Health & Food Focus
by Vinca von Muhlenberg CHHC, AADP

The Benefits of Fruit & Fruit Nut Smoothie Recipe

A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE IS THE KEY TO LONGEVITY, optimum weight, abundance of energy and balance. By using fruit to satisfy our taste for sweetness we can leave behind the use of chemical, processed and refined sweeteners, while enjoying all the positive effects of incorporating fruit into our diet. Fruits are easy to digest, are cleansing and cooling and are great for those who are over-stressed and over-heated from excessive mental strain or hot climates. Fruits are filled with fiber and liver stimulants, which act as a natural, gentle laxative. Whenever possible, buy fresh, locally grown fruit as opposed to imported fruits shipped form far off places. This can keep you eating 'in season', which helps us to feel more in harmony with our environment and climate.

Eating raw fruit in summer months increases its cooling effect, while baking in the winter months neutralizes its cooling effect. Fruit in the form of juice is a great choice for cleansing the body, but be aware that juice rapidly raises blood sugar levels, sending you down an energy crash soon after. Frozen, whole, pureed or juiced fruit can make great summertime cool down treats, such as frozen grapes, banana-coconut smoothie popsicles or lime juice ice-cubes for ice tea!

Whether you are having fresh fruit for a light early morning breakfast, a mid day snack or evening treat, enjoy nature's sweetness and when ever possible buy organic! Here are a few summer fruits and some of their health benefits:

Apricots: Great for lung conditions and asthma and are used to help treat anemia due to their high copper and cobalt content.
Bananas: Help lubricate the intestines, help treat ulcers, aid in detoxifying the body, help sugar cravings and are rich in potassium which helps hypertension.
Cherries: Slightly warming in nature, they increase overall body energy, remedy arthritis and rheumatism, and are rich in iron, which improves the blood.
Grapefruits: Treat poor digestion, increase appetite during pregnancy and alleviate intestinal gas, and reduce mucus conditions of the lungs.
Papayas: Tone the stomach, act as digestive aid, moisten the lungs and alleviate coughing and contains carpaine, an anti-tumor compound.
Raspberries: Benefit the liver and kidneys, cleanse blood of toxins, regulate menstrual cycles, treat anemia and can promote labor at childbirth.

Fruit Nut Smoothie
Prep time: 5 minutes
Serves: 2

Ingredients:
1 banana
1 cup nut or rice milk
1 cup berries
1 cup diced melon
1/2 cup almonds
2-4 ice cubes

Directions:
1. Mix in blender for 1-2 minutes and serve.
Optional: You can add other ingredients for added nutrition such as a spoon full of bee pollen, coconut oil, flax seed oil, spirulina powder or a scoop of protein powder.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vinca von Muhlenberg CHHC, AADP is a third generation, German-born health practitioner and Board Certified Holistic Health Counselor. She enriched her knowledge at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York and at The Juilliard School, where she learned Piano & Alexander Relaxation Technique. She studied meditation and Ayurvedic nutrition in Pune - India and undertook further nutrition studies at the Ann Wigmore Natural Health Institute. Vinca has also trained as Doula and childbirth educator. In Germany, she was educated in Music & Holistic Healing Therapies at the F. M. - Bartholdy college in Leipzig and H. Eisler college in Berlin.

Vinca has a private practice in Los Angeles and shares her knowledge of and enthusiasm for the healing arts, through regularly scheduled programs & workshops on healthful eating, cooking & living. She is involved with the WE SPARK cancer support center in Sherman Oaks, with the Los Angeles Alliance for Childhood, the Hospice community and the RC Counseling project.

Vinca is accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners and by the American Holistic Health Association. She is founder of THE ORGANIX, a childhood nutrition education series and co-founder of Health Thyme Cooking retreats and events. To find out more about Vinca’s work or sign up for her free newsletter, visit www.vincawellness.com