It's here! It's here!

It’s spring I’m talking about.

Yes indeed. It’s here. Have you noticed it too?

Every spring I fall in love all over again. . .

I fall in love with the weather, teased by the whimsical days of warmth and sunshine.

I fall in love with the signs of life blossoming around me, the baby chicks in the neighbors yard and the daffodils on the front lawn.

I fall in love with tender spring greens sprouting in the garden and delicately lined up at the farmer’s market in sweet little bundles.

I fall in love with freshly picked morel mushrooms, earthy, nutty and comical to behold.

And I don’t know about you, but I most definitely fall in love with cleansing my liver ~ the largest internal organ in my body and my functional body guard for protecting me from all the toxins I’m exposed to everyday, from phthalates to BPA to those pesky excess estrogens!.

(Say, now that its spring that means its also time for your seasonal TrulyFood Cleanse!)
But what spring really means is that it’s time to put on a Happy Face.

And I know just the way to do it.

Today I want to introduce you to one of my favorite smoothie treats. It’s my adaptation of Dr. David Jubb’s Happy Face Smoothie. And as promised in my last mailing, our good friend the goji berry will have a starring role in putting that smile on your face.

To your happy face and happy liver (don’t forget to take extra good care of that big guy!).

Warmly,

Happy Face Smoothie Replenish Style

You’ll notice that this recipe calls for non-GMO soy lecithin. You might also know that I’m not a big proponent of soy consumption. But there are exceptions to the rule ~ exceptions like miso, wheat-free tamari, and even tempeh, which is made from fermented soybeans.
Soy lecithin is another one of my exceptions. See below the recipe for more information and important tips on what to look for when you purchase! (Don’t skip that part.)
ingredients:

2 tablespoons coconut oil

2 tablespoons liquid sweetener (raw honey or yacon syrup)

2 tablespoons non-GMO soy lecithin

1/4 cup goji berries

4 ounces warm tea or water (I recommend the goji-nettle tea on this page)

4 to 6 drops liquid stevia

1 tablespoon quality protein powder (whey, fermented rice or pea protein)
preparation:

1) Soak goji berries in warm tea while you prepare the other ingredients. (This is an important step if you don’t have a high-speed blender.)

2) Throw the other ingredients into the blender. Pour the tea and gojis on top. Blend on medium until the mixture is completely smooth.

3) Put on a happy face.
More notes on soy lecithin:
Soy lecithin has myriad health benefits, including support to the liver. Lecithin is one of the few food sources of the B vitamin choline, which we can get in ample amounts from eggs. For those of us who don’t or can’t eat eggs, soy lecithin is a great way to incorporate this essential nutrient. It will help with digestion, muscle and joint complaints and also boost memory and mental clarity.
But beware. You don’t want to choose just any soy lecithin. You want to make sure you’re purchasingnon-GMO soy lecithin. GM (genetically modified) crops are damaging the health of our bodies and our planet. Numerous studies are already showing the short-term effects of these altered crops, including increased risk of allergy and neurological problems. But the long-term hazards are yet to be determined.
When you buy the good stuff you get the good stuff. Non-GMO soy lecithin does everything from support brain function, weight management and balance cholesterol levels to helping protect fat from accumulating in the liver, allowing it to do its job as your gate-keeper that much better.
I got my non-GMO soy lecithin at my co-op. You can also get it right here.

By: Andrea Nakayama, FxNA Founder & Functional Medicine Nutritionist

Functional Nutrition Alliance provides the comprehensive online Functional Nutrition training in the Science & Art of the Functional Nutrition practice. Learn to address the roots of your clients’ suffering with client education, diet & lifestyle modifications.