Juicin'...Ya, I said it!!

Juice Fasting...
What's This Tom Foolery??

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead is a documentary discussing juice fasting and consumption. It focuses on its ability to maintain personal health and energy levels while curing and detoxifying the human body from a variety of illnesses, cancers, auto-immune deficiencies, skin disorders, obesity, diabetes, blood regulating, and the list goes on...if you haven't seen this documentary, it's a must!! You can find it on Netflix under the documentary section!

Gettin' My Fast On...

I recently completed my very first almost week juice fast...I say almost, because I made it to Day 6 of the juice fast a little shy of my initial goal. During my fast, I was able to run a 4-6M a day, woke-up 2 hours earlier than my alarm with crazy amounts of energy, did NOT experience any hunger pains or problems...it was mind-blowing, and I felt great!

My parents are both overweight and also participated in the fast completing all 7 days without any problems. They worked out every day via running and water aerobics and continue to juice, in hopes of regulating weight, lowering blood pressure, and asthma...check back for progress!! I usually juice at least once a day, because I love the instant and noticeable affects it has on my body. I am definitely incorporating juicing into my health regiment and am so glad I found this lil gem!

An Example of a Breakfast Juice...it's Nuts!

• 3/4s Half of a Watermelon
• One Cucumber
• One Peach or an Orange
• 1-2 Beets
• Half a Pint of Raspberries
• 2-3 Carrots or 2 Oranges

The "Green Machine"

• 1/2-3/4s Bunch of Kale
• 2 Cups of Spinach
• 2-3 Green Apples
• 1-2 Kiwis
• 2 Cups of Green Grapes
• 1.5-2 Cucumbers
• One Lemon
• Little piece of Ginger (optional)

Marcie, my little sis, juicing at The Healthy Home Market...Green Apples, Ginger, and Lemons

An Example of My Dinner

 

The Ingredients: 

One Green Apple, One Cucumber, 4 Carrots, 2 Cups of Mixed Greens, Half of a Cantaloupe

And Voila...look at all of the frothy goodness...tastes delicious!!!!!

Soooo, uhhh...what is juicing?!

You may be asking yourself, what's this crazy mumbo jumbo you speak of?! Juicing is a way to consume megadoses of micronutrients absorbed directly through your bloodstream causing a massive opportunity to detoxify, cleanse, cure, and maintain a healthy weight, energy-levels, and general wellness through freshly made, unprocessed, and unrefined fruit and vegetable juices. I recommend this Juicer which has been purchased for myself, younger sister, older brother, and mom! 

Juicing Tips:

1. Reduce Juicing Costs: Purchase Fruits and Vegetables from your local farmer's markets, farm exchange programs, and by choosing produce in season and full of water (watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, carrots, apples, and honeydew).

Charlotte Local Markets: Atherton Mills, The Healthy Home Market, Kings Drive Farmer's Market, Charlotte Regional Farmer's Market, and I haven't checked Absolute Organics yet, but they provide a Charlotte delivery service free of charge consisting of organic local seasonal produce baskets, and I will register next week.

2. Prepare: In order to retain freshness and save time, cut, and prepare all of your produce and proceed to juice. Do NOT overload your machine to ensure pulp is minimal.

3. Cut Down Oxidization: when fruits and vegetables are cut or juiced, the process exposes your produce to Oxygen causing the micronutrients to begin breaking down which loses its quality. You may store your juice in a Mason Jar to ensure freshness for ONLY up to 24 Hours; however, it is recommended to consume immediately. The process of oxidation breaks down the nutrients and wastes all of the precious nutrients you are trying to absorb. When storing your juice, fill it to the brim of your jar to reduce oxygen exposure, and refrigerate.

4. Organic: You must use organic produce to reduce pesticides, GMOs, and harsh chemicals which will instantly reach your bloodstream and may make you sick. Keep in mind, the process of juicing bypasses your digestive system (minimally uses it) and in order to keep toxins from entering our body, it is important to purchase produce without harmful chemicals, because it will not be able to filter them.

 Tip: if you can't purchase organic produce, rinse your fruits and vegetables with a brush and/or soak (bowl of distilled water with 2-4 drops of 35% Food Grade H2O2 for 3-5mins). Food Grade 35% H2O2 has NO Stabilizers and will breakdown chemicals and cleanse.

5. Can't Do a Week?? Try a 3-day Quick Fast or switch out meals!

Don't forget, you are what you eat!  and read this article and maybe even the study?!

And, why not another while you're at it?? 

My Red Juice Recipe

Red Juice Recipe:
2-3 Small Beets
5 Large Carrots
A bundle of Kale
2 Red Apples
1/2-1 Container of Strawberries or Raspberries
1-2 Oranges
1 Lemon (optional if only one orange is used)
1 Peach (optional)

Fruits and Veggies Come to Mama!