Inflammation, Diet, Food, Smoothie . . .

I have been drinking smoothies or a protein drink for breakfast since I was in high school.  My mom used to sell Shakley vitamins when I was little and that is where it all started.  They had a protein powder and mom always had some on hand.  As a child I hated eating breakfast, my mom tried everything to get me to eat something anything for breakfast.  I just could not do it, it was all about texture.  When mom brought home the protein powder I gave it a try, and that I could handle.  That was the start of my new breakfast routine. 
My routine has since shifted to smoothies with protein powder.  Over the years I have noticed some inflammation and joint pain in my knees and hands.  I researched what I could do, without medicine, to help relieve my inflammation.  There is  a great deal of information on the web about this subject and  I read most of it.  I found there are many fruits and veggies that aid in reducing inflammation.  I found pineapple, cherries, and blueberries to be the most flavorful for a smoothie.  I know this all sounds "witch doctory" but, I can really see and most importantly feel a difference in my knees and hands when I drink my smoothies. 
Here is my recipe for my breakfast smoothie:

1 cup coconut water
1/4 cup frozen or fresh blueberries
1/4 cup frozen cherries
1/2 fresh banana sliced
4 pieces fresh pineapple
1 tbs chi flax mix


blend in mixer or nuribullet and drink up.
They sell these little cans of pineapple juice and I work them in late in the afternoon.  I know it sounds like crockery that changing eating habits or adding something as simple as a smoothie would make  difference in how you feel but in my case it has.  Maybe it is all in my head and if that is true please keep that to yourself  because right now it works for me.   I also eat my fresh pineapple and blueberries when I want something sweet. 

Smoothies, Shakes, and Breakfast. . .

I broke down and bought one of those Nurtibullet blender things.  I have always enjoyed a protein drink for breakfast here and there.  When I was little I could not make myself sit down and actually eat breakfast, it made me nauseous.  My mom would make me a protein shake for breakfast, when I got old enough  I made them myself.  Growing up, my Mom sold Shakley vitamins, she and my Dad have always taken vitamins and probably eaten healthier than most.   Shakley used to make the best protein powder but I now use a powder I get from the Vitamin shop.  I have tried different ones but I always come back to this one.
This is what has lead me to purchase the Nutribullet.  I tried my first smoothie today.  I was amazed that the majority of the smoothie recipes contain a green, like spinach or kale.  I never thought of  adding greens to a smoothie, when I think of smoothie I think fruit.  I feel like I may have a little bit of a cold coming on so I decided I would try the "immune boost" smoothie recipe.   This calls for:  pineapple, spinach, blueberries, orange, and banana.  I had everything but the banana.  It actually tasted pretty good and it was very filling.   I will try some different recipes that they have in their book and I will let you know how they are.  I am not a fan of kale so in those recipes I will probably substitute spinach.   I was surprised that none of these recipes suggest adding a protein powder, I may do that on my own.   I will let you know how those turn out.