The Juicing/Smoothie COLOR CHALLENGE: PURPLE

Hello good people!!! I'm back with another COLOR CHALLENGE update! I'm a little late with posting the latest happenings with the Juicing and Smoothie group....but last week's color challenge was PURPLE! Fruits and vegetables the color of royalty (purple) are packed with anthocyanins which can provide numerous benefits:

Here are the juices and smoothies I made and consumed for the PURPLE challenge!

Red Capple Juice: 1/2 red cabbage, 5 brocooli stalks (didn't want to waste anything), 5 apples, 1 inch of ginger, hibiscus (sorrel) tea

Banana Berry Smoothie: 2 bananas, 1 cup frozen raspberries, 1 cup frozen strawberries, hibiscus  (sorrel) tea, flax and chia seeds,  dash of organic cane sugar

PURPLE Passion smoothie: 2 bananas, 2 cups frozen raspberries, 1 cup frozen blueberries, flax seed milk, hibiscus (sorrel) tea, and  chia seeds

Purple Breeze smoothie: frozen pinapples, 2 D'anjou pears, 1 cup frozen raspberries, 1 cup frozen blueberries, apple juice, chia and flax seeds

 

All of the juices and smoothies were DELICIOUS!!!!  The group is really having fun with the color challenge.  It's been exciting to put different recipes together and to see what others have created!  We're spreading the fruit and veggie love one cup at a time!!  Next color is RED!

What's YOUR favorite purple fruit or vegetable??

Peace and Love

The Juicing/Smoothie COLOR CHALLENGE - GREEN

Hi Folks! This week is all about GREEN smoothies and juices!  Orange week went well.  The crew had some great recipes to share.  Click here to join the fun! Since some of the team members thought GREEN week would be easy we've asked everyone to expand their green vocabulary by using different/unique ingredients.  All shades are welcome! :)

Cilantro

I've used cilantro in all of my drinks this week.  Not only is it high in chlorophyll, but it can help remove heavy metals from your body.  Check out what I've been drinking this week:

Kale pear juice: kale, cilantro, apple, pears (bosc and cactus), savoy cabbage

Prep for green green juice (see next picture)

Green green juice: Kale, apples, ginger, cilantro, green cabbage, lemon

More greens full of goodness: parsley, chard, dandelion, dill and lacinto kale

Stay tuned for next week's color challenge: PURPLE

Peace and love,
Z

REPOST: More Watermelon Please!

Hi Folks this is an archived article from last summer with added watermelon juice or smoothie recipes.  If you love watermelon, you'll enjoy this article!

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Summer time has hit with a vengeance and my favorite fruit to eat, and what I yearn for every summer, is WATERMELON!

I love watermelon.  It's the most refreshing, filling, enjoyable fruit that has come into my life. Nice, cold, sweet, watermelon! Does anyone else drink the leftover juice in the bowl??? That's my favorite part! Although I do not use a "method" to pick my watermelons (thumping, smelling, etc.), 90% of the time I get a pretty good one.  I love the kind that has slightly mealy pulp, sweet flavor,  good color and less than a 1/4 inch of rind.

A few years ago we tried to grow some in our garden.  Watching them grow was like going to a theme park for me! It was amazing to see the growth process (see below).

Watermelon emerging from the vine

Baby melon

Starting to take shape. mmmm good!

Melons in general have an excellent cleansing effect.  They alkalize the body and will hydrate you after a long run or day in the sun better than a sports drink.  My mother always raves about how much energy she received from eating watermelon after a long day working on their farm (in the Dirty South).

Here are some other facts about watermelon:
1.  It can remove toxins from the blood.
2.  It should be eaten between meals - not right after because the water content can affect digestion.
3.  It can be tolerated well by diabetics due to it's low sugar content (but it tastes so sweet!).
4.  It can help fight urinary conditions such as kidney stones.
5.  Eating watermelon is a good way to loose weight.  It fills you up and satisfies cravings for something sweet.

Here are some links to juices and smoothies that contain watermelon:
1. Summer Hydration juice
2. Watermelon Plum smoothie
3. Watermelon Cilantro juice

So, eat up  and drink up this summer season......I know I will!  Most melons in the US are grown in the Southern states and are a watermelon lover's DREAM! Watermelon is Caleb approved and a good way for him to hydrate, especially the days where he refuses to drink pure water.

May I have more watermelon please??

What is your favorite summer fruit?

The Juice Journey: More Mint Please!

Hey Folks!  I'm back with another juice recipe that contains mint.  I'm calling it the Cooling Nectar!  The recipe came about when the almost summer heat started pumping and Caleb broke out in a heat rash.  The ingredients are simple and it tastes oh so good! 

