healthy eating – Chef V's Blog

Green Drink vs Greens Powder: Is There A Unanimous Winner?

December 3, 2023 Chef V

When it comes to drinking your greens, which is better for your health …

Option 1: Make your own veggie juice or have GREEN DRINKS delivered.

Or, option 2, mixing a greens powder?

Powder? Backed by billions in venture capital funding, social media influencers, and slick marketing campaigns, it’s easy to see why greens powders may have a leg up in popularity. But how does dehydrated powder stack up to cold-blended veggie juice nutritionally? ChefV.com founder and certified nutritional therapist Veronica “V” Kress weighs in…

hand holding greens

I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted me to start with a disclaimer.

Yes, my opinion on the fresh, cold-blended green drink vs. greens powder debate is biased. After all, ChefV.com, which I founded in the early 2010s, delivers the former and has no plans to sell the latter. I’ll explain why in just a bit…

But first, let’s go through each variable and see who comes out on top, green veggie juice (green drinks) or greens powder.

green powder

Convenience

I understand that one of the biggest selling points of greens powder is convenience. If you’re traveling out of the country, it’s easier to bring a tub of powder than a gallon carton of Green Drink.

Advantage greens powder? Score: Greens Powder 1 Green Drink 0???

Not so fast.

ChefV.com’s Organic Green Drink home delivery plan offers a convenient way to consume your daily dose of green, leafy veggies. Both Green Drink home delivery and Greens Powders are far easier than the hassle of shopping for produce each day, chopping the veggies and cleaning up the juicer.

So let’s consider the score a tie after the first frame. And I’m scoring generously here because I’ve tried several greens powders that did not disintegrate when I stirred, even after a full minute. Clumps and all, I’ll call it 0-0.

The bottom line is that 90% of Americans aren't eating the minimum daily requirement of vegetables, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In light of this, whatever way you find it easiest to get your daily dose of disease-fighting green, leafy veggies, go for it.

But let me tell you why I have no plans on offering greens powder even if one of the VCs from Shark Tank called me offering to bankroll it.

MORE GREEN DRINK ARTICLES

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5 Reasons Dark Leafy Greens Are Awesome For Gut Health

Nutrient Density

Again, if someone goes from eating fast food and drinking soda for the majority of their calories to using a greens powder, I’m all for it. But if we’re keeping score here when it comes to nutrient density, cold-blended raw Organic Green Drinks hits a grand slam. Greens Powder strikes out. Is my scoring a bit exaggerated? Mmm, maybe. But without a doubt, fresh green juice is superior for maintaining nutritional integrity.

You see, many brands of greens powders freeze-dry their ingredients. Besides killing the fresh right-out-of-the-ground taste that only farmer’s market produce has—Chef V sources all 7 certified organic green leafy veggies from local farmers—this freeze-dry process destroys some of the nutritional content.

freeze dried and fresh kale

Are Greens Powders better for you than a Big Mac? Of course, but when comparing fresh green drinks to freeze-dried powders that can sit on the shelf for months, there’s no comparison when it comes to who wins the nutritional preservation contest.

Winner: Green Drinks

HEALTHY EATING RESOURCES

CHEF V RECIPE ARCHIVE

CHEF V’s COOKING SCHOOL (Free videos)

What Do I Eat Today? (Free recipes)

Making Cleansing Easier (Free e-cookbook)

Purity

“I love drinking juice that taste’s like grass clippings,” said nobody, not even people who love doing wheatgrass shots. To make a green veggie juice taste appealing, it needs to have something added.

With Organic Green Drinks, my recipe contains a tiny bit of organic green apple and organic apple juice. Even with these two additions, the total sugar content for an 8-oz serving is 3 grams. (For those who have a sweet tooth and are weening off of added sugars, Chef V offers a Tropical Green Drink with mango, pineapple and pineapple juice, which adds only 3 more grams of sugar.)

What do some (not all) Greens Powder makers add to make it sweet? Sugar or fillers and additives that enhance texture. Not to mention that Greens Powders had a problematic history of being contaminated with heavy metals.

apple and pineapple

On the other hand, cold blended leafy green vegetables are prepared using fresh produce. This ensures that the nutrients remain intact and that the flavors are preserved. While green powders might be convenient, the advantage of consuming fresh, organic, whole-food vegetables cannot be understated.

In making Organic Green Drinks, Chef V takes no shortcuts. Every order of Green Drink is made to order fresh and contains 7 certified organic leafy greens for maximal nutrient density.

Winner: Green Drinks

Below, Veronica takes you on a tour of the Chef V kitchen

Bioavailability

Bioavailability means how quickly and effectively your cells uptake (use) the nutrients. I admit that there are no studies (none that I found anyway, believe me, I looked high and low) directly comparing the nutrient absorption of green drinks versus greens powders. (If you’re a nutrition geek like me and come across a study like this, let me know!)

In theory, the synergistic effects of various compounds in whole foods might contribute to better nutrient absorption than freeze-dried powders. But here’s what I’ll do since I can’t find a smoking gun, scientific comparison: I’ll call it a draw.

Winner: A Draw

Veronica and Brandon with product, kale, and blender

Truth In Advertising

With wellness influencers and well-funded marketing campaigns promoting greens powder brands, it’s very easy to be swayed and trust that what you see is what you get.

But as ConsumerLab.com, an independent non-profit research organization points out, “Although many greens products contain a long list of ingredients, specific amounts for each ingredient are not always provided.” Even worse, some brands of greens powders make false claims about their health benefits, such as curing hangovers.

In comparison, with ChefV.com Green Drinks, what you see is what you get. 7 certified organic green leafy veggies and a wee bit of apple added for some sweetness. There’s even clinical research that backs using Green Drinks for improving several health and wellness biomarkers.

