Mornings can be really tough on me. Sometimes I wake up with shoulder pain, lower back aches and knee pain. Since I’ve not had any injuries, I’m guessing these aches and pains are from localized inflammation and general strain. My dad had knee problems and needed surgery in his lifetime. Since I’m not a fan of bionic joints, I am determined to get to the source of my morning pain and then work to find a long-term solution that won’t require me filling out prescriptions and loading my liver with ibuprofen. Enter my local farmer’s market health-food guru, Colin. I told him about my morning aches and lethargy and he suggested the MSM Morning Mix.
In short, MSM is a form of sulfur that’s good for your hair, nails, muscles and joints. For a full overview of why it’s so good for you, click here.
Here’s Colin, the guy who sold me the stuff.
He recommended taking the mix with water, and honestly, I tried. it was disgusting. I. could. not. So I decided to mix it into a “super shake,” putting in two handfuls of spinach, a handful of raspberries, blueberries and black berries, a packet of protein powder, some flax seed oil, a tablespoon of spirulina, liquid rhodiola, coconut milk powder, green powder, some stevia for sweetness, a carrot, a little water and two handfuls of ice.
I don’t go into detail about Rhodiola in this post because the jury is still out on whether I think it’s working for me or not.
I pretty much get my entire daily requirement of fruits and vegetables in this power shake, and adding the MSM powder and the spirulina for a just over a week has made a HUGE difference in the way I’m feeling in the morning, and improves my flexibility and rage of motion, and provides me with sustained energy throughout the day.
Why the Spirulina?
Spirulina is an ideal anti-aging food; concentrated nutrient value, easily digested and loaded with antioxidants. Beta carotene is good for healthy eyes and vision. Spirulina beta carotene is ten times more concentrated than carrots.
Iron is essential to build a strong system, yet is the most common mineral deficiency. Spirulina is rich in iron, magnesium and trace minerals, and is easier to absorb than iron supplements.
Spirulina is the highest source of B-12, essential for healthy nerves and tissue, especially for vegetarians.
I started my period the same week I started with this new shake regimen. I have uterine fibroids and bleed…a lot. Blood loss leads to anemia and lethargy. Let’s not talk about the mood swings….
This week I had none of that. I attribute it to the extra iron and B Vitamins I’m getting. Just a little TMI note that spirulina *may* cause your poo to change to a green or blackish color. According to Dr. Mercola, “Spirulina can remove accumulated waste product in your colon, which may cause darker stool. Also, spirulina is high in chlorophyll. This will also turn waste matter green.”
Why Coconut Milk?
Relaxes muscles and nerves because of the high magnesium
Helps in Controlling Weight: because of the high fiber and healthy fats
Decreases the risk of joint inflammation: because of the selenium content, which acts as an antioxidant.
Helps in maintaining healthy immune system: because of the Vitamin C, which came in handy last week because not only was I on my period, I had a head cold, but I was only down a full day. By the next one I was completely over it while The Hubster is still using up all the tissues.
Recipe:
One handful of organic mixed berries
Two handfuls of organic spinach
One small organic carrot
One scoop MSM Morning Mix
One scoop spirulina
One tablespoon flax seed oil
One scoop Amazing Grass
Two tablespoons dried coconut milk
4 oz water + one cup ice
*if you prefer, add one or two packets of stevia or xylitol for sweetness.
Mix in a blender until smooth.
NOTE: You’ll need a very powerful mixer to pulverize the carrot, that’s why I love my vitamix. If you don’t have a blender that strong, leave out the carrot.
You can order the coconut milk powder, spirulina and MSM mix here. The prices are reasonable and it’s fresher and higher quality than what you’ll find in GNC or Vitamin Shop. They make many of their items in their own kitchen in Murrieta, California.
Sweet! I have been feeling sluggish this past year and I have been looking to find something to help increase my energy and give me more pep. I feel like a transformer in the mornings sometimes,everything snappin’ and cracklin’ into place. I’m looking to vastly improve my overall health and wellbeing this year so that I can achieve all my goals for 2013.
Thank you for this!
You might want to try silica for joint pain. Silica is vital to joint formation, and it aids in forming connective tissue elasticity and resilience. As stated by a research article published in the Journal of Nutrition, Health, & Aging, “…deficiency induces deformities in skull and peripheral bones, poorly formed joints, reduced contents of cartilage, collagen, and disruption of mineral balance in the femur and vertebrae.” Of course, I would also recommend you speak to a health care professional before you try anything new…just my two cents.
@IntegratedMemoirs Thanks, E! What mode of delivery to do recommend for the silica for maximum absorption?
@Christelyn Liquid. I take ten liquid drops daily of activated silicon (one of the best forms). I take it due to the running, and I’m trying to protect my knee joints. It’s also great for healthy hair, skin, and nails since it’s great for moisture retention.
@IntegratedMemoirs Thanks! Got a favorite brand?
@Christelyn No problem! I use JarroSil, which I get from either Whole Foods or Amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PMERSS/ref=s9_simh_gw_p121_d0_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=05RYQ13SAZK2752AW0NV&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1389517282&pf_rd_i=507846
@Christelyn Some of my running friends/yoga friends use BioSil, and they think it’s better. I’ve never used BioSil, but it has some great reviews on Amazon. Personally, JarroSil has been really great for me. I don’t have any problems with my joints, and I have seen improvements in my hair, skin, and nails.
