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 5^th.)  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 19^th 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

I’m not sure… but whether it’s a creative block or the early onset of Alzheimer’s is pretty clear; at least to me it is. Now what was I talking about? Oh, eating healthy and keeping the brain sharp as a tack.

Now the brain is no mere mechanical organ, nor is it simply a storage unit for the countless memories of a lifetime. It is the combination of these things and it also contains an enormous capacity for perception, empathy, reasoning, analyses and so much more. In some ways it could be said that “you” reside there. And without going far into a spiritual discussion about ego and identity let’s agree that whoever one “is” the destruction of the brains abilities through dementia or Alzheimer’s is devastating.

As people get older, globs of a protein called amyloid accumulate between our neurons (nerve cells) and we slow down mentally and become sluggish. Inflammation and oxidative damage accompany this protein buildup which nicks the cell membranes and interrupts the signals between neurons and as this happens we may experience a few “senior moments”. For many this presents no real problem but sometimes a downward dementia spiral can occur if over time too many proteins gunk together and too much inflammation and oxidative damage erodes cells.

How can this be prevented? Um… oh right! Overall, medical science is offering some hope. “For the majority of people, studies are showing you can probably slow down cognitive decline enough to escape disease altogether,” says Greg Cole, Ph.D., associate director of the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center at the University of California, Los Angeles. And although no one knows exactly why, studies show that healthy eating habits can help. We’ve got some clues and tips. If I could just remember where I put my notes…

“Somewhere under the sea..” Oh right FISH! According to research one of the most powerful anti-aging nutrients is fish because it is full of those wonderful anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids. An observational study of 3,718 elderly people in the Chicago Health and Aging Project found that eating just one fish meal a week is linked to a 10 percent slower rate of cognitive decline and other research has found that fatty fish like tuna or salmon are associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

In another study on brain deterioration, research found that diets rich in vitamin-E-containing foods like grains, nuts, milk and vegetable oils were associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease as well. Ground whole grains and nut butters will still contain vitamin E so you can easily get plenty of these in your diet. Other antioxidants, such as the polyphenols found in colorful fruits and vegetables, the catechins in tea, and even compounds in herbs like sage and turmeric, are all showing promise in cell culture and animal studies so berry filled smoothies and fresh juice from leafy greens and carrots is a great way to get this into your diet.

The B vitamin folate is also effective. Some large-scale observational studies have linked high dietary folate in foods like leafy greens and beans with less cognitive decline so again get into the grain and juicing.

Well, I think that’s it… Is it?

Be Well,

Juicy Josh

www.877myjuicer.com

Spinach - Cucumber - Celery Juice Recipe

• 2 Cups Packed Spinach (4 Oz)
• 1 Cucumber
• 1 Celery Stalk

Because celery isn’t overpowering, it allows the spinach and cucumber juices to stand out.  Spinach is a great source of calcium, iron and potassium

This makes 10 Ounce with the following Nutritional Facts

• 139 Calories
• 1 Gram of Fat
• 35 Grams of Carbs
• 1 Gram of Protein

Pineapple - Blueberry - Giner Juice Recipe

• 1/4 Pineapple
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 piece fresh ginger (1/4 - 1/2 inch)

Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, which have been shown to fight certain types of cancer. The ginger aids digestion and sets a South Pacific mood when combined with pineapple

This makes 12 Ounces with the following Nutritional Facts

• 80 Calories
• 0 Grams of Fat
• 16 Grams of Carbs
• 7 Grams of Protein

Enjoy!!

Drum Roll Please….we suggest the following unit to juice the above recipes!  The Omega 8005 Juicer is going to be the best for these.  The Omega 8005 does spinach (a regular old joe blow one will not).  The only draw back is on Pineapple.  Any juicer you would have to cut it up but the Omega 8005 does have a smaller chute opening.  I still feel that its the best choice though!