Winner: Organic Green Drink

Gut Health

Chef V Organic Green Drinks are raw, which means that the beneficial bacteria are retained in the cold-blending process. The same can’t be said about greens powders, many of which use high-heat pasteurization, which can kill many of the friendly microorganisms that feed your gut and create healthy compounds called short-chain fatty acids.

Winner: Organic Green Drink

Above, take a tour of the Chef V kitchen with Veronica

Final Verdict: Organic Green Drinks Vs Greens Powders

Look, I didn’t intend to get into a pissing match with greens powders. But I felt like I had to defend the honor of my humble Green Drink. This is a David vs. Goliath nutritional showdown. Chef V is clearly the David in this picture. We haven’t reaped the benefits of multi-million-dollar checks from deep-pocketed Silicon Valley backers. The fruits of our labor and sweat equity have come at the expense of inflation, the soaring cost of goods and services, all the while doing our best to keep prices steady for our loyal customers.

But I’ll take the easy way out and give the final parting slingshot to registered dietitian Jemma O'Hanlon, who told Huffington Post Australia, “I'm not a huge fan of green superfood powders, simply because they're a highly processed version of the real thing, and are not really a 'food' that we can cook up a meal with.” O’Hanlon added, “We don't have strong research to support … health benefits from consuming them, but we do have a huge body of evidence to support the consumption of 'real' fruits and vegetables. You know, the ones that you can pick off a tree and eat or pull out of the garden bed.”

Increase your intake of organic, fresh, green, leafy veggies the easy way with Chef V’s Organic Green Drink delivery plan.

Adaptogens: The Medicinal Plant All-Stars That Help Conquer Stress And Fatigue

December 1, 2023 Chef V

adaptogen examples

Out of tens of thousands of medicinal plants on Earth, only a tiny percentage have been classified as “adaptogens.” Over the last few years, adaptogenic herbs have become a huge health trend.

Certified nutritional therapist and ChefV.com founder Veronica “V” Kress explains what’s so special about adaptogens and managing stress.

mushrooms

Fungus is finally friendly!

While adaptogens, also called adaptogenic herbs, have soared in popularity, relatively few people know exactly what makes an herb adaptogenic. So let’s get to know them…

One of the top selling points for adaptogens is that they help regulate the amount of stress hormone, cortisol, released from the adrenal glands. In doing so, they help your body healthily adapt to stress.

It wasn’t long ago that mushrooms were just a squishy, flavorless topping for pizza or a second-tier ingredient in a stir-fry. Only eccentric people were fond of fungus for food.

Now all of a sudden, mushrooms are all the rage. Reishi, Lion’s Mane, Chaga and other fruiting fungal bodies now enjoy A-list, red-carpet superfood status. Mushroom coffee? Unthinkable a decade ago. But these days, more and more people are breaking up with coffee and sipping functional fungal elixirs instead. These edible ‘shrooms, mostly in powder form, are examples of adaptogens.

mushroom coffee

What Are Adaptogens?

They’re the cream of the crop of the medicinal plant world. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, 50,000 to 80,000 plants are used medicinally. Although there’s no exact number of adaptogenic herbs on the planet, the number of herbs classified as ‘adaptogenic’ doesn’t exceed a few hundred. Some plant medicine experts put the number far lower, at a few dozen.

So what makes adaptogens the darling of the plant medicine world? Well, as the name implies, adaptogens help the body “adapt” to stress. Running an Organic Green Drink delivery company, doing everything in my power to keep costs low for my customers despite inflation and the soaring cost of goods and services, and nursing a newborn? Yup, I got some stress.

That’s why I’ll typically add an adaptogenic powder to my protein smoothie, which I take about 30 minutes after fueling my cells with Organic Green Drink in the morning. I’ll tell you which adaptogens are my favorites below, and suggest some Smoothie recipes to add them to.

(I should also mention that I have reduced the frequency and dosage of adaptogens now that I’m breastfeeding. There’s no telling if baby Kaden will get a sudden burst of energy and skip naptime because the power of adaptogens came through my breastmilk!)

To be classified as an adaptogen, herbalists and botanists generally agree on a few principles:

Non-Specific Action: Think about a prescription medicine you’ve taken. That drug was designed to have one specific action, like lowering blood pressure or blood sugar or inhibiting serotonin reuptake. In comparison, adaptogens don’t just have one action. Instead, they help the body adapt to any kind of stress in a non-specific way.
Promote homeostasis: Adaptogens restore balance to the body. They do this by regulating physiological processes. One of the top selling points for adaptogens is that they help regulate the amount of stress hormone, cortisol, released from the adrenal glands. In doing so, they help your body healthily adapt to stress.
Non-Toxic and Safe: Unlike pharmaceuticals and many non-adaptogenic herbs, adaptogens are generally considered safe and have a low risk of toxicity and side effects.
Biphasic: This means that adaptogens can have either an energizing or calming effect. For example, adaptogens can help the adrenal glands crank out more cortisol when needed or reduce the amount when the adrenals flood the bloodstream with cortisol like a burst dam. Adaptogens help energize an underperforming organ and reduce activity in a hyperactive one.

ADD ADAPTOGENS
TO THESE SMOOTHIE RECIPES

Chef V's Smoothie Recipes

Chef V’s Immunity Smoothie

Piña Kale’oda Smoothie

Chef V Tropical Smoothie

Green Protein Smoothie with Kale

Adaptogens you might use are described below.

When Were Adaptogens First Discovered?

No, Gwyneth Paltrow was not the first adaptogenic trailblazer (despite what the Goop blog may say). That credit goes to Soviet scientists in the 1940s like Dr. Nikolai Lazarev and later, to doctors Israel Brekhman and Alexander Panossian.

Research on adaptogens in the mid-20th century was conducted when the Soviet Union was competing neck-for-neck with the USA for global superpower status. Russian scientists discovered that when soldiers, athletes and workers were given the adaptogenic herb, eleuthero (Siberian ginseng), they could perform at high levels under intense stress such as little sleep and extreme weather.

