It’s certainly easier to go for fast food, already cut up, already washed items while you’re grocery shopping or looking for that quick lunch idea……BUT…. is that really the healthier choice?

Let’s start with baby carrots.  In whole carrots, most of the nutrition is contained in or just below the skin.  In order to make baby carrots, this healthy portion is removed.   Then the carrots are washed in chlorinated water and some are even dipped in a stronger chlorine solution to keep their looks once in your local store.  If you believe labels,  “baby carrots” are carrots harvested while the vegetables are still small.  “Baby Cut Carrots” are made by the process explained above.  Which would you rather on your table?  Personally, I’ll take organic whole carrots when I can get them.  These you don’t have to wash.  If they aren’t organic, wash and peel your carrots.  Then you can eat or juice them.

Carrots are a great source of antioxidant compounds, and the richest vegetable source of pro-vitamin A carotenes.  Antioxidant compounds help to protect against cardiovascular disease and cancer and beta-carotene helps to protect good vision, especially night vision that affects most of us over the age of…ahem…..40.  Carrots should be stored in a plastic or “green bag“, or wrapped in a paper towel to reduce the amount of condensation.  When storing in green bags, only store one type fruit or veggie per bag.  If the carrots you buy have their tops attached, cut these before storing, as they will pull moisture from the carrot itself causing it to wilt prematurely.

What else can you do with those fresh, whole, organic carrots?  Breakfast anyone?  Dip anyone?  Did you just call me a dip, madam?

CARROT DRINKS

Try these combinations in your juicer tomorrow morning.

Carrot and apple

Carrot, apple and celery

Carrot all by itself

CARROT AVOCADO DRESSING

1/2 avocado                                 1/2 cup celery juice

1 clove garlic                                1/4 cup water, if needed

cayenne to taste                          1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 cup carrot juice                        1/4 cup chopped scallion

Combine all ingredients except the scallion in your blender.  Stir in the scallion and season to taste.  This could be used as a dressing for your salad or a dip for your fresh veggies.

How about frozen wheatgrass?  That’s convenient, right?  Ah, but not as healthy and nutritious as the real thing.  Most of the wheatgrass grown for frozen juice or dried wheatgrass powders is grown outside on acres of land.  It is also usually second cut wheatgrass too.  To get optimum benefit from wheatgrass, you want baby grass, first cut grass.  There is a lot to say about frozen vs. fresh that I just don’t have the space for here.  Make your own choice.  You can grow your own wheatgrass. You don’t have to settle for the easy way out.

Next time you’re at the grocery store, don’t take the easy way out.  Get involved with your food.  It matters.  It’s healthier.  Take the time.

Donna Bergonzi-Boyle

Oh, who am I kidding.  There’s only one answer here.  JUICE!!!

Ghandi said, “Chew your drink and drink your food.”  What does that mean?  Very simple, take the time to liquefy your food before swallowing, and swish your drink around before swallowing.  Liquid is the way to go for assimilation and elimination.

The only question I ask myself in the morning is this… “Should I use my Champion juicer or my Vitamix today?”  Or use my own teeth!  I first started seriously juicing over two years ago.  When I went “raw” and bought my Champion, I juiced anything I could get my hands on.  Fruits, veggies….mixing whatever I wanted.  My teenager loved taking different colored concoctions to school.  Her friends would always ask, “Did you buy that”?

Here’s one of those easy juice drink recipes:

Veggie/Fruit Drink
Four carrots
Two apples

If your produce is organic, you don’t have to peel, but it’s a good idea to peel non-organic produce.  I don’t even core the apple.  Put all ingredients through your juicer and pour into your drink container and take it to work or school.   You can add anything else to this drink for your own taste. How about some ginger or lemon?  Or how about this for the holidays?   Cranberries, apples and grapes.  Throw them by the handful into your juicer.

We used our juicer every morning.  Then my friend gave me “Green For Life”, by Victoria Boutenko.  She says this about green smoothies…  “Blended green smoothies are a simple and delicious way of accessing the healing properties of greens.  Whether you eat a raw food, vegan, vegetarian or mainstream American diet, regularly drinking green smoothies can significantly improve your health.”

Ok, now I’m onto something. I had never heard of these and I was really getting tired of the whole breakfast drama.  Out came the Vitamix and in went the kale and fruit. That was it!  Kale, water and fruit.  Whatever fruit I had on hand.  My daughter didn’t try these right away.   I waited patiently till one day she said, “I’ll try those things now.”  And so she did and is still drinking them today. We were getting more green in our diet than we were eating cooked or in our salads!  Kale, spinach, collards….any green.

