Gotta love that Monty Python ($5 off any purchase at 877myjuicer.com if you guess the movie).    And who’d have thought that their little “Find the Fish” game could be a life saving exercise in our real daily lives.  What’s it’s really all about is Omega-3.  I know you’re thinking that sounds like a character in the new Transformers movie but in fact Omega-3’s are an essential fatty acid found in fish.  A recent study from Harvard University, compiling two decades of research, concluded that one or two servings of fatty rich fishy fish, like salmon or tuna, can reap health benefits so great that they outweigh even the risks of environmental contaminants in fish like PCBs or mercury.

The study finds that a modest weekly consumption of fish can reduce the risk of death from heart disease by 36 % and will reduce overall deaths by 17%.  What happens is that these wonderful fatty acids make the membranes throughout our body—including those in our heart and blood vessels—more elastic causing blood to flow more easily.  This reduces the risks of high blood pressure and blood clots and fights inflammation preventing the hardening of arteries, stroke and lowering the risk of an irregular heart rate.

There are several kinds of Omega-3’s, many of which can be found in plant foods like flaxseed, soybeans, canola and walnuts but the Omega-3’s essential for heart health—eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA—can only be processed correctly if they come from fish and fish-oil supplements.

Now don’t overdo it.  There’s always too much of a good thing.  Ingesting over 3000 mg a day of Omega-3s can raise the risk of excessive bleeding or even cause a hemorrhagic stroke. And obviously, fat is fat even if it’s fishy so you can still become a fatty.  Instead of adding to your diet I suggest you substitute.  Stay balanced, stay healthy and remember to FIND THE FISH.

Be well,

Juicy Josh

877myjuicer.com

Who of us, if we’re honest, can really stand the nuisance of seasonal allergies?  I understand that the body’s production of histamines is a natural defense against toxins and that we want this critical function of our immune system in place when we’re exposed to a real threat, like the Mycotoxins produced by mold.  However, in the same way that neurosis is the mind’s maladaptive fear response; allergies are the body’s needless freak out when exposed to substances that pose no real threat.  Those swollen sinuses, that sneezing, runny nose, those itching and watery eyes are the physiological equivalent of Woody Allen thinking a headache is a brain tumor.

In trying to discover what causes allergies we’re met with a void of substantial information from conventional medicine.  Although no one knows with absolute certainty the reasons for them, the holistic approach would suggest that seasonal allergies come about because of a hypersensitive nervous system and a dysfunctional immune system. Any sub-optimal lifestyle—poor stress management, lack of rest, poor food choices, and regular exposure to toxins—can gradually create both a hypersensitive nervous system and a dysfunctional immune system in people who are already genetically susceptible.

Obviously we all love the immediate results provided by over-the-counter solutions but what these do for us long term is create a less healthy and less resilient immune system not to mention they do absolutely nothing for our life as a whole.  As with all holistic treatment, addressing allergies in this way can result in positive effects outside the mere relief of symptoms.  In addition to a healthy diet of whole foods, exercise, a full night’s sleep and a healthy meditation or spiritual practice, below are a few suggestions to tackle the allergy problem specifically.

1. Deep massage focusing on acupressure points related to the spleen, the large intestines and the liver

2. Vitamin D - 800 IU per day maximum

3. A high quality Probiotic (friendly intestinal bacteria).

4. Avoidance of all sources of MSG and Artificial Sweeteners.

5. A JUICE FAST to remove the toxins stored in your tissues, particularly from the insulating sheath that surrounds your nervous system.

We love the blooming of Spring but we don’t always enjoy the consequences.

Be well,

JuicyJosh

Here are some various smoothie recipies. Hope you enjoy them!

Mango Pop

• 1 mango
• 1 handful strawberries
• 1/4 pineapple
• 6 tablespoons pineapple juice

Arctic Fruits

• 1/2 pineapple, fresh or canned
• 1 handful frozen strawberries
• a few dashes of pineapple juice

Blueberry Bliss

• 1 mango
• 1 handful blueberries
• Juice 1/2 lime
• 1/2 cup apple juice

Peachy Fruit

• 1 1/2 peaches
• 1/2 mango
• 1/2 orange
• 1/2 cup orange juice

Fizzy Fruits

• 2 handfuls blueberries
• 2 handfuls of strawberries
• 4-6 ice cubes
• Sparkling mineral water

Ginger Dream

• 1 mango
• 1/2 grapefruit
• 1/8 grated ginger root
• 1/4 cup apple juice

Watermelon Whiz

• 11oz watermelon
• 2 handfuls raspberries

Tangy Taster

• 1/2 melon
• 2 kiwi fruits
• Juice of a lime
• 4-6 ice cubes
• Sparkling mineral water

Fruitty Vanilla

• 1 mango
• 2 tangerines
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1/2 cup orange juice

Great Grapefruit

• 2 grapefruits
• 2 mangoes
• 6 ice cubes

Go Mango

• 1 mango
• 1 orange
• Juice of 1/2 lime
• 1/2 cup apple juice

As you might figure out, we are all about healthy living and when it comes to preserving our food we are no different.  We have received so many emails lately asking about healthy food preservation that we decided to let you in on our favorites.

These are the three methods of preserving food naturally without adding any preservatives and will prove most healthy for you.

