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The Power of Drinking Your Greens

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That green leaves and algeas possess near magical powers is not so hard to grasp. Its the most common color on the planet, or used to be, and is the main catalyst who converts sunlight to nourishments, oxygen and chlorophyll. At home there are always plenty of greens to pick from, kale season coming up ;) So lets take a deeper look at some of the reasons and benefits of including plenty of greens in our diet.

The human blood cell, hemoglobin, is practically identical to the plant blood cell chlorophyll. The only thing that differs is the center molecule on which it is built, Iron (Fe) in the human, and Magnesium (Mg) in the plant blood. Pretty amazing if you think about it. The connection is that close.

In a large experiment with severely anemic rabbits, all recuperated much more rapidly after a chlorophyll treatment. Even though some scientist argue against, it seems like a green juice acts very similar to a blood transfusion. The work of Ann Wigmore, the founder of Hippocrates Health Center, healed her own colon cancer by fasting on wheatgrass and green juices. She then re-polished this ancient natural wisdom in the 60´s into a format which was somewhat palatable to the public at that time.

But, These times are DIFFERENT, or not.

Now the Tree of Life Rejuvenation center with Dr Gabriel Cousens and Hippocrates Health Institute with Drs. Clemets are the main pushers of healing with live green food and juice.

And its not like this information is something new.

Just look at nature. It is prevalent in nature that an animal prefers live green grass in front of dried hey grass, and ALL species benefit from the plant kingdom. The in-efficiency is notable as food is merely the condensation of sunlight to denser materias; same goes for concentrating toxins the higher up the food chain we go.

It interesting that one idea of growing more spiritually healthy is in fact shortening this chain of food/light and toxicity accumulation. At the end of the day, we are all light, and we continue to resonate with lighter tones as our food journey brings us into new realms.

Most certainly we know that Wheatgrass is one of the wonders of the planet,

often referred to as liquid gold, or condensed sunshine. The benefits are too many to mention all here, but a few include:

  • One of richest sources of vitamin A and C.

  • Includes 92 of 102 recognized trace minerals known for plant absorption.

  • Full spectrum of readily assimilable B-vitamins, including B-17 laetrile, which has been shown to selectively destroy cancer cells.

  • Purifies the liver.

  • Includes all of the essential amino acids and is therefore accredited being a complete food by many authorities.

(working on the complete list of benefits...soon coming to a screen near you.

When I visited and spent a 3 months internship at CHI, Creative Health Institute, the  summer house of Ann Wigmore, I spent a majority of the time in this wonderful indoor growroom for large scale wheatgrass and microgreens production. To touch those little babies growing up is a most nourishing and reconnective feeling. Then to juice, serve and shoot it, uuff! :)

Also, the alkaline, positively charged molecules from greens also bind with negatively charged toxins to transform into salts, then pushed around the organs for elimination.

Greens along with plenty of quality water is key for effective daily detox.

Add that the heart seems to store 17 times more magnesium than the rest of the body/blood, and that lack of Mg is found in over 90% of cardiovascualar patients. Magnesium has many important functions in the body; 

  • Mg enables thousands of bio-chemical processes

  • Energy production and ATP, the energy storage unit of the body’s cell

  • DNA and RNA, the body’s internal instructions for building proteins and new cells

  • Mineral Balance, which is necessary to maintain cell life

So what is the best way of getting your greens in?

What I have seen work wonders is this recipe brought forth by the late Ann Wigmore. 

Green Power Morning Smoothie (Slightly modified Ann Wigmore Energy Soup recipe)

This recipe can easily be adjusted to suit a childs tastebuds.

The greens give us oxygen, build soils, sustain people, outside and in.

Lets reclaim our soils and greens! The next level is to find out what weeds and herbs around you that are edible. Dandelion is probably the most overlooked powerful cleansers, earning a solid place in the native american and chinese traditional medicine chest.

So there is some Food for thought.

A gorillas strength come from a 95% green leaves diet, AND the color of our heart chakra is green. Everything is connected, EAT and DRINK MORE GREENS!

