Juice - The Elixir of Life!

About 4 years ago, my wonderful mother, Linda, took me to this incredible spa and wellness resort, Miraval (www.miravalresorts.com), outside of Tucson, Arizona.  It was a very special experience I shared with her and while I was there, I was introduced to juicing.  The menu at the juice bar listed all of these interesting concoctions made with fruits and vegetables.  I was never a huge fan of juice and couldn’t imagine drinking vegetables but I figured why not.  I can’t really remember the first juice I tried but I instantly felt this “electric surge” go through my body and I was so energized!!!!!  I tried everything on the menu and by the time I left, I was glowing.  Literally.  My skin was clean, fresh, and radiant and most importantly, I had never felt happier, healthier or invigorated in my life.  I was hooked!  I immediately went home, bought a juicer, and started on this amazing journey of designing my OWN fruit and vegetable concoctions.

                                My juicer and all the ingredients!!!!

BENEFITS

The benefits of juicing are outstanding!  First and foremost, I find that getting in the required 5-9 servings of fruits and veggies every day is not so easy.  Most people barely have time to eat three meals a day, let alone include fruits & veggies at every meal and snack.  Juicing allows you to consume more fruits and veggies on a daily basis than you would if you actually ate everything you threw in your juicer.  Below are more awesome benefits of juicing fruits and vegetables!

o   Variety!  Juicing allows you to include fruits and vegetables in your diet that you wouldn’t normally eat.  For instance, I don’t like to eat beets or peppers (just to name a few).  Adding them to my juice with some fruit and other mild veggies disguises the taste but I’m still getting the amazing benefits!

o   Available Nutrients!  Digestion is an energy-zapping process for your body.  Giving your body the much-needed vitamins and minerals it craves in a form that is easily digested and more bioavailable for your body to absorb.  It's like drinking energy in a glass!

o   Vibrancy!  Juicing on a regular basis has made a huge difference in my skin, hair and nails.  More vitamins and minerals to support your glowing appearance!

o   Lots of H20!  Juicing provides an abundance of water, helping to flush out toxins, metabolic waste, and assist in regulating all bodily functions.

o   Boost immunity!  The extensive amount of nutrients provided by a wealth of fruits and vegetables will enhance your immunity, preventing common colds and other ailments.

o   Prevention!  Increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables in the raw form will lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, inflammation, dementia, strokes, and Alzheimer’s.  

o   Go Green!  Juicing produces a significant amount of pulp, which can be turned into a compost pile, allowing you to give back to the Earth and provide plants with rich, natural nutrients.

FRUITS & VEGGIES

Here are some fruits and vegetables I use on a consistent basis to make my juices!  The * notates that this fruit or veggie is part of the “Dirty Dozen” and should be organic.

Apples*                        Lemons

Oranges                        Limes

Beets                            Spinach*

Carrots                         Kale*           

Celery*                        Watercress

Cucumber                    Peppers (any color)*

Parsley                         Pear*           

Radish                          Peaches

Ginger                          Grapes*

Strawberries*               Cabbage*

Turnip

THE JUICER

I have had my Jack Lalanne Power Juicer for almost four years and it is still in great shape.  There are plenty on the market but I feel that this is a great model and is at a great price point for its’ design and durability.  Here are some suggestions as to where you can get your juicer!

www.bedbathandbeyond.com  **Remember to bring your 20% off coupon!

www.target.com

www.jacklalanne.com

www.amazon.com

www.overstock.com

RECIPES

I think the best part of juicing is being the master of your OWN juicing recipes.  I love to experiment with new fruits and veggies I have never tried and make different combinations.  Additionally, adjusting the recipes to what YOU like makes the experience so worthwhile and will keep you coming back for more.

These are just a few that I have come up with!

Jared’s Garden (split between two people)

1 beet

2 apples

1 lemon

5 stalks kale

3 stalks celery

¼ piece of ginger

3 small radishes

1 handful parsley

1 large green pepper

2 large carrots

½ cucumber

Sweet Sunday

2 oranges

6 strawberries (with tops)

2 carrots

1 apple

Green Mania

2 handfuls spinach

2 stalks broccoli

2 stalks celery

5 stalks of kale

1 apple

1 lemon

¼ piece ginger

BOOKS ON JUICING

I have purchased a few books on juicing to increase my knowledge and find different “cures” for common ailments.

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Jonny Bowden, P.h.D, C.N.S.

The Juice Lady’s Guide to Juicing for Health by Cherie Calbom, M.S.

A FEW HELPFUL TIPS

*Always add a capful of flaxseed oil or blended Omega-3 oil to your juice.  Fat is considered a carrier for the vitamins and minerals you just drank and it makes the nutrients more bioavailable to your body.  It also decreases the glycemic load of the fruits and vegetables (the impact the juice has on your blood sugar levels) But don’t worry - the wonderful flavor of the juice hides the taste of the oil!

