Before my healthy lifestyle journey, I experienced numerous symptoms (chronic fatigue, muscle pain, headaches, cracks in the corners of my lips, excess stomach acid, ulcers and dull hair) that were related to consuming a mostly acidic diet. In seeking alternatives to medication for these chronic conditions I found out I could heal my body by eating foods that were more alkalized. These foods include lemons, limes, avocados, dark leafy green vegetables, beets, celery, cucumbers, all of the fresh herbs and many of the dried herbs, coconut, raw pumpkin seeds, hemp seed oil, etc. Some of the low acidic foods that contribute to my 80:20 Alkaline diet are blueberries, cherries, buckwheat, millet, quinoa, raw almond butter, flax seeds, certain beans and lentils.
Over time I have found a variety of ways to ensure I get all my veggies, and my favorite is making raw alkalizing soup which some consider to be a smoothie. Raw soups are a nutritional powerhouse because they retain more live enzymes than cooked foods. Enzymes convert the food we eat into chemical structures that can pass through the membranes of the cells lining the digestive tract and into the blood stream. Put another way, enzymes are the living proteins that direct the life force into our biochemical and metabolic processes. They help transform and store energy, make active hormones, dissolve fiber and prevent clotting. They have anti-inflammatory effects. Enzymes help balance and restore the immune system, and heal many diseases. They even help repair our DNA and our RNA.
My two quick and easy alkalizing raw soup favorites are Pineapple Avocado Protein Surprise Soup and Anti-inflammatory Raw Green Soup:
Pineapple Avocado Protein Surprise (all ingredients are organic or non GMO)
1 small organic avocado
1 cup of frozen pineapples
2 handfuls of green leafy vegetables
½ cup of cilantro
1 lemon with half of the rind (organic only)
½ to 1 cucumber
1-2 servings of hemp protein powder
Alkalized water or purified water (10-16 ounces)
Put all of the ingredients at once into my Health Master blender and mix all ingredients very well. The avocado and the frozen pineapples may make the drink a bit thick. However you can add more water to liquefy it more. Pour in a bowl or in a cup and consume.
Anti-inflammatory Raw Green Soup
(all ingredients are organic or non GMO)
2 handfuls of green leafy vegetables
1 handful of cilantro
½-2 tablespoons of turmeric
1-2 zucchini (with skin)
1 cup of frozen peas
1 clove of garlic (optional)
Juice from one whole lime and/or lemon
Alkalized water or purified water (10-16 ounces)
Put all of the ingredients at once into my Health Master blender and mix all ingredients very well. The frozen peas may make the drink a bit thick. However you can add more water to liquefy it more. Pour in a bowl or in a cup and add the fresh lemon and/or lime juice on the top before consuming.
Do you guys love raw soups? Please share!
Also by EnJunaya: Are You Exposed to Acrylamide in Food?
Plant-Based Diet: How I Lost Weight and Changed My Life
Related: My Alkaline Diet Journey
The Raw Food Question: Panacea or Preference?
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Photo: Gaurav Mishra via Flickr
