Shake your way to a healthy lifestyle!

I think in today's modern society with its countless unavoidable toxins and pollutants that we are subjected to on a daily basis, a healthy "disease free" diet is more important than ever.  But even when we do our best to eat all the right things; local organic produce, pastured meats, eggs, and dairy, we can still use a nutritional boost of insurance.  And that's where my daily health shakes/smoothies come into play... they are fun to concoct, the ingredients and combinations of are practically endless, and they taste great!

So what's in mine you ask?

It varies depending on the time of year and available ingredients but there is definitely a few common themes...

Inhibit Inflammation, Boost the Immune System, Promote Healthy Digestion.

Here are some of the ingredients I like: (All Organic)

Turmeric powder (~ 4 heaping tsp) As I've mentioned before turmeric is a powerful anti-inflammatory as well as having both anti-cancer anti-tumor properties.
Ginger Root (~1-2 tsp) Ginger root has many health/medicinal benefits but it is probably most famous for it's ability to aid in digestion.
Wild Greens Supreme.  In today's world where factory farming rules the landscape we do not consume nearly enough variety and of course quantity of greens (herbs), something our hunter-gatherer ancestors ate plenty of.  This particular product is a blend of 5 powerful herbs high in Fiber, vitamins A, C, K, electrolyte minerals (Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium & Potassium) as well as Antioxidants, Flavonoids, Chlorophyll.  A powerful product that aids in all 3 of my "healthy diets musts" I listed above.
Raw Cacao - (~3 heaping Tbsp in powder and/or bean form) This antioxidant power packed food.  Don't be fooled though... The benefits of dark chocolate have given this American favorite a lot of air time lately but raw, unadulterated, unprocessed, 'refined-sugar' free cacao is the only true healthy way to go!
Raw Maca Powder - (~1 tsp) This powerful root is a highly nutrient-dense whole food packed with vitamins, plant sterols, essential minerals, amino acids and healthy fats.  Not only beneficial to the immune system, it is a great energy booster!
Raw Chia Seeds- (~4 heaping Tbsp soaked) They are an excellent source of healthy omega oils, easily digestible protein, antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. "In fact, chia is so high in essential fatty acids that it contains eight times more omega-3s than salmon, gram for gram".  If you soak them in water (1 part seeds to 5 parts water) they become very gelatinous; you can soak a large batch and store them in the fridge, adding as much to your shake as you want.
Bee Pollen- (~1-2 tsp) Bee pollen is one of nature's nutrient dense power packed super foods, high in vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, protein... It's another one of those foods that aid in all 3 of my "healthy diets musts".  
Black Strap Molasses- (1 heaping Tbsp) Another one of nature's super foods! Just 1 tablespoon of this complex sugar contains over 700mg of Potassium and over 100mg of Calcium with zero fat!
Fresh Coconut- (Flesh and Water) These are one of my favorite foods; the flesh is high in fiber, healthy saturated fat, and the liquid has more electrolytes than any sport drink on the market!  When I can't find organic fresh coconuts (from US) at my local health food store I purchase Raw Organic Coconut Butter as a substitute.  

Enjoy!

Tumeric, A Must for Every Diet!

I came across this article in today's health news, Turmeric may protect heart after surgery, and couldn't resist...

For some time now I have known of, sang the praises of, and have regularly consumed one of nature's true super foods... Turmeric!

I have heard this root pronounced a dozen different ways, but no matter how you slice it one thing remains a constant; its incredible anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-cancer, anti-disease properties!

I first got hooked on this super root/spice about 6 years ago when I attended a lecture by Dr. Michael Murray a well know authority in the field of natural medicine and the author of many bestselling books such as "Healing Foods" and "Natural Medicine" to name a few. He talked about a particular indigenous tribe in India who consumed turmeric as a staple (the core) of their diet. And although many of the surrounding cultures in this region still incorporate this root in their diet, it was no longer the staple it once was prior to the invasion of a more "westernized" diet. One of the remarkable findings was that brain cancer amongst these people was non-existent, despite its presence in the neighboring communities. When the bodies of deceased members of this tribe were autopsied they found that the brains were stained orange/yellow in color, the same color in fact as curcumins (the yellowish pigment in turmeric that gives it its color). The conclusion drawn was that their consumption of turmeric is the reason for the absence of cancer amongst the people.

Since that day (6 years or so ago) my diet has changed and evolved many times over as I've learned more about what it truly means to eat healthy. About the importance of avoiding foods that promote inflammation and consuming those that inhibit it. And amongst all the changes one food has remained a constant in my diet; turmeric. It's anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, anti-disease properties fit my idea of the perfect diet to a 't'. Whether it's on my eggs in the morning or in my self-concocted 'health' shake that I have every day, I consume about 4+ teaspoons of it.

The medical field is lacking... nutritionally speaking!

After looking over a menu for patients at a local hospital while visiting my wife (following an unfortunate accident), I came to realize one scary fact; nutrition and modern medicine DO NOT go hand-in-hand. The menu read like any typical restaurant menu, with no shortage of elaborate meal options for every course. And like any restaurant menu there were a few healthy choices sprinkled in amongst plenty of unhealthy meal options; soda, sugary deserts, and nothing organic. The most troubling thing however was the 'heart healthy' labels next to unhealthy foods. Now I realize that expecting a hospital to come to the realization that this disturbing global push for the mass consumption of whole grains, an otherwise unnatural food source for the human body to properly digest that has only been a part of our diets since the advent of agriculture (a mere blip on our evolutionary timeline), are more damaging in the long run (promoting inflammation) then they are "heart healthy" is a long shot, but to label everything with the words 'egg substitute' in the ingredients as healthy... disturbing indeed!

With such a disconnect between the medical field and the bodies most basic nutritional needs, it's no wonder why modern medicine falls way short of curing or preventing disease and illness.

A free-range organic egg has more heart healthy benefits than any whole grain meal, let alone whatever egg substitute means... seriously, what is an egg substitute? The truth is a healthy egg (not factory farmed) is rich in Omega-3 (anti-inflammatory), Vitamin D, protein, and healthy cholesterol; and no I did not mistakenly put the word healthy before the word cholesterol. Despite popular belief there is no link between the consumption of cholesterol and or saturated fat and an increased risk in heart disease, and until the medical community connects the dots between the true inflammation causing foods (like grains) and any and all resulting diseases, we as a society will continue to suffer. All of the supporting research has been done and is there for the viewing, but each of us has to be willing (especially those in the "health care" field) to forget what we've been brainwashed to believe and search for the truth.

Now don't get me wrong, I believe that this country has some of the best, if not the best, emergency care you can get. We have access to some of the most talented surgeons and ER techs that anyone could hope for, but once the medical urgency of the patient has been lowered from critical to recovery it's 'proceed at your own risk'.

So we can chose to eat local healthy organic sustainably farmed foods (vegetables, grass fed meats, eggs, and dairy) and get on the road to true recovery; a disease free life!

Or we can continue to blindly support this cancer in our food, medical, and health industries known as factory farming, and continue to suffer all of the unhealthy, unnatural, and destructive consequences that follow in its wake...