ironmanmagazine.com | AUGUST 2017 65The Ingredients
Upon waking, I always drink a con-
coction made of apple cider vinegar,
organic lemon juice, fermented gluta-
mine, turmeric, cinnamon, bioperine,
greens powder, kefir and magnesium.
I won’t lie, this mixture doesn’t taste
amazing, but the health benefits of
each ingredient are worth it. Once I’ve
finished this drink, I’ll chase it down
with a teaspoon of manuka honey.
It isn’t just the sweet taste that I
appreciate. This naturally healing
honey is packed with plenty of health
benefits, too.
If you’re like me, you want to know
why every ingredient is included in my
morning ritual drink. Let’s take a look
at each to explain their health impact
and why you’ll want to keep them in
your home.
Apple Cider Vinegar And Organic
Lemon Juice
Apple cider vinegar and organic lemon
juice are phenomenal for removing
unwanted toxins and bad bacteria from
the GI tract. After years of constantly
eating and processing a high quantity
of protein, there’s a natural build-up of
amino acids and bacteria that can clog
the intestinal wall. My natural cleansing
remedy is to combine both of these
hyper acidic agents. I’ve found they
help tremendously.
Fermented Glutamine
Fermented glutamine is my personal
preference. The emphasis I put on fer-
mented glutamine must be clearly un-
derstood here because most synthetic
glutamine supplements come from
human hair or bird feathers! That’s not
something I’d ever want to consume
or recommend, so I only use Kaged
Muscle fermented glutamine.
Turmeric And Bioperine
Turmeric is one of the oldest natural
healers for the gut. In fact, it’s been
used in different parts of the world
for over 4,000 years! Although it is
acknowledged to have many other
benefits, its ability to soothe the gut
makes it a very popular supplement
and the main reason it’s in my drink.
The curcumin found in turmeric may
significantly reduce inflammation,
which can help address issues like IBS
and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Turmeric is also said to help the gall-
bladder produce bile. This can help the
GI tract process food more easily. If
food is broken down more efficiently,
then the rate of assimilation may
improve, leading to better absorption,
recovery and energy. For this same
reason, turmeric is known to be a great
way of suppressing bloating.It’s essential that bioperine be included
otherwise the body can struggle to
utilize the turmeric, missing out on the
health benefits. That’s why I add this
independently to my mixture.Cinnamon
Cinnamon helps relieve excessive
stomach gas gathering within the GI
tract and causing abdominal discom-
fort. It has specific agents that break
down and relieve gas, allowing the
whole digestive system to operate more
efficiently.Greens Powder
Greens powder yields so many benefits
for the GI tract! The addition of extra
fiber helps the gut process food better
and removes bad toxins. Specifically,the phytonutrients that are found in
super greens aid in the management
of toxins. Improved regularity is an-
other common benefit of consuming a
greens drink, thanks to the fiber. This is
important because it’s the body’s way
of removing the toxins collected and
the waste products.There are also alkalizing properties to
consider from green vegetables and
grasses. This is even more relevant for
people who consume a high protein
diet considering that it’s naturally
acidic. Having a healthy PH balance
helps in digestive processes, which is
another reason I include greens in
my drink.Kefir
Yogurt is often regarded as the dairyproduct of choice for probiotics, but
kefir actually contains far more micro-
organisms of this variety. One serving
of kefir can contain up to 30 strains of
probiotic, which is significantly more
than other dairy products.Lactobacillus kefiri is a unique probi-
otic to kefir. It’s believed to help beat
bacterial infections within the gut,
which helps with processing efficiency
and also protects against illness. Once
the tract has been cleansed with the
apple cider vinegar and lemon juice,
I find it essential to replenish it with
good bacteria and kefir is the perfect
ingredient for that.Magnesium
Our microbiome is made up of bil-
lions of bacteria, which can be easily
influenced by delicate variables. If this
count becomes low, the gut can suffer,
along with other functions associ-
ated with the GI tract. Magnesium is
believed to help mediate the balance
of healthy bacteria in the gut. Several
studies indicate that magnesium plays
a very important role in gut health.Manuka Honey
Once I’ve consumed my main concoc-
tion of the aforementioned ingredients,
I finish things off with a teaspoon of
manuka honey. This special variety of
honey is a very potent anti-microbial.
As a result, it can help reduce bacterial
infections inside the GI tract. This helps
with discomfort within the gut, as well
as issues caused by things like aspirin
and alcohol. Manuka honey is so effec-
tive at this that it’s actually used as a
natural remedy for gastritis. Bonus: Ma-
nuka honey is a fantastic source of B
complex vitamins and minerals, perfect
for heightening immune health.That’s Not All!
There are other things I’ll do every day
to help my GI tract stay as healthy as
possible. For instance, most of my
meals contain soluble and insoluble
fiber, usually relying on fresh veggies as
my main source. Ingredients and foods
that may irritate my GI tract, such as
gluten with its inflammatory effects, are
limited. Finally, and this is key, hydra-
tion is always prioritized to help my
body process the calories I consume.
I drink at least one gallon of water per
day, often with added electrolytes from
Kaged Muscle’s Hydra-Charge to help
keep a healthy balance of these vital
charges in my body.If you have any unique concoctions
you make yourself I’d like to hear about
them on Instagram. Post and tag me
@KrisGethin, hashtagging #liveto100.Most of my meals contain
soluble and insoluble
fiber, usually relying on
fresh veggies as my main
source. Ingredients and
foods that may irritate my
GI tract, such as gluten
with its inflammatory
effects, are limited.
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