Well, it’s my 3rd outing as a blogger, and I have to admit I quite look forward to sharing my thoughts in this way. It’s really good to be able to focus on food, health and nutrition, but in such a way that things need to make sense to anyone reading this. In other words, coherence rather than chaos needs to be the order of the day.
The chaos this week involves being generously offered local authority housing with extra disabled facilities. It’s brilliant news, but of course I’m totally flat out organising things, because I have to move in 2 weeks’ time!
So far this week, I can say honestly I have missed 2 days when I should have had my healing smoothies. I have run out of fruit, and did not have time to go shopping! Planning is an important part of smoothie recipes, especially on a trial period, or things go awry very quickly.
Health-Food Update
So let’s cut to the chase. I’ve been treated for problems with my periods with Cerazette, the mini pill, which is hoped to increase my progesterone levels. As we speak I am on Day 12 of my period; I guess it’s not doing its thing then! Naturally, getting to the doctor is impossible when I’m going here and there trying to organize papers and collect house keys, so that is definitely a job for before the bank holiday weekend.
In the midst of this chaos, it’s a fair assumption to make that the smoothie factory has mostly fallen by the wayside in favour of a quick sandwich for lunch and whatever creeps from the freezer for dinner. So suddenly my fruit and vegetable intake has dropped. There is more though.
Smoothie Detox?
When I was taking my secret smoothie recipe (red fruit, banana, rice milk, Barleygrass, Hemp & Maca), after about 8 or 9 days I started developing the most dreadful wind. Yes, I know it’s not very glamorous, but I’d be delighted if anyone else could confess to a similar problem and offer advice! I accept I was working on a healthy eating regime at the same time, but I was not excessively dieting in a way that would normally affect my bowels. I don’t suffer from any condition such as irritable bowel syndrome so it was most odd. And very uncomfortable, practically ferocious (just ask my children!)
Having tried hemp & maca in the past with no ill effects, I immediately cut the teaspoon of barleygrass from the smoothies. Within 2 days I deflated a great deal, felt much more comfortable in myself, but was rather cross that I was in a position to imbibe all these wonderful nutrients in a single crazy smoothie, but my body seemed to be rebelling. Not to be daunted however, and on the advice of Claire Kelly at Indigo Herbs, I reintroduced the Barleygrass, but at only half a teaspoon per day. I can report I was a little gurgly, but nothing like as bad. Given the nature of the chlorophyll in barleygrass, and it’s need to be digested as a fibre, I can only assume from this result that a build up was occurring that my bowel could not process. Perhaps I was being a little over-optimistic in being so full on about getting started.
Take it easy!
As with any major dietary change, it seems to me that remembering that superfoods are food supplements rather than an easy pill to swallow, may well be key. Gentle changes help the body adjust more easily than a sudden boost. These are FOODS and not a quick fix, but something to be introduced over time. So although I’ve gurgled and suffered a gynaecological nightmare over the past days, I’m starting to think that the way to approach this vitamin bonanza is via a series of subtle but beneficial changes, rather than a huge effort which hopes for instant results in just one juice. I shall still see my GP about my hormonal symptoms, but I’m not giving up hope on my smoothies just yet – just being a little smoother with myself about how I use them.