Be Well,

Juicy Josh

www.877myjuicer.com

I just love imagining the expression of profound “Huh?” on your face. (Or maybe I just overestimate my cleverness) Anyway, what I’m talkin bout Willis is Vitamin K; that amazing “koagulating” substance essential for healing our wounds. Now I’m no dummy—at least that’s what my mother tells me—but “koagulation” is the way our Danish friend Henrik Dam, the researcher who discovered the stuff spelled it, and that’s what put the “K” in Vitamin. Now for years scientists have believed that coagulation (see I can spell it) seemed to be the only boon of this baby but recent discoveries have shown that in fact Vitamin K plays other crucial roles in the body which means possibly the assessment of our recommended optimal daily intake should be reassessed.

So why is it essential? Basically, the body uses Vitamin K to produce a range of different proteins. Some are used to produce factors that allow blood to coagulate while other vitamin K-dependent proteins are used for maintaining healthy bones and keeping arteries unclogged. Sarah L. Booth, Ph.D., a scientist at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University and one of a small group of vitamin K nutrition experts in the world says that “Vitamin K allows a protein called osteocalcin to bind to calcium in bone, which helps maintain bone density.” In a separate 10-year long study of 72,000 women, researchers found that those who consumed the most foods containing vitamin K had a 30 percent lower risk of hip fractures than those whose diets contained the least vitamin K. There’s also evidence showing that other vitamin K-dependent proteins may have a role in preventing hardening of the arteries, which constricts blood flow and can trigger heart attacks.

Currently the recommended daily intake of vitamin K based on the levels that are needed to maintain normal coagulation is 90 micrograms for women and 120 for men but considering the new evidence, experts suspect that the most effective level may be higher. The problem? In the words of Dr. Booth, “At the moment, we don’t have the data to say exactly what optimal intake should be.”

Now don’t panic! Vitamin K deficiency is extremely uncommon so just get a hold of yourself. The main dietary sources of vitamin K are dark green vegetables, so just eat as many salads and drink as much fresh juice as you can and you’ll probably be alright. Now vitamin K is also abundant in many vegetable oils, including soybean, canola, and olive oil but always remember that leafy green vegetables of all kinds contain vitamin K. From spinach, kale, and green leaf lettuce to broccoli, asparagus and arugula, there are plenty of sources of vitamin K but a good rule of thumb is the greener the leaf, the more vitamin K it contains. Now remember you’ll need a masticating juicer for the leafy green veggies but almost nothing is lost in the juicing process so go to town.

Be Well,

Juicy Josh

877MyJuicer.com

So before getting into it I’ll make the usual challenge of $5 off any purchase to anyone who names the song and artist that title is from. I make that type of offer a lot and I’m continually surprised when no one takes me up on it. (I find chastising is an effective way to begin so as to engage the reader.)

Now let’s get into the meat of this article (calm down veggies). They say “beauty’s but skin deep”. I’m not sure exactly what that means but I’ve heard it and using quotes is another way to engage the reader and to make yourself look intelligent. They also say that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” so according to these two sources it can be found either in the skin or the eye. Of course I’ve misunderstood things before. But there’s one place I know it can’t be found and that’s wolfing down half pound angus burgers from Mickie D’s every day or so. Yes, we’re a beauty obsessed culture. But I believe there’s a big difference between real beauty and the cookie cutter, surgically enhanced ideal put forth by pop culture. There is beauty in all of us and unfortunately, most often it is our own attitude and lifestyle that restrains it. Fortunately there are some very simple ways you can go about choosing the right foods that can give you clear skin, shiny hair, a brighter smile and bring out the most beautiful you possible.

Omega-3 fatty acids help decrease inflammation, aid in treating psoriasis (an inflammatory skin condition) and improve blood circulation which produces a healthy glow. One study in Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that elderly people who had eaten more fish and veggies over their lifetime had fewer wrinkles. The best source of omega-3s is fish; Wild salmon, sardines, Atlantic mackerel and herring.

