can get kicked up. Ginger is the ultimate antispasmodic.
Ginger’s antispasmodic properties come from its more than 60 trace minerals, well over 30 amino acids (many of them undiscovered), and more than 500 enzymes and coenzymes all working together to calm reactivity. And as an antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-parasitic, ginger deserves all the accolades it gets for promoting a healthy immune system. Ginger is also ideal for DNA reconstruction, enhancement of your body’s production of B12, and so much more.
I buy bags of fresh ginger from Cost-co and just peel and throw in a piece or on e of my favorite quick ways to add ginger (they have cilantro too) is the frozen cube packs from Trader Joe’ s. Super quick and easy!
I’m also showing my favorite vegetable seasoning from Trader Joe’s – Vegan Chicken-less seasoning salt. After I steam or while oven roasting my veggies, I sprinkle this all over them. It’s so good that my kids and even their friends ask for my “famous broccoli”. I also add it to my mashed potatoes instead of butter. So good!!
8. SPIRULINA– This edible blue-green algae draws out heavy metals from your brain, central nervous system, and liver, and soaks up heavy metals extracted by barley grass juice extract powder.
Spirulina is often deemed the most nutritionally complete of all foods and has countless uses as a supplement for maintaining good health and preventing diseases. This is because it contains a plentiful supply of many important nutrients and antioxidants, including protein, complex carbohydrates, iron, and vitamins A and K, as well as B complex. It’s also rich in chlorophyll, fatty and nucleic acids, and lipids. Spirulina is rich in gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA, a compound found in breast milk that helps develop healthier babies.
Spirulina provides a profusion of carotenoids such as best-carotene and yellow xanthophylls. In fact, spirulina is the richest beta-carotene food. The beta-carotene found in spirulina is ten times more concentrated than carrots. Iron is essential for building a strong internal system, yet it is one of the most common mineral deficiencies (zinc is the most common). Spirulina is rich in iron, magnesium, and trace minerals and is easier to absorb than iron supplements. Ten grams of spirulina can supply up to 70% of the minimum daily requirements for iron.
About 60% of spirulina’s dry weight is protein, which in the form it comes in within spirulina, is essential for growth and cell regeneration. It’s a good replacement for fatty meat and dairy products.
Spirulina suppresses bad bacteria like E. coli and stimulates beneficial flora like lactobacillus and bifidobacteria in the digestive tract to promote healthy digestion and proper bowel function.
Healthy flora is one of the foundations of good health. It increases the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from the foods we eat and helps protect against infection. Spirulina has a completely unique composition of phytonutrients, including chlorophyll, phycocyanin, and polysaccharides, that can help to purge toxins from the body. In 1994, a Russian Patent was awarded for spirulina, deeming it a medical food for reducing allergic reactions from radiation sickness. This was a result of 270 children in Chernobyl consuming five grams a day for 45 days. Radionuclides were lowered by 50% and allergic sensitivities were normalized.
Spirulina is essential for removing heavy metals such as mercury, aluminum, lead, cadmium, and toxic copper from the liver, reproductive system, intestinal tract, thyroid, and brain. Getting rid of these metals gets rid of some of the most favored food of viruses, which are behind many chronic illnesses and symptoms, including autoimmune diseases. Click below or HERESpirulina my family loves. It’s the best quality and best price I’ve found.
Recipe
This is all up to who you are feeding. I make each of my family members a mere 6 ounces, like I said this isn’t some huge pint made to be a breakfast supplement. Don’t you dare replace my granola breakfast that I crave every morning. This is a shot of healthy goodness that still leaves plenty of room for your favorite healthy breakfast. I promise it’s tasty too. It’s no peanut butter mood from Jamba Juice…but come on that’s totes a milkshake masquerading as a smoothie. But just think how much your body will thank you, not only daily but in years down the road. You just created this amazing healthy body that functions like a “well-oiled machine”. Your welcome! And guess what, you can still sneak in a few chocolate chip cookies here and there. Click HERE for my bestie, Lisa’s amazing recipe!! She spoils me every time I see her. Shhh!
The following are the amounts for a single serving, increase to your family’s delight!
3 ounces of water
1 ounce coconut water
1 cup spinach (or kale or a mix of the two-you can just switch off each day if you prefer)
1 T fresh lemon juice
1 tsp omegas (ground flax seeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, switch off each day)
1/8 Cup of frozen wild blueberries
¼ of a frozen banana
1 cube of fresh peeled ginger
I don’t know, 5 sprigs of cilantro (it’s not an exact science)
1 tsp spirulina
Blend it all together. It ends up being more of a juice texture, but nice and cold and easier to shot, if you prefer. No brain freeze, yay! I’ll be honest my kids don’t look forward to this every morning but we just made it part of our family process, it’s a habit and now after years of this morning routine they ask “mom have you made the smoothies yet, is mine in the freezer?” It’s just what we do. Do the same for your family. You won’t regret it! To print the recipe, subscribe below and download.
PLEASE SHARE! SEE THE SOCIAL SHARE BUTTONS BELOW. “When you learn, teach. When you get, give.”Words have power and make change only when they’re shared:)