Ever heard of the saying: "cool as a cucumber"? I'm sure it came about because cucumbers are full of water, minerals and vitamins that can fuel your system better than an artificial sports drink.  Apples are added to give sweetness and mint has a great cooling capacity.  Lemon balm is in the mint family and is used for insomnia, headaches, nervous indigestion, and curing melancholy or depression.  In the wintertime we drank hot lemon balm tea with honey and hemp seed milk.  It was delicious and had a "sleepy time" effect on Caleb the night owl.  Lemon balm also has a wonderful aroma. Burning lemon balm essential oil can give your home a pleasant boost.  Not only will the juice cool you down it will relax your body and ease digestion...and it tastes great - did I say that already?   Here is the recipe.

Cooling Nectar:
2 large Cucumbers
4 Granny Smith apples
10 stalks of mint
4 stalks of lemon balm

Mint

Lemon balm

Granny Smith apples

Cucumbers

Fruit ready for the juicer!

Apple cucumber juice

For a bigger hit of mint, I juiced the apples and cucumbers first, then blended it with the mint and lemon balm

Add caption

Blended juice

Blended juice - look at all that chlorophyll! Yum!

Also, both the mint and lemon balm cam directly from our back yard which I LOVE!


Ready to cool down? What is your favorite juicing ingredient?

Peace and love,
Zee

The Juice Journey: Mint the Undercover Aphrodisiac

Mint is a common herb.  You find mint flavored toothpaste, candy, floss, gum, tea, and mouth wash in almost every home across the globe.  But there is more to this herb than just being a breath freshener.

 

 

I started using mint in my fresh juices because I liked the flavor it added to my nutritious nectars of love. In my quest to understand and learn more about my nectar ingredients this is what I found out about mint:

1.       There are over 50 species of mint

2.       Menthol (an alcohol) is an active component which contributes to the essence or aroma of mint

3.       In high does mint can act as an aphrodisiac (not sure how high is high...to proceed with caution)

4.       It can eliminate intestinal gas

5.       Can behave as an antiseptic

6.       Can be used in  steam treatment for unclogging nasal passageways

7.       Mint can invigorate your body

8.       Can relieve headaches, migraines and alleviate rheumatic and muscular aches.

Here is a great recipe (one of my favorites – Family approved) using this mighty herb:

Orange Mint Juice:

 8 oranges

1/3 bunch of kale

2 inches of ginger

2 cucumbers

½ cup of pineapple

10 - 12 sprigs of mint

The preparation was a bit different from other juices I’ve made.  In order to get more of a minty punch I juice all the other ingredients and blended the mint in afterwards (see below). 

Juiced ingredients: oranges, pineapple, kale, ginger, cucumbers

 

Adding mint to the blender with juice

 

Mint and juice in blender

 

Orange Mint Juice (YUM - MY!!!)

OOOO WEEE! This was some great juice! One of my favorites!  Try it and tell me what you think!

Peace and love!

The Juice Journey: Kale Pear Juice

Hi Folks! Do you like kale? What about pears?  Well if you do, this juice is right up your alley! 

 

Here’s the recipe: Lacinto Kale (1/2 bunch) Celery ribs (6) Oranges (6) Pears (3).  Simple!

kale, celery, oranges and pears

oranges and pears

kale and celery....and a pear

kale, celery pear and an orange

 

This recipe made about 4 cups of juice.

I was surprised at how much of the pears I could taste.  I honestly thought the flavors of the kale and celery would overcome the delicate pear juice…..but boy was I wrong.  This was a perfectly blended juice that stimulated my taste buds and filled me up until lunch time.

Pears are becoming my favorite fruit to juice and as I learn more about this delicate fruit, I want even more! Here are some cool facts about pears.

1.       Pears do not contain sodium but do contain substantial amount of potassium, which can help lower blood pressure.

2.       Other minerals pears contain include:  magnesium, iron, copper and manganese.

3.       Good source of fiber which can behave as a laxative.

4.       Pears can alkalize the blood, which is good for those who eat a lot of meat.  Meat is acidic and your body loves to be in the neutral zone. It operates best while in “neutral” Alkalizing foods provide balance.

5.       Pears are not as acidic as apples (less organic acid), but high in tannins which provide anti-inflammatory action.  This makes pears a good alternative to apples for those who can’t handle the acidity.

Kale Pear Juice

 Are you a pear fan??

Peace and love!

The Juice Journey: Cabbage Cleanse Juice

This juice blessed my life through the inspiration of Rika Susan at Best Juicing.com.  She posted an article about the top 15 fruits and vegetables to juice (http://www.best-juicing.com/best-fruits-and-vegetables-to-juice.php).  I modified the recipe by adding two more ingredients.  The main ingredient is cabbage.  Cabbage?  In juice? Yep! Keep reading.