Fill your diet with color. Dark orange, red or green fruit and vegetables like carrots, butternut squash, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and spinach all contain a high level of beta-carotene, an antioxidant that converts to vitamin A in your body and switches on DNA that’s in charge of producing new skin cells and shedding old ones. This keeps the surface of your skin smooth, fresh-looking and resistant to irritants and damage. Beta-carotene also destroys free radicals that cause DNA mutations that can lead to wrinkles. Many of these fruits and veggies can be juiced or blended while maintaining their nutritional integrity.

Dairy products, especially yogurt, are a great source of calcium but did you know that all green, leafy vegetables contain calcium. Great sources are kale and collards, beets and turnip tops and of course broccoli (all of which can be juiced). Calcium is important for teeth and a beautiful smile. It creates cavity-resistant tooth enamel when you’re young and maintains it as an adult to keep your teeth strong. Studies show that people who get enough calcium are less likely to have severe gum disease.

Zinc is a critical beauty enhancer, contributing to nearly every enzyme in your skin, including those that help create collagen and produce new cells. It also aids in healing wounds and there’s some evidence that the anti-inflammatory properties in zinc supplements play a role in calming skin conditions such as acne. Both zinc and iron are key to cell production in hair follicles so a deficiency in either nutrient could also cause hair to thin or even fall out. Your nails benefit from zinc and iron as well. Whole grains, fortified cereals, lean beef and oysters are great sources of zinc and iron.

Dark chocolate, sunflower seeds and green tea are packed with antioxidants that protect skin from free radicals. Sunflower seeds have tons of vitamin E which blocks free radicals from attacking the membranes so cells stay alive. Compounds found in green tea can suppress agents that trigger inflammation and both green tea and dark chocolate provide powerful antioxidants known as polyphenols. Regular intake of polyphenols found in cocoa may keep skin hydrated and lessen the effects of a sunburn; researchers aren’t sure why but speculate that it has to do with the polyphenols’ ability to increase blood flow to the skin.

Strawberries, citrus, red bell peppers and broccoli are all loaded with vitamin C which triggers fibroblast cells that make collagen, the support system under the skin’s surface. The healthier your infrastructure of collagen, the firmer and smoother your skin will look.

Now… go be gorgeous.

Be Well,

Juicy Josh

877MyJuicer.com

Let me tell you something. Coffee comes from God. There’s no two ways about it. That’s probably why, when I roll out of bed, I head straight for the coffee maker instead of hitting my knees. And lo my morning prayer/meditation routine doesn’t really get started until I’ve had at least half a cup. You see, it’s that sixth sense guiding me to help pry my third eye open so that I may commune more completely with… Or maybe I’m just an addict. Regardless, if you’re a coffee fiend like me, you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. And yes, I’m happy to say, your health can even benefit from the beverage of that divine bean.

So, in addition to its incredible taste, clearing the fog of sleep, and making everything good come your way, what exactly can coffee do to assist in a healthy lifestyle? I’m glad you asked. For starters it can lower your risk of diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and colon cancer. It can lift your mood, treat headaches and even lower your risk of cavities.

Sound too good to be true? Well researchers with very big brains at Harvard don’t think so. After analyzing data on 126,000 people for as long as 18 years, they determined that one to three cups of caffeinated coffee daily can reduce diabetes risk by single digits AND having six cups or more each day slashed men’s risk by 54% and women’s by 30%. And that’s just one of hundreds of studies suggesting that coffee may be something of a health food — especially in higher amounts.

Over six studies have shown that people who drink coffee on a regular basis are up to 80% less likely to develop Parkinson’s, with three showing the more they drink, the lower the risk. Other research shows that compared to not drinking coffee, at least two cups daily can translate to a 25% reduced risk of colon cancer, an 80% drop in liver cirrhosis risk, and nearly half the risk of gallstones. There’s also evidence that coffee may help manage asthma and control attacks when medication isn’t available.

