Aloha Aloe Vera! A Perfect Spring Cleanse Smoothie

ALOE for Health and Healing - A 

 "Welcome Spring Smoothie"

My Aloe Getting ready to Bloom

Happy Spring to each of you!

I love taking a leaf of my aloe filleting it to put it in smoothies - look at the super benefits I'm getting each time I do.. it is bitter which stimulates digestion and yet it is soothing at the same time. We all know having an aloe plant in the kitchen is good for burns, but did you know it does all this too? Quite bitter by itself, aloe gel harvested from your own plant or one in the store, is easily assimilated in a Welcome Spring Smoothie - below.  

ALOE Benefits:

•   The leaf of an aloe vera plant is filled with over 75 nutrients, 20 minerals and 18 amino acids, and 200 active enzymes.

•   Aloe vera is one of the only known natural vegetarian sources of Vitamin B12.

•   It is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and anti-viral.

•   It heals burns and excema when applied directly to the skin, but it also can be ingested to heal internal tissues. Mouth and stomach ulcers, nasal and sinuses, bowels, lungs and genital tracts all benefit from the use of aloe vera.

•   Aloe also seems to be excellent at regulating the immune system. It can stimulate the immune response in those with weakened immune systems, and it can also calm the immune response, such as for hay fever where less reaction is beneficial.

•   Soothing for the digestive tract.

•   Applied topically to skin to heal cuts faster.

•   Reduce pain in canker sores and help them heal faster.

 http://www.happybrainmovement.com/aloeverabenefits

 How do you fillet an Aloe leaf?

Harvesting your own Aloe

  I use a grapefruit knife, slice of the leaf,

slice off the prickly sides and slowly slice off the bottom skin to present the aloe gel, which can then be scraped off with a spoon or the same knife. Easy peasy.

A"Welcome Spring Smoothie" for Aloe Health

Aloe-licious Spring Smoothie

You will Need:

1 ripe banana (preferably frozen)- potassium

2 pitted dates- excellent fiber and vitamins

8 walnuts- great for your brain

1/2 -1 cup frozen Blueberries- anti-oxidant power

1/2 cup of Aloe Vera Gel or Juice- benefits galore

A handful of Cilantro or Parsley (super detoxifier)

1 large scoop of plain Greek Yogurt or use Coconut water

if going dairy free. 

Any other ingredient you know you like - I like to add a scoop

of powdered greens for a super mineral boost.

To Make:

Blend all ingredients in Blender until smooth. If using nuts, I add them first and blend up and then the banana and blend before adding the rest.

Makes 2 servings

Enjoy

Looking for a 3 day gentle cleanse to boost your energy for spring?  Click here for free guide.

Marie has been a champion for vitality and balance in the workplace AND at home for over 12 years - specializing in self-care and reducing stress, she uses a holistic and experiential approach to engage and inspire through individual coaching, group workshops and organizational retreats.  Contact her to co-create change here.

Gentle Spring Cleanse

 Almost Barefoot Living and the Leafing of the Green!

Try a Simple Gentle Spring Cleanse

I am breaking in these vibram sole walking - jogging contraptions.. almost barefoot.. and starting to really like the feel of them.  Supposedly, they really help align your body better and get you using the pads of your feet more than the heels.  I am working on my
 "year of getting in the best shape ever"  and this is a good start.  Being fit is the new sexy, but I still love my belly and don't worry about how long it will take as long as I do a little something every day. Slow and steady wins the race.

Ah, SPRING! I am in love with the lime green trees that grace the hills and meadows right now.. lacy wispy lively color.. mesmerizing..they make me think of limes and summer .. I just had to add  them to the gentle cleanse recipe below- they help with weight loss and digestion.

Creating dishes that excite every taste bud make the most delicious recipes. I strive to include a pungent, sour, sweet, salty and bitter ingredient especially in soups and stir-frys to attain that perfect flavor. I think each of these flavors have their own season to naturally dominate our cravings too.. bitter taste (think dandelion greens) is important in spring - as it helps cleanse our blood after the heavy comfort foods of winter when we love salt and fat to stay warm...pungent spices go well with the squash and the yummy root veggies we ignite in the fall giving us grounding nutrient dense energy to stay warm into the winter and then those sweet and sour tastes we get with water filled fruits hydrate and energize us in the heat of the summer.  What do you think?  Is it true for you too?

