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Showing posts with label juicing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label juicing. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

DETOX UPDATE III - THE HOME STRETCH


Well peeps,

I'm in the home stretch of the detox. With 17 days of Carolyn Akens Body Rejuvenation Detox program under my belt and 4 more days to go. I'm armed with a sizable amount of leafy greens, fruits & veggies accompanied by some whole grains to make it thru the next few days.

I must say that I have enjoyed this journey. Although I can't say that I've missed one or two things that I was in the habit of having or just plain enjoyed. I can say that, for the most part, it has (and still does) feel great treating my body to nothing but good whole, clean foods. I love that feeling. I swear making a serious conscious effort to do right by your body is a form of love; self-love that I've never quite understood until now.

I've already planned out my juices & smoothies for the rest of my detox. And I'm really excited about them. I'll be trying some new combo's with veggies I've never juiced with before like cabbage & collards (tried for 1st time last week). I've done dishes with quinoa ("keen-wah") and steamed some veggies that I've never considered steamable. All in all, I'm having fun.

Anyhoo, I just wanted to drop in with a quick post on my detox experience so far. My full review/experience/results will be posted next Thursday.

{{Hugs}},

Post Title DETOX UPDATE III - THE HOME STRETCH

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

I'M ALIVE!! ALIVE!!

*pic from movie "Young Frankenstein"

Hi Beautiful Ones,

Going back to my journey of eating a high raw/vegan diet, I’ve reintroduced the green juice back into my life.


I’m telling you. If you want instant energy then guzzle down one of these. I had totally forgotten this until I had some the other day. I drank my juice down and, unlike when I drink coffee (Yes, I still do), I felt immediately awake & energized. I'm convinced that the more I increase my green juice intake, the sooner I'll be able to ween myself off the coffee. Or at least drastically down. ;)  I know. It's a personal process.

Turning your nose up to the thought of it? Add an organic granny smith apple (or 2, if needed) and a lemon. Yummy.

So far, I love mixing greens like kale, green lettuce, red lettuce, romaine, a Granny Smith apple and a lemon for my juice. I've delved into adding an herb like parsley or mint. Haven't tried any others just yet. And I'm looking forward to adding garlic to a juice, and trying the darker greens like collards & chard. And yes, ginger definitely puts a little zing into your juice.


I happened upon a pretty straight-forward site on juicing called, The Juicing Book.  I found this site to be quite easy to navigate. And I really love the way they break down all the benefits and components of the vegetable (or fruit). It's definitely worth taking a look at.


Fresh green juice does the body good in so many ways.

  • It is full of live, unpastuerized enzymes, vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.
  • You get to take in more vegetables by drinking them.
  • Digestion & absorption of the nutrients and other goodies is immediate since your body doesn't have to break down food particles.
  • Helps to alkalize (healthy pH) the body.
  • Delivers chlorophyll to the body which is powerful antioxidant, awesome blood builder and cleanser.

You can read my other posts on green juicing here and here.


Cheers,

Post Title I'M ALIVE!! ALIVE!!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

LONG OVERDUE JUICE FAST/FEAST UPDATE



Hi Gorgeous,

Some time ago in the far, far away realm of my personal history... Well, actually it was Feb. 14th. Anyhoo, last month I talked about me choosing to do a one-day juice fast/abbreviated juice feast. It was actually motivated by HippieMom over at The Raw Journal.

Let me tell you, I was extremely pumped about it. I gathered & researched my books on juicing. Had picked out the particular juices that I was going to focus on. Purchased a few vitamins and supplements. And had gone to the Farmers Market and bought a ishload of produce.
I. Was. Ready.



That morning when I got up, I had such a sense of peace. It's hard to explain but I felt a peace, calmness and sense of well being. Go figure. I guess I had already begun the process of "clearing out" in my mind.



