PJSC 132- Weeds are the Answer!

Dandelion

If you are any kind of long term listener to PaleoJay’s Smoothie Cafe, you know one of my constant drumbeat-of-a-recommendation is for Green Paleo Smoothies! I know that just by adding the discipline of drinking a single 8-16 oz glass (or canning jar) full each and every day, you will increase your health and wellness dramatically!

Lamb's Quarters

Purslane

It’s true- the nutrient density that you gain from just such a simple addition to your diet is amazing- more that what you’ll gain from the rest of your days actual solid food eating, for one.  Also, since green vegetable consumption is automatically hugely increased, which loads us up with antioxidants, magnesium, and virtually everything else that modern civilized folks are chronically deficient in!
Also, by substituting such a wonderful, paleo and ancestral meal as a green smoothie as breakfast, you displace another meal that would be undoubtedly much worse, like cereal, toast, or pancakes that spike your blood sugar and insulin response, rather than drinking the most incredibly healthy thing you can put into your body- a Paleo Green Smoothie!

Broadleaf Plantain

And now, I am going to tell you how to make your daily smoothie much MORE nutritious!  And for FREE!!

Weeds are the answer!

Now, I’m not being a smart aleck hear.  Well, maybe a little- but the point is this: certain weeds, perennial weeds like dandelions, broadleaf plantain, purslane, and lamb’s quarters are all not only as nutritious as something like kale- they are way, way MORE nutritious by far.
Start with dandelion- you know what it looks like already, no problem.  Gather a few plants, leaves are easiest to use, but the entire plant (including the root), is edible and wonderfully nutritious.  Just start with the leaves.
I store them in container in the freezer, and each time I make a smoothie I add a handful or so.  (Free, remember?)  You really can’t taste them at all in a smoothie, at least the PaleoJay Green Smoothie at www.paleojay.com and in the pages of PaleoJay’s Smoothie Cafe, the book.
The nutrient composition of all of these wild plants are far, far beyond that of cultivated vegetables of any type; for instance dandelion has 4 times the beta carotene of broccoli!  And all of the nutrients are that magnified, as wild plants have not been hybridized and genetically modified for taste and storage superiority- they are as vital and wild as Conan the Plant Barbarian!  Think of wild plants as the exact opposite of GMO’s!

Broadleaf plantain is at least as common and available as dandelion, and almost as identifiable.  I gather up handfuls, and store them right beside my dandelions.  Lamb’s quarters are the most common weed in my garden, and when I think how much time I wasted pulling them out from between my lettuce plants, I could shoot myself!  Just cut them right into your lettuce as you are cutting your lettuce for salads!  They are far, far, far more nutritious than the lettuce and other greens you put into your salad, and actually taste quite good as well.
Lamb’s quarters grow quite large, and even if you don’t have a garden they are everywhere!  The large leaves are better in smoothies, since they are not so mild tasting, but the nutrition is still just as good.

Purslane is probably the most strangely nutritious of all since it is very high in Omega 3 fats!  Very unusual for a plant… also, it is loaded with other nutrient benefits, and grows almost everywhere, even in cities.  Have a container for this one in your freezer as well!

As you can see, it is quite easy to get smoothie ingredients in your yard, and in many other places as well- just make sure that the ground you get it from is not contaminated with chemicals like Roundup and glyphosate in other formulations!  This is only on weed-free carpets of lawn from anally retentive people who need total control!  Avoid these lawns, and probably you need to avoid such people as well…  They are clueless on priorities in life, and also on matters of health.  Although I enjoy golf, I would never ever either walk barefoot on, or pick a weed from a golf course- (of course, that is if I could ever find one!)  But, not even from the rough would I take a weed there.

Soon, there will be available a line of wild vegetable powders available, but they are not available yet.  When they are, be sure I will include a link on my site, www.paleojay.com.  When that day comes, even urban dwellers will be able to simply sprinkle a small amount of “wild powder” into their smoothie canister, or even atop their salad or casserole to receive all the benefits of wild plants, easily, safely, and quickly!

I will keep you posted.