But the history of adaptogenic herbs dates much further back than a century. These special medicinal herbs (and fungi) have been used since prehistoric times. And what’s really interesting about many of the most commonly used adaptogens is their own resiliency to stress.

HEALTHY EATING RESOURCES

CHEF V RECIPE ARCHIVE

CHEF V’s COOKING SCHOOL (Free videos)

What Do I Eat Today? (Free recipes)

Making Cleansing Easier (Free e-cookbook)

Adaptogens Have Their Own Stress To Deal With

Adaptogens don’t have to worry about paying the bills. But many of them do have to survive under the harshest conditions. For example, I already mentioned Eleuthero. That grows in the harsh taiga of Siberia, where hardly any other plants can take root.

Another adaptogen that survives freezing conditions is Rhodiola root, which grows in high-altitude Arctic regions.

Maca root has developed a reputation as a libido enhancer and hormone balancer. If it can survive the harsh Peruvian Andes climate, with hurricane-force winds, blinding sunlight and miserable soil, maybe Maca can make miracles happen in the bedroom. (This study says Maca can help reverse sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women who took antidepressants.)

Another example of a fascinating tale of survival in the plant kingdom is the adaptogen known as holy basil (Tulsi). Native to the scorching-hot, arid Indian subcontinent, holy basil thrives even under desperate drought conditions.

One more example is Ashwagandha. Like holy basil, this adaptogen thrives in arid, hot AF India as well as North Africa and the Middle East.

Just as these adaptogenic herbs have not only survived but thrived in harsh climates, they can help us adapt to stress and support our own resilience and well-being, even in the face of adversity.

What Are The Benefits Of Adaptogens?

Adaptogens might be the ultimate natural stress-busters. And in helping our bodies adapt to stress in a balanced, non-specific way, they may also help:

Support immune function
Promote energy, vitality, stamina and endurance
Improve mental clarity
Balance mood
Calm the mind

What Are The Best Adaptogens?

In addition to the adaptogens I mentioned, the following ones have shown promise in research studies:

Licorice root
Goji berry
Schisandra fruit
Astragalus
Angelica root
Acai berry
Shatavari

mushroom and medicine capsules

Do Adaptogens Really Work?

Instead of asking me, let’s see what the research says. According to a review of several studies published in 2021, in the journal Nutrients, “adaptogens could provide a number of benefits in the treatment of chronic fatigue, cognitive impairment, and immune protection. In the future, there is great potential to register medicinal products that contain plant adaptogens for therapeutic purposes.”

Earlier this year, a study focusing on adaptogens and skin health concluded:

“Adaptogens can repair the skin barrier and maintain skin homeostasis by … influencing the oxidative stress pathway to inhibit inflammation, and regulating the extracellular matrix (ECM) components to maintain a dynamic equilibrium, ultimately achieving the treatment of skin diseases and the maintenance of a healthy state.”

Drug companies can’t patent adaptogenic herbs and make huge profits. So there are no large human clinical trials on adaptogens. Considering they’ve been used for thousands of years and our way of life seems to only be getting more stressful, I highly recommend adaptogens. But I’ll still pass on the mushroom pizza.

This content is for informational or educational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals.

Chef V’s Perfect “Prescription” For Eating Healthy While Taking Ozempic

October 10, 2023 Jean Yates

Ozempic has been called a wonder drug for people with type 2 diabetes. But there’s a dark side to it: The drug eradicates appetite. The downside? Being starved of vital nutrients. Certified nutritional therapist and CHEFV.com founder, Veronica Wheat offers solutions for staying healthy while taking Ozempic.

When it comes to Ozempic, let me get something off my chest.

I’m not going to be talking about celebrities and TikTok influencers who are unethically using the drug and potentially creating a shortage of it for people with type 2 diabetes just to quickly drop 10 pounds.

Instead, I will focus on the biggest risk of taking Ozempic for those with type 2 diabetes.

Before I get to that, in case you don’t know about Ozempic, some quick facts…

For managing blood sugar levels, Ozempic is super convenient for people with type 2 diabetes. Instead of injecting insulin every day like other diabetes meds, Ozempic is a once-weekly injection. It works by increasing the hormone, insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels when blood sugar gets too high.

In addition, Ozempic reduces glucagon, the hormone that raises blood sugar levels—a double dose of blood glucose regulation.

So far so good, right? Another way Ozempic works is by dramatically curbing appetite by cutting off the brain’s hunger signals. Not only that, but Ozempic also delays stomach emptying, which makes you feel full for several hours. This also might sound like a godsend of a drug if you have type 2 diabetes and are overweight.

OZEMPIC NUTRITION RESOURCES

CHEF V’s COOKING SCHOOL (Free videos)

What Do I Eat Today? (Free recipes)

Making Cleansing Easier (Free e-cookbook)

21 DAY LOW-SUGAR DETOX

The Dark Side Of Using Ozempic: Malnutrition

Many Ozempic users report that after taking a few bites of food, they are totally full, or even repulsed by the idea of food. This is a great recipe for losing weight but a disaster for overall health. That’s because the tendency is that when Ozempic users eat, they usually grab a few bites of whatever’s easily in reach. And most often it’s something unhealthy.

If you use Ozempic, you will definitely lose weight. But even with the little appetite you may have, you have to consume nutritious food. Otherwise, you’ll deprive yourself of vital nutrients. In other words, you will suffer from malnutrition. You’ll have no energy and your immune system can weaken.

So how can Ozempic users manage blood sugar and stay healthy?

Staying Healthy On Ozempic With Green Drink

Having Organic GREEN DRINK first thing in the morning is the easiest thing Ozempic users with type 2 diabetes can do to prevent malnutrition.

With 7 certified organic leafy green veggies, GREEN DRINK contains the antioxidants and phytonutrients your trillions of cells need to keep you healthy on a low-calorie diet.