The juicing went well. I never was hungry. Seriously. By the afternoon, the only thing that kicked in was my desire to chew. I actually missed the act of chewing. HippieMom even mentioned this in her post on her juicing experience. It was quite interesting feeling this way. I ended up not fasting beyond that one day. But my conclusion is that I will definitely do it again. I'm actually contemplating juice fasting/feasting this weekend.

Here's a couple of my fav juice recipes:

CO's Basic Green Yummy Juice
1 Granny Smith apple
1 lemon
a few leaves of kale
several leaves of green lettuce
several leaves of red lettuce
**It's really up to your discretionary tastes as to how many green leaves you'd like in your own juice.

Apple, Carrot & Celery or Ginger Juice
2 gala apples
1 stalk of celery or an inch(or 2) of ginger
several carrot stalks
**I like to be heavy on the carrot juice so I typically add at least 6 to 8 stalks. Not so fond of celery, so it's just 1 stalk of that. Lol.

Also, I do use organic produce.

Have you juiced anything lately?....

Post Title LONG OVERDUE JUICE FAST/FEAST UPDATE

Thursday, January 21, 2010

WHY JUICE?...a recap




Hi Gorgeous!

Since I'm on the subject and vibe of juicing, I felt like I needed to do a recap for my newer followers. You can read my other posts on my experiences with fresh juices here and here. You can also check out my interesting experience with beets juice here.

Here are a few experts weighing in on juicing:

According to Dr. Bernard Jensen:
Fresh fruit and veggie juices contain a broad array of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and various co-factors that both enhance and complement individual nutrients, so your body gets the most good from them. Because juices are assimilated with very little effort on the part of the digestive system, their nutrients have a health-building impact at a relatively low cost in energy.
By adding fresh juices to a balanced food regimen, you will help accelerate and enhance the process of restoring nutrients to chemically-starved tissues. It is on these very tissues that disease and illness thrive. In terms of prevention, the importance of juice cannot be overstressed.


According to Stephen Blauer:
Because of their nutritional excellence, juices may prevent diet-related illnesses. A growing body of research reveals that juice may even cure a variety of illnesses and conditions, as well. For instance, cabbage juice contains vitamin U, which has been shown to heal peptic ulcers; while fresh apple and prune juices are excellent laxatives. Green juices contain enzymes that foster weight loss by stimulating the metabolic system. Alfalfa sprout juice supplies vitamin K, a blood coagulant important to the health of pregnant women. Watermelon and cucumber juices have a safe, natural diuretic action. Studies done by the National Academy of Sciences conclude that the pro-vitamin A content of orange, yellow and green vegetable juices may help prevent some forms of cancer.

According to Natalia Rose:
Since the life force of freshly juiced produce peaks the moment it is made, try not to leave it too long before drinking. If you’d like it to keep, you may freeze it. When juicing, use organic fruits and vegetables whenever possible. It is more important to use organic vegetable for juicing than for other recipes, as juicing requires a much larger quantity of produce.


My Juice Du Jour

1 head of romaine lettuce
Several leaves of kale
1 stalk of fennel
1 Granny Smith apple
1 lemon

All wonderfully juiced in my Breville. I never knew how well my juicer would actually juice leafy greens until I put it to work. I am so pleased with the delicious results. This is another just that I just put together. As a natural sweetener, I knew the apple would make it more palatable to my tastes. I think the lemon assists in this also.

And here's a listing of the goodness that these simple, organic and all-natural ingredients bring.

Benefits of Romaine- It is an excellent source of calcium, chlorophyll, iron, magnesium, potassium, silicon, and vitamins A and E. Rebuilds hemoglobin in the blood. Adds shine, thickness, and health to the hair and skin. It does more to promote hair growth than hair dressings or scalp treatments because it stimulates growth by sending vital nutrients to the roots of the hairs. Its silicon content also promotes flexibility of the muscles and joints.

Conditions it responds to are anemia, constipation, hair loss, insomnia, liver disorders, nervous disorders & weight loss.

