Romaine and Cilantro

Romaine Lettuce

I have to admit. Romaine lettuce is my favorite vegetable. People always think of it as boring, but for me it simply adds texture and nutrients to things that aren't always the most healthy meals - like nachos and hamburgers ;). Plus, its really easily to throw on whatever you are eating and when juicing, it makes the other ingredients go a long way.

Romaine lettuce is definitely the most nutritious of the lettuces, but really the nutritional value is almost equal between the other darker green varieties. All lettuces have a high water content, but they are still nutritious, low in calories, and a green veggie - which we can all use more of. I always pack on the romaine when I eat a sandwich, putting at least 2 -3 full leaves on there, but you could also use it in place of a taco shell, in your salads, in a smoothie, or even as a pizza topping. Yes, I am serious! Try a salad pizza. Just add your salad after the pizza has baked.

2 cups of romaine have over 143% of the daily recommended value of Vitamin K, which I talked about a few weeks ago. It also has a powerful combo of Vitamin C and beta carotene which work together prevent cholesterol build up. Since it is a leafy green it has all of the benefits that they bring to the table including improved circulation, blood purification, cancer prevention, less mucus and clearer congestion just to name a few. And since leafy greens are the most missing item in Americans diets, I suggest you add it in whenever you can!

If you are going to eat lettuce from the grocery store or anywhere else other than from your White House Gardens CSA supply, make sure to clean it really, really well. Lettuce is #9 on the list of top fruits and veggies containing the highest amount of pesticides.


Cilantro

Cilantro juice is nowhere near as good as parsley juice BUT it is fabulous to eat and your body will thank you for adding it in whenever you can. It is a strong detoxifier and blood and brain cleanser. So toxins, even heavy metals, bind to it and are washed out. This was discovered when Dr. Yoshiaki Omura accidentally found that patients that had just eaten Vietnamese soup that contained a lot of cilantro had high mercury levels in their urine. So try the Spicy Mexican Tuna roll next time you get sushi or make a cilantro pesto to eat with your grilled tuna.

Eliminating heavy metals and toxins from your body will free it up to perform much more efficiently and even cure infections that may have been present, whether known or not, for years. Some people who have reported better cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol, lower blood sugar levels and improved digestion. The most logical explanation for these improvements is that the body is more efficient because it is not fighting metals and toxins.

To see results try adding 2 -3 teaspoons per day into salads, sauces, sushi, as a garnish, and OK even into your juice for 3 weeks. I can't wait to test this theory when I do my next cleanse.

Here is a recipe for Vegan Cilantro Pesto

Ingredients

2 cups loosely packed cilantro leaves (stems removed)

2 tablespoons slivered almonds2 tablespoons Parma (or homemade vegan parmesan)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons lemon juice

2 cloves garlic

2-4 teaspoons water (depending on desired consistency)

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Directions

Blend all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Use more or less water to get the thickness you desire.

Serves 4-6 people.