Here is a little recipe that I wanted to share with you – as I always like to experiment on myself before I recommend anything to clients or others that are interested in food as medicine… I mean, how can I tell what the reaction will be if I haven’t tried it!
I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Kelly Brogan in person last summer when I attended a workshop that she was running in London. I had already read her book – A Mind of Your Own and have huge respect for this lady who has broken away from modern medicine, to practice her specialist subject of Psychiatry and in particular women’s health in an all natural way.
So, this is one of the recipes from her book – which I have been experimenting with and enjoying very much with my family. I find it totally satisfying, it fills you right up til lunchtime and really helps to support your brain with focus and clarity!
Ingredients:
– 8 ounces coconut water (I just use filtered water)
– 3 tablespoons collagen hydrolysate (as a protein base; see note following recipe)
– 1 tablespoon sprouted nut butter or sunflower seed butter
– 3 large pastured egg yolks (I don’t always use this many….)
– 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
– 1 to 2 tablespoons grass-fed ghee
– 1 to 2 tablespoons raw cocoa powder
Note: Collagen hydrolysate is a protein food supplement high in the amino acids glycine, proline, and lycine. It comes as dry powder – You can buy it here.When we are talking about raw egg yolk – these are safe to use from pastured/organic hens. This means that the hens are raised on grass with natural food and not fed soy or other grains that might be GMO and are free to roam and not kept inside. Please make your choices wisely.
This fat and protein-rich smoothie with help to balance hormones and keep energy and blood sugar stable for hours. In particular, raw egg yolk – here are just a few of the benefits and why I like to eat them raw most days:
– Fat-soluble vitamins are highly concentrated in egg yolks. This is where all the valuable vitamin A, D, E, and K are stored. These are the vitamins that were revered in cultures studied by Weston A. Price.
– The yolk is also where you’re going to find plenty of B vitamins (especially crucial B6 and B12, which many are often short on), then there are the trace B vitamins such as Choline, which is necessary for the brain to function well.
– Egg yolks are rich in cholesterol. And that’s a good thing! Cholesterol is imperative for hormone and neurotransmitter production (i.e. it keeps you feeling good), and is also crucial for the production of vitamin D. The latest studies like this one on eggs and cholesterol show that eggs are not a problem.
– Yolks contain essential fatty acids like omega-3 DHA. Egg yolks, especially those from pastured chickens, have an excellent omega 3:6 ratio, too. There’s virtually no fat in the white, however.
– Egg yolks are also a great source of lecithin, which is great for your liver, your brain, and your skin.
We eat the egg yolk raw – as when it is heated you lose a lot of the nutrients above, they are also very easily digested – suitable for people using the GAPS diet (Gut and Psychology Syndrome) in the introduction phase. Raw egg yolks are also less likely to trigger an allergy reaction… But you can always skin test this first if you are at all unsure. I would also like to say that I do eat them cooked too!
Why don’t we use the egg white? Well, it is said that it contains an enzyme inhibitor, so it would stop you absorbing all the nutrients, although there are many reports and findings out there that say that if you eat the egg whole, there is no damage done. At the moment, I choose to eat the egg yolk raw and use the whites for baking – making coconut macaroons….. The whites will keep for a week in the fridge and they also freeze well, I put them in ice cube trays.
Coconut Oil – is great as an energy source too. This medium-chain triglyceride fat doesn’t need to go through the Liver to be digested, as the particles are small enough to pass straight out into the bloodstream and are used as direct energy. It is also a great antibacterial, antifungal oil with many other properties to benefit your body.
Butter Ghee – A traditional Ayurvedic remedy, Ghee is clarified butter, which means that it has had all of the lactose & casein removed in its preparation and is also super gentle on the digestive system. Rich in vitamins A, D & E it is good for the brain. It also contains Butyric Acid, which is a short-chain fatty acid that acts as a detoxifier and improves colon health. It’s been shown to support healthy insulin levels, is an anti-inflammatory, and may be helpful for individuals suffering from IBS, Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
If you are interested in reading Kelly Brogan’s book on natural ways to help with mental health – Click here:
Enjoy the smoothie, reap the benefits and if you want to learn more about how to balance your mood and keep your self well using food and lifestyle changes, please contact me about booking a consultation, by email: becs@inspiredwellbeing.org