Benefits of kale- As a member of the cabbage family, its exceptionally high in calcium, chlorophyll, and vitamin A. The mixture of nutrients in kale makes its juice especially beneficial to eyesight, bones, teeth, blood, and lymph glands. It’s high chlorophyll content helps increase the oxygen and red cell content of the blood, improving circulation and cell respiration. Kale contains as much usable calcium as milk, ounce for ounce. Without the fat or cholesterol.

Conditions it responds to are anemia, asthma, arthritis, cancer, circulatory weakness, diabetes, eye disorders, hair loss, hay fever, impotence, liver disorders, pregnancy & delivery, pyorrhea, skin disorders, ulcers and weight loss.

Benefits of fennel- Nutritionally, fennel is similar to celery because it is rich in alkaline minerals but is lower in sodium. It is also high in energy-producing sugars. Due to its high calcium and magnesium content, fennel juice is very helpful in relaxing and calming the nerves.
Conditions it responds to are arthritis, bronchitis, gout, kidney troubles, nervous disorders and weight loss.

Benefits of apple- Contains a substantial amount of vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-6, C, biotin, folic acid, pantothenic acid and a host of minerals. Due to its high mineral content, fresh apple juice is especially good for the health of the skin, hair, and fingernails. It vitamin C content helps prevent colds, flu and intestinal infections. Helps to normalize elimination due to constipation or diarrhea.
Conditions it responds to are arthritis, constipation, gout, indigestion, kidney disorders, liver disorders, rheumatism, and weight loss.

Benefits of lemon- Quite the strong cleanser due to its high citric acid and vitamin C content, its best to mix lemon with water and drink it in moderation. Try it before breakfast as a mild and safe cleanser of the small intestine and stomach. Lemons produce alkaline substances within our body. Its antibacterial, an antioxidant and can be used as a skin astringent.
Conditions it responds to are anemia, blood disorders, colds, constipation, cough, ear disorders, fever, gout, indigestion, infection, liver disorders, mucous membranes, pneumonia, pyorrhea, rheumatism, scurvy, skin disorders, sore throat and weight loss.

Hope this helps.
{{HUGS}},


Resources:
"The Juicing Book" by Stephen Blauer
"Raw Food Life Force Energy" by Natalia Rose

Post Title WHY JUICE?...a recap

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

COMMITTMENT PHOB??.... MAYBE

No, it's not what you think. ;)

For awhile now, I’ve been contemplating wanting to do a juice-fast…. of some length. And when I say “of some length”, I mean for a full week. Hell, at this point I'd take three days. I see so many people out there doing a juice fast of some sort but for some odd reason I am having such a difficult time committing to it. If you really know me, then you’d know that I’ve done fasts before. At one time, I was pretty regular with it. Like a week, or at least a day, every other month or so. The only difference between then and now is the knowledge that I have. Then I was going straight to juice isles in the grocery stores and getting any old apple juice, orange juice, etc. Now, I feel like I can do it right. I have a juicer and know to go to the Farmer’s Market for some great veggies.

But lately, I’m having a hard time settling down to do one.

I would love to do 7 full days but I can barely wrap my mind around doing 1 full day. What da heck is up with that? I should really be over the “what I’ll be missing” phase. It’s like I’m afraid of being constrained or having to adhere to a strict regimen. Anybody have pointers or input on this?..I know it’s totally mental. But I will say that I’m being moved and inspired more everyday to go for it.


I’ve been watching videos of Dan McDonald (aka youtube’s Liferegenerator) making juices. Now keep in mind that I’ve been watching his videos. He’s hilarious and such a positive ball of energy. But for some odd reason, it just clicked in me to just go for it and drop some leafy greens into my juicer (Breville Juice Fountain Plus). It’s not the juicer that I want to juice my kale, lettuces and other leafy greens but it does a pretty good job. Dan seems to be working it quite well with his Breville. Now this does not change the fact that I still want a Hurom Slow juicer.
This baby is still on my list for this year.

