When I was younger, constipation was a big problem for me.  It was typical for me to have one or two bowel movements per week, and often times I had to take laxatives and consume a lot of fiber in order to move my bowels.  Due to the constipation I developed other problems, such as hemorrhoids.  Millions of people have the same problem, and while sometimes this condition can be resolved quickly, such as when it’s caused by hypothyroidism, other times it can take months or years to correct this problem.

While having a hypothyroid condition can lead to constipation, many of the people I consult with who have hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis already had constipation before developing their condition.  So in some cases the decrease in thyroid hormone isn’t the main cause of the constipation, but it can exacerbate the problem.  If an imbalance in thyroid hormone is the primary factor which is responsible for constipation, then this imbalance of course needs to be addressed.  Although people with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease typically have the opposite problem (an increase in daily bowel movements), some people with hyperthyroid conditions experience constipation as well.

In addition to hypothyroidism, there are numerous other factors which can cause constipation.  Here are some of the more common ones, and what you can do to help correct this:

1) Not enough fluid intake. When a patient of mine is experiencing constipation, one of the first things I’ll ask is if he or she is drinking enough water.  But how much water is enough?  Typically you want to drink about 40 to 50% of your body weight in ounces, which admittedly can be a challenge for some people.  I’ll have some people tell me they drink 6 to 8 glasses of water per day.  This might be sufficient for some people, but of course it depends on how many ounces each glass consists of, and then how much the person weighs.

I’m not one to drink full glasses of water at a time, as I have a 20 ounce water bottle, and I take frequent sips from this, and my goal is to try to get through at least two of these per day.  In addition, I usually have a couple of smoothies per day, and each time I’m adding 16 ounces of water.  So I’m drinking about 70 to 80 ounces of water per day, and my body weight is around 165.  On days I exercise I will drink even more water.  And just to let you know, I wasn’t always a water drinker, as growing up I primarily drank cow’s milk, soda, and fruit punch.  Fortunately I was never a coffee drinker, but it still wasn’t easy to stop drinking these other beverages and drink as much water as I currently do.

2) Not enough fiber in the diet. You ideally want your fiber intake each day to be 25 to 30 grams.  Eating at least five servings of vegetables per day will help you to accomplish this, although doing this alone probably won’t be sufficient.  7 to 9 servings per day would be even better, and this has always been one of my main weaknesses, as growing up I never ate vegetables, and so even to this day it’s challenging for me to have five serving of vegetables per day, let alone nine.  However, since I began adding vegetables to my smoothies it has become much easier for me to reach this goal.

In addition to eating plenty of fresh, and preferably organic vegetables, you can also get some of your fiber from fruit.  Apples are an excellent source of fiber.  Eating raw nuts and seeds can provide you with some fiber, although you don’t want to eat too many servings of nuts and seeds each day.  There are actually two types of fiber, as there is insoluble and soluble fiber.  Vegetables and most grains consist of mostly insoluble fiber, while fruits, oats, and legumes have mostly soluble fiber (1).  Both types of fiber can help with constipation, although insoluble fiber will help to a greater extent.

Some people will add a fiber supplement to their diet to help with constipation.  While it would be best to get all of the fiber you need from the food you eat, if this is a problem then I’d prefer for people to take a fiber supplement than to remain constipated.  Many people take Psyllium Husks, which can help a great deal with constipation and can be purchased at most health food stores.  However, some people are sensitive to this and therefore need to take a different type of fiber supplement, such as apple pectin or rice bran.  Also, those people taking levothyroxine will want to make sure not to take any fiber supplements at the same time, as this can affect the absorption of thyroid hormone.  This usually isn’t a problem since most people who take thyroid hormone take it on an empty stomach upon waking up in the morning.

3) Food allergies. Sometimes having certain food sensitivities can cause or contribute to constipation.  One of the most common food allergies which can cause constipation is cow’s milk.  Sometimes other foods can cause constipation, as some sources have shown wheat, eggs, beef, and soy as causing constipation in some people.  And there have been other foods as well.  Once again, I’m not suggesting for people with constipation to avoid all of these foods.  For example, eggs are a very healthy food, and most people do fine eating them regularly.  However, if you have constipation and have followed the rest of the advice given in this post yet are still having problems, then you might want to try eliminating one or more of these foods for three or four days and see how you respond.  I know some healthcare professionals will recommend testing for food allergies or sensitivities.  While this is an option, such testing isn’t completely accurate, and so rather than spend hundreds of dollars on this testing I would just follow an elimination diet.

