Juicing ~ Go Green, Go Lean

Would you like to feel energized, have radiant looking skin and a muscled body? All it takes is a commitment to organic fresh juicing and exercising every day, and these treasures will be yours forever! When you drink at least 12 oz of fresh organic vegetable juice per day, you will typically experience, a sharper mind, more positive emotions, bountiful energy, less inflammation in the tissues and joints, your body reducing the fat and building more muscle and you will be feeding your body the raw material it needs to repair and rebuild itself. Anti-aging specialist, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, MD, states that anti-inflammatory dietary changes are reflected in your skin within 3 days. I know that to be true. Every time I drink at least 12 oz a day of fresh vegetable juice, my skin looks smoother, more radiant and I perceive myself looking younger. What a good deal!

Ready to make that commitment? When you are, you will need a juicer. I started many years ago with an inexpensive one from a bargain store. It worked. I was limited on some of the vegetables I could juice, and I found it takes more work and time to prepare the vegetables, and to clean the juicer. Most of the less expensive models are centrifugal juicers, they spin to extract the juice, so nutrients are lost, often the juice is heated and the anti-inflammatory enzymes are also destroyed. If you can afford a more expensive unit, my all time favorite is the Green Star GS series made by Tribest. It does it all, even grinds grain and makes pasta!! How's that for a juicer? Besides those features, it is quiet to operate, easy to handle, with twin blades it extracts the maximum juice possible at a low temperature so the nutrients are intact and it is very easy to clean. I can juice from start to finish, including preparing the vegetables and cleaning the juicer in 15 minutes. Here is an article to read about some other juicer options.

To get the most out of your juicing commitment, be sure you also exercise at least 4 times per week, indoors or outdoors. Your body needs the nutrients and detoxification that the juicing is providing, and it needs exercise. Here's some suggestions for indoor exercise so you can get started right now.

The more uncooked, organic vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds you eat, the more health, energy and beauty you will achieve. Here's a start, a complete 4 course dinner suggestion with recipes.

Ready to JUICE and energize your life? Let's go....
First put your juicer together, and have it available and ready. Then wash and cut your vegetables so they fit into the juicer. It will depend on your juicer how much work this step is. The Green Star, Champion, and other matriculating juicers only need the vegetables to be a certain size, it doesn't matter if the skins are on, they will separate them in the juicing process. Next, start putting the vegetables in your juicer. The order I use is dependent on the type of vegetable I am juicing. The soft vegetables like cucumbers, tomatoes and apples, need to be alte
ated with vegetables like celery, beet, jicama, kale, parsley. I always leave at least 2 stalks of celery to finish with, as they come through the best and clean out the juicer. You want to drink your juice immediately. Again, depending on the type of juicer you are using the nutrient value of the juice drops off within 15 minutes of making it, do don't wait to enjoy. You have put in the work. be sure to reap the rewards. If you are in a hurry and do not have time to clean the juicer, just take it apart and let the pieces soak in a large bowl of water until you do have time to clean it. If you would like to really boost the nutrient value of your juices, add marine phytoplankton. You will get a real energy charge that cuts hunger, and feeds the body sustained energy for hours. You can also add 1 TBS of a green powder such as Vita Mineral Green or Pure Synergy.

One of my favorite green juices ~~ tastes like spaghetti!

Green Marinara
makes 14 oz

6-8 stalks celery, washed
1 roma tomato
1/2 medium to large cucumber, cut into quarters lengthwise
1 large kale leave, including stem
1/4 bunch parsley, about 10 stems
1/8 - 1/4 onion slice
1/4 bulb fresh fennel ( optional )
4 fresh basil leaves
1 garlic clove ( optional )
1 small hot pepper ( optional )

Juice all ingredients, mix well and drink immediately.

Green Juice
makes 12 oz

1/2 cucumber, quartered lengthise
1/3 cup purple cabbage
4 stalks celery, washed
1/2 of a roma tomato
10 stems parsley
1 kale leaf, stem included
2 tsp lemon juice
1 hot pepper ( optional )

Juice everything except lemon ( hand juice it ). Enjoy immediately.

Green Zing
makes 16 oz

1/4 cup purple cabbage
1 kale leaf with stem
4 stalks celery
1/2 cucumber, quartered lengthwise
10 parsley sprigs
1 sweet apple, quartered and seeds removed
1/2" piece fresh ginger root

Juice and enjoy!

Grandma's Brew
makes 16 oz

1 granny smith apple, quartered, seeds removed
1/2 cup purple cabbage
2 carrots
1 large stalk celery
1 cup jicama, cut in long strips
1/4 cucumber, quartered lengthwise
1/2" fresh ginger root

Juice and feel the energy.
You'll LOVE Itrnmakes 14 oz

2 carrots
1 cup jicama ( 3/4 lb ), cut into long strips
4 stalks celery
2 TBS beet
1/2" fresh ginger root

Juice, drink and feel the love flowing through you.
Baja Pineapple Drink by Elysa Markowitz
makes 16 oz

1/2 cup pineapple
1/2 cup cilantro
3 greenleaf lettuce leaves
1 lime

Blend and relax.

If you do not have a juicer, and still want to get some great healthy and weight regulating benefits, then do green smoothies!! All you need is a blender and motivation. Here are a few easy recipes t get started.

The Dream
makes 16 oz

1 young thai coconut, water and meat
1 ripe banana
1/2 tsp vanilla powder or alcohol free extract

Open the coconut, pour the water in the blender and scrape out all the meat into the blender. Add the banana and vanilla a dash of Himalayan crystal salt and blend until smooth. Enjoy and dream!

The Green Dream
makes 14 oz

Follow the Dream recipe and add 1/2 tsp marine phytoplankton or 1 TBS green powder, and blend.

Green Smoothie
makes 16 oz

1 mango, peeled and pitted
1 banana
1 kale leaf
2 romaine lettuce leaves
1 cup filtered water or thai coconut waterr
Blend and feel your body thank you.

For more recipes you can check your local library for juicing books, or use your creativity and have some fun playing with food to create your own favorite juice. To your health and radiance, cheers!