Green Magic! Freedom from Pain

Freedom from Pain in the Holiday Season

-a version of this article was originally published in Green Fire Times Nov. 2018.

Here is a simple cleanse for you to experiment with for 3 to 10 days. It’s very easy to understand because you focus solely on all green foods! Yes, all green veggies, green beans, green fruits in delicious combinations. This is a simple and easy to do diet that reduces inflammation systemically so that you hopefully have less pain, less fatigue and more energy.

The All Greens Wintertime Anti Inflammatory Diet

If you can try it just for 3 to 5 days you will see a difference, but if you really want to see a change, try it with supervision of your health care provider for six weeks. The more greens you eat, the more you will enjoy doing it because you will start feeling so alive. If you like coffee, try switching to all green tea or cardamom tea for a few days to reduce acids in the body. If you like pasta, try switching to mung beans pasta from the health food store.

The greens diet is a simple way to rebuild the body and it will quickly alkalinize the body, help your digestion, clear your skin and support the health of the liver. For however long you decide to try this plan, eat only green foods. That means salads, steamed greens, avocados, sprouts, green olives and mung beans. Stir fry thinly sliced cruciferous veggies like cabbage and broccoli, add a little cumin and tamari for flavor. Try a green taco; roll up guacamole in romaine lettuce and sprinkle chopped up green olives on top. If you want something sweet, try green fruits like apples, limes and green grapes, unless you are doing this diet to correct acne or blood sugar issues. Hot tea (preferably green tea) or warm veggie broths should be taken throughout the days on the plan. if you feel that you need more protein, you can eat a handful of nuts and a portion of cooked grains, but don't overdo it! By eating too many nuts and grains you may give yourself a stomach ache and disrupt the digestion. When you shift off of the greens diet, add fruits, then grains, and last incorporate an animal product like dairy.

Here is a website with many extra ideas and recipes for this feel great food plan: http://www.yogamurrieta.com/node/319

Shopping List and Recipe Ideas:

Avocados, guacamole, Pesto, basil garlic dipping sauce (roast a garlic bulb, blend with basil, salt, olive oil)

Asparagus, celery, broccoli, bok choy, Brussel sprouts, Parsnip, collard soup with a little apple cider vinegar

Artichokes, Sprouts and sprouted mung beans

Vegetable Pie with hemp seed and sprouted mung bean crust baked with layers of green veggies

Green Tacos: Romaine lettuce filled with delicious guacamole

Broth with different greens; green onions, leeks, Mung beans, Edamame, Sautéed greens

Green soup with lime tahini sauce seeds (see below for recipe)

Snacks:Fresh green peas, kale chips, guacamole, figs, pears, cucumbers, green juices

Hemp, flax, sunflower, sesame seeds, watermelon seeds

Fruit snacks: Green apples, green grapes, kiwis, limes, honeydew melon

From Foods for Health & Healing book, Pg. 76 & 77 - Based on the teachings of Yogi Bhajan

For more information; http://www.yogamurrieta.com/node/319

Serve any of these dishes on red plates, and your food is looking festive for the holidays!

Green Veggie Creamy Soup

Chop coarsely: 3 Zucchinis, 8 Celery stalks, 1 Head of Parsley, Steam for 10 minutes. Blend until smooth with veggie stock or water. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with lime tahini sauce

Lime Tahini Sauce

Blend all ingredients together to make a tangy sauce:

Juice of 1 lime

4 TBS Tahini

2 TBS water

2 TBS Olive oil

1 clove garlic

1 tsp maple syrup

1 tsp Tamari