And with only 26 calories per serving, GREEN DRINK won’t make your tummy painfully full or bloated if you’re taking Ozempic.

But drinking juice? Isn’t that bad if you have type 2 diabetes?

It’s true that most commercial juices cause an immediate surge of insulin and are loaded with sugar. Even green-colored juices trick shoppers into thinking it must be a healthy juice because green is the color of some of the healthiest veggies on the planet.

But don’t let store-bought juices fool you. They’re loaded with fructose (fruit sugar) and barely contain any vegetables. They should be totally avoided if you have high blood sugar. If you have type 2 diabetes, you shouldn’t have more than 25 grams of sugar per day. Did you know that most green juices sold in stores have up to 50 grams of sugar?

—-> See how CHEFV.com compares to the competition

GREEN DRINK: Safe for Ozempic Uses & Proven to Reduce A1C

But there are three reasons why GREEN DRINK is perfectly safe for type 2 diabetes.

There are only 3 grams of naturally-occurring sugar per serving. So there’s no insulin surge after drinking GREEN DRINK as you get with most commercial juices.
GREEN DRINK is blended, not juiced. That means that the fiber and nutrients from the leafy green veggies in GREEN DRINK are preserved and feed your healthy gut bacteria. With commercial juices, you’re just drinking the sugars, not the nutrients! And all that sugar goes directly into your bloodstream, spiking your insulin and driving up blood sugar.
GREEN DRINK is clinically proven to lower A1C levels. In an independent clinical study of 38 participants (without type 2 diabetes), a CHEF V 21 Day DETOX followed up by 7 days of GREEN DRINK consumption reduced A1C levels by 1.7%.

Watch CHEF V's Infamous Green Drink and Diabetes

So if you’re taking Ozempic for diabetes, make sure you’re fueling your body with supreme nutrition, even if you have a very low appetite.

Learn more about GREEN DRINK.

Nutrition Hint from an Ozempic user:
“Keep a healthy food at your desk, in your tote, anywhere that is super easy to grab. Then set a reminder on your phone and when it goes off, eat a little. I use Green Drink, cut up fruit or nuts.”

below, Chef V working one of our kitchens

“GREEN DRINK has been invaluable for me to get the right mix of nutrients every day even when you’re not motivated to eat. Having a Green Drink in the morning kicks starts a healthy beginning to my day.” —Type 2 diabetic Ozempic user and CHEF V customer, Jean Y.

Making Healthy Meals On Ozempic Even If You’re Not Hungry

But what about the rest of the day? Sure, Green Drink is a great way to flood your cells with vital nutrition in the morning. But when you don’t feel like eating much, what else can you do to stay healthy?

I recommend taking one day a week to cook mini healthy meals. Even if you nibble just a few bites here and there, that’s ok. But it’s so important that you’re not just subsisting on high-carb foods while taking Ozempic.

If you have any questions about using CHEF V with diabetes, we are always here for you.

Here’s to having healthy blood sugar levels and optimizing your nutrition!

Love,

Veronica Wheat

Founder, ChefV.com

Chef V Clinically Proven To Lower A1C Blood Sugar Levels

October 8, 2023 Jean Yates

diabetes A1C

An independent clinical trial shows that Chef V’s 21 Detox followed by 7 days of continuing with a Green Drink plan significantly lowered HbA1C levels, one of the most important markers of health and longevity.

According to Citruslabs, after the 28 day study was completed, “…there was a significant reduction in HbA1C. HbA1C is a marker of glucose levels in the blood, and lower levels are preferred to higher levels. The significant reduction in HbA1C demonstrates a healthy glucose response by the body after using Chef V products.”

Maybe you’ve heard of “A1C” and know it has something to do with blood sugar levels. That’s a good start. But your A1C levels don’t only reveal whether you have diabetes or prediabetes. Your A1C level also has a profound effect on skin health and the aging process. And considering that your A1C level is one of the most important health biomarkers, let’s dive deeper.

It's important to understand that lowering your A1C levels is a gradual (slow) process. Unlike a blood glucose test, A1C measures your average blood sugar over a period of 2 to 3 months. This means, it can take up to 3 months to notice significant changes in your A1C.

What is an “A1C” Blood Sugar Test?

Been a while since you’ve had lab work done? If so, I highly recommend that you get a Complete Metabolic Panel (CMP) that includes A1C. Getting a CMP and A1C provides a snapshot of your liver and kidney health, electrolyte balance, metabolism, and blood.

Just as you take your car to a mechanic for optimal engine performance, you should get these diagnostic tests to ensure your body’s “engine” is running smoothly.

The hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c test (A1C for short) is a simple blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months. That’s the simple explanation.

More specifically, the A1C test measures the amount of glycated hemoglobin in the blood.

So let’s break down what “glycated hemoglobin” is in two parts. First, hemoglobin is an oxygen-carrying protein in your red blood cells. Hemoglobin carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.

What does this have to do with blood sugar?

That brings us to “glycation.” When you eat anything with sugar or carbohydrates that break down into sugar, some of that sugar sticks to hemoglobin. This is called glycation. The A1C test measures the levels of these sticky, sugary molecules as a percentage. The higher the percentage of red blood cells with sticky hemoglobin, the higher your blood sugar levels.

blood and fat

What is the A1C Test Used For?

Because red blood cells live for about three months, an A1C test provides a sneak peek of how much sugar is hanging out in the bloodstream over that three-month period of time.

The A1C test is used to diagnose diabetes, assess how well people with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels and diagnose prediabetes.

According to the Diabetes Research Institute, 37.3 million Americans or 11.3% of the population have diabetes, and nearly 100 million Americans have prediabetes, including nearly 50% of people 65 and older.

taking blood pressure

Why Glycation Matters

Obviously, diabetes is a major health concern. Research from the Journal of Exercise Nutrition & Biochemistry explains that glycation—the underlying mechanism behind type 2 diabetes—leads to “a variety of irreversible dehydration and rearrangement reactions that lead to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs).”

