I get that question a lot. People see me walking around the office with a container of liquid that's on the greenish-brownish side and they wonder just what it is. Or they quiz my staff. Surely something that color can't taste good or be fit for human consumption. Can it?
That, my friends, is my power drink. Many health experts recommend it, and it can go by many names. Some call it a health drink, but the concept is the same: it is a collection of different substances put together for the purpose of detoxifying and, thereby, giving you greater health and more energy. I will talk about detoxification in greater detail in the future, but for now just let me say, given the polluted state of our environment and food/water supply, we should be doing at least one thing on a daily basis to cleanse our bodies.
So, what goes into a power drink? There are many formulas and the permutations are endless. If you have a particular health challenge, it can be customized to suit your needs. The amounts I use are good for me, but you may have to work up to a particular amount depending on how toxic you are and how sensitive your biochemistry is. I'll share what usually goes in my power drink:
Green powder: I put in 3 scoops of green powder. The greens from dried vegetables are very high in chlorophyll and is great for cleansing the cells. I usually use Gary Null 's Green Stuff.
Red powder: I use 1 scoop. The reds from dried fruits and vegetables are thought to help repair the DNA that gets damaged, on a daily basis, from a toxic environment (and really, from normal day-to-day living). I use Gary Null's Red Stuff.
Fiber: I use 1scoop. Fiber is important because it traps things in our intestine that shouldn't be absorbed, helps nourish the flora that is an important part of the intestinal function, and keeps things moving along, shall we say. The American diet is way too low in fiber; we should be getting 25 grams a day, but 50 would be better. I use Beyond Fiber by Longevity Plus.
Protein: I use 1-2 scoops. I usually use a rice or whey protein. Adequate protein intake is very important since the body uses protein as part of the detoxification biochemistry. That is why a prolonged fast without protein is not healthy--you break down your muscle tissue to process the toxins being excreted from the body. Metagenics BioPure is my favorite whey protein.
Medical Food: I use 1-2 scoops. A medical food is a specially designed product to help your organs safely process the toxins and get them out of the body. There are many different formulations with different combinations on macro and micro nutrients. This part is an area where you really may have to start low (maybe 1/4 of a scoop or even less) and slowly titrate up, depending on how sensitive your system is and your total toxic load (total body burden). I use one of the UltraClear formulations by Metagenics.
Chlorella: I typically use 1 teaspoon, as I still have some mercury stores from 11 amalgam fillings I had at one time (long since replaced by a biological dentist). I use Jarrow Formulas.
Creatine: 1 teaspoon or about 5 grams. It's good for the brain and the muscles. It brings water to the inside of the cells in those places, and that's where you want most of your water to be.
Vitamin C: I use 1-3 teaspoons of a buffered Vitamin C powder. Vitamin C is a great detoxifier, but a non-buffered form can lead to bloating and gas. I usually use Gary Null’s Suprema C, but sometimes I’ll use the Longevity Plus BioEnergy C.
Probiotics: I will occasionally use powdered probiotics to help promotes a healthy GI flora. Many brands need to be refrigerated. I typically use Ultra Dolphulis & Ultra Bifidus by Metagenics.
From time to time I'll add other things, more for variety usually. Right now I add a scoop of acai powder, but when the container is finished I'll probably add something else. I mention the brands that I use because it is extremely important to use good quality products that do quality control, especially when we are dealing with concentrates. There was a report in the news not too long ago where they tested protein supplements that you would find at the typical commercial nutrition store. Lead contamination was found in most of the products. It would be better if the green and red portions came from freshly juiced fruits and vegetables, but most people's schedules don't allow for that.
Ok, I know you've been wondering, “How does it taste?” Let me say first that I have been blessed with a palate that would probably allow me to drink liquefied cement without a problem. As a matter of fact, the early protein powders tasted just like that. So I usually don't add anything for taste, but you sure can. A little stevia or xylitol will go a long way to make it more pleasurable. I believe my formula provides roughly 300 calories, so it can be used to replace a meal or it can be sipped throughout the day.