I didn’t know how awesome cabbage was until I made this juice and did a little research.  The cabbage family includes: broccoli, cauliflower, red cabbage, Chinese cabbage, savoy cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and kohlrabi.  I knew broccoli was good…and Brussels sprouts of course…but just plain cabbage?

The Cabbage Family....
 



Here’s some interesting facts about cabbage:

1.       Cabbage juice can heal gastric ulcers and  relieve stomach inflammation

2.       Due to the fiber content cabbage is a great laxative and can help ease constipation

3.       The sulphured substances act as antibiotics and help to re balance bacterial flora

4.       Cabbage juice can expel intestinal parasites (yikes!)

5.       Vitamin C content is comparable to oranges

6.       The phytochemicals found in cabbage have anti cancer activity
 

Here is the recipe:

 

 

 

 

Try it and tell me what you think!

 

Peace and love!

The Juice Journey: Summer Hydration Juice

Hi folks!  I’m back with another amazing juice recipe.  My juicer has slowed down just a wee bit, as I have been trying to rest up after weeks of all night eczema parties (I’ll fill you in later).  I came up with this recipe last week and it was delicious!  It’s great for the summer time, and can even be made into an icee! 

I’m calling it: Summer Hydration Juice.  I used three ingredients – watermelon, cucumber and pineapple.

 

Juice ingredients: watermelon, cucumber, and pineapple

 

Watermelon and cucumber contain more than 96% water.  Both aslo contain tons of minerals and vitamins that feed your cells and keep you hydrated.  Of course, nothing can replace pure water, but I guarantee your body will feel more refreshed after drinking this juice over the chemical laden energy/hydration beverages. 

Melons in general have an excellent cleansing effect.  They alkalize the body and will hydrate you after a long run or day in the sun better than a sports drink.  My mother always raves about how much energy she received from eating watermelon after a long day working on their farm (in the Dirty South). 

Here are some other facts about watermelon:

1.  It can remove toxins from the blood.

2.  It should be eaten between meals - not right after because the water content can affect digestion.

3.  It can be tolerated well by diabetics due to its low sugar content (but it tastes so sweet!).

4.  It can help fight urinary conditions such as kidney stones.

5.  Eating watermelon is a good way to lose weight.  It fills you up and satisfies cravings for sweets.

 
Here are some key facts about the cucumber:

1. Relieves Joint pain (due to the silica content which helps strengthen connective tissue)

2. Reduces baggy eyes

3. Relives arthritic pain (due to its vitamin and mineral content)

4. Stimulates hair growth (due to the sulphur and silica content)

5. Keeps you cool (due to the high water content)

And last but not least the succulent pineapple! Here’s why it has become a staple in my home:  

1 - Prevalent vitamins are C, B1, B6 and folates

2 - Weight loss aide – if you consumer it before eating it will help to reduce your appetite

3 - Can fight sterility due to its high manganese content that helps form reproductive cells (in males and females)

4 – Contains bromelin (an enzyme that loves protein).


Here is the recipe:


 
You can go wrong with this juice!!! Juice up!!!

 

What is your  favorite way to stay hydrated in the summer time?

 

 

The Juicing Journey: Detox by Juicing! Reposted....

Good morning!! Since I'm on a juicing kick, I decided to re-post an article I wrote last year about the benefits of juicing (and juice fasting).  Now, I am not doing a juice fast, but the info is still good to keep in mind!

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Hi Folks!

Last night I took part in a juicing Q&A session sponsored by Soul Food Therapy, where it is Juicy June Month.  It was great! The guest was Kareen (a dietician) of  I am Eating Right. 

Have you ever heard of a film called: "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead"? Well it's about a man who cleans up an extremely overweight and unhealthy body by going on a juice fast for 60 days. 

This is what Kareen has done....TWICE!

Juicing for improved health is becoming a fast moving train.   I was enlightened on some things last night that I want to share with you.  As posted in The Juice Journey, I've dabbled in juicing and still make juices now....but I've never tried a juice fast.

Key Points:
1.  9 to 13 servings of fruits and vegetables per day can boost your body's cancer fighting ability.

2. If using juice to replace a meal,  drink 32 ounces.

3. Benefits to juicing: increases energy levels,  you consume more veggies, and you look better (skin, hair and nails).

4. If partaking in a juice fast YOU MUST PREPARE YOUR BODY by eliminating junk (processed foods, caffeine, etc. one to two weeks prior).  And this goes for any type of  detox or cleanse.  (I am a witness!!!)