Is it a miracle? I think so. But there are scientific reasons for all this good as well. Oddly enough many of coffee’s benefits are a direct result of its high caffeine content. There is very strong evidence that the risk reduction for Parkinson’s disease is directly related to caffeine and in fact, based on this evidence, some Parkinson’s drugs are now being developed that contain a derivative of caffeine. Caffeine is also what helps in treating asthma and headaches and it can also be a powerful aid in enhancing athletic endurance and performance. It stimulates the brain and nervous system making you more alert and boosting concentration. A study in Brazil even found that children who drink coffee with milk each day are less likely to have depression than other children.

Be cautious however and pay attention to what your own body says. In some, coffee can increase nervousness, hand trembling, and cause rapid heartbeat. Coffee may also raise cholesterol levels and contribute to artery clogging. But most recent large studies show no significant adverse effects on most healthy people. (Pregnant women, heart patients, and those at risk for osteoporosis may still be advised to limit or avoid coffee.)

Another reason for all these incredible health benefits comes from the fact that coffee is loaded with antioxidants, some of which become especially potent during the roasting process. A certain group of antioxidant compounds called quinines, when administered to lab rats increased their insulin sensitivity which partially explains why studies have shown that those drinking decaf coffee but not tea beverages also showed a reduced diabetes risk (though it was about half as much as those drinking caffeinated coffee). Another Italian study showed that another compound called trigonelline, which gives coffee its aroma and bitter taste, has both antibacterial and anti-adhesive properties which is what helps to prevent dental cavities from forming.

Halleluja! I think I’ll have another cup.

Be Well,

Juicy Josh

877MyJuicer.com

Oh how delightfully blissful we live when we’re in good health, taking care to eat right, exercise, and generally stay on top of our well being.  That’s why it’s so darn frustrating to be stopped in our tracks by that pesky and pervasive virus known as the common cold.  Now I’m somewhat of a health nut…  I say somewhat because I do, on occasion, indulge and compared to some like my dear Aunt and Mother I’m a lightweight when it comes to healthy diet and prevention.  However, I go to great lengths to keep my immune system in tip top shape.  So wasn’t I surprised when those sniffles that I at first believed to be allergies mutated into a full fledged, knock me on my tuchus cold.  Now over the holiday week I’d been on 3 airplanes, mingled with a variety of friends and family and gone through a pretty major temperature drop so I should have boned up on my vitamin C but what I want to talk about in this article is what to do in a healthy way to knock these things out as quickly as possible.

To start I want to promote the product Wellness Formula by Source Naturals (which we don’t even sell so there’s no ulterior motive here).  To go through the list of the 40 immune boosting ingredients would take too much space but this stuff is essential for daily immune system maintenance and when you first feel those symptoms, this herbal supplement can stave off the worst of it fast.  Unfortunately, because I thought it was allergies (and possibly because my giant ego told me there was no way I was getting sick) I failed to start in time but it’s been three days and I’m worlds from where I was Tuesday morning.

Once you’ve got a cold it is recommended you get as much Vitamin C as possible; 5,000 milligrams or more a day.  Find a good supplement but also, because liquids are so important as well consider a lot of fresh grapefruit or orange juice.  Grapefruit is recommended because in addition to the high vitamin C content it helps detoxify the liver.  When taking such high doses you can sometimes get diarrhea so use a calcium ascorbate powder form of vitamin C which is less irritating to the digestive tract.

Zinc is also very important.  A recent study has shown that cold-infected volunteers who sucked on a 23-milligram zinc gluconate lozenge every 2 hours had significantly shorter colds than cold-infected volunteers who sucked on a placebo. Other research has shown that lozenges made only with either zinc gluconate-glycine or zinc acetate shorten the duration of cold symptoms.

Hot fluids and lots of liquid are very important for knocking out a cold.  Because cold viruses grow and multiply when the temperature around them is around 90°F (which is roughly the bodies’ temperature without fever), they are far less comfortable and less likely to replicate so quickly when their environment heats up. Drinking hot fluids will warm your throat as well as impair viral replication and they also have a mild decongestant effect, which helps relieve nasal stuffiness. Taking herbal drinks such as ginger tea is doubly helpful because of their heating effect as well as the antiviral effect.  Soup is essential.  Now I’m sorry my vegetarian friends but chicken soup’s effect on combating a cold is no urban myth.  Studies have shown it works… but take heart, researcher’s suspect that the soup’s cold-fighting powers come not from the chicken but from the vegetables that are usually part of the stock.