4) Magnesium deficiency. Being deficient in magnesium can cause constipation.  Of course if you eat a good amount of the foods I listed above then this will help with this.  However, if someone has a moderate to severe constipation problem then supplementation is probably necessary, and a person might need to take 300 to 600mg of magnesium daily (spread throughout the day) in order to correct a magnesium deficiency.  In addition, too much calcium can also cause constipation, and so if you’re taking high doses of calcium supplements each day then this might also be causing or contributing to your problem.

5) Gut problems. If someone has problems with their digestive system then this potentially can lead to problems with constipation.  Imbalances in the gut flora and/or an increase in intestinal permeability can be factors.

So if you are experiencing constipation, then hopefully this information will help you to overcome this problem.  Sometimes all it takes to correct constipation is to drink more water and/or to get more fiber in the diet.  But other times it can be more complex.  Either way, for optimal health you really do need to move your bowels at least once per day, and when constipation is related to a food allergy, problems with the gut, or another complex situation, then your best bet is to work with a natural healthcare professional.

Every week I get numerous emails from people with both hypothyroid and hyperthyroid conditions who want to know what diet they should follow, and which supplements they should take for their condition.   With regards to diet, while I do recommend for those with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions to eat whole foods, minimize their consumption of refined foods and sugars, and to consider going on a gluten free trial, there may be variations in one’s diet.  As for nutritional supplements, although there are general supplements and herbs which can help people with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, as well as those people who have hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease, the truth is that different people will require different supplements.

With that being said, I realize that there are some natural healthcare professionals who will recommend the same exact diet, along with the same supplements and herbs for specific conditions.  For example, if someone has fibromyalgia, then some doctors will put every single person on their “fibromyalgia protocol”.  Similarly, if someone has migraines, then this person will receive their “migraine protocol”.  And of course if someone has Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis then they will be put on the “Hashimoto’s protocol”.

When you think about it, in a way this is similar to the approach of a medical doctor.  If someone has high cholesterol, then they typically will be given a statin.  If they have high blood pressure then they will be given a beta blocker.  If they have a hypothyroid condition they will be given synthetic thyroid hormone.  Obviously the two situations are somewhat different, as a natural healthcare professional will attempt to address the actual cause of the condition, which usually isn’t the case with most medical doctors.  And of course there is a big difference between nutritional supplements, herbs, and prescription drugs.

Why Bother Doing A Case History?

Most healthcare professionals will have their patients complete a thorough case history, and this includes myself.  But if you plan on putting every person on the same protocol then why bother to have the patient do this?  In fact, why have a consultation if you’re going to recommend the same protocol for each condition?

Different People Have Different Triggers

Two people can have the same condition, and even have the same genetic predisposition, yet may require substantially different protocols.  And one reason for this is because there are different triggers.  For example, for some people with autoimmune thyroid conditions, gluten can be the main trigger.  On the other hand, mineral deficiencies and heavy metal toxicities can also act as triggers.  A leaky gut is a common trigger.  Stress can also be a trigger, as can an infection.  There can be numerous factors which can trigger an autoimmune response, and so just putting someone on the same diet and giving everyone the same supplements won’t work for everyone.

For example, if a certain healthcare practitioner puts every single patient with an autoimmune thyroid condition on a gluten-free diet, and has everyone follow a leaky gut protocol, then this no doubt will benefit many people.  However, this might not be the optimal protocol for someone who isn’t sensitive to gluten and/or doesn’t have intestinal permeability problems.  This doesn’t mean that such a person can’t still benefit from following this protocol, but their specific condition might require a different diet, along with different supplements and herbs.

Plus, even if you find out what the trigger is and remove it, remember that one still needs to correct the compromised areas of the body.  And this will vary too, as one might have gut problems, while someone else might have adrenal weakness, while another person might have a hormone imbalance.  Many people have more than one problem, and sometimes it can get very complex.

In summary, although following a natural treatment protocol involves eating well, taking certain supplements and/or herbs, and addressing other lifestyle factors, one needs to keep in mind that different people will require different protocols.  Another thing to keep in mind is that when it comes to taking supplements and herbs, different people will also require different dosages.  And so it really is important to evaluate everyone on an individual basis, and to then make specific recommendations based on the findings.

