WHEN SLEEPING WOMEN AWAKE, MOUNTAINS WILL MOVE. Chinese Proverb

AWAKEN, BEAUTY

We have been brainwashed into believing that we are supposed to eat a big, substantial breakfast to start the day. But our natural bodily rhythms dictate something else. You see, between the hours of 4:00 am and noon, our bodies are in a cycle of DETOXIFICATION- eating a heavy breakfast will only clog you up.  It makes sense to eat light, water-rich foods in the morning to assist with the detoxification that is happening from the day before. As well, through natural respiration and the fact that we aren’t drinking while we are sleeping, our body becomes dehydrated overnight. You are so much better off with lots of water-rich foods in the morning, like fresh fruit and greens. Smoothies or juices are the perfect morning foods.

WHY BREAKFAST IS THE KEY TO HEALTH AND BEAUTY

Breakfast sets the TONE for the entire day, so set yourself up for a radiant day with a breakfast that will:

1. Break your over-night fast gently without clogging you up
2. Re-hydrate you
3. Assist with the natural detoxification which is in process until noon

THE FIRST THING IN THE MORNING- Pretty Raw Spa Water

Water with a squeeze of CITRUS (lime, lemon, orange, grapefruit) POMMAGRANATE or GINGER or MINT is the best way to start the day because it will instantly begin to rehydrate you.  As well, these  are  alkalizing to the body, which assists the detox process.  Two glasses within the first half hour of rising is recommended, warm or room temperature but not cold.  Make a nice pitcher and leave it in view so you are reminded to drink it.

SHAKAYA’S DELICIOUS, FAST, SATISFYING & EASY-PEASY BREAKFASTS

When your body begins to feel hungry is the time to take in more than water and not before.  When this natural urge arises in you, here are some of the healthiest options:

1. GREEN JUICE

Ahhhh, the fountain of youth!  A raw green juice is a fresh pressed juice made with your JUICER and greens: parsley, cucumber, celery, collards, spinach, kale, dandelion, chard, sprouts, weeds (nettles, malva, lambsquarters etc.) usually with a couple carrots, apples or pears or a lemon to taste.  Do NOT juice sweet fruit exclusively as your breakfast especially if you have problems regulating your blood sugar.  Fruit is best eaten in its whole state with its fibre to help regulate blood sugar.  I recommend juicing mostly veggies and adding the minimal amount of fruit to make the drink palatable for you if necessary to hydrate and mineralize and alkalise your beautiful blood.

APPLE CHEEKS

This powerful combination really cleanses sluggish blood, making your cells pink and healthy, and giving your complexion a beautiful, rosy glow. Apples are rich in vitamin B and have high levels of pectin and malic acid, which can help stimulate skin cell renewal like magic.

3 Apples

1 Beet

1 Cucumber

1 Lime or Lemon

1 inch piece of Ginger

Juice everything except the citrus in your juicer- squeeze the citrus by hand. This beauty beverage is sweet and wholesome like Heidi in the mountains, and will make you smile inside with a sense that all is right in your world.

2.   GREEN SMOOTHIE

A green smoothie is a mixture of fresh greens (as above) and fresh or frozen fruit: berries, bananas, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, apples, mango etc. in 60/40 proportions fruit to greens, that is made in a BLENDER with about 1 cup of water.  Superfoods such as HEMP SEEDS, COCONUT BUTTER, BEE POLLEN etc may be added.

Here is a favorite of mine from my book Naked Beauty:

FRENCH KISS

I love kiwis so much I could kiss them, and so will you after you taste this smoothie!  They are so delicious and refreshing in this drink. You wouldn’t believe how much water-soluble Vitamin C they contain (equivalent to an orange, which is several times this cutie’s size), plus the important fat-soluble antioxidant Vitamin E. In the world of phytonutrients, kiwi fruit has premier antioxidants able to protect the DNA of human cells from oxygen-related stress. With their bright green flesh speckled with tiny black seeds, they are also a tropical treat for the eyes.

6 Kiwis, peeled

1 C Strawberries

2 frozen Bananas

½ Cucumber

a sprig of Basil

Blend and go find a special someone to smooch!  Basil is known to increase fertility and libido, and was worn between the breasts of women who believed it to be a charm to attract men, who find it an aphrodisiac.