Drinking lots of water and fruit and vegetable juice will help to flush toxic by-products out of the body as quickly and efficiently as possible but avoid things like tea and coffee that have diuretic (fluid-eliminating) properties.

Garlic (raw, juiced or supplements) has been used forever in combating and preventing colds.  Recent studies have shown that subjects taking supplements of allicin, the component of garlic considered to be the major biologically active agent produced by the plant, had a reduced risk of catching a cold by more than half.  Those who did catch a cold were more likely to make a speedier recovery and the chances of re-infection following a cold were significantly reduced.

Vitamin A is a nutrient vital to the mucous membranes throughout the respiratory system during a cold or flu. It can be taken in the form of beta carotene (carrot juice) which is a precursor of vitamin A, in higher dosages.

Some general rules to follow while sick: Avoid milk and other dairy products which have been shown in studies to trigger the release of histamine, a chemical that contributes to runny nose and nasal congestion which can make chest, sinus, and nasal congestion worse.  Avoid alcoholic drinks, as these are dehydrating and deplete the body of vitamin C while putting extra strain on the liver, which has to work extra hard to detoxify the body during illness anyway.  If you’re not hungry don’t feel obliged to eat, as long as you drink plenty. Foods should be as light and easily digestible as possible, with a strong emphasis on vegetable soups, broths, salads and lightly cooked fish or chicken.  Avoid high-fat, indigestible foods such as cheese, red meat and pastries.

Basically it’s important to eat a balanced diet. Take supplements as needed to ensure you are receiving the recommended dietary allowances for vitamin A, the vitamin B complex (vitamins Bl, B2, Bs, B6, folic acid), and vitamin C, as well as the minerals zinc and copper.

Be Well,

Juicy Josh

Everybody loves a superhero and the fantasy of magic and miracles.  In our modern, scientific world these things seem to exist almost exclusively in movies, comic books, and of course the new age world of health nuttiness.  But as “educated” as we all are its amazing how we still have a tendency to run to extremes—doubt everything or believe anything.  I know a Doctor who believes if you’re maintaining your weight, you’re getting sufficient nutrition and health fanatic who aspires to become a “lightarian”. In my view, wisdom is approaching the promise of something fantastic with skepticism as well as an open mind.  J. Krishnamurti once said that doubt, although crucial, should be kept on a leash and occasionally allowed to run free.  I’m a big fan of moderation and balance, probably because in my short life I’ve taken up residence temporarily at each of the fanatical poles.  And in that vein I want to restate my basic belief that true health cannot be achieved by focusing obsessively on one aspect of life but rather by a holistic approach to all of life.

The above paragraph is really about managing expectations but what does that have to do with superfoods?  And what are superfoods anyway?  To define them, superfoods are basically a group of natural and easily available foods that have been identified as supremely nutritious and containing benefits essential for optimal health and disease prevention.  They are powerful enough to ward off or impact heart disease, cancer, cholesterol, diabetes, hypertension, and more.  They will help alter your mood, maintain your weight and ultimately live longer.  Some experts even claim that 50% to 70% of suffering could be eliminated by a superfood rich diet.  And its statements like that that bring me back to the point about expectations.  My personal belief, based on my own experiences and observations, is that there is no magic food that will cure all your problems, but that could be said about anything.  Happiness comes when we decide to be happy, not when we find the “right” thing out there to make us so…  Whew! I’m on a tangent.  And because of limited space I’m going to make the transition into the real purpose of this article abrupt.  Ladies and gentlemen… SUPERFOOD!

Ok, first here’s a list of the top superfoods: Beans, Blueberries, Broccoli, Oats, Oranges, Pumpkin, Salmon, Soy, Spinach, Tea (green or black), Tomatoes, Turkey, Walnuts, and of course Yogurt.  Now lets breakdown a few key ones.

