Soup or Smoothie

 I was at the Farmer’s Market this past weekend, and passed by one stand selling bags of tomatoes at a discount price. They were in good shape, fresh from the garden, no pesticides.

Farmer’s market produce is usually healthier than organic tomatoes in the supermarket. Firstly, there is no Apeel to deal with.  And then there is more nutrition in the freshly picked local Farmer’s Market produce than the organic produce that has traveled hundreds of miles cross country and has been sitting in the supermarket for days or weeks.

Never one to pass up a bargain, I bought several bags of the tomatoes with visions of making salads and homemade tomato sauce.

That vision changed. Came home late from work the next evening, too hungry to start cooking, looked at the tomatoes and “gazpacho” popped into my head.
Gazpacho

Gazpacho is a cold tomato soup, easy to make, loaded with nutrition and flavor. It basically is a tomato smoothie.

Gazpacho Recipe

Ingredients:

·      2-4 large ripe tomatoes

·      1 small cucumber

·     1/4  medium onion

·     1/2  bell pepper (any color is fine – red makes it sweeter)

·      1 clove garlic

·      1-2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

·      1 TBSP red wine vinegar

·      1/8 tsp sea salt

·      Handful of fresh cilantro

Ingredients for Gazpacho

 

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients together in a high speed blender until super smooth.

2. Taste and adjust the flavor as needed, adding more salt for saltiness, vinegar for acidity, and garlic/onion for pungency. The soup should be creamy. If too watery, add more olive oil (or tomatoes).

3. Serve in a cup or bowl. Top with a cilantro sprig or chopped veggies.

4. Drink as is or refrigerate for later. Serve it cold.

5. It can be heated for a nice creamy warm soup.

I had mine at room temperature, and it was delicious. And it satiated my hunger enough that it became my entire dinner for the evening.

Gazpacho is packed with vitamins and antioxidants. It's low in calories but still keeps you hydrated. It’s perfect as an appetizer, snack, or light meal. Plus, it's super tasty and a breeze to whip up!

A Simple Daily Health Regimen

 Like many of you, I am always looking for easy ways to restore good health and stay healthy.  As you already know, I have dozens of posts on just this topic alone.  If one post doesn’t resonate, you can always try another post that will. This particular post may be a keeper.

BENEFITS OF OLIVE OIL / LEMON JUICE KIDNEY / LIVER CLEANSE

 

The effects of combining olive oil with lemon juice is similar to combining chocolate with peanut butter. Each ingredient is respectable on its own, but together the effects are magical. The main difference is the former combo will help heal you, but the latter, not so much.

Organic Extra Virgin Olive oil on its own has been known to effect health in the following ways:

·       High polyphenol content

·       Antioxidant effect

·       Anti-inflammatory effect

·       Improve brain health

·       Improve heart health

·       Improve skin health

·       Strengthens bone health

·       Lowers blood pressure

·       Rich in Vitamin E and K1

 

Organic Lemon Juice on its own will effect health in different ways:

·       High citric acid concentration to prevent kidney stones

·       Alkalize the body, decrease inflammation

·       Detox and promote liver function

·       Antioxidant properties which contribute to healthy skin

·       Improve bone health -Natural source of Vitamin C and calcium

·       Hydrating with electrolytes

·       Boost immune system

·       Enhance digestive health

·       Can curb appetite

·       Helps regulate blood sugar

 

Together they create a powerhouse of support to help you heal and stay healthy.

Extra virgin olive oil has polyphenols which are known to be a strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory.  It has also been proven to fight free radicals and protect against cell damage. Because of this, it may help with chronic inflammatory conditions like arthritis, heart disease, and neurodegenerative disorders.  It also has Vitamin E and K  which can foster good bacteria in your gut.

Lemons have flavonoids which also have strong anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities. 

Synergistically, extra virgin olive oil and organic lemon juice have many extra exponential benefits.  They could boost hair and skin health, protect against diabetes and improve insulin resistance.  They may help lower blood pressure and help to reduce excess clotting that leads to strokes and heart attacks.  It may help with cholesterol, HDL and LDL levels, boost metabolism to aid in weight loss and aid in digestion.  It may guard against osteoporosis, help prevent gallstones/kidney stones, heal a fatty or enlarged liver, and may help fight mood disorders, Alzheimer's and depression.

So how do we imbibe this magical elixir?

This is the way I take it.  First thing in the morning on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before any food or medication.

·       1TBSP lemon juice

·       1 TBSP olive oil

Mix together in a shot glass.  Get it down in one swallow. You may want to follow it up with a sip of something more palatable, like water or juice.

It is essential to remember that “food is medicine” when properly dispensed and consumed. By feeding the body nutritional necessities and removing toxins, exceptional health can be achieved.  Olive oil with lemon juice does both. It’s a win!

 

If you like this post, you may also like: Black Seed Oil for Dental Health