pain-reliever-smoothie-with-pineapple-and-fresh-basil

Ingredients

Half fresh pineapple cut into chunks
2 cups frozen cherries
1 handful fresh basil
1/4- 1" piece Turmeric root, peeled
1/4- 1" piece Ginger Root
1 16 oz bottle coconut water
Honey to taste, optional

If you suffer from chronic pain, headaches, muscle strains, broken bones, sore joints or arthritis, try this smoothie before taking a pill. Yes, taking a pill is much faster and takes less effort but I strongly feel you will be so much better off if you eat or drink foods that naturally reduce inflammation throughout your entire body and do not damage your stomach or digestive tract which may cause many more problems down the road. Gut health is crucial to your physical and mental well being.

In the past 6 months, I have sent this recipe to at least a dozen parents whose kids have broken a bone playing a sport or falling over on a driveway. When I was growing up rarely did a kid break something even after not so bright stunts like flying down a neighbor’s bumpy backyard on a bike, flipping over the handlebars and landing flat on their back with a bike crashing on top of them. Now it is common place to see a kid in a cast. You can even swim in them.

I developed this smoothie after hearing and reading about the debate as to whether Ibuprofen and other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may or may not slow the healing of bones. I opted to play it safe and use natural anti-inflammatories to dull the pain after breaking two vertabras in my back in a skiing accident. I feel the decision to go drug free drastically improved my recovery and prognosis. At my last X ray appointment, my doctor told me my compressed vertebras grew in height 4 degrees which he has never seen before. I will post more on the foods I ate to give my body the nutrients to rebuild my bones.

As you know the healing progress can be uncomfortable but bearable if you take the edge off. Sipping on several glasses of this pain reliever smoothie throughout the day did the trick for me and I did not feel the need to pop a pill. I believe this smoothie works because cherries, pineapple, turmeric and basil have the same ability as NSAIDs to block the compounds that increase cyclooxygenase enzymes (Cox). Foods and drugs that inhibit Cox enzymes reduce pain, swelling and inflammation. The basil is also rich in much needed vitamin K to help in the healing progress. Coconut water replenishes electrolytes as well as can lower stress and muscle tension due to the magnesium and is rich in phosphorus which is one of the minerals needed to heal bones.

To make this smoothie in less than 5 minutes, use frozen organic cherries. Pitting takes too much time when you are in pain. You can use the frozen pineapple pieces but they may not include the core which has much needed bromelain to increase the absorption of turmeric in the digestive tract. I recommend taking the time to cut up the fresh pineapple to ensure you get the core. It should still take 5 minutes with a fresh pineapple.

If you have not used turmeric or ginger root before, start with a smaller piece about 1/4″ long and build to a 1 inch chunk. Peel the brown skin with the back of your spoon or paring knife. Add some local honey to hide the taste if needed. If you are taking blood thinning medications, diabetes medications or drugs to reduce stomach acid, talk to your doctor before taking Turmeric (curcumin)- University of Maryland.

Please let me know how you feel after trying this smoothie. Also, I would love your thoughts on why so many more kids are breaking bones than in the past. I feel the increase in broken bones may be due to the lack of minerals in our diets, especially vitamin D and K. I told a friend about MK7 (vitamin K2) after hearing her 11 year old daughter has broken 4 bones in the past several years and her child has not broken another bone this year since she started taking the MK7.

Here are some other recipes you can try to alleviate inflammation and boost your antioxidants:

Cranberry Turmeric Shot

Basil Pesto

Fennel Frond Pesto

Blackberry Farm Smoothie

Acai Blackberry Mint Smoothie

Blackberrry Honey Ice Cream

Also increase your intake of omega 3 fatty access with wild salmon, flax seed and chia. Soak the chia to cause it to gel or you will not get all the omega 3 benefits.

Directions

1) Cut a pineapple in half, remove the skin and cut into chunks. Add to the blender. Add 2 cups of frozen cherries. Add 16 ounces of coconut water. Add a handful of fresh basil. Cut and peel 1/4 to 1″ piece of fresh turmeric and ginger root. Blend well. Sweeten with honey if needed. Garnish with basil leaves or a pineapple wedge. Enjoy!