Here’s a juice that I just put together the other day:
My First Green Juice (leafy green)

It consisted of kale, spinach, parsley,a Granny Smith apple and a lemon. It was as good as I expected it to be.

I also have a couple of books on juicing to help guide me.
The Juice Fasting Bible. Sandra Cabot, M.D.
The Juicing Book. Stephen Blauer

Although I must honestly say that I've been winging it with my concoctions, I still need some help on committing to a juice fast.
Any suggestions out there?....

Post Title COMMITTMENT PHOB??.... MAYBE

Thursday, September 3, 2009

JUST JUICE



Many people are enjoying the health benefits of consuming raw juices. These powerful elixirs have the ability to strengthen and heal weak cells, increase your oxygen levels, and electron activity through their enzymes, and importantly, saturate your body with needed nutrients. When people are ill, they sometimes have difficulty digesting food. Juice is typically a food that anyone can digest no matter how impaired their anatomy is. Keep in mind that disease states are not the only areas helped by consuming raw juice. Athletes and people who aren't ill use these powerful liquids to prevent free radical damage through the wide spectrum of antioxidants that they provide.

Speaking of which, I have been juicing it up with my Breville Juice Fountain. My current fav juice is a Watermelon/Lemon juice. Very easy and delicious. Tastes like punch.

There are many healthy benefits that you get from watermelons and lemons. The following is a listing of these:

Benefits of Lemon:
1. Lemon act as blood purifier and improves the body’s ability to get rid of toxins.

2. Lemon fruit is excellent in fighting disease that's related to infection.


3. Buy lemon to get rid of certain insects. It’s mother nature’s version of insecticides and will help to repel mosquitoes and flies

4. Some people love antiseptics and would apply it to their skin whenever they have the smallest cut. The good news is you can use lemon on cuts too since it's nature's antiseptics. Not only that, because of its styptics property, it is said that lemon could be applied on cuts to stop bleeding.

5. Drinking lemon juice is useful for people with heart problem - because of its high potassium content

The use of Lemon:
1. Drink fresh lemon juice to cleanse your system

2. Use pure lemon juice on wasp and bee stings to relieve pain

3. Lemon juice mixed with olive oil may help to dissolve gallstones

4. It is believed that regular intake of fresh lemons may be useful in treating cases of kidney stones

And the list goes on for watermelon so I'll try to make this as to the point as possible...

Benefits of Watermelon - Watermelon Nutrients
Watermelon is 92% water, 8% sugar, and high in electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and magnesium), making it a wonderful "energy drink" to hydrate the body.

Watermelon is a good source of vitamin A and beta carotene. Eating watermelon is actually better for your eyes than eating carrots in preventing age-related vision loss (such as macular degeneration and cataracts).

Other watermelon nutrients include vitamin C, thiamin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B1.

Benefits of Watermelon Nutrients - Antioxidants
Besides including the antioxidants vitamin C, vitamin A, and beta carotene, research has recently discovered watermelon is rich in lycopene (a phytochemical). On average, watermelons have about 40% more lycopene than raw tomatoes.
Antioxidants protect cells against free radicals (damaging molecules that play a role in cancer, heart disease, and other diseases). Lycopene is said to be particularly effective in preventing prostate cancer.

Benefits of Watermelon Nutrients - Citrulline
Watermelon is high in citrulline, a non-essential amino acid our bodies use to make arginine, an essential amino acid. Benefits of these amino acids include:
• removing ammonia from the body
• lowering blood pressure
• promoting energy
• strengthening the immune system
• stimulating the pancreas to release insulin
• maintaining acid base balance.

*According to scientists at the Texas A&M's Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center, citrulline found in watermelon acts similar to sildenafil citrate (better known as Viagra).