Here’s one of my favorite green smoothie recipes:

Two handfuls of any green on hand.  Spinach is a good starter.
1-2 cups of water
Three strawberries
One banana
Teaspoon Flax oil or crushed flax seed

Place all in your blender.  I use the Vitamix.  It whips it up quickly and there’s no pulp.  I also use frozen fruit or ice cubes to keep the drink cool.

I felt good knowing that if  I couldn’t control everything she ate during the course of the day, that at least I was sending her out of the house with something that to me…was better than the conventional breakfast I grew up with.  And how easy and convenient!  I love green smoothies.   I always have frozen fruit in the freezer, and some sort of green in the fridge.  Summer was great for heading out to the garden and juicing all the leaves of the veggies that were growing.  Yum!

There’s one warning here:  Drinking green smoothies every day can lead to more energy, a better night’s sleep, weight loss, less cravings for cooked or unhealthy processed foods, and an overall clearer picture of life.  Not to mention more cravings for green smoothies.

Donna, yep I juiced that, Bergonzi-Boyle

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

Detox time!  I’ve gone through a few and these were some good detox recipes that I followed.  Let me know what you think of them by adding a comment!  What you put in your body is the most important decision you make each day and we all know nutrition is an important element to a healthy body.  Also, I linked up some words in here with the equipment I used - if you click on them and don’t have the necessary equipment, we happen to have it!

Have a favorite recipe you want to share? We’d love to share it, e-mail us at info@877myjuicer.com

Detox Recipes

Choose all natural and certified organic products when possible. Enjoy!

Lemonade Detox

Drink this delicious detoxifying lemonade throughout the summer. It will make one eight oz. glass.

· 2 tbs fresh squeezed lemon juice

· 1 tbs 100% pure organic maple syrup

· 1/5 tsp cayenne pepper

· 8 oz. glass spring water

Strawberry Almond Smoothie

· ½ cup almond milk

· ½ cup frozen organic strawberries

· 1 tbs. organic maple syrup

· Combine all ingredients in your juicer, juice and serve cold.

Spinach, Apple, Walnut Salad

Prepare this simple salad on a warm summer evening. With each bite, you get a splash of juice and the crunch of nuts.

· 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

· 2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette

· 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

· 3/4 teaspoon salt

· 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Whisk together oil, balsamic, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Keep refrigerated.

· 1 1/4 lb spinach lettuce (1 bag)

· Dice 1 large Braeburn Apple (1 1/4 cups),

· 3/4 cup cut organic raw walnuts

· Toast walnut and toss lettuce, apple, and walnuts in large bowl with just enough dressing to coat.

· Makes 4 servings.

Enjoy and Be Well,

Juicy Josh

www.877myjuicer.com

The juicing craze! After all of the hype and strict regimens of the raw and juiced diet fads, the whole idea may leave a bad taste in your mouth. But you do not have to learn how to cover up the taste of juiced beets or start watching infomercials with Jack LaLanne reving up his “Juice Tiger.” There is an easy, and yes, tasty way to drink your vitamins and boost your intake of the good stuff.

For starters, you may be wondering why juiced foods are so fantastic to begin with. Simply put, it’s because they are living, unprocessed foods that enter your body in their purest form, with their vitamins and nutrients intact. When you drink a glass of fruit juice from the bottle, you are most likely getting additives and additional sugar to enhance the flavor and appeal. The problem here is that you could have downed a soda if you wanted empty calories, and all for a fraction of the nutrients you could have received if you stuck to au-natural. So great. Now you know you can toss your fruits and veggies into a blender and delicious, nutritious nectar will appear, solving all of your ache and pains, as well as restoring your body to age 21 perfection. Not quite. The concoction you get might taste a bit more like a punishment than a treat. But comparing the thick, amateur juice of a novice to the real deal is like comparing apples to oranges. In order to get into your body, it’s got to taste good. So how do we get from bravery to savory?

First of all, start with what you know. What fruits do you like? Bananas make a fantastic “base” fruit, and your body will thank you for the potassium, not to mention the gram of protein and three grams of fiber. Bananas also tend to help neutralize the tartness of some fruits, so it can be a nice place to start. Not bananas over bananas? No problem! After a few tries at the old blender, you’ll figure out which fruit combination you like best. But what about veggies? How do we make that taste good? Well, right off the bat you will want a fairly decent juicer. Introducing veggies into your juice regimen is going to require a bit more “juice” than a typical blender can pack. But even when you’re armed with the right equipment, certain vegetables need some help from that spoonful of something to help the medicine go down. Your sweeter fruits and vegetables (pineapple, carrots, etc.) can also be used as a moderator to help tone down the all too unpleasant overpowering vegetable taste. Tomato and celery with a pinch of lemon juice makes a great foundation juice, as most people tend to like this health conscious knock off of a Bloody Mary. From here you can add cucumber, spices, carrots, or even a bit of apple juice.