*Yes, you do lose some of the very important insoluble & soluble fiber that your body needs.  You still receive soluble fiber in the juice but make sure that your juice is in addition to the fruits and vegetables you will be eating throughout the day.  This way you wont skimp your body on getting the proper amount of insoluble fiber.

*Don't get discouraged with the clean up.  Many people tell me they have held off on getting a juicer because it seems like a pain to clean. Sure, it’s not the quickest process, but once you get to use to doing it on a daily basis, you can juice and clean in less than ten minutes!  Just know…the benefits DEFINITELY outweigh the cons. 

Here’s to your first glass of freshly made juice!

Cheers,

Jill

Killer at Large

I just watched this amazing documentary called "Killer at Large: A Documentary Exposing Why We're Losing the War on Fat" directed by Steven Greenstreet.  It's fabulously done and really gets into the reason WHY America's obesity epidemic is out of control, including an in-depth look at how advertising and the media influence our behavior and more importantly, our children's behaviors and food decisions.  The most shocking part of the documentary was the piece on the 12 year old girl, that with parental consent, had liposuction all over her body because "diet and exercise just wasn't working anymore".  It's heartbreaking to see that our young adults feel the need to take such drastic measures.  And that parents are approving this type of behavior. 

Please rent it.  It's definitely a must-see.

The Clean Plate Syndrome

Do you remember as a child (or even recently) being told to "clean your plate"?  I do.  And I also remember my Grandpa telling me that there were starving children in Africa that didn't have food so I needed to eat ALL of mine. :)  I, of course, believed him and now I know that had I not finished my food (and eaten much more than I needed), it wasn't going to be shipped to the starving children in Africa.  It was going in the garbage.  Now as an adult and having been educated on proper portion sizes, this thinking of "cleaning your plate" is unfortunately a misguided attempt at not wasting what we have that others don't, AND more importantly, has perpetuated a society that overeats, stuffs themselves, and almost always exceeds the right portion sizes for their body.  It is also necessary to note that this is no one's fault.  My generation and my parent's generation were taught to eat what was put in front of them.  And all of it.  Sometimes it was out of respect for the cook and other times it was being appreciative for what we have.  But we CAN change this thinking and this behavior for the generations to come.

Here are some basic "portioning" guidelines.  Everyone is different so adjust to your needs and goals.

• First and foremost, the easiest way to portion size for yourself is to READ THE LABEL.  If a box of cereal says that one portion is 1/2 cup, stick to that.  And don't make yourself crazy by getting out all of the measuring cups.  Eyeball it.  Use the smallest bowl in your cabinet.  If 1 serving isn't enough (or doesn't fill you up) add something else or have another serving (same size as the first).
• Do the same with chips, crackers, drinks (some bottled beverages make you think it's one serving for the entire bottle but really, it's 2 servings), and any other processed foods.  Look at the label and try to eat the servings allotted for the calories listed.  It will DEFINITELY help you cut back on your calorie intake and you won't overeat as easily.
• PROTEIN - Use the palm of your hand as a guideline for how large and thick your protein should be (red meat, chicken, turkey, pork).  It may seem small but that is about 3 oz. which is ONE serving.  You should really have no more than 6 oz. of lean protein per meal.
• WHOLE GRAINS/FRUIT/VEGGIES - Your clenched fist equals about 1 cup.  This is appropriate for veggies and fruit.  Strive for 1/2 cup for whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, couscous, whole wheat pasta).
• When making your plate, think of it as a "smiley face".   The two "eyes" are small - use that for your protein and whole grains.  The "smile" is the biggest part.  Use that for your veggies.
• Try not to have seconds.  If you are hungry after you finish your plate, wait.  It takes about 20 MINUTES for your brain to register that your stomach is full.  If you have waited a little bit and are still hungry, make sure your 2nd helping portion is smaller than the first.  Most importantly, EAT SLOWLY.  This will also prevent you from overeating.

***Know that restaurants are the devil when it comes to portion sizes. Their motto is "the bigger, the better".  Eat HALF of what they give you.  Easy on the bread basket, chips, and any appetizers brought to you before your meal. 

All in all, don't feel that you need to "clean your plate" (no matter who you need to please - just take less).  We want to eradicate that word from our daily vocabulary and only eat until we feel full with the proper portion sizes for our bodies.  The smaller the better.  This is one of the easiest ways to jump start the weight loss process.  

LESS IS MORE!!!


In health and happiness,
Jill

Happy New Year!  I hope everyone had a safe and healthy holiday season and are ready for 2011!  I'm hoping it's going to be a wonderful year! :)  I also want to take the time to THANK YOU for supporting me, and of course, my blog.  It's been an incredibly rewarding and fun experience for me and I look forward to writing a lot more this coming year so please check back often.  And also, please feel free to email me with any questions or ideas for blogs.

Here's to a year filled with happiness and good health!!

Jill