Look younger, feel better and lose weight….

I recently noticed my vision was getting worse. Discouraged by this new symptom of getting older, I reluctantly made an appointment with my optometrist. After my exam was finished, the doctor looked puzzled.

Interesting…your eyes are not getting worse, John. In fact, they’re better. Your prescription is too strong and that’s why your glasses no longer work for you.”

“What? How?” I thought she was joking.

She smiled and said, I haven’t got a clue but whatever you’re doing…keep doing it.

A few months prior, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called Pseudogout or medically known as Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPDD). The symptoms are similar to regular gout except there’s no medicine for it, no cure or even a prescribed diet. Every Google search landed me in an ugly place.

I basically learned this disease will eventually destroy all your joints. The medical community knows little about it and most who are diagnosed are doomed to the joys of joint replacements.

I noticed my pain started in my bad knee and slowly moved to other joints. Many people who have this condition go for years without a diagnosis because it requires aspirating the ailing joint, looking out for Calcium Pyrophosphate Crystals. Pseudogout, an autoimmune disorder, is a form of arthritis. I’ve suffered from this condition for over ten years but I was not properly diagnosed until this past March. My father suffered from Psoriatic arthritis and my sister has M.S. So there seems to be autoimmune issues within my bloodline.

I decided to find out everything I could regarding this disease. But, I knew the most important thing I could do was not claim the disease in the first place.

I eat really well, exercise…I don’t drink… smoke… do drugs…even my lifestyle supports a low stress levels! I had a hard time understanding how this could be happening.

I decided to look at the habits I could control and the first thing that came to mind was my diet—it’s an ‘activity’ I do at least three times a day, so it’s something crucial to consider. I took a good hard look at what I ate and began to cut out all sugar (even fruit) and starchy carbs (rooted veggies). I was basically doing my variation of the keto diet, which includes green vegetables and cruciferous vegetables.

Unlike a true keto diet, I still eat a large quantity of protein each day and this does not follow the ketosis protocol. I eat about 1.5-2.0 grams of protein per of pound of body weight. I eat more than most because I’m passionate about building and maintaining muscle. Through trial and error, I’ve discovered what protein requirement works best for me. Muscle is, in my opinion, the fountain youth!

If you’re the type of person not interested in putting on muscle, eating between .09-1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight is fine. If you suffer from chronic kidney disease you will need to follow your doctors recommendations.

In my plan, I only eat organic chicken and trout for my protein. My fats consist of avocado, organic butter, heavy cream, flaxseeds and Brazil nuts (there’s also a lot of omega 3 fish oil from the 10 oz. of trout I eat on a daily basis.)

My smoothie from heaven:
I feel a huge part of my healing process was the daily smoothie I make. Not only did it calm the inflammation in my joints but…I lost weight!

I believe this smoothie contributed to my vision correcting itself and turning back time. If this power-packed drink is rejuvenating my eyes, what else is it doing to the inside of me.

Preparing this drink is time consuming and the taste is something I’ve gotten used to. If the taste is too strong cut back on the ginger or turmeric. To help with time, I blend enough for two days, put the remainder in the refrigerator (still in the blender cup) so it’s ready to go. All the veggies are chopped ahead of time and placed in the freezer. I chop enough for approximately five to six smoothies.

Our world is consumed with quick fixes… popping pills and cosmetic procedures but I believe in prevention through diet, exercise and good hygiene. All of us must invest in something…why not your health? Live without regrets.

I’ve listed my smoothie ingredients below.

NOTE: It’s important to remember that if you are working with a healthcare practitioner such as a doctor, nutritionist, or other holistic or functional medicine doctor, check with them before incorporating this into your daily routine. Many times certain foods can aggravate underlying medical conditions or interact adversely with medications. You should do your own research as well before incorporating anything you read on the Internet. I am putting this out there to let people know what worked for me. Also, this drink is packed with vitamins and minerals. If you are taking vitamins or supplements you risk overdosing.

Frozen Baby kale (Considered the healthiest of all green vegetables)

Frozen Celery – (Detoxifies liver and kidneys and boost fat or lipid metabolism)

Frozen Cucumbers – (high in water, sulfur and silica-both help heal splitting nails and hair)

Frozen Parsley – (Detoxes kidney and blood- good when made into a tea as well)

Ground flaxseed- 3 Tbsp. (Great healthy fats)

Chlorella- ½ Teaspoon or label instructions (Green algae. Oxygenates the body and helps heal)

 

Spirulina- ½ Teaspoon – (Blue / Green algae and considered the most perfect food) 

Lemon- 1 whole- increases the amount of citrate in the urine to inhibit kidney stones. Also aids in absorption of green veggies by neutralizing oxalic acid -aka oxalates.

Ginger root- 2 inch stalk or bulb (Great for inflammation and soothing the stomach) In the photo below, Ginger is on the right.

Turmeric- 1 inch stalk (Great for inflammation and combating cancer) In the above photo Turmeric is on the left.

I also add a natural organic sweeter called Sweet leaf Stevia. I put 4 packets in.

“Re-mineralized” RO water-12 oz. (Reverse Osmosis)  -What more can you say about pure water.

 

Then I blend it up with a “vita-mix” blender. Viola’:

The order in which I place the food items in the blender is important for it to mix thoroughly. If not done correctly, the smaller particles will get stuck in the bottom.

I place them in this order:

1. Celery
2. Cucumbers
3. Parsley
4. Baby kale
5. Chopped lemons
6. Ginger and turmeric
7. Chlorella & Spirulina
8. Flaxseed
9. Stevia
10. Add hot water to 1/2 the blender and let it sit for 2 mins so the frozen items loosen up. Then add cold water or room temperature depending on how cold you want it.

NOTE:

For those of you that may suffer from a heart condition called “Atrial Fibrillation”. Studies have shown that drinking frozen or cold drinks may trigger this condition. As the cold liquid passes through the esophagus, it comes in close proximity of the cardiac parasympathetic nerve. Read more about it at the link below. What can be even far more symptomatic is ingesting the cold liquid after exercise when your body is already heated up. This is usually when most people drink smoothies-immediately after exercise. This is why I bring it up.

Cold drinks causing Atrial Fibrillation

The best time to drink a smoothie like this is immediately after a brief “fast” (like intermittent fasting). I fast for 12 hours a day and break my fast with this. Your digestive absorption is at its best at your first meal after a fast. Drink this slowly. Eating too much, too fast and having cold liquid can disrupt the digestive process.

The entire purpose of my green drink is to combat inflammation and fill my body with oxygen and cleansing foods for the kidneys, liver and gut. Once the liver and kidneys are healthy along with your gut micro biome (Flora) the body can begin to heal.

I was drinking my green drink for two months prior to my eyes getting examined. I also cut out all sugars and I believe my elimination diet combined with my green drink is what improved my eyesight as well as alleviated 90% of my Pseudogout symptoms (I was told that CPDD was near impossible to cure or improve). All of this happened in a mere two months.

My wife also mentioned another obvious perk–my grey hair has diminished. Only time will tell what other health benefits I will incur; in the meantime, don’t expect me to give up my ‘Green Machine!’

Hope it blesses you like it did for me.

John Turk