Cheers, Salud, Skål!

 

Creamy Cashew Coffee Craze

Yes, for the first time in the history of the known universe.

Like this.

Make your coffee in the way you prefer,
Pour it into the blender, while hot,
Add a small handful of cashews
A sliver of vanilla,
If desired, a wee touch of sweetener (up to you),
An almost imperceptible dose of salt.

Blend.

And then, strain the mix into a small pan or original coffee pot etc., just to bring the heat back up, and then, having done all that,

Enjoy!

Fresh Marrakesh Hummus

Sesame seeds have both antioxidants and healthy oils, but very few people know that in order to get the benefits we need to crush them before eating. As with most seeds, they are well protected from our gastric juices by a hard shell. Therefore, it is crucial to break them in a mixer, grinder or by chewing. But don’t buy them ground up, because the fantastic oils evaporate or oxidize. If you don’t crush them before devouring them, you will at least benefit from the great fiber that the shell provides. 

Here's a simple and delicious hummus (or, sometimes called bean paste) recipe that we love to make on our retreats.

2-3 persons

3 dl cooked chickpeas
Juice from 1/2 a small lemon
0.5 dl olive oil
0.5 dl fresh ground sesame seeds
1 tsp sumac
2 pinches salt
2 tbsp ground cumin
1 pinch cayenne pepper
0.5 dl water or until desired consistency

Blend until smooth.

If you'd like extra sesame taste, blend in 3 tbsp of tahini and a bit of water.

Top it off with some red spice like paprika, and a drizzle of olive oil. 

Voila!

Green Power Morning Smoothie

Here is perfect recipe for an every day morning start smoothie, a slightly modified Ann Wigmore Energy Soup recipe. Learn more about the tremendous benefits of drinking your greens. 

2 large servings-ish

In high speed blender:

  • 1 apple
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 1 stalk celery
  • 10 cm cucumber
  • 2 handfuls of greens like spinach, kale, chard, baby greens
  • bunch of fresh herbs like menta, parsley, *optional
  • bit of ginger or curcumin
  • water to desired consistency, usually just covering all
  • add spirulina/chlorella/blue-green algea for a super booost!

Find your way and play with what you got. Sprouts and microgreens!

As long as you get your greens IN! :)

 

RAW Cauliflower Cous Cous

This RAW Cauliflower Cous Cous recipe is from the prize winning Lebanese Meze Plate. Try it and love it!

  • 1 small head of cauliflower – Run /Pulse in food processor until rice sized
  • 2 handfuls of mint – cut roughly
  • 2 handfuls of parsley - cut roughly
  • 1 red bell pepper – finely cut
  • 2 cucumber OR celery stalks – finely cut
  • 1/2 red onion - finely cut
  • 2-3 tbsp olive oil
  • 3-4 figs or dates, finely cut 
  • paprika or cayenne spice to taste
  • salt to taste
  • ...for deluxe, go for some additional pistachio or walnuts

Mix everything in bowl with a big spoon.  Bless and Serve. (:)

Warming RAW Thai Noodles.

In high speed blender:

  • 2 tbsp melted Coconut Oil
  • 2 tbps tahini
  • 1 tbps Nama Shoyu/Tamari
  • 1 tbsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tbsp lemon
  • 1/2 tsp pepper yellow + hot if desired
  • 1/2 tsp sesame oil,
  • Water until good creamy consistency

Mix with spiralized or finely cut, Noodles of zucchini, squash, butternut, pumpkin, kelp, shredded cabbage.

Topping / serving with half lime, chopped nuts/almonds, chinese onion 


The best drinks

The best way to avoid caffeine and to squeeze out the most antioxidants of our loved plants with our hurting them, is to cold brew your tea. The most beneficial teas are green and white teas. If you leave the leaves to soak in water over night as we do at the retreats you get more antioxidants out. Add lemon, lime, cinnamon, ginger or anything you like. This water was enriched with rosemary in bloom.

Join us for a retreat and learn more about healthy food, smart drinks, mocktails, and much more to spice up your life and health.