When you eat blackened, barbecued meat or breathe in polluted air, this causes AGEs. AGEs lead to premature aging, including “a loss of protein function and impaired elasticity of tissues such as blood vessels, skin, and tendons … and diabetic complications.”

So can’t you just take some supplements to overcome glycation and AGEs?

Not so fast, suggests the research.

“Because there are no enzymes to remove glycated products from the human body, the glycation process matches well with the theory that the accumulation of metabolic waste promotes aging.”

Additional Resources on Diabetes

Chef V Clinically Proven To Lower A1C Blood Sugar Levels

Is It Safe For People With Type 1 Diabetes To Do A Cleanse?

Chef V’s Perfect “Prescription” For Eating Healthy While Taking Ozempic

Can You Get Diabetes From Eating Too Much Sugar?

Understanding the Risk Factors of Diabetes

A1C Levels & Skin Health

For some people, including those with diabetes, having high blood sugar levels is an abstract health problem. In other words, the link between having high blood sugar levels and serious health problems isn’t considered before it’s too late.

For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), common diabetes health complications include heart disease, chronic kidney disease, nerve damage, and other problems with feet, oral health, vision, hearing, and mental health.

Although it seems shallow in comparison, let’s face it, people do care about how they look. And another thing that relatively few people give much thought to is how A1C levels affect the skin. Sugar not only sticks to red blood cells, it also sticks to collagen and elastin, the two primary types of structural protein in the skin.

When there’s too much sugar on collagen and elastin, those advanced glycation end products I mentioned damage collagen and elastin, leading to wrinkles and inflamed, dry, and itchy skin.

The bad news is that it’s difficult to reverse AGEs-related skin damage. But there’s a simple, research-proven method to manage A1C levels and prevent further harm to the body…

Chef V Green Drink Put To The Test for A1C Levels

Fast forward to early 2023 when Brandon and I decided to put the 7 certified organic green leafy veggies to the test. We invested in a clinical trial conducted by Citrus Labs, a Santa Monica-based independent research organization. Citrus Labs analyzed the effects of a Chef V 21 DAY DETOX followed by a 7-day continuation of a Green Drink Plan.

(Read more about the research study here.)

It’s important to mention that none of the study participants had diabetes or high blood sugar levels. Before day 1 of the 28-day study, the average A1C level of the 38 participants was 5.4. On day 28, the participants’ A1C levels were 5.31—a reduction of 1.7%.

That might not seem like a big reduction. But it is. Just like the difference between a 5.0 and 6.0 earthquake is monumental in terms of power and potential destruction, a reduction of 1.7% in A1C levels is impressive, especially for a population that didn’t have a high blood sugar level to begin with. But don’t just take my word for it.

“The significant reduction in HbA1C demonstrates a healthy glucose response by the body after using Chef V products.”

—Citrus Labs analysis

Going Green For Healthier A1C Levels

One of the simplest ways to lower blood sugar levels is by consuming more green leafy veggies. Several studies prove this. For instance, a study of 417 type-2 diabetic patients 65 years or older in Japan showed that eating 1 cup or more a day of green leafy veggies led to significant decreases in HbA1c, triglycerides (fat in the blood), and waist circumference.

As a certified nutritional therapist, I’ve always believed in the therapeutic potential of green leafy veggies. That’s why I created a recipe for an organic low-sugar blended juice with 7 different types of leafy greens.

At the time I created the recipe, I was a personal chef. But the response was so overwhelming that about a decade ago, my husband, Brandon, convinced me to start a business delivering this Green Drink. Within a short time, Chef V was delivering Green Drinks nationwide.

What Are Healthy A1C Levels?

A value of 6.5% or higher indicates diabetes, while a value below 5.7% is considered normal. If you have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends an A1C level of less than 7% to reduce the risk of complications.

I’m not suggesting that having a serving of Green Drink is all you need to do to manage A1C levels. After all, lowering your A1C levels requires regular exercise and following a healthy overall diet, which I teach how to do with the 21 DAY DETOX.

But if you’re not a huge fan of veggies or don’t have time to make huge salads, having a daily serving of Organic Green Drink—only 3 grams of natural sugar per 8 ounces—is one of the easiest ways to get your daily dose of A1C-lowering ingredients into your diet.

Is Chef V Detox Safe For Diabetes?

With millions of people using Ozempic for diabetes and weight loss, is doing a Chef V 21 DAY DETOX and continuing with a Green Drink plan safe? And is it generally safe for people with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease that accounts for roughly just 5% of all diabetes diagnoses?

As Citrus Labs concluded, Chef V Detox and Green Drink work because you don’t have to skip meals, which can be dangerous if you have diabetes. “Chef V supplies the nutrition needed for optimal health outcomes,” the lab report concluded.

However, if you have diabetes, you should consult with a registered dietician or other medical professional before beginning any new dietary intervention.

Read more about how Chef V’s Detox & Green Drink has been clinically proven to improve health outcomes such as:

Nurturing a Healthy Feminine Microbiome

July 20, 2023 Chef V

uterus image with cutout flowers

If you want to avoid yeast infections, minimize PMS symptoms and maintain great gynecological health, ChefV.com founder and nutritional therapist Veronica Wheat has some sage advice.

Weight. Gut health. Digestion. Elimination.

These are the things we most often think about when it comes to our food choices. But ladies, when it comes to our overall diet, we should also keep our vaginal microbiome and menstrual cycle in mind.

You see, we not only have an invisible world of trillions of bacteria in our large intestine, comprising most of the Gut microbiome. Women also have a vaginal microbiome. In fact, a study of 110 women of reproductive age revealed that the vagina contains anywhere from 10 billion to 100 billion bacteria.

And just like the gut microbiome, the vaginal microbiome is home to mostly friendly bacteria. But poor food choices and other factors I’ll highlight below can throw off the balance quickly, leading to yeast infections and irregular or painful cycles.