5. Exercise levels while on a juice fast will depend on you! Also, protein can be added to the juice if necessary.

6. Smoothies and juices are both excellent ways to fuel your body. Note that smoothies contain more fiber and will not give your digestive system a complete rest like juices will.  Juicing removes all insoluble fiber allowing the nutrients to be delivered in an clean, pure format.  There is a higher concentration of nutrients in juice compared to smoothies.

7. Juice fasting can last from one day to 60 days. A one day juice fast can help clease your palate and give your system a rest.

8. Discipline key in following any juicing or detox plan.  Having an accountability partner will help greatly.  It's a challenging experience not just physically but mentally and emotionally.  Personally, when you conquer the task of having self control, you have a deep feeling of accomplishment.  This is how I felt after my airplane food challenge (The Food Journey: Airplane Food).  Succeeding in the last two challenges have boosted my self control and is helping to keep me on track with this new challenge.

The first time Kareen did the 60 day juice fast she lost 40 POUNDS!!!

Because a juice fast is a form of detoxification, some adverse symptoms may rear their ugly heads.  According to Kareen, detox symptoms are the worst on Day 2 through Day 4, and decrease around Day 5.   I can attest to this.  We are on Day #4 of the 30 Day RAW Food Challenge and I have been feeling it!


Luscious Lacinto Kale Juice( Great Juice recipe!)

Grapefruit Mango Smoothie

Happy Juicing!

Peace and Blessings!

Two Week Juice Challenge - Week 2

Hi Folks! The Two Week Juice Challenge is on it's last leg.  But there is a resounding cry to keep it going....so we will!  If you are interested in joining the group please let me know.  We are sharing recipes and encouraging each other to keep living the juicy life!

Here is a testimony from one participant: "I am having fun! I am almost replacing  dinner with a smoothie because I am just not as hungry as I was before but I feel good!! If we are alive then why don't we eat more live food? How can a living body survive on dead food? I am so encouraged to keep going and live!"

That testimony makes me so happy!  I feel the same way.  I've added in smoothies when there is no time for making juice, and for some reason I've been a hungry hungry hippo this week so I've supplemented my juice breakfast with oatmeal twice. 

Here are some of the juices/smoothies I've made this week:



Beet Juice - beets (2 large),  carrots (5), celery (12 ribs), ginger (1 inch) and lemon (1) 



Kiwi Basil smoothie - cucumber (1), banana (1), kiwi (2), orange (2), basil (1/2 bunch)

Mango Delight Juice - mango (2), pineapple (2 cups), honey dew melon (3 cups), orange (2), ginger (2 inches), cucumber (1)

Banging Broccoli Juice - broccoli (1.5 cups), pineapple (1 cup), orange (3), green apple (3), ginger (1inch), kiwi (4), basil (2 stems)

All of the juice has been packed with vitamins and minerals.  The beet juice needed 5 more carrots and the kiwi basil smoothie needed one more banana.  All others were AMAZINGLY TASTY!  I don't like torturing myself with bad tasting healthy food.  Healthy food DOES NOT have to taste bad!

I started having PMS symptoms  this week and to combat the possible hormone imbalance I tried to beef up my mineral intake by adding beets and broccoli to the party. 

What kinds of juices or smoothies have you made this week?

Peace and love!

Two Week Juice Challenge!

Hi Folks!! I've embarked upon yet another challenge! Juicing for two weeks straight!  This is not a juice fast. I repeat: this is not a juice fast.  I will be eating solid food.  But I'll be replacing one meal a day with juice.

I invited others to join the challenge and so far there are about 15 of us! I've realized the importance of juicing and I want to incorporate it into my life...............PERMANENTLY............! There are too many benefits that I don't want to miss out on.

I have friends and family that need some juice in their lives too...so we are juicing it up!! The participants that do not have juicers are making smoothies instead.  Remember folks juicing is a good way to get essential vitamins and minerals into your body. Juicing gives your digestive system a break and can boost your immune system!

Here is what I've been drinking this week (It's quite the rainbow!):

Cucumber Ginger - Cucumber (2), romaine lettuce (1/2 head), green grapes (1 cup), green apples (3), oranges (3), ginger (2 inches), lemon (1/2 with peel)

V7 - Celery (5 ribs), kale (1/2 bunch), carrots (5), tomatoes (4), red bell pepper (1), lemon (1 with peel), ginger (2 inches) -Next time I'll add 5 more carrots to this juice. 

Watermelon Cilantro - watermelon (3 cups), romaine lettuce (1/3 bunch), cilantro (1 bunch), red grapes (2 cups), blackberries (1/2 cup) - This juice was DIVINE!!!!!!! LOVED IT SO MUCH I DIDN'T WANT TO SHARE!

 
Try the recipes out and tell me what you think!!!

Happy juicing!

Peace and love!