In the summer, the human body requires higher quantities of water. But nowadays, most of the pure water we drink is so acidic that it practically goes through our bodies without nourishing our cells. One of the ways to nourish our cells with H2O properties, along with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, is by consuming alkaline fruits that have a high water content. Watermelon happens to be both in season and a high-water content (very alkaline) fruit. Cherries are also in season, and featured in our July’s HReport as an aid for insomnia.  So, here’s our Rojo Rejuv for you, a quick drink with a whole lot of health benefits. Cheers!

Prep: Scoop the watermelon (small size) into a high-speed blender without the seeds. Add the cherries (pitted) and  the lime. Blend until liquid, pour into glasses, and bottoms up! Rejuvenate, Replenish, and Restore with RED (read our color post to find out how it plays a part in our healing, too).

Nutritional info:

-Watermelon –
Watermelon is almost all water (92%) and nutrients. Melons are high water content fruits designed by nature to grow in the heat of the summer, when we are dry and thirsty (coincidence? We don’t believe in coincidences). Because of its high water and sugar content, watermelons are easy to digest. Don’t be sugar alarmed, our brains need glucose in order to function well. What we need to focus on when it comes to sugar is where is the sugar coming from – is it processed or extracted and how much am I ingesting? In this case, the carbohydrate (sugar) in watermelon is not processed or extracted, and although it has a high glycimic index (GI) of 72 (55 is low), it has a low glycemic load (GL) of 4 (10 is low). This means that the glucose content raises blood sugar because it is concentrated (GI) BUT because there is so little of it (watermelon is mostly water, remember?) the overall glycemic load (GL) on your system is relatively low.

Watermelon is extremely high in beta-carotene, lycopene, Vitamin C, potassium, and magnesium. It has the highest concentration of the phytonutrient lycopene than any other fruit or vegetable (yes, more than tomatoes, which are known for their content of this nutrient). Two cups of watermelon contain about 18.16 mg of lycopene, compared to the 4 mg in one medium size tomato. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant with anti-cancer properties, said to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. This phytonutrient is also classified as a carotenoid, which is a light-absorbing pigment that helps trap the sun’s solar energy and converts it into chemical energy. Watermelon promotes and maintains cardiovascular function. It acts as a diuretic by stimulating urine flow and contains amino acids such as citrulline and arginine, which maintain blood flow, clean arteries, and heart health. Arginine plays an important role in cell division, wound healing and the removal of ammonia in the body. Watermelon is also a good source of another powerful antioxidant: lutein. A study from Florida International University found that people whose eyes had a higher amount of lutein were 80% less likely to be suffering from age-related macular degeneration. Lutein protects our eyes by forming pigments right behind the lens in the center of the retina (the macula).

- Cherry –
A great fruit for building the body’s blood, loaded with anti-aging, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer compounds, the cherry is a powerful healing beauty. Cherries have high levels of antioxidants to keep you young and protect you from cellular damage. They are fairly high in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, some B vitamins, and are also super high in minerals. They are also rich in potassium, have a good calcium content, and modest levels of magnesium, manganese, copper, and iron. The cancer-fighting flavonoids that are the superstar nutrients in cherries are quercetin, ellagic acid (anti-carcinogenic and antimutagenic) and perillyl alcohol (which may inhibit tumor growth). Ellagic acid causes cancer cells to die and it has antiviral and antibacterial properties. It also protects you from the common carcinogen aflatoxin, found in low doses in peanut butter. Quercetin improves the health of capillaries and connective tissues and alleviates bruising, edema, varicose veins and fragile capillaries. It also has the ability to inhibit the release of histamine, aiding with conditions such as asthma, hay fever, and eczema. The Mayo Clinic found that quercetin can prevent and treat prostate cancer. Cherry juice decreases oxidative stress and is a good colon cleanser due to its anthocyanin content. Cherries (and raspberries) have the highest yields of pure anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are the pigments that give cherries that AMAZING, intense red color. They also aid the body in relieving inflammation, cause relief from gout pain, and help in lowering heart attack and stroke risk.

- Lime –
A citrus fruit that tastes acidic, but due to its high mineral content is actually alkaline-forming inside the body and one of the best aids in this regard. Limes also activate the release of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, helping to prep for digestion.

Sources: www.ars.usda.gov, www.watermelon.org www.nutritionjrnl.com/,
http://jn.nutrition.org, Staying Healthy with Nutrition by Elson Hass M.D., The New Optimum Nutrition Bible by Patrick Holford.

