Sunday Morning Swamp Sludge

ORIGINALLY POSTED IN 2009

It’s Sunday morning. I drank some water with lemon. Then I drank some coconut water. (And no, I’m not hungover. I stayed home and went to bed nice and early). I love Sunday mornings when I have no plans, especially when it’s raining out which makes for a good excuse to stay in pajamas all day. On to breakfast.

Here’s what went into my Vitamix: peeled chopped cucumber, about ¼ pineapple, 1 lemon, 1 lime, cup of coconut water (what was left in my quart container), big splash of aloe vera juice, 2 big dropperfuls of green tea extract, dropperful of liquid stevia, small bunch cilantro, small bunch parsley, cup of frozen blueberries, ¼ banana, heaping spoon of Vitamineral Green, more than a heaping spoon of Spirulina, splash of vanilla extract, and a small spoon of hemp protein. If I had bee pollen at home would have thrown some of that in too.

Now, that’s hardly a specifically recommended recipe. It’s just what I happened to have on hand. It looks like swamp sludge. But it tastes really good. I swear.  I need to get an iPhone or something so I can take pix of this stuff. I’m pulling an old photo that happens to have a glass of something that resembles today’s breakfast in it. Actually, it’s the same photo from left top corner of blog, just scrolled down. My swamp sludge is much thicker in this case, but a similar color. ANYway!

So, did you know that spirulina has been proposed by both NASA and the European Space Agency as one of the primary foods to be cultivated during long-term space missions? (I didn’t, but I just read it on Wikipedia). It contains an unusually high amount of protein (between 55% and 77% in dry weight, depending on the source) and it’s a complete protein, containing all essential amino acids. Again, I’m getting my facts here off the net. I wouldn’t know this off the top of my head. At the moment, I don’t even remember what amino acids really are, but if they’re “essential” I probably want them. Right? I mean, okay, as I recall they’re the building blocks of proteins, but still, I have a hard time visualizing what those looks like. I’m picturing LEGOs. Anyway. What else? This single celled blue green algae is also rich in B vitamins, essential fatty acids (here it is again… essential… I want those fatty acids!), and minerals. Also, with their intense concentration of blue green pigments (chlorophyll and others) they just may be extra good protection against whatever may be harmful about too much sun exposure (damaging UV radiation). Since they just came out with a study claiming tanning beds for sure cause cancer (like, this time, for real, as opposed to just previous rumors?) then you might want to get your spirulina on before heading to tan-o-rama. As a New York City resident, I hereby fully confess to occasional tanning salon visits. The other day, I’m running into my building and my neighbor Maxine goes, “Oh Hi, where’d you get that lovely tan!?” and I’m like, “Oh, Thanks! I just got it, over on 13th street near University!” as if it’s a handbag or something.

Speaking of sun protection, aloe vera always comes to mind as a soothing post-sun gel. But I like to drink it. This sturdy plant thrives in the desert. It’s full of more of those amino acids, and packed with antioxidants (I always picture cartoonish colorful little round cells fist fighting cartoonish and irregular shaped mean-looking free radicals). Aloe vera juice is used a lot in internal cleansing and detoxifying. If you’re not used to it, you might notice in the beginning that it gets things moving along (if you know what I mean). Apparently, it not only promotes healthy digestion (by expelling bad bacteria and yeast), but it improves bowel regularity. This could be why it contributes to weight regulation and enhances energy levels as well. It makes sense. Who wants to be backed up, or worse, have “irritable” bowels, as in IBS, or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Cranky bowels are no fun.

Drinking aloe vera juice also apparently “repairs collagen and elastin”… again, I don’t know what that means but I read it all the time in the claims of expensive skin care products, their point being that it (aloe, or the expensive skin care) will make your skin look younger and more radiant. It’s also anti-inflammatory and good for your joints. Cool. Checking on Wikipedia: Other uses for aloe vera include the dilution of semen for the artificial fertilization of sheep. Really? That’s incredibly useful to know.

Now that I’m done writing this, my big glass of fruity swamp sludge has only sludgy-remains in it, but my bowels are happy, and my insides otherwise energized. If only my apartment felt as clean as my intestines.