As many people reading this already know, most so-called “thyroid conditions” are not directly caused by malfunctioning of the thyroid gland.  Most of the time other compromised areas of the body are responsible for the hypothyroid or hyperthyroid condition.  This of course is the case with Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, as it is the immune system which is responsible for the thyroid malfunction.  But other areas of the body can directly or indirectly cause the thyroid gland to malfunction, and in many cases it can be a challenge to detect these “thyroid triggers”.

This is one of the reasons why it is unwise for people to self-treat their condition.  At times it can be difficult enough for a competent natural healthcare professional to detect the cause of the problem.  It is usually even more challenging for someone without much experience to detect and correct the cause or causes of their condition.

What I’d like to do now is to discuss some of the common “thyroid triggers”.

Thyroid Trigger #1: The Immune System. 90% of all thyroid conditions are autoimmune in nature.  So for most people, the immune system is going to be the primary factor which caused the person’s thyroid condition.  With Graves’ Disease, there are TSH receptor antibodies which attack the TSH receptors, thus causing the thyroid gland to produce an excess of thyroid hormone.  Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis is associated with TPO antibodies, and frequently also involves thyroglobulin antibodies.  These both cause destruction of the thyroid gland, which leads to the reduced secretion of thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland.

But while we know the immune system is responsible for the production of thyroid antibodies which characterizes Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, what in turn triggers the autoimmune response?  There are numerous factors which can trigger an autoimmune response.  Some examples include stress, leaky gut, a virus or infection, heavy metals, a mineral imbalance, adrenal problems, candida, mold, etc.  These are just a few of the common factors which can trigger an autoimmune response and thus lead to Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

Thyroid Trigger #2: Adrenal Glands. Many people have compromised adrenal glands, and this can have a direct or indirect affect on the thyroid gland.  High cortisol levels can affect the conversion of T4 to T3, and thus can be a cause of hypothyroidism.  But compromised adrenal glands will affect immunity, and so problems with the adrenals can potentially trigger an autoimmune condition. When someone has depressed cortisol levels, lymphocytes circulate in excess and inflammation will be more prominent.   High cortisol levels will also modulate the immune system, which is fine with an acute stress situation, but over a prolonged period of time can cause problems.  So it is possible for stress to trigger an autoimmune response, as if someone has high or low cortisol levels then this can help set the stage for an autoimmune condition.

Thyroid Trigger #3: Digestive System. Due primarily to poor eating habits over a prolonged period of time, many people have problems with their digestive system.  Typically poor digestion isn’t going to directly cause a hypothyroid or hyperthyroid condition, although keep in mind that if someone has problems with digestion and absorption, then this can cause mineral deficiencies, which in turn can affect thyroid function.  Problems with intestinal permeability not only can affect absorption, but this can also trigger an autoimmune response, thus leading to a condition such as Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

Thyroid Trigger #4: The Sex Hormones. Many people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions have imbalances in the sex hormones.  These include estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, although it can also involve some of the other male and female sex hormones.  Estrogen is known to directly inhibit thyroid function, and so a condition such as estrogen dominance can potentially lead to a hypothyroid condition.  However, some of my patients with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ Disease also have estrogen dominance.  There is also some evidence that high levels of estrogen itself can trigger an autoimmune response, and exposure to xenoestrogens can potentially have this effect as well.  Some healthcare professionals will look at the ratio of 2-hydroxyestrone and 16-hydroxyestrone, as there is some evidence that higher levels of 16-hydroxyestrone may be related to an overactive immune system, although this is controversial.

Thyroid Trigger #5: Mineral Imbalances. I briefly mentioned mineral imbalances earlier when talking about the digestive system.  After all, while it’s important to correct any mineral imbalances, if someone is having problems digesting and absorbing these minerals then this without question needs to be addressed.  So if someone has multiple mineral deficiencies, one needs to be certain that the digestive system is working properly.  This doesn’t mean that taking certain minerals might not be necessary, as if someone has a moderate to severe mineral deficiency then they most likely will need to supplement with specific minerals.  But they will never correct these deficiencies if they aren’t properly digesting and absorbing the food they eat and/or supplements they’re taking.

Some of the minerals which can have a direct effect on thyroid function include selenium, zinc, and iodine.  Selenium is important for the conversion of T4 to T3, while zinc and iodine are important in the formation of thyroid hormone.  Iodine of course is always a controversial mineral to talk about with regards to thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions, as a deficiency can lead to a hypothyroid condition, yet there is controversy over whether people with Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis should take iodine…even if they are deficient in this mineral.  The same can be said about hyperthyroid conditions, as most endocrinologists advise their patients to avoid iodine, even though Lugols solution was commonly used to treat hyperthyroidism before radioactive iodine treatment was developed.