Ok. So you have read this blog, dusted off your juicer (or purchased one), made a resolution, and now you are standing in the produce aisle at Grocer’s Gala and have not a clue what to buy, or why you even wanted to try this in the first place. Before you resign and head over to aisle five to pick up a jug of V8, hear me out. Grab a piece of paper and quickly jot down some health issues that you have that you want to resolve. Next, log on to the internet and do a quick Google search to learn which vitamins serve as an anecdote to your problem. As an example, if you suffer from fatigue than you may be lacking vitamins B12 and B6. Mangos and Kiwi’s have each of these B’s, so get them on your list. Is the common cold a little too common for your comfort level? Well than I am sure you are aware that vitamin C is key. Stock up on your friends in the citrus family. Have you noticed that you are squinting at the menu at your local fast food joint? Than stop eating burgers and fries and pick up some carrots! Carrots are loaded with beta-carotene, which morphs into vitamin A, which gets an A+ when it comes to your eyes. Have allergies? Try Mandarin Tangerines. Upset stomach? Pick up some pectin and grab some grapefruit. You may have to search a bit, but some Noni juice added to your blend can act quite like serotonin on your brain, and some believe it can relieve headaches. Aloe and cabbage have been rumored to do the same, and as you experiment you will find what works best for you.

So you have the idea. Now you have your fruits and veggies at home and you are ready to juice! As you are playing scientist and experimenting, remember to balance your sweets with your not-so-sweets and see what you can get. If you do not mind wandering off the beaten path every now again, start trying fun additions like cinnamon, maple syrup, parsnip, or other spices. Juicers note: The natural sugar in fruit will raise insulin levels, so keep this in mind when you head into juicing mode. Too much of the sweet stuff can upset your blood sugar levels, causing you to feel hungry too soon. No worries, though. Soon you will have your “recipes” down, just keep experimenting and tasting.

One final note. “Smoothies,” although not as healthful as the juices we discussed above, can be an excellent alternative to typical desserts laden with fat and excess sugar. Dessert smoothies can end up containing a lot of calories, but watching your portion size can be the perfect way to treat your sweet tooth without trying to trick your diet. Here is one of my special blends…and it couldn’t be simpler:

• Fill the blender about half way with chocolate soymilk.
• Next add a banana and a few tablespoons of organic, vanilla yogurt. (For a thicker shake you can add some ice, or an additional tablespoon of yogurt.)
• Divide in two glasses and you and the person lucky enough to be dining with you are in for a “milkshake” that won’t leave you with a twist of guilt.

So go forth and juice! Your mind and body will thank you.

Be Well,

JuicyJosh

(Name the song and artist that the title quote is from and get $5 off any purchase at 877MyJuicer.com.)

So most people would call it a smoothie nowadays but to me it is, always has been and always will be my power shake.  And I start my day with it religiously.  I’ll get into the ingredients in a bit but an explanation of my intentions first.

Being that for the last two weeks I’ve written some basic articles on juicing, I wanted to write one on the differences and benefits of blending specifically.  The problem is many of the same principles hold—blending is essentially another great way to get all the nutritious goodness from fruits and vegetables…  So how do I write this article without sounding redundant?  The best way as I see it is to lay out my breakfast; the Power Shake.

To juice or to blend?  Well, I’m not promoting one over the other.  There are several unique benefits to juicing.  For example, you can’t (or at least I wouldn’t) blend wheatgrass.   In the same way there are many things about blending that just can’t be substituted with a juicer.  For one, you can’t get phytochemicals by juicing because they live primarily in the rind or pulp of the produce.  You also can’t juice yummy grains or nuts but in a blender you can liquefy the stuff right into whatever concoction you come up with.  Not to mention with a good blender, in addition to shakes (smoothies) you can make soups, hummus, peanut butter and many other things.  So here’s the recipe for my power shake—just one example of  something delicious and nutritious that is only possible with a blender.

The Power Shake

• 1 Organic Banana
• A couple cups give or take of frozen organic blueberries/Strawberries/cherries/any berries you like (mix and match)
• A hand full of soaked raw pumpkin and sunflower seeds
• A tablespoon of organic peanut butter
• A tablespoon of Flax Seed oil (keep in the freezer)
• 1 serving of a live food liquid vitamin
• 1 serving of a super green food powder
• 1/2 serving of vanilla whey protein
• 1/2 serving of a complex brain protein powder which includes amino acids, GABA, Glutamine, and much more.
• A tablespoon of Psyllium husk fiber (mmm regularity ;o)…
• Organic apple juice mixed with any other you like (I do mango and coconut often).  Use enough to liquefy.

With a start like this the day can only go well.

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