Similar to the relationship in the gut microbiome, in the vaginal microbiome, there’s a symbiotic relationship between the host (you) and the bacteria. Us ladies provide a humid, nutritious and warm environment for the microbes. And in return, what do we get?

In exchange for being able to live rent-free in our warm and cozy ‘ginas, the microbes provide “a first line of defense against nonindigenous microorganisms.” In other words, the friendly vaginal bacteria act like an army and immune system, protecting us from pathogenic invaders that don’t belong down there.

Causes of Vaginal Dysbiosis

But just as a neglected house attracts nasty critters, the internal environment of the vagina can result in vaginal dysbiosis; the unfriendly bacteria take over and wreak havoc.

Out of all the factors that can cause vaginal dysbiosis, I’ll focus mostly on diet. But before I do, I just want to mention other internal and external factors that can disrupt the vaginal microbiome.

Hormone imbalance: Changes in estrogen and/or progesterone levels, that occur because of pregnancy, breastfeeding, and menopause can alter the vaginal pH and increase the likelihood of infections.
Contraceptives: This is related to hormone imbalance
Immune system weakness
Heavy antibiotic usage
Sexually-transmitted infections

It’s important to maintain a healthy ecosystem in the vagina because dysbiosis can lead to, among other things:

Bacterial vaginosis
Candidiasis (a yeast infection caused by an overgrowth of Candida albicans)
Adverse pregnancy outcomes
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
Human papillomavirus (HPV)
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).

woman holding downturned smily face by hip

Maintain Optimal Gynecological Health By Going Green

In addition to hygiene, regular exercise, managing stress, and eating a healthy diet are key to maintaining an optimal vaginal pH and microbiome. And for this article, I’m going to focus on nutrition.

People assume I’m the equivalent of a Catholic nun when it comes to nutrition. But I’m not always strict. Sometimes, I “take the habit off” and indulge in my favorite junk food habit: french fries. But the most important lesson I can impart is to eat super healthy like 85% of the time. If you do this, you’ll most likely provide your vaginal microbiome with a healthy environment to thrive in, and you’ll be less likely to experience yeast infections or a difficult menstrual cycle.

Am I just saying this because I’m in the business of delivering Organic Green Drinks to people’s homes across the country (the Green Drink Plan)? Well, yeah!

But low-sugar green leafy veggies (7 of them in Green Drink, all certified USDA Organic!) are clinically proven to support health in many ways.

In fact, Chef V’s 21-Day Detox and Green Drink was the focus of an independent research study. However, one health metric that wasn’t analyzed by Citrus Labs, the Santa Monica research company that conducted the analysis was vaginal health.

So I dug up some research of my own and here’s a couple of examples of how consuming green veggies can support a healthy vaginal microbiome.

What The Research Says About Vaginal Health & Diet

A study published in BMC Women’s Health says dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation with abdominal cramps) is one of the most prevalent gynecological disorders, experienced by approximately 60%-70% of young women during menstruation.

The biological reason why painful periods occur is the increased release of something called prostaglandins into the uterine tissue once menstruation begins. Your body makes prostaglandins (which are hormone-like lipids) at sites of tissue damage or infection.

When high levels of prostaglandins respond to tissue damage, the blood vessels constrict. In addition, you also get more contractions of the muscular layer of the uterus (the myometrium). But the fun is only just beginning. What also ends up happening is blood flow to the uterus is choked off, causing pain.

HEALTHY EATING RESOURCES

CHEF V RECIPE ARCHIVE

CHEF V’s COOKING SCHOOL (Free videos)

What Do I Eat Today? (Free recipes)

Making Cleansing Easier (Free e-cookbook)

Is this simply a physiological curse of being female?

Well, yes, if you indulge in “sugars, salty snacks, sweets and desserts, tea and coffee, salt, fruit juices and added fat (labeled as “snacks” pattern),” according to the research study in BMC Women’s Health.

So how protective are green leafy veggies for gynecological health? Well, a 2017 observational study in the British Journal of Cancer said that “a higher intake of green leafy vegetables was inversely associated with mortality from ovarian cancer.” Because it was an observational study, we can’t conclude that there is direct causation, but the correlation is very strong.

“Just finished my 3 day cleanse & I’m about to start my post cleanse. It was so much easier than I expected. I wasn’t hungry until the end of day 3 & the cleanse was actually very tasty. I lost 5.1 pounds & I feel great. I’m expecting to gain some of that weight back when I start eating solid foods again today but it’s a great kick start & great motivator to continue to eat healthy. Thanks Chef V!” – Sally

Why Do Green Leafy Veggies Support Vaginal Health?

Green leafies like kale, collard greens, lettuce, parsley, and chard (all of which are in Organic Green Drink) contain antioxidants that protect cells from oxidative stress, which prevents cellular damage. These nutrient-dense veggies also keep inflammation in check, which plays a big role in hormone balance.

In addition, green, leafy vegetables contain phytoestrogens. These plant compounds mimic the action of estrogen in the body. If your estrogen levels are low because of perimenopause or menopause, consuming more green leafy veggies may help balance your hormones, which leads to a healthier vaginal microbiome.

And let’s not forget how important it is to eat healthy while pregnant! As a new mom, I’m living proof! No gestational diabetes for me, thank you. You see, green leafies are abundant in essential vitamins and minerals for healthy fetal development. And after your baby is born and you’re back to having periods, the vitamin K in green leafies helps prevent excessive bleeding and encourages healthy blood clotting.

How To Get More Leafy Greens In Your Diet For Vaginal Health

Look, I could go on and on about the benefits of green leafies, but I think by now you get the idea. They’re not just important for maintaining a healthy weight and managing blood sugar. Green leafies are absolutely necessary for an optimal vaginal microbiome!