Thyroid Trigger #6: Liver Problems. When I say “liver problems”, I’m not suggesting a disease state such as hepatitis.  But problems with the detoxifying ability of the liver can affect thyroid health.  For example, the liver is one of the main areas where T4 is converted into T3.  So problems with the liver can potentially contribute to a hypothyroid condition.  There are also some theories that if the liver has problems detoxifying, then the thyroid gland will increase the secretion of thyroid hormone as an adaptive mechanism, which can help with the detoxification process.  Thus according to this theory a liver problem can also potentially lead to a hyperthyroid condition, although I think it’s safe to say that most cases of hyperthyroidism aren’t caused by problems with the liver.  With that being said, the liver is one of the most overworked organs in the body, and since we’re constantly being bombarded by toxins on a daily basis you do want to make sure your liver is functioning properly.  It’s the actual toxins which can trigger an autoimmune response, and if there are problems with the detoxifying ability of the liver then these toxins will have a greater impact on the immune system.  This is one of the reasons why I commonly recommend for my patients to go through a liver detoxification program.

There are of course other factors which can directly or indirectly cause malfunctioning of the thyroid gland, but these are some of the most common ones.  But how can you tell which one of these is causing the thyroid or autoimmune thyroid condition?  Once again, it can be challenging to determine the exact cause, and there are times when numerous factors can be causing or contributing to one’s condition.  So it usually does take some detective work, as the natural healthcare professional needs to order the correct tests and then evaluate them properly, and of course has to consider the person’s symptoms and case history.  All of these factors are important when trying to determine the underlying cause of the problem.

Millions of people take fatty acid supplements, and I frequently get asked questions about fish oil supplements, flaxseed oil, evening primrose oil, and other questions pertaining to fatty acids.  So I figured it would be a good idea to discuss some of the functions of fatty acids, as well as how they relate to thyroid health.

I’m going to focus on the two families of fatty acids most people are familiar with.  These are the omega 3 fatty acids, and the omega 6 fatty acids.  These are called “essential” fatty acids because they are important to our health, but the body cannot make these on its own, and so we are required to obtain these fatty acids through our diet.  Many people have deficiencies in these fatty acids, which can lead to numerous health issues.  To make matters worse, many people consume processed fats, as I’m sure most people reading this are familiar with hydrogenated oils.  Although many people know that these types of fats are bad for the body, most don’t know why, and I’ll also discuss this.

There are also saturated fats and unsaturated fats.  And while I’m not going to discuss the molecular composition of these and other fats, the main difference between saturated and unsaturated fats is the number of bonds.  Fatty acids are carbon chains, and at one end of the carbon chain there is a carboxylic acid group, while on the other end there is a methyl group.  Saturated fats have carbons that are joined by single bonds, while unsaturated fats have carbons that are joined by double bonds.  This gives each type of fatty acid different chemical properties, as unsaturated fats are less stable than saturated fatty acids.  Just in case you were wondering about the chemical structure of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, the difference between these fatty acids have to do with the location of double bonds.  Omega 3 fatty acids will have a double bond 3 carbons from the methyl end, whereas omega 6 fatty acids will have a double bond 6 carbons from the methyl end.  For those who want to learn more information about the chemical structure of fatty acids, there are excellent books out there which explain this.  One such book is called “Fats that Heal, Fats That Kill”, which also gives a lot of great information on the importance of fatty acids.

Why Are Fatty Acids Important To Our Health?

There are numerous reasons why fatty acids are important to our health.  First of all, they are the main components of the cell membranes.  So if you want to have healthy cells, then you want to eat healthy fats.  In addition, fatty acids are important for the production of prostaglandins.  Prostaglandins are similar to hormones, and have many important functions.  They are involved in cell growth, vasodilation and vasoconstiction, as well as contraction of the uterus when a woman is pregnant.  They also play a very important role in regulating inflammation, which is very important with autoimmune conditions such as Graves’ Disease and Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  So if someone with an autoimmune thyroid disorder has a deficiency in these fatty acids, it is essential to address this in order to restore the person’s health back to normal.

