FOOD MEDICINE
real food recipes with a food as medicine philosophy.
PINA VERDE GREEN DRINK
Pineapple, spinach and cilantro green drink.
Pineapple, spinach and cilantro pack this green drink full of flavor and health benefits. I am a smoothie goddess in the heat of summer and this one always sets me straight. This recipe can be juiced or blended. I like the blended version because you get all the beneficial fiber. Want something lighter? Run all the ingredients through the juicer. The end result is a deliciously bright, healthy green drink that will have your skin glowing, mind sharp and energy vibrant.
INGREDIENTS
1 inch slice of whole pineapple
1 handful of cilantro
1 handful of spinach
1/2 large cucumber, slices
1 celery stalk
3 romaine leaves
1 inch piece of ginger
DIRECTIONS
Blend all ingredients until smooth or run through a juicer.
Lacto Fermen... WHAT?
Lacto-fermented vegetables are a true food as medicine experience. Got 3-5 days? I got your recipe!
Lacto-Fermention
healing ~ food ~ alchemy
The fermentation of fruits and vegetables is prevalent in most cultures, in fact the ancient Greeks understood that important chemical changes took place during fermentation. They called this change “alchemy.” The preservation of vegetables and fruits by the process of lacto-fermentation has numerous advantages beyond those of simple preservation. The proliferation of lactobacilli in fermented vegetables enhances their digestibility and increases vitamin levels. These live microorganisms provide a vital dose of diversity to your gut. The bacteria behind many ferments also produce beneficial compounds that give these foods their antioxidant, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-atherosclerotic properties. Their main by-product, lactic acid, not only keeps vegetables and fruits in a state of perfect preservation but also promotes the growth of healthy flora throughout the intestine. Other alchemical by-products include hydrogen peroxide and small amounts of benzoic acid.
Once you are comfortable with the process of making your own fermented foods (it was so foreign to me at first and I thought I might accidentally kill myself with bad bacteria), it takes only 3-5 days to the the finished product depending on the temperature of your home. Here's an easy recipe that I have made numerous times with different herbs and spices. Start simple.
"Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food", surely Hippocrates ate fermented vegetables!
RAW SAUERKRAT
1 medium cabbage, cored and shredded (I used red cabbage)
1 tablespoon caraway seeds
1.5 tablespoons sea salt ( I used Himalayan)
In a bowl, mix the caraway seeds cabbage and sea salt. Massage with clean hands of pound with a wooden pounder or meat tenderizer for about 10 minutes, to release the juices. Place the cabbage in a wide mouth, sterilized canning jar, being sure to press the cabbage so that it is tightly packed down and covered by the juices. Place a weighted jar directly onto the cabbage so it stays packed down and cover with a towel. Leave the cabbage to ferment for 5-7 days, being sure the cabbage is covered by it’s juices. After 5 days, cover the cabbage and place in cold storage. It is ready to eat and only gets better with age.
As a medicinal take 1-2 tablespoons per day.
CACAO SMOOTHIE BOWL
Breakfast just got better!
Chocolate for breakfast? You bet. Packed with amazing anti-oxidants, loads of omega-3 fatty acids and plenty of fiber, this is a delicious way to start your day without the guilt. I include smoothie bowls into my diet when the weather warms up. It’s a great way to get a variety of important daily nutrients in one easy to assemble meal. It travels well too! (Get yourself a great thermos and you are all set!) Spring is coming and eating fresh fruits and vegetables naturally cleanses the digestive system and wakes up the detoxification effects of the liver. Don't forget the greens!!!
Want to eat like this all the time? Join the LK5 Spring Cleanse. We start March 30th this year and for 10 days we eliminate inflammatory foods, increase our alkalizing menu and finally end with a few days to come back down. You are given 40+ pages of tried and true cleansing recipes that you will continue using throughout the season!
INGREDIENTS:
1 tablespoon cacao nibs
1 handful spinach
1 acai smoothie packet (samboza)
1 banana
½ cup strawberries
1 cup coconut or other dairy free milk
TOPPINGS:
1 tablespoon hemp seeds
1 tablespoon chia seeds
¼ cup mixed nuts
¼ cup fresh raspberries
In a high powered blender, blend coconut milk and spinach until smooth. Add in the cacao, smoothie packet, banana, and strawberries and blend for about 1 minute or to the consistency you like. Pour the smoothie into a bowl and top with nuts, seeds and fresh fruit.
SHOPPING LIST
cacao nibs, hemp seeds, chia seeds, mixed nuts, Samboza Acai smoothie packet (samboza), spinach, bananas, fresh strawberries, fresh raspberries, coconut or other dairy free milk
