But, hear me out...
I've created a super simple, immune boosting, digestive enhancing and nutrient dense elixir for you that can be made weekly and used daily. A few ounces first thing every morning will get your motor going (if you know what I mean) and start your day off nutritionally strong.
Here's my recipe (and be sure to read about the benefits of each ingredient and how it impacts your health!)
B Well Morning Elixir
1 whole organic lemon, washed, ends removed and quartered
2 " knob of fresh ginger root
2" knob of fresh turmeric root
2 T organic unfiltered, unrefined olive oil
2 T Braggs apple cider vinegar
18 oz filtered water
1 tsp good quality sea salt
Place all the ingredients in your blender and process for at least one minute. Strain if desired. I process mine a little longer and don't strain it – I prefer to have all the fiber and goodies contained in the pulp. Start every morning with 2-3 ounces, straight up or diluted with some warm water.
Each component of this elixir carries tremendous benefits. Let's break it down:
Whole Lemon
The peel of the lemon deserves equal billing as the juice and pulp for its health benefits. Actually, the peel contains more vitamin C, folate, betacarotene, calcium, magnesium and potassium than the juice! So by incorporating the entire lemon, you're getting as much as 10 x's the vitamins. Limonene, a component in the peel has also shown promise in clinical use in cancer prevention. Limonene is also effective in metabolizing fats by aiding in the production of bile.
Lemon juice aids in fighting bacterial infection, the production of digestive juices and improves the health of your skin.
Fresh Ginger Root
Fresh ginger, a delicious addition to so many dishes, is also one of the healthiest. Ginger, a rhizome, is packed with antioxidant phytonutrients and essential amino acids. This rhizome is highly regarded in both traditional and alternative medicine for fighting inflammation, reducing fever and supporting digestion.
The volatile oils in ginger give it potent flavor and odor. These oils are also what give ginger its powerful anti–bacterial, anti–viral, anti–fungal and anti–parasitic agents. No wonder this morning elixir is so effective both in treating and preventing colds and flu.
Used regularly, like in my Morning Elixir, ginger may be effective in lowering blood sugar and reducing risk for heart disease. Fresh ginger is beneficial to the entire digestive process by increasing the production of saliva, bile and digestive enzymes.
Fresh Turmeric Root
Turmeric is similar to ginger in that it too is a rhizome and provides digestive and anti-inflammatory benefits, as well as show promise in reducing the risk for cancer and heart disease. The main active compounds found in turmeric are curcuminoids and essential oils.
Turmeric triggers bile production, supporting digestion and fat metabolism and is useful in preventing gallstones. The National Institutes for Health cites that turmeric may be helpful in treating osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as well as treat stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.
Unrefined, Unfiltered Extra Virgin Olive Oil
To ensure full benefit, it is critical that you use genuine, good quality extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) in this elixir. Unfortunately, that is not always easily done because the majority of olive oil found in grocery stores labeled as extra virgin olive oil but are actually laced or cut with GMO canola oil or soybean oil. Those oils are high in omega 6 fatty acids and not what we want to consume. A few things you can look for to ensure you are getting 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
- Look for labeling that includes first pressed, expeller pressed and/or cold pressed. You can expect to pay about $20.00 a liter.
- Check the label for the International Olive Council (IOC) seal, which certifies its authenticity.
- Ideally, the bottle will not only have an expiration date, but also the date it was harvested. Once the bottle has been opened it should be used within a few months.
- Bottle should be dark color and glass to protect the oil.
Some tested and trusted brands are: California Olive Ranch, Cobram Estate, Lucini. Kirkland Organic, Lucero (Ascolano) Trader Joe's California Estate and McEvoy Ranch Organic. Adequate and healthy dietary fat, like monounsaturated fat, is critical to every organ system in your body right down to a cellular level. EVOO is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and antioxidants making it a powerful ant-inflammatory agent. Revered most often for its ability to protect the heart by reducing chronic arterial inflammation and lowering blood pressure, EVOO is also effective in protecting the brain from oxidative stress. The brain is made up mostly of fatty acids and requires a daily supply of them in order to remain vibrant and strong.
Good sources of fat with a high content of antioxidants, like EVOO, slow the aging process because they help to reduce and reverse oxidative damage caused by free radicals. Fatty acids also help to regulate glucose metabolism and increase insulin sensitivity and reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes.
Apple Cider Vinegar
There are many benefits to including apple cider vinegar (ACV) to your morning routine, but again, sourcing matters. The ACV you choose should be raw, made from organically grown apples and unfiltered, therefore contain some sediment or the "mother". This is important because in order for vinegar to be effective, it must be alive with naturally occurring enzymes.
Apple Cider Vinegar aids and contributes to the digestive process with enzymic action, stimulating the production of hydrochloric acid, critical to the breakdown, digestion and assimilation of the nutrients in food. Additionally, the acetic acid in ACV, which is actually a ketone, improves blood sugar balance (and reduces sugar cravings) by up regulating your body's ability to oxidize and metabolize fat and burn it for fuel.
Sea Salt
Good quality sea salt is teaming with minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium and of course sodium. Salt in your elixir is essential for sustaining hydration on a cellular level and achieving electrolyte balance.
I hope you find this recipe and information helpful and empowering in your health journey. If you are taking medication or have a medical condition, be sure to consult your doctor before using the Morning Elixir to rule out any contraindications with any ingredients.