WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Keeping stress levels in check is not just a casual concern for Ivy Larson.
"I was 22 when I was diagnosed with M.S. This was 1998 so, 20 years ago" says Larson.
Instead of taking drugs, Ivy has used food to keep her multiple sclerosis in remission. She's the founder of Clean Cuisine, an anti-inflammatory diet rich in plants and unrefined food.
She's written 5 books, her latest is the Clean Cuisine Cookbook, and over the years has helped tens of thousands of men and women get healthy.
When she turned 40, Ivy says she was faced with some new challenges, ones that many women can relate to.
"Issues with fatigue, brain fog, migraines. All new symptoms. I was mystified as to what was causing them because I thought I was doing everything right and it turns out it was my hormones."
As she has done before, Ivy turned to food for a solution. She created what she calls the "Brain Fog Busting Hormone Balancing Smoothie."
Here's what's in it:
Ashwagandha
"Ashwagandha lowers cortisol which is your stress hormone and mimics the effects of gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) which is a calming neurotransmitter."
Maca Powder
Ivy says, "This is great superfood for mood across the board for all ages. I give it to my 17-year-old son because he's always exercising. It's great for recovery. For older adults, the boost to libido is amazing and for fertility, that's huge for men and women."
Camu
"Camu has 40 times the vitamin C of an orange. One teaspoon has 667% of the daily value of vitamin C. It is so important for adrenals and lowering stress. What's great about camu is that it's a wholefood getting all the bioflavonoids and spectrum of nutrients. "
She says camu also has also been shown to naturally increase progesterone levels.
Flaxseeds
"There is research 2 tablespoons a day, two times a day reduces hot flashes by 57%! For men and women flaxseeds also get ride of bad estrogen. This is a problem with the plastics and hormones in the meats, so flaxseeds for everyone get rid of bad estrogen."
Hemp seeds
"Hemp Seeds are super anti-inflammatory and contains and super fat called gamma-linoleic acid (GLA) this is very important for balancing your hormones. Also, men and women experience hormonal hair loss as they get older and GLA stops the hormone that causes hair loss in men and women."
Cacao powder
"Cacao powder is a superfood. It's super rich in iron and very rich in magnesium and lowers cortisol which decreases stress. It's the active ingredient in chocolate. It increases the feel good neurotransmitters and alleviates stress."
Collagen powder
"Collagen powder is loaded with amino acids and helps support hormonal health in general."
Unsweetened acai, one frozen banana and one cup of frozen cauliflower along with 1 1/4 cups of filtered water all go into the blender.
Ivy says it's not as tasty as one of the many smoothie recipes in her cookbooks. She says it's a neutral taste.
She says what it may lack in taste it makes up for in improved sleep, energy, decreased sugar cravings, an improved mood, weight loss, a decrease in brain fog and balanced hormones.
Her mom, Gail Ingram is impressed.
She says, "This did something special to me as far as energy goes. I have the pep. I'm 74 and I have pep and energy I had when I was 50. I feels it's really been beneficial."
Food blogger and co-founder if Natural Medicine Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Dawn Rofrano, agrees.
She calls the shake, insurance for your health."
"In our clinic we've seen patients who have had all symptoms Ivy is talking about. Powerhouse ingredients are helping! the proof is in the shake this time around."
Nutrient dense, it's for women and men at all stages of life.
Ivy Larson says, "It's not like you're taking a supplement there's no risk. These are wholefoods, unrefined whole food ingredients that actually have very powerful affects."
For the complete recipe, click here.
Check out Ivy's website and Dawn Rofrano's website