Into the Blue Superfood Smoothie. Photo by Joy Coelho
Into the Blue
Drink the Love Molecule in your Superfoods for Enhanced Performance
The magnificent performances at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro remind us of the amazing capabilities of the human body. Optimum performance, however, is not possible only for Olympic athletes. We can supercharge our bodies, and more importantly our brains, by mindfully choosing just the right fuel for our everyday lives. By feeding your brain specific superfoods and herbs, you can elevate your brainpower to superhero status to acquire improved recall, laser focus, and more restful sleep. Here are some of our top brain boosting and beauty bolstering secrets.
E3Live “Brain On”(AFA) Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae
This beautiful bright blue pigment can deliver better cognitive function, enhance your mood, and also increase energy and endurance, making it a superfood with an attitude of gratitude. E3Live Brain On® is a phycocyanin and phenylethylamine (PEA) concentrate from an organic blue-green algae called Aphanizomenon Flos-Aquae (AFA).
PEA, also known as the “Love Molecule,” is the same compound that is found in chocolate, which sharpens our brain and opens our heart. PEA has been shown to boost and protect a number of important neurotransmitters including dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine and serotonin, which means it can also boost libido AND help you find your keys!
Ashwagandha Root
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is one of the great rasayanas (rejuvenative substances) in Ayurveda. It has been used traditionally as a rejuvenative for the reproductive system, and especially for the nervous system and the brain. It is one of the best vata (air/ether) balancing herbs, and is used to calm the nerves. Ashwagandha has also been used as a sleep regulator, taken over a period of weeks and months, to rebalance a person’s nightly circadian rhythm. This is probably in part because this herb has been shown to influence GABA signaling. GABA is the major neurotransmitter responsible for calmness and relaxation.
Brain Octane Oil™
Bulletproof® Upgraded Brain Octane Oil™ is a caprylic acid concentrate from coconut and/or palm oil of 8-carbon medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). These MCTs are fats that are quickly converted by the liver into ketone bodies, which are a remarkable slow burning energy compound that has been shown to reduce incidents of epilepsy, increase memory, and help to metabolize fat. They are an excellent way to feed your brain and to cut through brain fog.
Lion’s Mane Mushroom
Lion’s Mane, also known as the Pom Pom Mushroom, is a tree mushroom that contains two unique compounds, hericenones and erinacines, which stimulate nerve growth factor in the body.
The 1986 Nobel Prize was awarded for the research on nerve growth factor, a protein the body produces for growth, maintenance and regeneration of certain neurons. Lion’s Mane has also been shown to reduce beta amyloid plaque in the brain, and to reverse the symptoms of the damage caused by amyloid plaque.
In addition to its neurological properties, Lion’s Mane has been shown to have immune system, cardiovascular, and a wide range of protective and beneficial effects throughout the body.
Mucuna Pruriens
Mucuna, known as kapikacchu in Ayurveda, and commonly called the velvet bean in North America, is a top reproductive and nervous system rejuvenative and jing tonic or ojas (vitality) builder. It contains a number of amino acids and neurotransmitters for the brain, such as L-Dopa, serotonin, N,N-DMT, and bufotenine.
Owing to its L-Dopa concentration (L-Dopa is a precursor for the neurotransmitter dopamine) mucuna has been traditionally used for many nervous system conditions. It is used as both a male and female reproductive tonic, and has been shown to boost dopamine, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, as well as sperm count and sperm motility in infertile men.
Sip on Superfood Mocktails
How can we enjoy these brain-boosting superfoods on a regular basis without having to swallow a pile of pills? Sip on a super-charged superfood mocktail. The BLUcidity recipe (from our Food with Benefits cookbook) utilizes three of these powerful primordial foods and supports a brilliant brain and beaming beauty—while even banishing body aches! BLUcidity contains another of our favorite superfoods, E3Live Blue Majik,™ which is a blue pigment phycocyanin concentrate from spirulina. It is used as an outstanding natural anti-inflammatory as it has been shown to reduce activity of the COX-2 enzyme, which is involved in the pathways of inflammation.
BLUcidity Superfood Mocktail. Photo by Joy Coelho.
Superfood Mocktail
Enjoy BLUcidity as a daily tonic shot, or anytime you need extra brain power or creative thinking.
Gather up
1 cup (240ml) coconut milk
1 tsp – 1 tbsp MCT oil
½ tsp E3Live Blue Majik Powder
½ tsp E3Live Brain On Powder
1 tsp Host Defense Lion’s Mane (open 4 capsules)
? – ¼ tsp vanilla stevia (to taste)
? – ¼ tsp chocolate stevia (to taste)
Jing It Up (options)
1 tbsp colostrum powder
½ tsp pearl powder
½ tsp vanilla bean powder
Sling It Up
Pour the coconut milk and MCT oil into a small bowl. Mix in the dry powders with a whisk or spoon until fully integrated into the coconut milk and MCT oil. It will be a beautiful shade of blue! Add your vanilla and chocolate stevia to taste.
Into the Blue Superfood Smoothie
Jumpstart your morning by slinging this raw dark chocolate smoothie for a magnesium bump as well as to rev up your brain and burn some fat. Acai’s resveratrol, anthocyanidins, and polyphenols kick up the antioxidants while the brilliant blue phycocyanins from the E3Live Blue Majik help to extinguish inflammation. You can Jing It Up with some of our favorite ancient wisdom longevity secrets like maca, mucuna, and ashwagandha.
Gather Up
½ cup (120ml) water
2 cups (500ml) coconut milk
1 cup (187g) wild blueberries, frozen
¼ cup (30g) cacao powder
1 tbsp acai powder
½ tsp E3Live Blue Majik
¼ tsp vanilla stevia (to taste)
¼ tsp chocolate stevia (to taste)
1 tbsp birch xylitol powder (to taste)
Jing It Up (options)
1-2 tsp gelatinized maca
1 tsp ashwagandha powder
1 tsp mucuna powder
2 tbsp colostrum powder
2 tbsp hemp seeds
1 tsp pearl powder
Sling It Up
Add all of your ingredients into your blender except for the Blue Majik and blast it on high! Blend well until smooth. Add Blue Majik on top when serving and swirl with a spoon. Garnish with a few extra blueberries.
Joy Coelho and Jay Denman (the JingSlingers) are tonic herbalists and superfood specialists who have a combined 30+ years of conjuring up culinary magic. Together they customize optimum health protocols and menus for their star-studded clientele who grace the Red Carpet from the Oscars to the Grammys. Their cookbook Food with Benefits debuted in early 2016 and is a #1 Amazon Best Seller. jinslingers.com