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| The Ultimate Sports Drink |
INGREDIENTS
- 16oz water
- 1 tsp wheatgrass powder
- 1tsp MSM
- 1tsp raw blue agave
- 3 tiny pieces of himalayan salt
Makes 16 oz
Put ingredients in the Vitamix Blender and blend. Yep, it's just that simple!
This is better fuel for your body than any of the popular brand sports drinks. It doesn't have all the added sugars and sweeteners. The wheatgrass cleanses the blood, while loading your body with chlorophyll, protein, vitamins and minerals, while also rejuvenating the joints. The added little pieces of himilayan salts add a little more minerals while helping to replenish the body with the salts that were lost through sweating during your work out. If you're not use to the taste of Wheatgrass, it may take a minute to get use to the flavor. After that, trust me, once you see how your body feels after taking this, you won't go back to the processed sugared sports beverages.
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Some Health Benefits
Wheatgrass: Wheatgrass juice contains most of the vitamins
and minerals needed for human maintenance. It is a whole meal and a
complete protein with about 30 enzymes and is approximately 70% crude
chlorophyll. Wheatgrass is also an excellent source of calcium, iron,
magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, sulphur, cobalt, and zinc. The
many detergent factors of wheatgrass juice
will drain the lymph system, which carries away many toxins from body
cells. When an imbalance exists--sore tendons and joints, degenerative
disease, etc--there is a natural build-up of mucous in the lymph in that
area. Wheatgrass juice will break down the mucous and allow it to
drain. Wheatgrass is a powerful cleanser and may start an immediate
reaction with toxins and mucus in the stomach and thus may cause
nausea...if too much is taken.
Chlorophyll will bring toxins stored away in cells or fatty tissues
into the bloodstream. If you're new to wheatgrass juice, its best to
start with a 1-ounce shot glass serving and work your way up. Drink on
an empty stomach. Keep refrigerated and drink the same day. The starch of the wheat berry is stored energy
which when converted to simpler sugars is a quick energy source. It is
especially good for athletes because it is a juice and assimilated in 20
minutes. Wheatgrass picks up 92 of the 102 minerals in the soil and
contains all vitamins science has isolated. Because one ounce of juice
equals two pounds of produce nutritionally, it naturally shuts off the
appestat in the brain. It helps in weight control. The nutritional value
of wheatgrass Juice is so high that many people don't feel those
"cravings" that lead to overeating.
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM): This white tasteless powder is great for joints. Stanley W. Jacob reported having administered MSM to over 18,000 patients with a variety of ailments;
he co-authored a book promoting MSM with a variety of claims, including
its supposed utility as a natural source of "biologically active sulfur," suggesting that people are deficient in such forms of sulfur in their
dietary intake. There is no Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) or Daily
Value established for sulphur; it is readily available in onions, garlic
and cruciferous vegetables and in protein-containing foods, including
nuts, seeds, milk and eggs. However, when cooking these items, the sulfur in them is gone and removed. The claims for the need for sulfur supplementation originate with Robert Herschler, a biochemist
who patented "Dietary and pharmaceutical uses of methylsulfonylmethane
and compositions comprising it" in 1982; he claimed that MSM was useful
in stress, mucous-membrane inflammation, allergies and gastrointestinal
conditions. MSM is said to help arthritis, osteoporosis and even hayfever! Some have even reported that using MSM has helped their hair and nails to grow (although no former studies or trials have been made on that). A review by S. Brien, P. Prescott, N. Bashir, H. Lewith and G. Lewith of the two small randomized controlled trials of methylsulfonylmethane in osteoarthritis knee pain relief reported significant improvement in pain outcomes in the treatment
group compared to comparator treatments; however, methodological issues
and concerns over optimal dosage and treatment period were highlighted." The two trials included 168 people, of whom 52 received the drug. The
review authors are careful to state: "No definitive conclusion can
currently be drawn" and there is no "definitive evidence that MSM is
superior to placebo in the treatment of mild to moderate osteoarthritis
of the knee". While one of the two studies suggests that taking MSM for 12 weeks or
less may be safe, "further research is needed to assess its safety for
long-term use." Side effects of MSM ingestion include stomach upset, diarrhea and headache (although I have used MSM sparingly for over 3 years and have not had any of these side effects).
In the absence of studies into dosage, longer-term safety and
definitive efficacy trials, MSM must be considered experimental and
should not be self-administered or prescribed outside clinical trials. After several reports that MSM helped arthritis in animal models, one study by P.R. Usha et al.
had suggested that 1.5 g per day MSM (alone or in combination with
glucosamine sulfate) was helpful in relieving symptoms of knee
osteoarthritis. Kim et al. conducted a second clinical trial of MSM for
treatment of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Twenty-five
patients took 6 g/day MSM and 25 patients took a placebo for 12 weeks.
Ten patients did not complete the study, and intention to treat analysis
was performed. Patients who took MSM reported reduced pain and improved
physical function, but no evidence was found of a more general
anti-inflammatory effect; there were no significant changes in two
measures of systemic inflammation: C-reactive protein level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Raw Blue Agave: According to Dr Ray Sahelian, bestselling author of, Mind Boosters and The Stevia Cookbook,
there are several hundred species of the agave plant. Agave has been
cultivated for centuries, first by the Native American population and
then in Europe, when agave plants were brought back by the Spaniards and
Portugese in the 17th century. Agave contains saponins and fructans. According to Dr. Sahelian,
saponins, which are found on quinoa and many plant roots, including
ginseng, have anti-inflammatory and immune system-boosting properties,
including antimicrobial capability. In fact, the Aztecs used agave syrup
to treat wounds because of its antibacterial properties. Inulin is a type of fructan or fiber that has many health benefits.
Studies suggest that inulin can be effective in weight loss because of
its low impact on blood sugar (that's right! this is a great sugar substitute for those with diabetes) and its ability to increase satiety and
decrease appetite. Inulin is also associated with lowering cholesterol,
reducing the risk of certain cancers, and increasing the absorption of
nutrients, such as isoflavones, calcium and magnesium. In addition, Dr Sahelian says fructans are not destroyed in the stomach
and may be a delivery system for drugs to treat colon diseases such as
ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn's disease.
Himalayan Salt: Contrary to popular belief, salt is not your enemy, it is your friend. Salt is not only critical to your life, but it is one of the basic
elements of which your body is made. Like true lovers, the relationship
between salt and your health
is so intricately involved as to make them impossible to be
disentangled or untied. Without salt, you could not exist for a moment.
If your body lacks the proper amount of salt it could result in fatigue and/or dehydration. Essentially, every cell in the human body is dependent on the presence
of sodium. We find sodium diffused throughout the fluid between cells.
Each cell in our body is like a small ocean containing salty water.
Inside our cells we find primarily potassium. These two minerals, sodium
and potassium need to be in constant, dynamic balance so the cells can
exchange incoming energy with outgoing, depleted energy. Your body is
constantly monitoring these minerals and working to maintain their
delicate balance. In addition, a study conducted at the University of Graz in Austria found that people
who drank water containing Himalayan crystal salt daily experienced
improvement in respiratory conditions, organ functions, and connective
tissues. Participants also reported sleeping better and having more
energy. The study noted a boost in the ability to achieve higher
concentration levels. Some of the study participants stated they lost
unwanted weight while others involved in the study showed enhanced hair
and nail growth. Himalayan salt aids in certain disorders of the skin such as acne. It
works by drawing out toxins. The toxins that are in the body as well as
under the skin can be one of the causes of skin disorders such as acne.
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