You may be wondering what is that stuff at the top of CO's watermelon-lemon juice. Well, I decided to add some Chia seeds to it. Remember my Chia seed post. I just soaked about 1.5 Tablespoons of Chia seeds in distilled water for 30 minutes. After I juiced the melon and lemon, I added the seeds to it.

Oh, here's the recipe which I mostly wing.

WATERMELON PUNCH
1/4 to 1/2 of a small watermelon
1 lemon
I simply juice it, drink and enjoy.

Also, here's a list of issues and some juices that you can drink to address them.

**from : THE JUICING BOOK – Steven Blauer

Acidosis papaya, pineapple
Anemia alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, bean sprouts, beet, beet greens, buckwheat greens dandelion greens, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce, parsley, purslane, spinach, string beans, swiss chard, turnip, turnip greens, watercress, wheatgrass, cherry, grape, lemon, lime, orange, prune
Asthma cabbage, cabbage sprout, carrot, celery, kale, kohlrabi, parsnip, radish, radish sprout, scallion, sunflower greens, turnip, turnip greens, wheatgrass, cranberry
Bladder Disorders beet, beet greens, carrot, cabbage, cabbage sprout, kohlrabi, parsley, parsnip, purslane, sunflower green, summer squash, tomato (fresh), turnip, turnip greens, watercress, wheatgrass, cranberry, melon, pear, watermelon
Blood Pressure Beet, beet greens, cabbage, cabbage sprouts, cucumber, spinach, wheatgrass
High Blood Pressure orange
Cancer asparagus, bean sprout, beet greens, carrot, kale, kohlrabi, parsley, parsnip, spinach, sunflower greens, swiss chard, turnip, turnip greens, wheatgrass, grape
Constipation cabbage, cabbage sprout, celery. Dandelion greens, endive, lettuce, purslane, spinach, wheatgrass, cherry, grape, lemon, lime, melon, papaya, peach, pear, prune, strawberry, watermelon
Fever cucumber, cranberry, grape, grapefruit, lemon, lime, orange, strawberry
Fluid Retention bean sprout, cucumber, fenugreek sprout, cranberry, strawberry, watermelon
Hay Fever carrot, kale, parsnip, wheatgrass
Heart Disease beet, beet greens, buckwheat greens, dandelion greens, endive, fenugreek sprouts, kohlrabi, parsley, pepper, purslane, scallion, spinach, sunflower greens, turnip greens, orange, papaya
Kidney Disorders alfalfa sprouts, asparagus, beet, beet greens, cabbage, cabbage sprouts, celery, cucumber, lamb’s quarters, apple, cranberry, grape, melon, papaya, strawberry, watermelon
Liver Disorders Alfalfa sprouts, beet, beet greens, carrot, celery, dandelion greens, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lamb’s quarters, lettuce, parsnip, purslane, spinach, sunflower, tomato (fresh), turnip, turnip greens, watercress, wheatgrass, apple, grapefruit, grape, lemon, lime, orange, papaya, pear
Prostate Disorders asparagus, parsley, cherry, pear, strawberry, watermelon
Pregnancy & Delivery alfalfa sprouts, bean sprouts, beet, beet greens, carrot, kale, lamb’s quarter, parsnip, swiss chard, greapfruit, peach, watermelon
Rheumatism asparagus, apple, cherry, grape, lemon, lime, orange, strawberry
Skin Disorders asparagus, beet, beet greens, carrot, dandelion greens, endive, fenugreek sprout, kohlrabi, parsley, parsnip, pepper, purslane, radish sprout, scallion, spinach, string bean, sunflower greens, swiss chard, tomato (fresh), turnip, turnip green, watercress, wheatgrass, cranberry, grape, grapefruit, melon, lime, orange, watermelon
Ulcers cabbage, cabbage sprouts, carrot, kale, parsnip, spinach, wheatgrass, papaya


Happy Juicing,
CO

P.S. Next week I'll feature another juice I've tried.

Post Title JUST JUICE