3.  FRESH FRUIT PLATE

The fastest breakfast is to just head out the door with fresh fruit that fits in your hand and is so convenient, such as a few apples, bananas, a pound of grapes or berries like these golden raspberries straight from our bush with the gorgeous apricot hue and delicate scent- anything that you like.  Eating bananas with hemp seeds or raw almonds soaked in water overnight is a delicious combination but may feel too heavy first thing in the morning because neither bananas nor nuts/seeds have a high water content.  However, if you are transitioning from bagels and cream cheese or bacon and eggs type of breakfasts, this may work perfectly for you!

Fresh fruit sliced up attractively with a sprinkle of cinnamon and citrus juice or ginger juice and perhaps a light dusting of seeds HEMP SEEDS, SUNFLOWER SEEDS, PUMPKIN SEEDS and/or dried fruit CURRANTS, GOJI BERRIES, DRIED APRICOT pieces is an attractive meal that is perfect for morning.  However, if you have blood-sugar issues and cannot handle fruit on its own, I recommend mixing in to the fruit salad some chopped CUCUMBER, AVOCOADO, CELERY and/or LETTUCE.  The minerals in the greens will help to regulate the influx of blood sugar.  Cinnamon is a spice, which also balances blood sugar and I recommend using cinnamon as much as possible especially when eating anything sweet.

4.   RAW PUDDINGS

A raw pudding is a very satisfying breakfast solution.  The varieties are endless.  They are made with fruit that has a smooth and creamy texture like bananas, avocado, durian etc and/or soaked cashews.  Because they are blended they are easily digested.  This is comfort food that everyone loves.  It may be too sweet for breakfast- at least it is for me.  However, I have served this to children and other non-raw friends for holiday brunches and everyone LOVED this!

BUTTERSCOTCH MINT PUDDING

2 Bananas

¼ C soaked dried Apricots

4 pitted dates

¼ C raw Almond or Cashew Butter or 1 Avocado

1 t Coconut Butter optional

¼ t Vanilla powder or extract

a few leaves of fresh mint to taste

BLEND in a food processor until smooth and creamy.  Curl up and savour this decadent dessert breakfast. Just about any green smoothie can be made into a pudding by blending the fruit and greens without water; for ex: papaya and banana and spinach, or mango and parsley.  A tangy Key Lime Mousse can be made from only 3 ingredients to taste: Avocado, Lime and Honey.

5.   RAW CEREAL

Most commercial cereals that are made in a huge industrial factory and come in a box- how uninspiring!  These are full of chemicals and sugar and are fake foodstuffs that cause blood sugar issues, weight gain, toxicity and constant hunger.  Make your own in seconds!  A cup full of sprouted buckwheat or soaked nuts and seeds with some fresh and dried fruit can be tossed together in seconds for an instant raw grawnola.  Top with some apple or orange juice or nut mylk.  There are raw granolas, raw pancakes and crepes, breakfast bars and other options that I will tell you more about another time, but I don’t always recommend them for breakfast because they aren’t high enough in water content.  Remember, the healthiest breakfast that won’t clog you up is not only raw, but also high in water content.  Therefore nuts and most seeds that you would use in a g’raw’nola for example are not very low in water content – they make wonderful snacks or BRUNCHES.  However, if you are not used to eating light, these heavier breakfasts are a beautiful transitioning strategy.

MORNING HAPPINESS

3 T Chia seeds soaked in 1 C Water or Apple or Orange juice for 10 minutes

1 small Apple diced

1 small Banana sliced

1 t Goji Berries or Currants

1 t Hemp, Pumpkin or Sunflower Seeds

A dusting of Cinnamon, Nutmeg and/or Cardamon

Mix all the pretty jewels together and be dazzled by the array of vibrant flavours and textures to start you on another sparkling day!

OR, if you want to keep it extra easy, blend some fresh figs or berries with chia seeds and let set while you get dressed and VOILA!  Raw Jell-O!

I hope you found an idea or two here.  Now its your turn- what is YOUR favorite healthy breakfast?

Tagged: chia seeds, exquisite self care, green juices, green smoothies, natural health and beauty, raw foods, raw puddings, raw recipes, raw renewal, rejuvenation, sensual beauty, spa water