The (Blithe) Morning Elixir
PSA: Your morning elixir doesn't actually have to be aesthetic.
Coffee is not my Morning Elixir.
Shocker… I know.
As mentioned in a previous post, my espresso machine is one of the first things that I turn on in the morning.
One of my New Years Resolution for 2022 was to find a palatable, green beverage that would encourage gut health by keeping me regular. I tried a variety of different teas and powder blends until I finally found the option that satisfied my palate, and was also comfortably cleansing.
Quite simply, what necessitates an ‘elixir’ is a beverage that is overall refreshing with ingredients that are reportedly detoxifying in quality.
The concept of the ‘Morning Elixir’ is discussed at length in Paul Pitchford’s book, Healing with Whole Foods: Asian Traditions and Modern Nutrition. Much of Pitchford’s discussion is rooted in fundamentals of Traditional Chinese Medicine- in particular, his use of the word expansive. Pitchford states that ‘because of dehydration during sleep, and the fact that sleep is an internal process, one will often desire expansive liquids to satisfy dryness and bring the energy up and out of its dormant phase’ (1). While I typically do not wake up feeling dehydrated, I understand that hydration first thing in the morning is a necessity.
I started off my journey by choosing to immediately have a glass of room temperature lemon water upon rising. After about 3 weeks of doing so, I realized that this approach was unsustainable- I felt as though I was dreading it/forcing myself to make it a habit. My self-awareness stepped in when I recognized that if this were to become a habit, I could not view it as a chore.
I'll be one of the first to admit that I am not ordinarily a smoothie person (especially not first thing in the morning *blechh*), but playing with texture was my initial approach toward de-prioritizing coffee. Trial & error has taught me that if I am not reaching for coffee, I i.) would prefer a cold, powder blend as opposed to room temperature water or a hot tea, and ii.) one of the first ingredients of the powder blend must include a citrus or apple flavour. By far, my favourite of the four that I’ve sampled to this point is Genuine Health’s Daily Detox Greens+.
Daily Detox Green+ is advertised as a ‘nourishing superfood’ that will ‘nourish & energize your body while you gently detox’. I’d be remiss to not mention that this post is not advertised: I found that of all of the green powder blends that I have tried, all contained the same four ingredients (lecithin, spirulina, chlorella, and other cereal grasses). I believe that if you’re interested in improving gut health, that these are ingredients you should be considering as a part of your Morning Elixir:
Lecithin - important for proper function of the brain, nerves and cell membranes, composed primarily of essential fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6, and B-vitamins) (2)
Spirulina - high protein, contains pre-digested protein that provides building material soon after ingestion (3)
Chlorella - algal food of high nutritional value comparable to spirulina but with less protein and more fatty acids (artery-cleansing omega 3). Has been shown to be effective in reducing cholesterol in the body and preventing atherosclerosis (4)
Other cereal grasses (alfalfa, wheat) - nearly identical major therapeutic properties, digest easily, high protein content (5)
Now, I will also admit that I have recommended the Daily Detox Green+ blend to two different people within my circle and they were less than thrilled by its taste & price tag… but I LOVE it. It has become a non-negotiable part of my morning routine.
I would love for you to consider: is there a beverage of choice that helps to make your mornings blithe? What are some of the non-negotiable ingredients that you would opt to implement as part of your Morning Elixir?
(1 - 5) Pitchford, P. (2002). Healing with whole foods: Asian traditions and modern nutrition. 3rd ed., rev., updated, and expanded. Berkeley, Calif., North Atlantic Books.