So here’s how you can incorporate more of them into your diet:

Salads – Chef V Salads Recipes
Stir frys
Sauté or steam (add healthy fats like almond slices and avocado/olive oil)
Frozen (I’m not a huge fan of frozen but if organic, they are convenient and just as nutritious as fresh veggies.)
CSA: Get your organic fresh veggies from a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.
Drink organic green leafy veggies, cold-blended and raw

Check out my entree recipes from my cookbook here.

And don’t forget to minimize your intake of added sugars. Your vaginal microbiome will thank you for it.

To your (vaginal) health!

Love,

Veronica “V” Wheat

Founder, ChefV.com

Too Good to Be True – But it Is! – Detox Shake Recipes for Weight Loss

November 30, 2021 Chef V

Veronica working from home

Chef V’s cleanses and detoxes aren’t just blended green juice—they also incorporate our nutritious (and extraordinarily delicious) vanilla and chocolate shakes.

Shaking Up Your Cleanse

Many prospective cleansers may assume shakes defeat the purpose of the blended juice cleanse, which is all about the juice… right? Wrong. Detox diet shake recipes can help boost the overall effectiveness of a cleanse, and play a key role in Chef V’s own cleanse program.

One of the most common side effects of any juice cleanse is a lack of energy or fatigue. This is normal as your body adjusts to fewer macronutrients and carbohydrates. However, it’s not ideal, especially on longer cleanses where you’ll still need to run errands, drop off the kids at school, and/or blast through your to-do list at work.

Enter the protein detox shakes and smoothies.

Good detox diet shake recipes will include significant protein. Protein is one of the three macronutrients are body uses as its primary fuel source. By drinking protein shakes during your cleanse, you’ll avoid fatigue and feel fueled for an entire day’s work.

green drink

What’s Shaking?

The base ingredient in both of our delicious shakes is organic pea protein powder—a natural and organic ingredient, noted for its health benefits.

Beyond being an excellent energy and protein source, pea proteins contain essential amino acids, which help your body repair and rejuvenate during your cleanse.

In terms of flavor, we only use the highest quality natural ingredients available. This includes organic luo han guo extract to sweeten them. It also means organic cacao powder in our chocolate shake and bourbon vanilla in our vanilla shake.

Getting the Most out of Your Chef V Shakes

In any Chef V cleansing package, you’ll receive ingredient packets and instructions to easily blend up our delicious shakes at home. During a “healthy routine period”, you can enjoy one of these shakes on any given day. During the actual cleanses, you’ll want to bump it up to two shakes a day to ensure you have the necessary energy to conquer your day.

Learn more about our cleanse and detox plan options today.

Terrific Turmeric: Why Nutritionists Are Calling it a ‘Super Spice’

November 30, 2021 Chef V

Veronica working from home

Turmeric has always been identifiable by its golden color and popularity in Indian cuisine. However, the fragrant spice’s health benefits have only recently gained attention. Some nutritionists are now even calling it a ‘super spice’.

Read on to learn more about turmeric’s numerous health benefits and why we heavily feature it in our detox soups.

What is turmeric?

In America, some people may consider turmeric an exotic spice. However, in many parts of the world like India, it’s a staple ingredient.

Turmeric technically refers to the plant turmeric, which is a relative of ginger. The rhizomes, or root stalks of this plant, can be boiled, dried, and then ground down to create the orangey-yellow powder we call turmeric.

Turmeric is native to India. In India, turmeric isn’t just a flavorful ingredient – it is also an important part of traditional medicine as well as a dye for Hindi and Buddhist monk robes. In fact, due to its color, Europeans originally nicknamed it Indian Saffron.

Thanks to its bright color, mild flavor, and medicinal benefits, it didn’t take long for turmeric to become popular throughout Asia as well as internationally.

Why is turmeric so healthy?

Turmeric is packed with health benefits, largely thanks to a bioactive substance called curcumin.

Curcumin is a well-known anti-inflammatory and polyphenol. It promotes good heart health, boosts liver function, and aids in digestion. The latter benefit is particularly important during detoxes when you’re trying to rid your body of harmful toxins.

Of course, we can’t miss out on one of the most important turmeric benefits. It tastes delicious! If you’re making your own soups or healthy curries, turmeric is always a great ingredient to include.

blueberries

Does turmeric have side effects?

There is no concrete evidence of any side effects to eating or drinking turmeric.

Anecdotally speaking, some people new to turmeric have reported small amounts of indigestion after consuming large amounts of the ingredient. However, this is often a reported side effect of many new spices and ingredients and may just be a sign of your body getting used to it.

Perhaps the most preposterous myth about turmeric is that it causes pregnant women to go into labor early. There is zero evidence of this. In fact, pregnant women may very well benefit from including more turmeric in their diet.

The Super Ingredients

By design, a lot of ingredients are found in both of our healthy detox soups. These detox vegetable soups have been designed specifically for getting the most out of a juice cleanse, and pair perfectly with our other products. Our healthy detox soups will fuel you to roll right through our 21-day cleanse.

Cooking with turmeric

At Chef V, we’ve included turmeric and curcumin in both of our delicious detox soups. Not only does the ingredient taste delicious, but it also aids in helping your body detox harmful chemicals. Not to mention, its natural pigment makes every soup look beautiful and inviting!

10 Tips For Making Healthy Detox Soups

October 20, 2021 Chef V

When you’re looking to cleanse, lose weight, and keep up a nutritional diet all at once, soup can be a lifesaver. And with colder weather coming, it can be a delicious way to warm up as well.

Here are our top tips on making the most nutritional detox soups at home, as well as making soups suitable for weight loss.

#1 Veggies, Veggies, Veggies

This tip should be no surprise to anyone. Vegetable-based soups are always going to be the healthiest. They’re also excellent for weight loss since they’re naturally low in fat content and high in nutrition.

#2 Use All of the Vegetable

Did you know that the stalks of vegetables like leeks hold amazing nutritional value? Too often we just take all that extra nutrition and throw it right in the trash. Do some research on the ingredients you are using to see how much of it you can include to maximize nutrition and minimize food waste.