So fatty acids directly and indirectly relate to thyroid health.  They directly relate to thyroid health by being a necessary component of cellular health…and this includes the cells of the thyroid gland.  They indirectly relate to thyroid health in that a deficiency will usually result in inflammation, and the inflammation can continue triggering the autoimmune response, which in turn will cause the release of thyroid antibodies.

Dr. Walter H. Schmitt is a chiropractor with a great deal of knowledge about fatty acids, and he has noticed a relationship between omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids and the endocrine system.  He notices that people with hypothyroidism are more likely to have a deficiency in the omega 3 fatty acids, while people with hypoadrenia are more likely to have a deficiency in the omega 6 fatty acids.  As far as I know he hasn’t mentioned people with hyperthyroidism, but many of these people have these deficiencies as well.

I personally think that most people can benefit from taking omega 3 fatty acids on a daily basis, and many can also benefit from taking a good form of GLA.  With regards to omega 3 fatty acids I prefer to take fish oil, and this is what I recommend to my patients.  Obviously one can also eat fish, but due to the heavy metals and other toxins you want to minimize your consumption of fish, and if you eat fish you ideally want to eat something like Alaskan wild salmon, which has less toxins when compared to farm-raised salmon and other types of fish.  If someone is vegan and can’t take fish oils or eat fish they can take something like flaxseed oil, or even chia seeds, but if they have problems converting these into the prostaglandins then they of course won’t get the full benefits of these other sources of omega 3 fatty acids.  While I take fish oil supplements everyday, I also add flaxseed oil to my smoothies, and sometimes add chia seeds as well.

Different Fatty Acids Produce Different Prostaglandins

While both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are important to our health, more people are deficient in the omega 3 fatty acids, which is why many healthcare professionals encourage their patients to eat foods rich in omega 3’s such as cold water fish and walnuts, and why it also can be beneficial to take fish oil supplements and/or consume flaxseed oil.  However, it also is common to be deficient in GLA.  Good sources of GLA include Black Currant Seed oil, Borage oil, and Evening Primrose oil.

There are three main types of prostaglandins.  They commonly are referred to as prostaglandin 1 (PG1), prostaglandin 2 (PG2), and prostaglandin 3 (PG3).  The omega 3 fatty acids lead to the production of PG3, while the omega 6 fatty acids lead to the production of PG1.  Both of these are referred to by some sources as the “good” prostaglandins, as they have the benefits that I listed before.  On the other hand, PG2 are known as the “bad” prostaglandins, and the reason for this is because they actually increase the inflammatory process, as well as increase blood pressure, allow for increased tumor growth, etc.  Foods such as red meat and dairy cause an increase in these “bad” prostaglandins.  Now to be fair, PG2 is necessary to balance out PG1 and PG3.  So if you have a deficiency in PG2 then this can lead to problems with blood clotting, or blood pressure that is too low.

So hopefully you now have a better understanding as to why both omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are important to your health.  A deficiency in one or both fatty acids can lead to many problems.  Since many people I consult with experience hair loss, one thing I wanted to point out here is that sometimes hair loss is due to a GLA deficiency.  This is common in people with thyroid and autoimmune thyroid conditions, and is why Evening Primrose Oil can sometimes help greatly with hair loss.  This of course doesn’t mean that the cause of hair loss in most people is a GLA deficiency, but for some people with hair loss it is something to consider.

EPA, DHA, Alpha-linolenic Acid, etc.

When someone purchases a fish oil supplement, when reading the label they will usually notice that it contains EPA and DHA.  What exactly are these?  EPA is Eicosapentaenoic Acid, while DHA is Docosahexaenoic Acid, and these are the constituents of fish oils, and thus are the precursors of PG3.  Let’s take a brief look at some of the other components of fatty acids:

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA): these help with the formation of PG3, and are therefore found in foods high in omega 3 fatty acids, such as cold water fish, walnuts, and flax seeds.

Linoleic acid (LA): these help with the formation of PG1, and are therefore found in foods high in omega 6 fatty acids, such as safflower and sunflower oils.

Gamma-linolenic acid (GLA): these also help with the formation of PG1, and are found in Borage oil, along with Black Currant Seed oil and Evening Primrose Oil.

Arachidonic acid (AA): these are involved in the formation of PG2, and are found in foods such as animal products and dairy.

Why Are Partially Hydrogenated Fats and Oils Bad For You?

