I absolutely love my green juices and usually juice green vegetables every single day! However, I’ve been traveling for the last couple of months and don’t always have access to a juicer or juice bars. I embrace the attitude of doing the best I possibly can, even if it’s not perfect. I don’t like store-bought juices as they’re usually made with too much fruit (even green juices). It’s too much concentrated sugar for my body and it doesn’t make me feel my best. I’m a woman on a mission, trying to get done as much as I can in a day, so I can’t afford any sugar crashes or energy lows in my day. I love keeping my blood sugar levels stable and prefer eating my fruit with fiber intact, in a form of blended smoothies or whole fruit. So when I can’t have access to a proper green juice, here’s what I have as my healthy morning drinks.
Drink 1: Feed The Microbiome & Alkalize
When I wake up, I have a huge glass of water with lime juice, a teaspoon of spirulina for extra mineral boost and some probiotics. The benefits of lemon water first thing in the morning are well known. You can add lemon or lime, whatever is local and more available.
Spirulina is an organism that grows in both salt and fresh water. It’s actually a bacteria called cyanobacterium, which is often referred to as blue-green algae. Spirulina is exceptionally nutritious packed with the following:
- Minerals
- B vitamins
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Protein
- Anti-oxidants
- Anti-inflammatory compounds.
Adding spirulina to your diet is a great way to get iron, especially if you’re on a plant-based diet. Did you know that spirulina became popular when NASA proposed that it could be grown in space and used by astronauts, since it’s one of the most nutritious foods on the planet? Spirulina has been shown to help support a healthy microbiome balance which is vital for a healthy immune system, proper digestion and elimination, Spirulina promotes healthy bacteria in the gut and can dramatically boost the body’s digestive system to fully absorb nutrients from food, while suppressing bad bacteria like e-coli and candida.
Your microbiome is the complex ecosystem of microbes including 10 times more bacteria than you have human cells. These bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa that live on and in your body, including in your gut, can be referred to as your microbiome. In order to support healthy gut microflora even more, I add good quality probiotics to my morning drink.
Ingredients:
- Large glass of filtered water
- Juice of ½ lime or ¼ lemon
- 1 teaspoon spirulina
- ¼ teaspoon liquid probiotic
Instructions: Mix all ingredients in a large glass and drink straight away.
Drink 2: Anti-inflammatory Gold
I also make myself another drink – which is lime water with powdered turmeric. Turmeric is known for many of its anti- inflammatory, anti-oxidant and even anti-cancer properties. Technically, you could have both of these in one drink – just mix all ingredients in a glass jar and sip throughout the morning. It’s just my personal preference to have them separately.
Ingredients:
- Large glass of filtered water
- Juice of ½ lime
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
Drink 3: Anti-inflammatory Energizing Chai
After I finish slowly drinking my first two drinks, I prepare some herbal chai.
Ingredients:
- About 12 oz. hot water
- 1-2 inches fresh ginger root
- ½ teaspoon chai masala mix (ginger, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla)
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon.
- Optional: stevia, to taste
- Optional: plant-based milk or freshly squeezed lemon (note: do not use both at the same time)
Instructions:
- Pour hot water over the spices and let it brew for at least 10 minutes.
- Strain and enjoy hot or warm.
- You can squeeze some lemon or lime to it, or add some almond, cashew or other plant-based milk for a chai latte. Just make sure not to mix both lemon and milk!
- I normally let this drink brew for about an hour while I do my morning yoga and meditation.I drink this tea straight after my yoga session and then officially start my day with a hearty breakfast.
Remember, it’s not about perfection, it’s about doing the best that you can with the resources you have at a given time. These healthy drinks might not be a perfect replacement for fresh green veggie juice, but they’ll definitely help you improve your immune system, healthy gut flora and feel energized without having a sugar crash a few hours later.
Osha Key is a life lover, certified nutritionist, weight loss expert and the author of "MASTERY IN WEIGHT LOSS",
which you can get for FREE when you visit her website www.becomethebestofyou.com and subscribe.
After losing 40 pounds, Osha is now on a mission to help women do the same.