#3 Avoid the Fat

If you’re making your own detox soup recipes at home, make sure to avoid stocks and bases that are fat-heavy. This means no cream bases or additions either – you’ll sabotage your entire weight loss plan right then and there.

#4 Embrace Superfoods…

Of course, not all veggies are created equal. For detox soup recipes, you want as much bang for your buck as possible. Aim to include plenty of “superfoods” – vegetables and fruits bursting with vitamins, minerals, and other healthy nutrients like antibacterials. For example, we base one of our Chef V Detox soup recipes around sweet potatoes, which pack a mean nutritious punch.

#5 … and Super Spices

It’s not just the main ingredients that need to be maximized. Additional flavors like garlic, ginger and turmeric add flavor and contribute to the soup’s nutritional value.

#6 Cut the sodium

The dangers of too much sodium are well documented, and you should take this into account when plotting out a detox soup diet plan. Use reduced sodium stocks and try to avoid adding too much table salt.

#7 Boost the fiber

While you should cut sodium, you should add in extra fiber. You can increase fiber in soup by blending in hardy vegetables and fruits like sweet potatoes. This serves two purposes. First, the fiber will help with your digestion and the detox process as a whole. Second, fiber will help you feel satiated and minimize pesky cravings.

#8 Go for organic

Detox soup recipes for weight loss are designed to help you, well, lose weight. But a good detox soup diet should also be helping you flush out toxins as well. Why sabotage this by putting more processed junk back into your system?

#9 Puree

Pureed soups minimize the strain on your digestive system. Keep your soups silky smooth to ensure proper digestion.

#10 Make it delicious!

Detox soups should be delicious, plain and simple. Use high-quality, organic fruits and vegetables as the base of your soups. Then build out the flavor profile with nutritional aromatics and spices like onions, garlic, ginger, and turmeric. You stand the best chance of succeeding in your cleanse if you actually enjoy the food you're eating slurping.

Don’t want to make your own detox soups?

If you’re short on time or hate the cleanup involved in cooking, why not try our pre-planned detoxes and cleanses. We’ll ship you the exact juices, shakes, and soups you need for a healthy and revitalizing cleanse. All of our products are made from fresh, organic ingredients and have been praised for their great flavors. Get in touch today to learn more!

This 4th of July, Think About The Freedom To Eat Healthy

July 15, 2021 Chef V

veronica in field

The beginning of summer presents us with two holidays that reflect on freedom: Juneteenth, the federal holiday on June 19th that celebrates the emancipation of slaves in the US, and of course, the 4th of July.

Although our nation is far from perfect, we are afforded freedoms that billions of people around the world don’t have. Unfortunately, part of living in a free society means that our choices of what we put in our bodies is heavily dictated by the marketplace. And the marketplace is overwhelmingly filled with highly-processed food, or in other words, junk.

When only a handful of mega corporations control 99% of the food supply, it can be challenging for some people to find farm-to-fork food that’s grown without potentially-harmful pesticides, herbicides and other synthetic chemicals.

But you do have the freedom to eat healthy.

farmers market

You have the freedom to consume organic, green-leafy veggies. If you don’t feel like buying them from the store and chopping them up, you even have the freedom to have organic greens cold-blended and delivered to you in juice form. Out of the 195 countries in the world, you could probably count on one hand the number of countries that offer that kind of freedom and convenience.

The consolidation of food has led to less choice when it comes to buying the most popular staples like bread and dairy. And in order to maximize profits, giant food conglomerates increase the output of crops, often at the expense of our health.

Consider the use of the weed killer, glyphosate, which the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer labelled “probably carcinogenic to humans” in 2015.

Six years later, however, the Environmental Protection Agency still allows the sale and use of glyphosate for crop production.

The good news is that you have the freedom to eat organic, non-GMO, gluten-free products.

Every single day, you should maintain a practice of gratitude, especially for having the freedom to eat whatever you want to and how much you want to. Nearly 9 percent of the world’s population is food insecure. That’s roughly 690 million people. And it’s not getting better; worldwide, hunger is on the rise.

But having the freedom to eat whatever you want, whenever you want can of course backfire, with serious health consequences.

On this 4th of July, think about having the freedom not to eat whatever you want and whenever you want, but having the freedom to eat for gut health.

A key factor in eating for gut health involves eating sparingly, no more than three times a day. Frequent snacking is a freedom. One that the government shouldn’t try to eliminate. But frequent snacking in my opinion isn’t a freedom, it’s an unnecessary indulgence that can cause a long laundry list of health problems such as SIBO.

Thankfully, as of 2018, with passage of the Hemp Farm Act, you now have the freedom in all 50 states to consume cannabidiol (CBD), the non-intoxicating chemical in the hemp plant. Long overdue, the Hemp Farm Act removed CBD from the Drug Enforcement Agency’s list of schedule 1 controlled substances, the same class as LSD, ecstasy and marijuana.

But did you know you have the freedom to eat foods that activate the body’s internal cannabinoid system? That’s the same system that’s activated by cannabinoids like CBD and THC, the main chemical in marijuana? The internal (or endo-) cannabinoid system helps the body get back to balance.

smoothie table

All over the world, even in the most repressed societies, people enjoy a stiff adult beverage from time to time. Unfortunately, alcoholism is a worldwide concern, with over 3 million deaths worldwide attributed to alcohol abuse. That’s over 5 percent of all deaths caused by alcohol! But you have the freedom to mocktails instead of cocktails. Just as delicious without the potential for abuse.

You also have the freedom to drink low-sugar smoothies and shakes.

As the saying goes, freedom’s never free. While you may have to pay a little more for healthier food, in the long run, having the freedom to eat healthy is far less expensive than paying out of pocket for medical bills caused by unhealthy lifestyle choices.

Chef V and kale