Blueberries: My favorite and the staple of my daily (and oft mentioned) Power Shake, these babies are packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids.  They are high in potassium and vitamin C and not only can they lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, they are also an anti-inflammatory.

Omega 3s: Essential for the heart, joints, and memory there’s some evidence that shows it may also help reduce depression.  Omega-3s are most prevalent in fatty, cold-water fish like wild salmon, herring, sardines, and mackerel but you can also get them from fortified eggs, flax seed, walnuts and of course supplements.

Soy: This ones all about lowering cholesterol.  It has been shown that a diet rich in soy fiber protein can lower cholesterol as much as statins, the most widely prescribed cholesterol medicine. It is cautioned however that if you have a family history of breast cancer it is not recommended that you eat extra soy.

Fiber: A high fiber diet will also help you maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels and because fiber helps you feel full longer, it’s a great tool in weight management. Whole grains, beans, fruit, and vegetables are all good sources.

Tea: Green or black tea are said to have the same overall antioxidant power.  However, a recent study on green tea found that men who drank it regularly had lower cholesterol than those who didn’t.   Green tea is high in the antioxidant ECGC which has also been shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Calcium: Got Milk? (I can’t wait for the emails from my vegan friends…  although they’ll go after me for the fish too I guess).  The bottom line is that calcium does in fact help build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis and if you want it amply and easily, you’ll find it in dairy products.  Some studies show that calcium also helps with weight loss and really…  the cows don’t mind.

Dark Chocolate: I know I said blueberries are my favorite but if I were stranded on an island it would be a tough choice between them and dark chocolate.  They’re both so good and they are also packed with antioxidants.  Studies have also shown that dark chocolate can lower blood pressure. It is recommended that you look for chocolate with 70% or higher cocoa content.  In other words, the darker, the better.

So there you have it, the key to… I won’t say happiness…  let’s just say an important part of healthiness.

Be well,

Juicy Josh

Really one of the best live shows ever.  I saw them once in Manhattan and was so wiped out I didn’t get out of bed the whole next day.  That’s pretty much what I wanted to do after the fires last week but I couldn’t stop scratching.  I’m not sure if it was all the stress or an allergy to something or a combination of many things but I found myself with hives… (the skin irritation that is, although they sound like fun guys to hang out with)  Some people get this frequently when they’re stressed or exposed to an allergen but for me this was a first time deal (not that I can imagine anyone getting used to it).   And what a miserable deal it was.  Now I’m not going to write an entire article on hives but along with the specific treatments, I really increased the intake of many natural “good for the skin” items that I AM going to write about.  Specifically for the hives I used anti-itch creams, antihistamines (I was itchy darnit) and the miraculous “Hives” homeopathic tablets from Hyland’s.

The cosmetics industry in this country raked in billions last year, with sales of skin care products bringing in the largest share.  What most people don’t know is that the cheapest and most effective method for preserving and healing skin comes from natural foods.  Here are just a few:

Green tea, which is rich in antioxidants that reduce inflammation and protect cell membranes, has been proven to reduce the damage of sunburns and overexposure to ultraviolet light.  Therefore, green tea reduces the risk of skin cancer. Green tea is also high in polyphenols — compounds that eliminate cancer-causing free radicals and reactivate dying skin cells.  Green tea is also high in vitamins C, D and K, as well as riboflavin, zinc, calcium, magnesium and iron.

Salmon (and many other other fatty fish as well as walnuts and flaxseed) is high in healthy fatty acids that are crucial for healthy skin. Essential fatty acids such as omega-3s help keep cell membranes healthy by keeping out harmful substances as well as allowing nutrients to enter cells and exit with waste products. Omega-3s also reduce the body’s production of inflammatory agents that can damage the skin and omega-3 fatty acid-rich foods like salmon help keep the skin supple and youthful.  Salmon is also rich in protein, potassium, selenium and vitamin B12.