So, that's my recipe. If you find something that you like to add to your power drink, let me know. I'm always looking for good ideas.
That, my friends, is my power drink. Many health experts recommend it, and it can go by many names. Some call it a health drink, but the concept is the same: it is a collection of different substances put together for the purpose of detoxifying and, thereby, giving you greater health and more energy. I will talk about detoxification in greater detail in the future, but for now just let me say, given the polluted state of our environment and food/water supply, we should be doing at least one thing on a daily basis to cleanse our bodies.
So, what goes into a power drink? There are many formulas and the permutations are endless. If you have a particular health challenge, it can be customized to suit your needs. The amounts I use are good for me, but you may have to work up to a particular amount depending on how toxic you are and how sensitive your biochemistry is. I'll share what usually goes in my power drink:
Green powder: I put in 3 scoops of green powder. The greens from dried vegetables are very high in chlorophyll and is great for cleansing the cells. I usually use Gary Null 's Green Stuff.
Red powder: I use 1 scoop. The reds from dried fruits and vegetables are thought to help repair the DNA that gets damaged, on a daily basis, from a toxic environment (and really, from normal day-to-day living). I use Gary Null's Red Stuff.
Fiber: I use 1scoop. Fiber is important because it traps things in our intestine that shouldn't be absorbed, helps nourish the flora that is an important part of the intestinal function, and keeps things moving along, shall we say. The American diet is way too low in fiber; we should be getting 25 grams a day, but 50 would be better. I use Beyond Fiber by Longevity Plus.
Protein: I use 1-2 scoops. I usually use a rice or whey protein. Adequate protein intake is very important since the body uses protein as part of the detoxification biochemistry. That is why a prolonged fast without protein is not healthy--you break down your muscle tissue to process the toxins being excreted from the body. Metagenics BioPure is my favorite whey protein.
Medical Food: I use 1-2 scoops. A medical food is a specially designed product to help your organs safely process the toxins and get them out of the body. There are many different formulations with different combinations on macro and micro nutrients. This part is an area where you really may have to start low (maybe 1/4 of a scoop or even less) and slowly titrate up, depending on how sensitive your system is and your total toxic load (total body burden). I use one of the UltraClear formulations by Metagenics.
Chlorella: I typically use 1 teaspoon, as I still have some mercury stores from 11 amalgam fillings I had at one time (long since replaced by a biological dentist). I use Jarrow Formulas.
Creatine: 1 teaspoon or about 5 grams. It's good for the brain and the muscles. It brings water to the inside of the cells in those places, and that's where you want most of your water to be.
Vitamin C: I use 1-3 teaspoons of a buffered Vitamin C powder. Vitamin C is a great detoxifier, but a non-buffered form can lead to bloating and gas. I usually use Gary Null’s Suprema C, but sometimes I’ll use the Longevity Plus BioEnergy C.
Probiotics: I will occasionally use powdered probiotics to help promotes a healthy GI flora. Many brands need to be refrigerated. I typically use Ultra Dolphulis & Ultra Bifidus by Metagenics.
From time to time I'll add other things, more for variety usually. Right now I add a scoop of acai powder, but when the container is finished I'll probably add something else. I mention the brands that I use because it is extremely important to use good quality products that do quality control, especially when we are dealing with concentrates. There was a report in the news not too long ago where they tested protein supplements that you would find at the typical commercial nutrition store. Lead contamination was found in most of the products. It would be better if the green and red portions came from freshly juiced fruits and vegetables, but most people's schedules don't allow for that.
Ok, I know you've been wondering, “How does it taste?” Let me say first that I have been blessed with a palate that would probably allow me to drink liquefied cement without a problem. As a matter of fact, the early protein powders tasted just like that. So I usually don't add anything for taste, but you sure can. A little stevia or xylitol will go a long way to make it more pleasurable. I believe my formula provides roughly 300 calories, so it can be used to replace a meal or it can be sipped throughout the day.
So, that's my recipe. If you find something that you like to add to your power drink, let me know. I'm always looking for good ideas.
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