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I do have a health concoction in the morning because My Morning Smoothie recipe has a few key ingredients in it that I don’t seem to get otherwise. -Jughandle

What is My Morning Smoothie and why:

Rolled Oats are:

Nutritious.
A Source Of Antioxidants.
Known To Contain a Powerful Soluble Fiber Called Beta-Glucan.
Believed To Lower Cholesterol Levels and Protect Good Cholesterol From Damage.

Ground Flax Seeds are:

Nutritious
High in Omega-3 Fats
A Source of Lignans, Which May Reduce Cancer Risk
High in Dietary Fiber
Known To Improve Cholesterol
Thought To Lower Blood Pressure
Shown To Contain High-Quality Protein
Believed To Help Control Blood Sugar
Filling And Reduced Feelings of Hunger

Blueberries are known to:

Be Low in Calories But High in Nutrients
have the highest antioxidant capacity of all the popular fruits and vegetables.
Reduce DNA Damage, Which May Help Protect Against Aging and Cancer
Protect Cholesterol in Your Blood From Becoming Damaged
Lower Blood Pressure
Help Prevent Heart Disease
Help Maintain Brain Function and Improve Memory
Contain Anthocyanins Which Have Anti-Diabetes Effects
Help Fight Urinary Tract Infections
Reduce Muscle Damage After Strenuous Exercise

Turmeric :

Turmeric Contains Bioactive Compounds Such As curcumin. Curcumin Is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory Compound.
Turmeric Increases the Antioxidant Capacity of the Body. It blocks them directly, then stimulates your body’s own antioxidant defenses.
Curcumin in Turmeric Boosts Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Linked to Improved Brain Function and a Lower Risk of Brain Diseases
Curcumin Should Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
Turmeric Can Help Prevent (And maybe Even Treat) Cancer
Curcumin May Be Useful in Preventing and Treating Alzheimer’s Disease
Arthritis Patients Respond Very Well to Curcumin Supplements
Curcumin has shown some promise in treating depression.
Curcumin May Help Delay Aging and Fight Age-Related Chronic Diseases

Black Pepper :

Contains Piperine which increases the absorption of Turmeric’s Curcumin by 2000%.

Ginger :

is high in gingerol, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Can Treat Many Forms of Nausea, Especially Morning Sickness
May Reduce Muscle Pain and Soreness
Has Anti-Inflammatory Effects That Can Help With Osteoarthritis
May Lower Blood Sugars and Improve Heart Disease Risk Factors
Can Help Treat Chronic Indigestion
May Reduce Menstrual Pain a great deal
Might Lower Cholesterol Levels
Contains a Substance That May Help Prevent Cancer
May Improve Brain Function and Protect Against Alzheimer’s Disease
Can Help Fight Infections

Coco Powder :

Coco Is One Of The Richest Sources Of Polyphenols Which Help With Reduced Inflammation, Better Blood Flow, Lower Blood Pressure and Improved Cholesterol Numbers and Blood Sugar Levels
Has Antibacterial and Immune-Stimulating Properties That Benefit Your Teeth and Skin
Contains Theobromine and Theophylline Which Help People With Asthma
May Have Cancer-Protective Properties
Intake Helps Control Weight
Contains Flavonoids Which Improve Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
Improves Mood and Symptoms Of Depression
Lower Your Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
Reduce High Blood Pressure by Improving Nitric Oxide Levels

Cinnamon :

IMPORTANT Only buy Ceylon Cinnamon Which Is “Known As True Cinnamon”. Most Grocery Stores Carry The Cassia variety Which Can Be Harmful In Large Quantities Over Time. Get Ceylon Cinnamon At Health Food Stores Or On Amazon.
May Cut the Risk of Heart Disease
Has Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Is Loaded With Antioxidants
May Help Fight the HIV Virus
Helps Fight Bacterial and Fungal Infections
Protects Against Cancer
Has Beneficial Effects on Neurodegenerative Diseases
Lowers Blood Sugar Levels and Has a Powerful Anti-Diabetic Effect
Can Improve Sensitivity to the Hormone Insulin

Almond milk :

Low in Phosphorus, With a Moderate Amount of Potassium
Dairy-Free And Vegan
Lactose-Free
High In Vitamin E
A Good Source of Calcium
Low In Sugar
Low In Calories

Greek Yogurt :

High In Calcium
One serving of Greek yogurt can have up to 21.3 percent of your daily value of B-12
Contains A Protein That Can Repair Damage Done By Exercise
Has A Much Higher Amount Of Protein Than Milk
Is An Excellent Source Of Iodine Which Are Bodies Do Not Normally Store.
One serving of Greek yogurt can have up to 6.8 percent of your daily potassium intake value. Potassium helps lower blood pressure and balance out the sodium levels in your body.
Contains large quantities of Probiotics.

