Well this isn’t a smoothie recipe of brain, but rather for your brain...
“You are what you eat.”
There is a lot of wisdom in that little saying. I’m not a raw food vegan or anything like that by a long stretch…I still enjoy a roast/steak/burger as much as the next roast/steak/burger/ enjoying guy/gal. But if you eat rubbish all the time, don’t be surprised if you feel (and look) rubbish to. I've been interested in nutrition for a while, and I don’t think people should underestimate the impact diet can have on personal well being. But an important part of my motivation for eating healthily is that I must enjoy the taste of the food also. I think this smoothie recipe ticks both these boxes.
This recipe has been gradually tweaked over the years. The hemp seed and bee pollen base is a new addition. If anyone out there is interested, feel free to tweak the recipe to how you see fit to suit your personal tastes. This is great in the mornings when time is short, but you want something nourishing and filling...and breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. The phenylalanine content assists in making you feel ‘full’ so it will keep you going for a while.
I know some people may be weirded out over the inclusion of a raw egg. Despite unfounded rumours, the risk of contracting Salmonella from raw eggs is extremely low. Egg shells are designed well to keep pathogens out. Also one can’t taste any essence of egg in the smoothie. Interestingly, Albert Hoffmann was quoted as saying he attributed his long life (102) from eating one raw egg a day. However, if you deem this a risk not worth taking, then the egg can be left out. I have used the recipe hundreds of times and never once gotten ill.
I think this recipe would be great for breakfast, when time is at a premium, as an accompaniment for an exercise regime, when one is stressed, run down or ill, or for MDMA users and others who wish to replenish depleted neurotransmitters.
First, I grind up the following three ingredients with a little water in a blender:
1 table spoon raw cocoa powder
Source of tryptophan, pheneylethlamine (PEA), epicatechin, antioxidant flavonoids, magnesium, arginine, tetrahydro-beta-carbolines, anandamide, theobromine, caffeine.
1 table spoon maca powder
Source of p-methoxybenzyl, glucotropaeolin, m-methoxyglucotropaeolin, (1R, 3S)-1-methyltetrahydro-carboline-3-carboxylic acid. Rich in minerals such as selenium, calcium, magnesium and iron, essential fatty acids and 19 amino acids.
1 table spoon shelled hemp seeds
Contains all essential fatty acids, omega oils in a ratio similar to that required by the human organism, complete amino acid source, vitamin E, lecithin, choline, inositol, edestin, minerals; calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, copper, sulphur, phosphorus, copper, zinc.
Then the rest of the ingredients can be added and whizzed accordingly.
The ingredients are rich sources of both tryptophan and phenylalanine. Tryptophan is the biochemical precursor to serotonin. Phenylalanine is the biochemical precursor to tyrosine, which is in turn converted to dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). This can then be converted into dopamine, norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and epinephrine (adrenaline). This recipe is also a source of vitamin B6 which catalyses both the reactions of tryptophan to serotonin and L-DOPA to dopamine. Please bear in mind that some of the ingredients that are rich in phenylalanine listed here will be contraindicated for those with phenylketonuria.
Milk
Source of tryptophan, phenylalanine, calcium, vitamin C, biotin, pantothenic acid, iodine, potassium, magnesium, selenium, thiamine, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B12, riboflavin, vitamin D, vitamin K.
1 banana
Source of tryptophan, carbohydrate, fibre, vitamin B6, vitamin C and potassium.
1 raw egg
Source of tryptophan, phenylalanine, tyrosine, all essential amino acids, choline, vitamin A, riboflavin, folic acid, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, phosphorus and potassium.
1 tea spoon organic spirulina
Source of tryptophan, phenylalanine, all essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, chlorophyll, beta carotene, vitamins; vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, nicotinamide, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D. Minerals; iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, chromium, copper, phosphorus, selenium, sodium and zinc.
1 tea spoon raw honey
Source of trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and bioflavid antioxidants including chrysin, pinobanksin, vitamin C, catalase and pinocembrin.
Dash of extra virgin olive oil
Source of polyphenol antioxidants, essential fatty acids, enzymes, vitamin E, oleuropein and carotenoids.
Frozen fruits can be added, not tried this but should be great.
Some vanilla ice cream (with real vanilla extract) can be added if you want a deluxe, dessert version.
Also some precooked marijuana or hash can be added to the above ingredients to make a delicious and intoxicating smoothie.