SUPER DETOX VEGGIE SMOOTHIE
by Bea Garth, copyright 2015

I have started making a veggie smoothie in the morning or afternoon to give myself more energy. Being 65 years old and having gone through everything that I have, I have noticed my energy went down the drain, especially after being ill with the flu for a month in January and still dragging through most of February. I now feel better, but want to feel better yet.

Solution: nutritious veggie detox smoothies! It is early days yet, but it really seems to be helping me feel a lot better!! So I have the energy to do the things I want to during the day with a spring in my step instead of feeling like a weight is pulling me down. And then at the end of the day I am no longer tired, wired and achey, and can finally sleep–-not historically an easy task for me.

To be honest I started making this detox green smoothie in response to yet another migraine I had the other day. I felt so much better afterwards that I decided to make this part of my usual routine. I am finding this help me avoid having quite as many migraines–plus it really helps relieve the pain from migraines I get anyway!!

I looked up the health benefits and they are astounding! Using the power of fresh green vegetables augmented by chia, flax and super green foods (moringa and chlorella or spirulina) this drink has an amazing lineup of nutritional benefits–-including giving one a powerful boost of folate as well as a host of other vitamins and even some protein and omega 3’s (this last due to the flax and chia seeds).

Although this super energy veggie detox smoothie is not the only thing I am doing to improve my health, however it appears to be an important new addition!

Already I feel very satisfied. My intransigent low blood sugar seems to be far more under control and honestly I want to finish this post so I can go out and enjoy the rest of my day!! I am also looking younger by the minute.

INGREDIENTS (this is enough for two or more people, depending on your level of use. Halve or quarter the recipe as it suits you if its just for yourself–remember to improvise as need be):

Put ingredients into a blender as you proceed:
2 tbsp. chia seeds
2 tbsp fresh ground flax seed
2 + cups water
1 tablespoon olive oil (optional)
Stir or blend for a moment and let sit a few minutes as you take out your vegetables and other ingredients from the cupboard and fridge.

Add in:
2 caps “Allergy C” by TwinLab (remove caps and use powder inside–sago palm variety of vitamin C–works as an antihistamine)
1 to 2 teaspoons moringa powder
1 to 2 teaspoons chlorella powder or spirulina powder (or just use more of the moringa powder if you are sensitive to the chlorella and/or spirulina)
(Note: start with less since these are powerful green detoxing energetic foods–and not that tasty til you get used to them!)
1 to 2 tsp. milk thistle seed powder (good for liver detox and regeneration–does not mix with water, but good in smoothies!)
Optional: 1/4 tsp. Rhodiola powder (good for adrenal exhaustion, energizes while relaxing you)
Optional: 1/2 tsp Brahmi powder (good for adrenals, anti stress/relaxing while boosting energy overall, powerful anti oxidant, helps body deal with NO2, helps memory etc.)
Optional: 1 to 2 tsp. Eeleuthero powder (again good for healing one’s adrenals and recovering one’s energy/dealing with stress–probably do either Brahmi or Eletheuro, can alternate the two every 6 weeks or so)

Then lightly chop veggies and place in blender as you proceed:
1 stalk celery chopped
roughly 1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped fennel (optional)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/2 cup fresh dandelion greens, or some other fresh green lightly chopped–fresh chard is nice
1/2 cucumber, chopped
1 1/2 cup green lettuce, chopped
1 apple (optional) also chopped
Then blend ingredients well and drink!

Note: if you can’t fit all ingredients in blender, blend some of them and then add the rest. I also add in some extra water afterwards so I can clean out the container and pour into my glass so I can get all the health benefits rather than washing some of it down the sink. I store the bulk of the smoothie in the fridge and drink this concoction throughout the day. I often take a jar full in my cold pack to work. Definitely gives me a boost and helps my body be at its best!
 

FEEL GOOD MELON JUICE

by Bea Garth, copyright 1015

This tasty melon juice concoction will have you feeling better in no time!It least it has for me. If I am not pro-active, I get migraines etc. at the drop of a hat!

So I was craving melons and had my bf buy me a honeydew melon last night. I found out there is a big reason why I had the craving: melons are a natural source of superoxide dismutase (S.O.D.)! High SOD has a potent anti-inflammatory action. Basically it is nature’s most powerful anti-oxidant. A little goes a long ways even though it is easily destroyed by cooking or going through the digestive tract. Nevertheless, I can attest I almost instantly felt better drinking my honeydew juice concoction, so at least part of it hung around long enough to have a noticeable effect on my poor achey head! Its very possible that some of the SOD is almost instantly absorbed from under the tongue–so I suggest you sip rather than glug the juice down. It gives you longer to enjoy its potent zingy taste too!

Apparently, according to Healthigezt (see below): “a glass of cantaloup juice can provides one’s daily requirement of vitamins A & C, both of which are free-radical scavengers and collagen-promoters. Melons are also rich in vitamin K, Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, folate, magnesium, potassium, vitamin B6 , niacin (B3), thiamine (B1), and the antioxidant powerhouse, Superoxide Dismutase (SOD)…Ginger may help lighten age spots and improve circulation.” Plus “Ginger’s powerful antioxidant,
gingerol, not only fights skin-damaging free radicals, but also promotes smoothness and evenness of skin tone and texture.”

From what I have read elsewhere, cantaloup and honeydew melons have equally healing SOD content etc., although its likely the cantaloup has more vitamin A given its orange color.

The ginger in the following concoction also functions as a powerful anti histamine/ anti inflammatory, natural antiseptic and general digestive and circulatory agent. It helps with such skin conditions as acne, eczema, hives and psoriasis.

As an addendum I’d like to note that melons and likely melon juice is just fine if frozen. My doctor says melon balls for instance are delicious. A friend of mine says melons can also be the basis of a great sorbet. Why not?? I want to try it out too. For now here’s the Juice!

MELON JUICE RECIPE (makes one generous portion):

– ½ honeydew or cantaloup etc.
– 1 or 2 caps of vitamin C (I use the sago palm variety since I am sensitive to citrus, corn etc.) or 1 lime or some sour berries to make the juice a little less sweet
– ½-inch ginger (be careful not to add too much–gives a real zing)

NOTE: I got inspired by a recipe in http://www.healthdigezt.com