Many experts believe blueberries to be the highest food source of antioxidants which target free radicals that can wreak havoc on skin cells. The antioxidants and phytochemicals in blueberries neutralize DNA-damaging free radicals, reducing cell damage which makes the skin look younger for longer. Blueberries are also an excellent source of soluble and insoluble fiber, vitamin C, manganese, vitamin E and riboflavin and all that is why load them in my blender every morning for my “power Shake”.

Carrots—my absolute favorite veggie to juice—which also contain high levels of antioxidants, are an excellent source of vitamin A, which is an essential nutrient for healthy skin. Vitamin A is required for developing and maintaining skin cells, and a deficiency of the vitamin can cause dry skin. Carrots are also a superior source of fiber, biotin, vitamins K, C and B6, potassium and thiamine.

And finally, drink lots of pure, clean water.  Drinking plenty of water will help keep your skin young and healthy. Water both hydrates cells and helps them move toxins out and nutrients in. In other words, it sweats more efficiently, which helps keep the skin clean and clear.

One last thing to consider is that many experts consider raw food juicing to be the surest way to healthy skin.  It is recommend to juice fruits, vegetables and nuts (soak them first) in a powerful blender to create superfood smoothies. People who drink raw juices on a daily basis have skin that absolutely glows.

Shine people.

Be well,

Juicy Josh

I got an email from a member of the Juicy Josh MySpace community earlier this week asking me what I had to do with OJ?  Strange question, I thought…  and not very nice.  Of course the whole thing was a big misunderstanding that we straightened out quickly.  But it got me thinking and I realized that I hadn’t really written anything about this wonderful fruit and its health benefits.  (I don’t really have much to say about the other OJ)  And away we go…

So every year around flu season we get the sniffles and run to the grocery store to slam as much of this stuff as possible because everybody knows it’s fights off colds and flu.  Most of us are aware that it’s choc full ‘o Vitamin C which is vital for a healthy immune system but that’s really just the beginning.  Let’s start there though.  Did you know that just one orange supplies 116.2% of the daily value for Vitamin C?  And not many know this but Vitamin C is the primary water-soluble antioxidant in the body, disarming free radicals and preventing damage in the aqueous environment both inside and outside cells. This, in a nutshell, means it helps fight cancer and inflammatory conditions like asthma, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.  And because it destroys free radicals which oxidize cholesterol and make it stick to the artery walls, Vitamin C can help keep cholesterol low preventing heart attack or stroke.

So what else? Recent studies have shown that the healing properties of oranges is also associated with a wide variety of phytonutrient compounds, most importantly the flavanone molecule herperidin, which is shown to lower high blood pressure as well as cholesterol in animal studies, and to have strong anti-inflammatory properties.  Found primarily in the pulp and peel, this is just another reason to include these when you’re juicing (at least the pulp for God’s sake).

Several studies in the last few years have shown that a diet high in citrus fruit provides a statistically significant protective effect against several types of cancer as well as cardiovascular disease.  One US study even shows that one extra serving a day of citrus can reduce risk of stroke by 19%. This same report includes evidence of positive effects for arthritis, asthma, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive impairment, Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, diabetes, gallstones, multiple sclerosis, cholera, gingivitis, optimal lung function, cataracts, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and obesity.

Compounds in citrus fruits, including oranges, called limonoids have been shown to help fight cancers of the mouth, skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon and to lower cholesterol.  A Compound called polymethoxylated flavones, found in the orange peel have been shown to lower cholesterol as effectively as Statin drugs.

Oranges are a great source of fiber, they’ve been shown to help prevent kidney stones, ulcers and stomach cancer and finally, it’s been shown that Vitamin C supplements don’t provide the same protective benefits as drinking a glass of orange juice.  In one researchers own words, “It appears that vitamin C is not the only chemical responsible for antioxidant protection.” In oranges, vitamin C is part of a matrix involving many beneficial phytochemicals, “But how they are interacting is still anyone’s guess,”

Sweet little balls of sunshine.

Be Well,

Juicy Josh