@IntegratedMemoirs Funny, I use BioSil and it didn’t really make a difference for me either way. I guess everybody’s different.
I use a transdermal application for MSM and magnesium. Ancient Minerals has a magnesium oil with MSM added. It really does make a difference. BTW I buy it personally but I am not affiliated with the company and always on the lookout for new products.
http://www.magneticclay.com/store/magnesium-oil-ultra-ancient-minerals-8.aspx
More info on MSM:
http://www.health-science-spirit.com/msm.html (contains a cheaper source for MSM, which was good to find out!)
http://drsircus.com/medicine/sulfur
@Statuesque Gotta try that! Thanks . . . .
Thanks for all the great info! I’m still loving the Barlean’s Essential Woman you recommended in a previous post!
this post is right on time. Due to past weight gain, I believe I’ve done irreparable damage to my left knee. I’ve lost over 50 lbs, but oh but my left knee! It has been agitated lately and I’ve been favoring it during my workouts. I will have to try some of these remedies.
I have a pretty good blender but I am an inch away from getting a Vitamix . . . . .posts like these push me closer and closer! Thanks . . . .
@ASwirlGirl Get one. You’ll be glad you did. I had one for 15 years, just handed it down to my BFF who wasn’t sure she wanted one and bought a new, improved one. The thing is amazing and I would never, ever have a kitchen without one. It puts my blenders to shame.
@Karla @ASwirlGirl My sister gifted me a Vitamix with grain attachment a few years back for my birthday. It’s awesome! You’ll definitely love it!
@The Working Home Keeper @Karla @ASwirlGirl If the housekeeper lady says its good, then its good. I need a vitamix in my mittens.
@tracyreneejones @The Working Home Keeper @Karla @ASwirlGirl It’s top on my list of kitchen gadgets to get when I return stateside.
@tracyreneejones @The Working Home Keeper @Karla Tracy, right! LOL! A recommendation coming from @The Working Home Keeper is SOLID! 🙂
@ASwirlGirl Williams Sonoma has them on sale but the best deal seems to be at Costco (http://bit.ly/XdFadh), if you have a membership or live near one. I thought about replacing my old one with a Blendtec but saw the reviews that said eventually some “black stuff” starts leaching into whatever your blending; a woman at Costco confirmed that while a Blendtec demo was going on (she had just returned hers). Vitamix has been around forever and has a good rep. With my new one, I got the grain attachment, a cookbook, a DVD. I’ve made soups, smoothies, nut butters, ice cream, ground wheat berries for bread, ground rice and oatmeal… the list is endless as to what you can do with it. I know I sound like a Vitamix salesperson but I’ve never been happier with mine and I want everyone to have the opportunity to own one if they can.
@ASwirlGirlWilliams Sonoma has them on sale but the best deal seems to be at Costco (http://bit.ly/XdFadh), if you have a membership or live near one. I thought about replacing my old one with a Blendtec but saw the reviews that said eventually some “black stuff” starts leaching into whatever you’re blending; a woman at Costco confirmed that while a Blendtec demo was going on (she had just returned hers). Vitamix has been around forever and has a good rep. With my new one, I got the grain attachment, a cookbook, a DVD. I’ve made soups, smoothies, nut butters, sesame paste, ice cream, ground wheat berries for bread, ground rice and oatmeal… the list is endless as to what you can do with it. I know I sound like a Vitamix salesperson but I’ve never been happier with mine and I hope everyone has the opportunity to own one if they can.
@ASwirlGirlWilliams Sonoma has them on sale but the best deal seems to be at Costco (http://bit.ly/XdFadh), if you have a membership or live near one. I thought about replacing my old one with a Blendtec but saw the reviews that said eventually some “black stuff” starts leaching into whatever you’re blending; a woman at Costco confirmed that, while a Blendtec demo was going on (she had just returned hers). Vitamix has been around forever and has a good rep. With my new one, they included the grain attachment, a cookbook and a DVD. I’ve made soups, smoothies, nut butters, sesame paste and ice cream. I’ve ground wheat berries for bread, ground rice for Thai cooking and oatmeal for muesli and smoothies… the list is endless as to what you can do with it. Recently, I made my own ginger and garlic paste for Indian and Asian cooking (although I use it for everything!). I know I sound like a Vitamix salesperson but I’ve never been happier with mine and I hope everyone has the opportunity to own one if they can.
@Karla I have a Costco membership (they have them in TX but not LA), and my former roommate also works for Pottery Barn, which in part of the Williams Sonoma family. I’ll have to check and see which of these sources will give me the best deal. I try to watch when they have them on QVC just so I can familiarize myself with all the things it can do.
@ASwirlGirl Yes, a demo is the best thing to watch. That’s how I bought my first one years ago. My mother, who would never have paid that much money for a “blender”, saw the demo and bought one too! I can’t live without it now. I saw a demo at Whole Foods yesterday and obtained some new recipes from the woman who was doing it. She made a tortilla soup that was the bomb!
I love MSM. I’ve been taking it for years. I just start spirulina and chlorella for the hair and health benefits.
I have used MSM as a face cream. Now I’ll try it internally. Thanks for the recipe.
This looks great! I will totally check out the MSM mix! Never heard of it before.