Throw a Juice Deuce

I LOVE JUICING!!!

This time of year makes me giddy. Yeah, flowers, trees, bunnies, blah blah blah...and FRESH PRODUCE. The farmer's markets are boomin', local farmers are hopeful and conscious foodies are eating "whole foods" with less effort.

So I know my last post was forever ago, but not much has changed because I can't stop preaching the idea of "cleansing," or detoxing. One great way of accomplishing this without starving yourself or taking some shady pill from the Piggly Wiggly is to JUICE!

A great reference beyond this blog is the book called "Juice Alive" by (Larry Trivieri, Jr.) and Steven Bailey, a naturopathic physician here in Portland. He is incredibly successful with patients, helping them to detox gently and efficiently. This book not only gives an interesting look at the history of natural health and juicing, but it also addresses specific symptoms and ailments with recipes and ideas as to how to make a juice healthy and yumalicious.

I've been doing a very slow detox (with lots of re-toxes, thank you). But I am finally at a position where I can take myself a little more seriously. So with the help of smart anti-inflammatory food choices, bikram yoga and running, craniosacral treatments and massage, I am ready to go full force (along with all the fun ideas I've provided in the past, like skin brushing, castor oil packs, etc).

Why JUICE?

• Concentrated vitamins and minerals- you can drink 3 beets in a cup!
• Increased bioavailability of nutrients- best form of vitamins to absorb
• Enzyme support for optimal digestion and absorption
• Support the gut's normal, healthy flora
• Fiber & Regularity
• Intestinal cleansing
• Increased energy
• Support healthy alkalinity-acidity of the gut
• TONS of antioxidants which protect against cancer, heart disease, etc.
• No added sugars, preservatives, colors or creepy additives
• EAT/DRINK REAL FOOD! wow...
• Efficient light snack
• Use those vegetables & fruits in the fridge before the go bad!
• Soooo much more

The juice I made today includes:

3 organic red beets

bunch of organic parsley

3 organic garlic cloves

1 tsp organic lemon juice

Greens First package

Juicers come in a lot of different styles. They come cheap or super spendy. But they all work.

Look at that beautiful pulp!! Don't waste it! You can compost it for your garden or cook/bake with it! Alicia is going to make lentil-beet-parsley burgers tonight! Mmmmm..

Here is the juice just before mixin up in a martini shaker with ice and Green's first package (you can use wheat grass or whatever kind of powder supplement you like, or not).

As Hippocrates once said, "Let food be thy medicine, let medicine be thy food."

This is something that rings true with us all. Think of all the toxic medications you or a friend or family member have been on. Then think of all the benefits of a carrot...or a stick of celery...or sliver of ginger. We can take our healing into our own hands...and juicers.

Juice ON.