Fats that are partial hydrogenated are metabolized differently by our bodies.  What they do is inhibit the conversion process that leads to the development of the “good” prostaglandins (PG1 and PG3).  This in turn leads to an excess of the “bad” prostaglandins (PG2).  So when you eat foods such as margarine, or French fries from a fast food restaurant, this will interfere with cholesterol metabolism, and will lead to an increased production of PG2, which over time will lead to numerous health issues.

In summary, fatty acids are necessary for healthy cells, which of course are important for a healthy thyroid gland.  They also are important for the formation of prostaglandins which help to regulate inflammation, which is important for anyone with an autoimmune thyroid condition such as Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.  Many people need to eat more foods consisting of omega 3 fatty acids, and most can benefit from taking omega 3 fatty acids each day.  But some people also need to supplement with omega 6 fatty acids, such as GLA, as they produce different types of prostaglandins than omega 3 fatty acids.  And while it’s fine to eat some animal products in moderation (ideally organic), consuming too many of these products will result in excess PG2 formation, which can cause an increase in inflammation and lead to other health issues.

I’ve decided to take a different approach with this blog post, as usually I simply write about a topic related to thyroid health.  But since many people who live a natural lifestyle drink smoothies, I figured I’d try to get the feedback of others regarding their favorite smoothie recipe.  In addition, I encourage many of my patients to make their own smoothies, as I think it’s a healthy way to get some important nutrients, protein, etc. So what I’m going to do is provide a little bit of content, and then hope that I get at least a few comments from people who will share their smoothie recipe.

Before I list my favorite smoothie recipe, I want to talk about why you might want to drink smoothies (for those who don’t drink them).  First of all, smoothies can be a very healthy meal or snack.  I almost always have a smoothie each morning for breakfast, and then I will usually have another one a few hours after lunch.  A second reason to have a smoothie is because they are a good way of “sneaking” in some protein.  I like to add some whole food powder to my smoothies, although you can add some whey protein, or a rice-based protein powder.  There are other types of protein powders as well.  However, you need to be careful, as there are a lot of “protein powders” sold on the market which have artificial ingredients and other chemicals you don’t want to consume.  A third reason why you might want to begin drinking smoothies is because they are pretty easy to make.  Simply throw some fruit and/or vegetables into a blender, along with some purified water and/or organic almond milk, and then add some protein powder, and you’re good to go!

Some people are already familiar with my smoothie recipe, as I have listed it in my thyroid diet articles on my website.  Sometimes I will add a raw organic egg to my smoothies, which disgusts some people, and then others will talk about how this will interfere with the absorption of biotin.  For those who find this disgusting, most people don’t taste the egg when adding it to the smoothie.  As for the effects this will have on biotin absorption, this seems to be the case when consuming a large amount of egg whites, but either way I don’t add a raw egg to my smoothie every time I have one, as I usually will do this three or four times a week around breakfast time.  So it’s not as if I’m eating raw eggs throughout the day, but of course if you don’t care to add a raw egg then simply don’t do this.

With that being said, here is my favorite smoothie recipe:

1/4 cup of organic berries( blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc.)

Two cups of purified water

One scoop of a good quality protein powder.  Some examples include Fit Food Vegan Complete from Xymogen or SP Complete from Standard Process

One plateful of organic green vegetables (I usually use spinach, arugula, and/or kale)

1/2 cup of organic carrots

One tablespoon of flax oil

Optional: one scoop of Amazing Grass Green Superfood

Optional: one raw organic egg yolk (three or four times each week)

I’m very satisfied with the taste of this smoothie, although if someone wants to make it a little bit sweeter they can either add half a banana to this, or they can substitute the two cups of purified water with 4 ounces of organic almond milk, along with 12 ounces of purified water.  Obviously you can include an entire banana and/or more almond milk, but of course this will increase the sugar content, which will spike up your blood sugar levels, etc.

I’m sure some might wonder what type of blender is ideal for making smoothies.  Although I’ve never tried a Vitamix, I have tried some of the other well known blenders, and to be honest I’m perfectly happy with a basic blender.  Even though I make a couple of smoothies per day I can’t justify spending $500 on a blender, but I know others who have a Vitamix or something similar and are very happy with it.  Some of the other well known blenders for smoothies include the Nutri Bullet, and the Ninja.

Okay then, now that I’ve shared my favorite smoothie recipe with you, I hope you will share your favorite recipe with me and everyone else.  Who knows, after reading some of the different recipes I very well might make some modifications to mine!  And if you have some feedback on blenders feel free to discuss this as well.