Paleo Smoothie State of the Art! podcast on PJSC

OK.  Smoothies get a bad rap from paleo circles; always have.  Undeservedly, at least for the most part.  Carnivore is cool, and I will admit it has a place, as does Keto.  Both, in my mind, have a therapeutic use, meaning that in certain conditions and with certain autoimmune problems, they might be the perfect fit.

But, for a lifelong diet- no.  You want a diet heavy in plants, loaded with micronutrients, and above all- ancestral.  The easiest way to to that nowadays, with our depleted soils and nutrient lessened standard vegetables, is with a smoothie.  A drink made in a high speed blender (Vitamin is still the very best), where the nutrients within are thoroughly blended (chewed) by the machine to gain the maximum nutrient value from each stalk and leaf.  To me, this is so obvious as to not even be arguable!

For many years, I have followed the paleo or ancestral diet by this method- it seemed to me initially, upon reading about the paleo diet, that this would be the ideal way to achieve it in the modern world.  And it has worked out for me and mine admirably.

I make a smoothie on a roughly weekly basis, consisting of kefir, green tea, raw eggs, cinnamon and other spices, turmeric and ginger root.  I then add in broccoli and cauliflower (and carrot) in the ubiquitous ‘California Mix’ frozen veggie mix, along with citrus (grapefruit is a fave, since it enhances absorbability), or lemon and orange, along with mixed frozen berries and perhaps a cored apple or a handful of cranberries.  In other words, all the 30 or so food groups…

I mix this up, and put it into canning jars for my week or so, breakfast or breakfast adjunct daily.  Incredibly healthy, non matter what some naysayers might say!  A mainstay, really, to health and vibrancy.

But live and learn, as they say: I have determined that two additions are in order:  Spirulina and Natto.  

Now, spirulina is an algae, a blue-green sort that is, basically: pond scum.  The Aztecs cultivated it, long ago in South America, and it nourished them for hundreds of years.  I researched all of the algaes, and spirulina wins, hands down for assimilability (it breaks down quickly for digestion), and for its complete protein content, and high concentrations of Vitamin B12, chelated minerals, natural plant rhamnose sugars, enzymes and trace elements.  Tons of magnesium and other minerals as well.

Let it suffice to say that I compared, kelp and chlorella as well, and Spirulina wins hands down!  Put in a couple of teaspoons in your paleo smoothie…

The other is NATTO!  This is a traditional Japanese dish, made of fermented soybeans.  (Yum!)  Not.

Now, normally, I never eat soybeans.  Those in the US are GMO, estrogenic, and disgusting.  Avoid soy almost always!  

But, when it comes to getting vitamin K2 into your diet, fermented Japanese (non GMO) soybeans are wonderful!  They are the most concentrated form of vitamin K2 that you can find.  By far!  

K2 is so crucial, since it regulates the calcium in your body, and makes sure that it does not go into your blood vessels and heart (this causes heart disease largely) but instead where it should go, into your bones and teeth!  Almost everyone is deficient in it in America and Europe, since we have strayed so far from our ancestral diet.  Salami, egg yolks, pastured butter, and organ meats have it, but we have left those wonderful foods behind, thanks to our horrible sick care system!  (Low fat, vegetable oil, no red meat awful advice of fake science).

Now, no one eats natto.  Why?  It is the slimiest, foulest, most rancid food on the planet!  At least for those of us who never acquired a taste.  Like Limburger cheese for other cultures…

Oh- it is also loaded with omega 3 fats, and did I say that it is more effective than statins to keep your arteries clear?  Japanese have the longest life spans in the world- you need this food in your diet!  

But it tastes like death…  

Just get Natto powder, and put it in your smoothie!  Really, it is that simple: put in a teaspoon or two, and you are golden, a healthy Japanese sage, just a smoothie away!  

Sometimes, real health and wellness is just a sprinkle in a smoothie away!

Spirulina powder- the latest super-food addition to the Paleo Smoothie!

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Just when you thought you'd seen everything that could be crammed into a Vitamix blender, well... you haven't!  Trust me, I don't make "changes for the sake of change". Only when I find something that is a real improvement to the Paleo Smoothie, (which I think is a lynchpin in the foundation of a truly Paleo-esque, nutrition packed lifestyle); only then to I change the "formula"!

Here is the latest addition to the Paleo Smoothie- about 1 Tablespoon per canister of spirulina powder.

See how happy I am about spirulina??


You will be too; just read a bit: spirulina super food (a Blog devoted entirely to... spirulina.

More to read, if you'd like: spirulina- just the basics, ma'am!

Suffice it to say, this blue/green algae called spirulina is not the same ingredient we use called Kelp.  Both are great additions; but kelp is a seaweed, and while loaded with micro-nutrients, it is a significant source of iodine.  A strict paleo diet can sometimes be lacking here, so I think including kelp is an excellent strategy!

Spirulina is, again, an algae, and has a different nutrient profile than kelp.  Both are great, but spirulina has the advantage of being a big helper in weight loss, and is also a super protein supplement- it is a complete protein, (like eggs or meat) which is very unusual in a plant source.

In other words, spirulina somehow manages to be "plant-animal-fresh-water seafood", all in one!

Here is an interesting tidbit:

Some scientists speculate that the "manna" of the wandering Israelites, which appeared miraculously on rocks following a devastating dry spell and was described as tasting "like wafers made with hone " may have been a form of dried, dormant Spirulina.

So, if it could keep the Israelites alive in their wanderings, just think what Spirulina can do for you!


"But Jay" I hear you shouting "Just where can I GET this miracle food??)


I get mine from the same place that I get my last Paleo Smoothie "addition" Coconut Milk Powder from:

bulkfoods.com- spirulina link

To save on shipping, order them both at the same time- they have $5.00 shipping on orders of $75 or more.   I have no affiliation with bulk foods.com, but find they have great products, at a great price.
(You don't have to buy their other bulk foods, like the various candies and flours- definitely not PaleoJay approved!)   Caveat emptor! (let the buyer beware)

J