So -- coming into the leafing of the green (and yellow!) in spring..it is a time to collect some dandelion flowers and make dandelion vinegar or wine, use the leaves in salads for the bitter blood cleansing action they give and add them to this gentle spring cleanse recipe which I love because you can bring in all the tastes mentioned above and drink the liquid these veggies create at the same time to get a mineral building lift storing the energy you need to dance into summer. You can expect to lose a few pounds too.

 SIMPLE GENTLE SPRING CLEANSE- Safe for seven days

Upon rising - two glasses of water, one with half a lemon squeezed into it.
15 minutes later: one bowl of cooked whole grain cereal - use brown rice, amaranth, quinoa or buckwheat
flavor with two tablespoons of fruit juice for sweetness or 1 tsp Better Butter (mix a 1/4 cup of cold-presssed oil into a soft 1/4 pound of your favorite butter) or  a little salt or tamari for a savory taste.

Lunch- One or two medium bowls of my steamed veggies recipe below:
Dinner - Same as Lunch
11am and 3pm: one or two cups veggie water saved from steamed veggies, add a little sea salt or kelp and drink slowly.

Before Bed: Consume no additional foods after dinner (ideally after 7pm). Drink only water or herbal teas such as peppermint, chamomile blends.
The above Detox diet was designed by Elson Haas, MD.


Ingredients:VEGGIES: 4 cups cut up of your favorite mix of colorful fresh veggies. I love a mix of carrots and beets (sweet) , cabbage, green beans, asparagus, kale, chard, celery, cauliflower, sweet potato, red onion (pungent), add daikon radish and  fresh greens (bitter) towards the end.

SPICES AND HERBS: Combination of those that you like, experiment with:  Basil, oregano, thyme, tumeric, cayenne, cumin, ginger, kelp powder (salt substitute).

Instructions:  Fill pot up to bottom of steamer with water, add cut up colorful veggies to steamer, cover and cook for 10 minutes -- checking to see if veggies have softened, okay if they are bit crisp.  Make sure your dense veggies are at the bottom and lighter ones and greens at the top.  Steaming takes very little time compared to boiling veggies.

When done, grab a bowl, ladle your veggies in and experiment with sprinkling spices on top.  I like to start with a pinch of tumeric and cumin and will add pepper and kelp powder (salt substitute).  A little cayenne powder and a squeeze of lime(Sour) makes it all come together.

Other Resources for Detoxifying this Spring

1) AUDIO: Consider listening to this podcast.. only 16minutes and a great time to consider gentle ways toboost your energy for Summer.  http://www.bewellbuzz.com/podcast/5-easy-detox-tips/
Cleanse mucous, congestion, fermentation, and inflammation in the digestive tract
Purify the blood

2) VIDEO: 3- tips for de-tox: Tried and true, and ones I have been recommending to clients for years.  Check them out at www.hungryforchange.tv 

Drink More Water

Too often we misinterpret thirst for hunger. Our signal for thirst may cause us to eat as we mistake it for hunger pains. Reach for water first and make sure you are well hydrated before eating any meal throughout the day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

 

Add More Parsley and Cilantro (Coriander) To Your Diet 

Parsley and cilantro (coriander) are very powerful natural green plant foods for detoxing heavy metals out of your body. Add these amazing herbs to juices, salads, soups and meals.

Breathe Deep Into Your Abdomen  

Deep breathing, where you fill your belly and expand your diaphragm downwards, is one of the most powerful exercise you can do to activate your lymph system which helps to detoxify your body. Think of your lymph system as your own personal garbage removal system (which most of us will need in full steam after the holiday season). Practise 10 deep slow breaths counting 4 seconds in, 8 seconds hold and 8 seconds out. You can do this exercize watching the TV, walking the dog, during meditation or whilst practising yoga.

 Workshop Schedule and Free half hour Health Consultation in May

Click here for Workshop Schedule and a free half hour Health History in May!

Added Attraction:

Top Tips for Healthy Cooking with Andrea Beaman

Kale can be kind of intimidating, can’t it? You’ve heard of this leafy green’s incredible powers to help prevent cancer, reduce inflammation, and lower cholesterol. But, what you’re really wondering is how to make it taste good. Well, we’ve got you covered on this and more on an exclusive webinar with one of Integrative Nutrition’s most dazzling nutrition experts, Andrea Beaman. Join us May 2nd at 3pm for an informative (and fun!) 30 minute webinar with Andrea in which she’ll be offering up her Top 10 Tips for Healthy Cooking! Register here: Andrea Beaman’s Top Tips for Healthy Cooking