1) Freezing - One of the most common forms of food preservation is freezing.  It works by reducing the temperature to a degree that it reduces the water activity to prevent microbial growth.  This form of food preservation is so common because it is so simple, only requiring a freezer, and works with a wide range of foods.  Generally by freezing food products you can increase their preservation up to several months.  You can freeze food products longer, however it requires extremely low temperatures of zero degrees Fahrenheit or less which most freezers cannot achieve.

2) Drying / Dehydrating - Dehydrating or drying is one of the oldest methods of food preservation that dates back many years to sun drying.  The concept behind food dehydrating is very simple, remove the moisture from the food and the growth of bacteria can be controlled.  However, it must be completely dried or bacteria will grow and your food will spoil.  This process is simple, requires very little space, and all you need is a food dehydrator.  Most people like the dehydration method because the drying process drains the excess fat from the foods making them rich in carbohydrates and fiber, and loosing very little nutritional value.

3) Canning - Canning is a popular yet more complicated method of preserving food.  It involves cooking your foods and sealing them in sterile cans or jars, and boiling the containers to kill any remaining bacteria. Their are many factors that if not performed correctly will result in an unsuccessful attempt.  Factors such as humidity, altitude, the region in which you are located, the nature and quality of the food, the air/space left in the jar, and even the shape of the jar all play a vital role in being successful at canning.  To successfully attempt canning you will need a canner, a canning kit, and quality canning jars.  Depending on which foods you are canning, you will need to do some research as to the best methods for them individually.

There you have it.  These are our three favorite methods of food preservation.  They are fairly simple and allow your food to retain most of the nutritional value.

Bored with bananas?  Aggravated with apples?  Grumbling about grapes?  Me too. But if you’re like me you discipline yourself to stay healthy.  Is it any wonder most people have trouble sticking with a healthy diet?  Well I have some hope for you my friends.  Below are some alternatives to the old fruit standards to rejuvenate your palate while maintaining your healthy lifestyle.

What was Beethoven’s favorite fruit? Banananaaaas!  (That joke is better told out loud where the punch line can be sung to the tune of Beethoven’s 5th.)  But, I think even he would get sick of them after a while… although in truth I’m not sure how plentiful bananas were in 19th century Germany.  Anyway, bananas are not only a staple in every blended smoothie but essential for the maintenance of good blood pressure.  Nonetheless too many bananas can make anyone go “blah!”.  As an alternative, try fresh figs (no not in your smoothie). Six fresh figs have 891 mg of blood pressure-lowering potassium, nearly 20% of your daily need — about double what you’d find in one large banana. In a recent 5-year study from the Netherlands, high-potassium diets were linked with lower rates of death from all causes in healthy adults age 55 and older.  Figs are also one of the best fruit sources of calcium, with nearly as much per serving as ½ cup of fat-free milk! You’re bones will love you for it.

Interested in fighting disease and protecting your heart but gagging on grapes?  Try lychee.  A French study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that lychee has the second-highest level of heart-healthy polyphenols of all fruits tested — nearly 15% more than the amount found in grapes. The compounds may also play an important role in the prevention of degenerative diseases such as cancer. “Polyphenols act like a force field, helping to repel foreign invaders from damaging your cells,” says David Grotto, RD, author of 101 Foods That Could Save Your Life!  As well, a recent test-tube and animal study from Sichuan University in China found that lychee may help to prevent the formation of breast cancer cells, thanks to the fruit’s powerful antioxidant activity.

Everyone wants great skin but who could eat so many oranges.  Not me, so I maintain my glow with guava. One cup of guava has nearly five times as much skin-healing vitamin C (it’s a key ingredient in collagen production) as a medium orange (377 mg versus 83 mg) — that’s more than five times your daily need. Women who eat a lot of vitamin C-packed foods have fewer wrinkles than women who don’t eat many, according to a recent study that tracked the diets of more than 4,000 American women ages 40 to 74.  Guava can also protect against foodborne pathogens such as Listeria and Staph, according to research by microbiologists in Bangladesh. As well, a cooperative study by the USDA and Thai scientists found that guava has as much antioxidant activity as some well-known superfoods like blueberries and broccoli.

Apples are great at lowering cholesterol but terrible if you want to stay in the Garden of Eden.  So why not avoid the snake and eat asian pears.  One large Asian pear has nearly 10g of cholesterol-lowering fiber, about 40% of your daily need; a large apple has about half that much. People who ate the most fiber had the lowest total and “bad” cholesterol levels, according to a recent study of Baltimore adults.  The same researchers found that people who ate the most fiber also weighed the least and had the lowest body mass index and waist circumference.

Now I don’t want cancer but I also don’t want any more watermelon for crying out loud.  Now papaya’s have a weird seed thing going on too but it’s still one of the top sources of beta-crypoxanthin, which research suggests can protect against lung cancer. Like watermelon, it is also a rich source of lycopene which, research shows, protects against several different types of cancer, including stomach, endometrial, and prostate.  Papayas also promote healing.  When used topically it may help speed burn recovery thanks partly to the enzyme papain, which also aids in digestion. “Papain helps break down amino acids, the building blocks of protein,” says Elisa Zied, RD, an American Dietetic Association spokesperson.

So there you have it, variety in the world of fruit mundanity.  Remember, most of these alternatives can also be juiced or blended so there’s no more excuses.

Be Well,

Juicy Josh

877MyJuicer.com