Recipe: Peach garlic kick smoothie

Hey team,

Tried again with the green smoothie (this one's more of a mustard colour) with garlic today. Cut down to 1 clove of garlic, will slowly increase the amount of this natural anti fungal healer as I get used to it. Today was a success! No disasters! There are enough disasters in life, so when I make a smoothie, I just want things to go well, you know?

I used a can of peaches in juice and drained and rinsed them, to get rid of the refined sugar. These were additive free ones too, so while they're not in season, this way will  keep you peachy keen year round. Threw an egg in for protein, I use free range, so they're salmonella safe because the birds were likelier to be healthy. 

Even with the garlic, this was a very pleasant drink! Try it. I dare you.

Ingredients

1 clove garlic

handful of parsley

1/4 cucumber

2 tbspn grated root ginger

1 egg 

can of peaches
half cup lite coconut milk
1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

Method

1. Finely dice garlic and throw in to the blender, with rinsed and chopped cucumber, parsley.

2. Grate and add fresh ginger

3. Throw in the egg and the can of rinsed peaches

4. Add the coconut milk and almond milk 

5. Blend and serve and, as always, 

enjoy!

Immune system strengthening smoothie recipe!

Inspired by the book reviewed in my last post, I just whizzed up this gem of a drink! Full of highly nutritious fruit and vegetables, this refreshing smoothie is sweet, without need of any additional sweeteners. I sometimes like to make mine so thick that I eat it out of a huge cup with a spoon, like a pudding. As is the case with this one. Just add more milk for milky smoothie consistency.

Ingredients

1/2 a fresh beetroot

1/4 of a lemon, skin left on

2 tbspn grated root ginger

1 green apple

1 handful fresh spinach or 1 cube defrosted frozen spinach

1 handful of parsley

1 kiwifruit

1 tbspn virgin coconut oil

30ml (or desired amount) coconut milk
1 cup (or thereabouts) unsweetened almond milk

Method

1. Rinse fruit and vegetables

2. Grate ginger, add to blender (store remainder in the freezer to keep it fresh for next time!)

3. Add chopped kiwifruit and green apple and peeled and chopped beetroot 

4. Throw in the parsley and spinach

5. Chop the lemon finely, leaving the skin on (MANY nutrients are found in the skin)

6. Add the coconut oil, coconut milk and unsweetened almond milk and blend until you reach the consistency of your dreams!

Enjoy!

Book review: Eat to Boost Your Immunity

Eat to Boost Your  Immunity by Kirsten Hartvig

I'm really interested in learning more about the immune system, what we can do to strengthen it, and the role that it plays in illness. There are so many things that we can do to strengthen our health, and I believe that what we choose to eat can make or break our health. I know that in my experience that proves to be true, anyway.

I've been flicking through this book and though it's specific focus on CFS is minimal, it does state the following:

"The best way to prevent or manage CFS is through detoxification, and following a diet rich in foods that enhance resistance to disease and support immunity." 

Author, Hartvig advises eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and drinking plenty of pure water to boost immunity. She suggests eating foods with high levels of vitamin B5 and C, calcium, zinc, magnesium and essential fatty acids for CFS, while vitamin C and zinc (as well as vitamin A and selenium) are also good for combating stress.

Hartvig includes a list of superfoods for CFS: avocado, banana, beans, beetroot, blackcurrant, borage, chamomile, cleavers, echinacea, grapefruit, green leaves, liquorice root, muesli, nuts, okra, papaya, peas, red pepper, rice, tempeh, tofu and wheatgrass. 

Her list of superfoods for stress is the same as for CFS, with the additions of cabbage, carrot, lavender, lemon balm, lentils, mango, oats, oranges and strawberries. 

An easy, understandable tread, the book delves into the relationships between the immune system and health, and food and the immune system. It also contains profiles on multiple superfoods, recipes for immune boosting foods, and which foods can aid in certain ailments. 

The following recipes are recommended for those wanting to prevent and treat CFS, though they'd benefit anyone's immune system!

Grapefruit salad

1 grapefruit, peeled and cut into segments
1 avocado, peeled, stoned, sliced
1 endive, thinly sliced (leaf vegetable from chicory family, could replace with kale)
2 stalks of celery, thinly sliced
100g bean sprouts
1 bunch watercress
1 lime, to dress salad

Combine all the ingredients in a salad bowl. Add some lime dressing, garnish with watercress and serve immediately.

Immuni-tea

2 parts nettles

1 part borage

1 part cleavers

1 part echinacea

1 part liquorice

1 part thyme

Mix the herbs well. Use 1 teaspoon or herb mixture per cup of boiling water. Place the herbs in a warmed teapot, add the boiling water, cover, and leave to infuse for 10 minutes.

Enjoy!