Magnesium-Rich Balanced Breakfast Shake with Fresh-Pressed Juices (GAPS-legal)

Fresh-pressed juice is wonderfully healthy because it contains all of the minerals and nutrients found in raw fruits and vegetables. Consuming fresh-pressed juice is part of the GAPS diet protocol, as fresh-pressed juice has a detoxifying effect on the body. For GAPS people, it is also beneficial that the fiber is not consumed as fiber can be especially irritating to the digestive system.

This recipe is our favorite morning breakfast shake.  It is not very sweet, and the beets give the shake a beautiful color.  The addition of sour cream and raw eggs give this shake plenty of fat and protein, so that it is a balanced way to start your day.

This shake is rich in magnesium and potassium, so this shake is a great remedy for constipation, especially when consumed on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. According to Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride, constipation is "due to a lack of beneficial microbes in the gut and an imbalance of the intestinal nervous system: the sympathetic nervous system is too active, while parasympathetic is suppressed." The magnesium and potassium in this shake stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and calm the sympathetic nervous system, which helps to relieve constipation.
 
Beet, Carrot, and Citrus Balanced Breakfast Shake
Serves 1-2
1 medium beet (you can include the greens too)
3 carrots
1/2 of an orange or grapefruit, peeled
pinch celtic sea salt
2 Tb sour cream
2 raw eggs*
Equipment needed: juice extractor and optional immersion blender

1. Break two raw eggs into a large glass.  Top with a large scoop of sour cream (about 2 tablespoons) and a pinch of celtic sea salt.
2. Use a juice extractor to juice the orange, beet, and carrots into the glass.  
3. Use an immersion blender to combine all of the ingredients in the glass.  (You could use a whisk instead, but I like that the immersion blender makes the egg white completely blend into the liquid of the shake.)
4. Either skim the foam from the top of the shake, or just drink with a straw (this will allow you to drink from the bottom of the glass and just stop when you get to the foam).
5. Serve immediately and enjoy!

*When consuming raw eggs, be especially careful that you trust the source of your eggs.  Healthy chickens produce healthy eggs (which reduces the risk of salmonella).  You can omit the egg whites if your tummy is sensitive to them.  We have no problem digesting the raw egg whites, and they provide a great source of protein in the shake.

This post is part of Pennywise Platter at The Nourishing Gourmet, Fight Back Friday at Food Renegade, Real Food Wednesday with Kelly the Kitchen Kop and Monday Mania at The Healthy Home Economist!