At some point in history a distorted idea came about: the concept of cow’s milk for human consumption. It’s a very silly thing to observe that the human species is the only mammal that drinks another mammal’s milk. Why? Ignorance, media brainwashing, billion dollar industry, because your parents told you and their parents told them., etc… Here at HLife, we encourage and empower individuals to question and research the what, when, why, how, and where of things, especially when it comes down to two very important questions: Does my body need this? and What does my body – or do my cells – actually need?

The confusion of drinking acid-promoting cow’s milk is still around due to the heavy misleading information from the milk industry, stating that people need cow’s milk for bone health. But the truth is that cow’s milk has too much protein for the human body (have you seen cow’s bones?) and it actually leaches calcium out of our bones. Our blood is very alkaline and it needs to stay that way. When the body ingests too much protein, it acidifies the blood therefore needing to leach  the alkaline mineral calcium out of our bones in order to balance the acid in our blood  and maintain the slightly alkaline pH of blood. You heard it, cow’s milk actually increases your risk of osteoporosis (all of this is not new – Dr. T Colin Campbell, nutrition expert, discusses this in our interview with him, as well as all of the issues with cow’s milk in his best-selling book, The China Study). Also, milk is usually pasteurized in order to kill bacteria, but this process also kills the enzymes that help breakdown the gigantic amount of protein in the substance. The human body doesn’t need the amount of protein cow’s milk contains. Are we calves? No. Do we need to build massive cow bones?  NO. You like milk?  The replacement and solution to the distortion is right here: NUT MILK.  Nut milks are super easy and quick to make; they are also high in minerals, good fats and enough digestible protein for a human’s body not to get acidified by an excess of protein but to get the nourishment and healthy amount of amino acids it needs. Want more calcium?  Eat your dark greens, hijiki, broccoli and sesame seeds. And now, we’d like to welcome you to liquid mineral heaven:

Prep: Soak the nuts in separate bowls for 4 hours. Rinse with filtered water and put them in a blender.  Add the water and blend at high speed for about 2 minutes. Over a large mixing bowl set your nut milk bag or cheese cloth and pour the blender mixture slowly. Once it is all poured into the nut milk bag or cloth, squeeze the rest of the liquid out with your hand (this is the real milking process, right in your kitchen). Rinse your blender with filtered water and pour the nut milk back into it. Add other ingredients, blend and serve.  If you want chocolate milk add 1 teaspoon of organic raw cacao powder. (I don’t even want to tell you what cow’s chocolate milk is made of…nasty.)

Nut milk usually keeps for about 3 days, forcing you to drink it fresh (as it should be).  When I buy bottled water, it’s usually in a glass bottle; I keep the bottles and when I have leftover nut milk I pour it into the large glass bottles and it goes in the fridge. Always give it a shake before you drink it.

Also, when I make fresh nut milk in the morning, I usually don’t add any ingredients to it because I use it for my morning ultimate smoothie. But if I’m going to have it in the fridge for a period of three days, I do add the lecithin in order to keep it fresh and not coagulated. Usually, I don’t add any natural sweetener because it tastes so great on its own that I don’t think it needs any, and that’s why I say it’s optional. Experiment in your kitchen and come up with the perfect nut milk recipe for you and your family. Creativity and finding the right balance of tastes that suit you best are part of meal-making.

Note: I usually soak my nuts the day before, rinse them and store them in glass jars for the next morning.  When I wake up, I make fresh, tasty and nutritious nut milk super quickly.

Nutritional Info: For this milk, we used two nuts: almonds and Brazil nuts. This combination is what I like to call “mineral heaven”. In HLife, there is always a nutritional reason for pairing certain foods. Almonds are the only alkaline nut, extremely high in manganese (aids in calcium absorption) and heart disease-reducing Vitamin E. Almonds are also rich in magnesium, which lessens resistance and improves the flow of blood, oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.  It also contains the important electrolyte mineral potassium, involved in nerve transmission, maintaining normal blood pressure and proper heart function. Almond is antioxidant heaven, providing the body with about 20 potent antioxidant flavonoids to keep you young and glowing. It is also a monounsaturated fat, which the International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders suggest helps you lose weight. Brazil nuts are outrageously loaded with the immune-boosting mineral selenium, which most diets lack. The vital antioxidant glutathione is only made by the body and its synthesis depends on how much selenium is available. According to the National Institutes of Health: “selenium deficiency may contribute to development of a form of heart disease, hypothyroidism, and a weakened immune system.”  Selenium has been known to be crucial for fertility in both men and women and is also needed for thyroid function.  A powerful detoxifier, selenium removes heavy metals and has protective effects against aging and disease. Besides containing other essential minerals, Brazil nuts are also extremely high in amino acids.

