As noted in the past my wonderful customers bestow ALL kinds of fruits, vegetables and other NATURAL delights!
A few weeks back I was able to fill a few large mason jars with FRESHLY SQUEEZED Orange Juice! 
Delicious! That was the beginning of my JARS FULL OF SUNSHINE!
A customer stopped by to bring me a bag of oranges and a bag of grapefruits! YEAH! I was able to have 2 more Jars of Sunshine! Very EXCITING!
Jar with GRAPEFRUIT JUICE! 
This has made adding Chia Seed to liquid a WONDERFUL ADVENTURE!!!
I am hoping to do another 10k in Claremont this weeked and would like a better time than the previous Sunday. Fingers Crossed!
Since the CHIA was used by the Aztecs BEFORE they were going to face ANY ENDURANCE CHALLENGE – I figured THAT’S WHAT I NEEDED!!!
Went for a run last night. Whew. I only ran 2.75 miles and at about the 2.5 mile mark I felt a challenge to finish.
While running there can be any one thought going through my mind. I usually use my runs as THERAPY for the week and/or day. The challenge to finish is ALWAYS THERE in life – It could be any given situation! So I just listened to my breath and concentrated on what the problem was. Was I mildly dehydrated? Were my fuel tanks low/empty? What was it???
I drank Chia on Tuesday, I also drank the Chia with my orange/grapefruit mix Wednesday. Do I need to incorporate into my diet longer? Do I need to have MORE Chia then I am having now? Tonight I plan on taking it in right before my run. Test it on myself.
I must admit I felt a bit rickity upon the initial 15 minutes of my run. That was a concern! Usually I get out there and get it done on RACE DAY. What was this pain about??? My initial opinion was I am ACIDIC as oppose to ALKALINE. It is also my opinion that I may have been MILDLY DEHYDRATED and not as ALKALINE as I was on Sunday AM. I’ll get out there and get it done this evening and see where this takes me. Maybe the run was too short. In retrospect, I don’t usually feel warmed up until mile 4 or 5. I feel like endurance in the mind isn’t the hard part about this latest adventure in life I have decided to adapt.
The challenge of THIS equation is what is difficult —>
NUTRITION + RUNNING = SUCCESSFUL RACE
I have taken in more Cacao the last few months than ever before. Mostly because I know it is a bit of a stimulant and was said to help with endurance. I usually add it to my smoothies.
While researching the EXACT REASON the Cacao is called a SUPERFOOD, I came across a few articles that were extremely NEGATIVE about this RAW food product.
As I read the theories regarding RAW Cocoa, I began thinking about it’s origin. Back to the Aztecs and beyond!
Notations of cocoa in History is difficult since many of the codices were destroyed by the early church and conquistadors.
However, the information still available indicates the Aztecs drank chocolate with chili peppers NOT sugar or anything sweet.
I wondered IF the chili’s were added for a reason. Most people today equate chocolate with sweet rather than hot. That is unless you are lucky enough to have a mother that made mole – pronounced <MO-LE>.
Growing up my mother made spicy BROWN mole, spicy GREEN mole and other times a beautiful RED HOT HOT HOT mole. It just depended on what she was feeling.
I digress…sorry! So I looked up one of the MAJOR ingredients of a CHILI pepper – CAPSICUM! The results I found are interesting!
Capsicum (Digestive, Circulatory), aptly described as the plant that bites back, is a common condiment in certain diets. The plant grows in warm climates and is added to many herbal formulas as a catalyst for the other herbs.
It’s red color is partly due to its high vitamin A content. Capsicum has been used for decades as a catalyst for other herbs. Because Capsicum stimulants circulation and enhances blood flow, it is considered food for the circulatory system, a common condiment to the diet.
As a cardiovascular stimulant, Capsicum assists in lowering blood pressure and breaking down cholesterol buildup. The warming properties of Capsicum are useful for people suffering from poor circulation to the hands and feet and other related conditions.
Capsicum has been used as a digestive aid to ease intestinal inflammation, stimulate protective mucus membranes of the stomach, and also relieve pain caused by ulcers.
Capsicum is commonly used to buffer pain from other ailments, including arthritis, varicose veins, headaches, menstrual cramps and respiratory conditions such as asthma.
Since Capsicum is used as a catalyst in Herbal Medicine. Why would it not be reasonable the chili’s were added to the drink as the catalyst? In addition to Chia and Cocoa, Spirulina was used the Aztec empire for endurance as well.
All of these endurance foods had to have worked wonders. I believe they were being taken into the body in all of their NATURAL RAW states. The Chia, Cocoa and the Spirulina. Corn is also mentioned as an endurance food. I will test this fact on my body!
Thanks for reading.
I will update my finding!
Love and Light!
Namaste!
(As I am typing this post a customer just brought me 2 more bags of oranges and grapefruits! YES! The universe must be telling me I need to be taking in Vitamin C)
