Vitamin C Vanilla Elixir

To fortify the immune system and create resilience, make yourself a refreshing elixir throughout the winter. We have the power to never get sick again, and this drink is one surefire way to strengthen your body to resist all the unwanted illnesses that come to the surface especially this time of year.

Vitamin C Vanilla Elixir

1.5 quarts spring water (www.findaspring.com)
1 tbsp Truly Vitamin C (acerola cherry powder) OR 2 tsp camu camu (camu is a bit higher in vitamin C and a bit lower in sugar)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp organic white stevia extract powder (from the NOW brand)
3 pinches of high quality sea salt
handful of ice (made w/ spring water of course)

Optional: 2 drops of organic orange extract (the kind that is a water alcohol and orange oil mix, often found near vanilla extract in a natural foods store).

To make this brew even more tonifying, add 1 cup tonic tea (loose leaf herbs, roots, bark, teas that are decocted, then strained on the stovetop)

Blend on high until frothy and let it settle for a couple minutes. This drink will taste like vanilla cream soda w/ a slight fruity kick (which I was not a fan of when I was a kid, but now, this healthy, tasty version I crave every day).

Putting Island Fire to the Test

If you've been following my Tweets lately, you'll notice that I've been mentioning the Elements for Life product, Island Fire, quite a bit. I have been taking 2 tablespoons in the afternoon (diluted with water so it can be enjoyed longer) for a spicy kick and sustained energy throughout the entire evening. What I noticed immediately was that I've become more clear in my thinking and have been able to concentrate, focus, and work for extended periods tirelessly. Now keep in mind that I am also starting most of my days with Gold Rush (24 Karat liquid Gold), and the mental clarity (plus creativity and imagination) is certainly related to to this, but it's been the Island Fire that revs me up ready to tackle all projects on the ever-growing to-do list.

Just about a week ago in Bikram yoga, I must've twisted my left ankle while overextending myself in one of the poses (possibly in the early part of the standing series). Oddly, I didn't notice inflammation or swelling, or experience any pain, until 3 days later when I returned from a leisurely 3 mile walk around Greenlake Park. Why is it that right when I make the commitment to be more consistently active, which has always been struggle for me, that one of the main joints on my body is in poor condition to do so? Is the universe telling me I should just kick up my feet and give up? No way! Being who I am (a proud Living Superfoodist striving for equal dedication to exercise), I reach for raw foods, fresh juices, green smoothies (new love for this!), medicinal herbs, and superfoods to see how resilient I've become by living this pure lifestyle.

My self-determined protocol for super speedy healing and recovery:

* 1/2 a pineapple a day (either freshly cut or dropped into a green smoothie)

* frozen organic cherries in my superfood smoothies

* Enzyme therapy with HealthForce's Digestion Enhancement Enzymes (providing all enzymes)

* Arnica pellets throughout the day

* Truly Vitamin C (which from FOOD, not synthetic ascorbic acid, immensely speeds recovery of ANY kind - physical and mental trauma)

* Turmeric powder (from Mountain Rose Herbs) added to my Superfood cacao smoothies

* Maha Vishgarbha oil (from Tattva's Herbs, some local friends who created an Ayurvedic herbal company)

* A homemade salve that relieves muscle soreness and inflammation

* Island Fire (a live enzyme Tonic Elixir with 140 + Bio-Active Enzymes, Raw Tahitian Noni Juice, Raw Hawaiian Turmeric Juice (olena), Raw Ginger Juice, Meyer Lemon Juice, Spices, colloidal plant and ocean sourced ionic minerals, including rare trace elements (gold, platinum, silver, and Indium).

* MSM powder - naturally occuring form of dietary sulfur

I've been gradually implementing this protocol and will pay great attention to what is working and how quickly I get results. This supercharged regimen allowed me to perserve through yoga this morning. You might think I'm nuts to have gone to yoga class with one working ankle, but I missed the heated room and everything else about it. I said I'd be happy even if I stayed in Savasana the entire time, which fortunately was not the case. We'll see how my body feels tomorrow!