Food Recycling: Save the nut meat after you squeezed the bejesus out of it, and come up with a veggie mix combo to make raw patties/burgers, like we did with the Raw Yam Nut Burger.  Then put them in the dehydrator for a few hours, and voila!! You got tasty, healthy and protein-packed nutty burgers!

When we talk about a powerful nutrient-dense meal to start out your day energy-fueled and mentally prepared, we call upon: Our ultimate smoothie. And, yes, this smoothie is also the perfect replenish-and-repair drink to have after a great workout, filled with nourishment for your body and mind.  Because breakfast is the most important meal of the day, the one that will kick start, support and carry out the performance of  your mind and body, this ultimate smoothie is the perfect candidate for the job. In the morning, we must be sure to provide our mind and body with enough of the right nutrients to generate cellular energy, handle stress, and ensure efficient work performance, communication and understanding with the external and your own internal world.  So, the focus of this smoothie is cellular and brain (mind) nutrition.  Let’s get started:

Prep: Place all ingredients in blender, add pure drinking water or homemade nut milk and blend until very smooth.  I make Brazil nut milk because they contain a very high amount of the mineral selenium. Selenium is one of the most important elements in protecting against cancer, improves immunity and it is a very powerful antioxidant that works to neutralize free radicals from causing cellular damage.

Nutritional Info:

• ❉ Banana: Rich in potassium which promotes bone health, is an essential mineral for maintaining normal blood pressure and heart function.  We use this as a natural sweetener, making the dairy-free smoothie creamy and rich.  Bananas also help activate the cells that compose the stomach lining, making them produce a thicker protective (mucus) barrier against stomach acids. Eat them not too ripe nor too green.

• ❉ Berries: Strawberries blueberries and raspberries are all brain foods. They are all mineral-dense, powerhouses of antioxidants that also keep your memory sharp.  Blueberries benefits include urinary tract health, mental alertness and visual support; they have also been called a superfood  that aids with memory retention.  Raspberries  have a whopping 8 grams of fiber in one cup and contain ellagic acid (also in strawberries) that fights cancer cells without damaging healthy cells.

• ❉ Bee Pollen: One of our featured HFoods, we call it “Nature’s Perfect Food”. Find out why.

• ❉ Lecithin: Used for mental clarity, lecithin is the form of Phosphorous that the brain needs in order to absorb this mineral.  It protects cells from oxidation, supports the circulatory system and keeps many brain functions including memory, in top shape.  All neuron activity requires phosphorous in the form of lecithin.

• ❉ Chlorella: A powerful combination of amino and nucleic acids, B vitamins, Omega- 3 and -6 fatty acids, a variety of minerals and Vitamins C and E for mental clarity and sharpness.  It has the highest amount of chlorophyll then any other plant, balances blood sugars, improves mental vitality and multiplies your T-cells times four, strengthening your immune system. This powerful superfood has a range of nutrients to release the energy you need throughout the day. Chlorella is a popular HFood here at HLife, learn why.

• ❉ Dulse: Rich in iron, this red algae is loaded with essential minerals and almost all B vitamins, including Vitamin B12, C, A and E.  It is particularly high in iodine, a metabolic mineral very important for the thyroid and a variety of different gland and brain function.  Also has the highest frequency of all essential minerals, is a controller for calcium metabolism and protects the brain by destroying toxins in the blood before it passes the blood brain barrier.

• ❉ Spirulina: This blue-green algae is a complete protein (65 to 71% protein) with all 22 amino acids, the entire vitamin B family including B-12 (with more than liver), naturally chelated minerals, and essential fatty acids like gamma linolic acid (GLA, the only food source other then chlorella and mother’s milk). It is easily digestible for rapid and long-range energy.

• ❉ Ceylon Cinnamon: Regulates blood sugar, fights E.coli bacteria, lowers LDL cholesterol, fights against candida overgrowth, has anti-clotting effects, anti-cancer cells, reliefs arthritis pain, is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.  One study found that simply smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.

• ❉ Flaxseed: High in fiber (cleans your intestines, promoting bowel regularity), and absorbs excess liquid, protecting the digestive tract; has omega-3 fatty acids and phytochemicals called lignans, which regulate hormone balance and have antioxidant properties.  Also helps to reduce total blood cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels, which may help reduce the risk of heart disease.

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