Morning Smoothie

This smoothie is good as an anti inflammatory drink

Course Drinks, Health Drink, Smoothie

Cuisine Health Food

Keyword Morning Smoothie

Cooking Method Blender

Hot/Cold Dish Cold

Course Drinks, Health Drink, Smoothie

Cuisine Health Food

Keyword Morning Smoothie

Cooking Method Blender

Hot/Cold Dish Cold

Servings 2 Serving

Author jughandle

Ingredients

5 oz Almond Milk or milk of choice
3 oz nonfat plain Greek yogurt or dairy-free yogurt of choice
1 Cup rolled oats
1 Tbsp Flax seed ground
4 Oz frozen mixed berries blueberries,raspberries, blackberries etc - frozen unsweetened
1 teaspoon Turmeric ground
1/2 tsp black pepper ground
1/2 tsp Ginger ground
1 tsp coco powder
1 tsp Cinnamon ground

Instructions

Place the ingredients in a high-powered blender in the order listed: almond milk, spinach, yogurt, oats, berries, turmeric, ginger, and 2 teaspoons honey.
Blend until smooth between each addition
Taste and adjust sweetness as desired.
Enjoy immediately

Notes

Note: healthy breakfast smoothie to kick start your mornings! This easy smoothie is great for kids because you can't taste or see the green.

Other health benefits include a natural immune booster, cold remedy, and anti-inflammation drink.

Nutrition Facts

Morning Smoothie

Amount Per Serving

Calories 254 Calories from Fat 54

% Daily Value*

Fat 6g9%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 2mg1%

Sodium 113mg5%

Potassium 303mg9%

Carbohydrates 40g13%

Fiber 8g33%

Sugar 7g8%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 25IU1%

Vitamin C 1.4mg2%

Calcium 179mg18%

Iron 2.6mg14%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Informational Links:

Organic Foods

Super Foods We All Should Have

Facts About Caffeine

Matcha Tea has been Acquired

I don’t think I’ll need a razor blade and a hundred dollar bill to consume this Matcha tea, but it looks like a green version of the stuff the “older guys” warned me about. My first cup of Matcha – Green Tea is ready to be enjoyed as I write this post. Generally my day starts with a pot of my favorite black tea, Lapsang Souchong which is a very strong flavor, possibly tainting this review a little.

Matcha Tea Price

Yes, Matcha tea is expensive. I just paid over $30 for 1 ounce of the good stuff. I’ll let you know if the cheaper Matcha tea is a better deal when I do the math. I only used 1/4 heaping tsp in my first 8 oz cup of tea.

Differences in Quality

My research has found at least two (2) different catagories of Matcha Tea with variations on those.

Ceremonial Grade and Culinary Grade matcha are the main Grades determined by the quality of the appearance, processing method and ingredients.

Within these grades inspectors look for, color, quality and texture density of the product. Next the makeup of the powder is determined; e.g. was it made from stems or leaves or a combination? Finally the coarseness of the powder is considered, the finer the better.

Once the quality of the product itself is judged, the handling of the product is considered. Has it been exposed to oxygen for any length of time? What method was used to grind it and how was it treated prior to processing.

Ceremonial Grade Matcha is the finest and therefore the most expensive grade. It should not be mixed with anything else but enjoyed on its own.

Culinary Grade had five (5) levels within the grade. It is a less expensive product making it more affordable to being used daily or mixed with other ingredients.

For a more complete description and explanation of Matcha and its grades, please visit “Epic Matcha” on line.

The Ceremony

As with many of life’s guilty pleasures, half the fun is the ceremony. The cigar has it’s ceremonial clipping, smelling and lighting. Wine has the ceremony of viewing the label, smelling the cork, decanting the bottle, “nosing” the wine while swirling the glass and looking for it’s “legs“. The older guys tell me about a ceremony involving a white powder chopped with a razor blade and snorted with a rolled 100 dollar bill, but I digress.

The Matcha Tea ceremony is no less involved.

First Impressions

I think I was expecting a very strong green tea flavor. You know, something that may be an acquired taste, but that isn’t the case. I taste a somewhat grassy subtle undertone on the front of my tongue with that familiar green tea full mouth taste. Reviews say that Matcha tea is naturally sweet. That may be so, but the sweetness isn’t sweet like sugar, it is more like the sweetness of coffee with just a little cream in it. The flavor I detect is really more the lack of bitterness more than sweet.

Finish Notes

As the Matcha tea cools off, I detect a stronger “grassy” flavor. I’ve just noticed that even though I used a whisk to mix the tea there is still at least 1/2 of the 1/4 teaspoon on the bottom of my cup undissolved. Note to self – stir Matcha tea for longer than 15 sec in the future or use the stick blender. I do notice that unlike some tea that tastes like tea in water, Matcha tea has the full body of a beverage that stands alone and doesn’t taste watered or dissolved in water.

Final Impression

I LIKE it. I may even love it considering that the health benefits of Matcha tea are said to be equivalent to 170 + cups of regular tea. I’ll give you more in-put over time, but for now, I’ve stashed my tea in its air tight can and put it in the refrigerator. – Jughandle out