Juicing for Better Health



The bright color of 1/4 beet almost takes over the orange carrots

 This is the second blog along the way of my juice fast. I made it through the first two days, extended to three because of my digression at a dinner party. Now, see, I could have just given up, but my resolve is better health and hopefully longevity. So back up on that horse I trod.

After the two days of only fruit and vegetables (steamed or raw), the only seasoning would be soy sauce, Bragg's Liquid Aminos, or lemon juice; its time for juice, water, and herbal teas. As outlined in my previous blogs here, every morning you must gulp down 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil mixed with 1/2 a lemon (or a whole small one). This recalls the horror tales of cod liver oil forced on my mother's childhood or the beef liver she thought would be good for mine. I sat alone at the table long after my brothers were excused, obstinately looking at that disgusting organ. Luckily for me, we had a dog, who patiently waited for me to sneak pieces between my bare toes. Regardless of the taste, the oil and lemon juice cleanses your liver and gall bladder. Lord knows they need it, right? Just rinse your mouth with a strong tasting chaser: fruit juice or very strong flavored tea (like Good Earth original).

Every day you will also need to take a natural fiber supplement. Rota Rooter time people! There are many products to choose from at your health food store. I've used Perfect 7 in the past, and bought Organic Bowel Cleanse by Renew Life this time. One scoop in 8 ounces of water either morning or night or both! Once you stop eating solids, bowel movements slow down. Increase your fiber if you don't "go" for two days running.

  

Drink as much water as possible, at least one quart. Try for 2 or more! This cleans your biggest organ, the skin and helps to clear the kidneys. Also every day, drink one ounce of wheat grass juice. Most juice bars serve these up, although I did notice powders and pills in the vitamin sections of your average health store, if you have trouble finding fresh. I've been told wheat grass oxygenates the blood, and gives one energy. Maybe I need to imbibe more wheat grass on the first two days of this diet. I wonder if I could battle my dragging fatigue better with more of it?

Day three, time to juice. It's perfectly fine to start out the gate juicing, but I wait because after a few days of nothing but, your taste buds get real tired of it. Besides, what a nuisance to clean your juicer! I learned a lot about nutrition and good recipes by reading Jay Kordich's Juice Man. Generally don't mix fruit and vegetables, with some exceptions. Carrots, apples, celery, pears, grapes are special. Mix away. Only incorporate one fourth greens (except for celery and cucumbers, which you can drink perfectly safely) into your drink, too much is actually toxic. After all, we're not cows! Kordich also warns against too much beet. Never drink more than 1/4 of large or 1/2 of a small. Again, too potent! I will get into some of my favorite recipes next time.
    



Here I start with the pungent garlic, onions, radish, and earthy sweet potato.



After you juice some good greens, fill out the balance with carrots

A Juice Fast takes Planning

Once or twice a year I commit to a juice fast. See last year's blog (http://7shadesofvegan.blogspot.com/2011/01/cleanse-with-juice-fast). It cleanses my body. Totally clears my pallet from salt, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol cravings. The emotional and mental addictions to food or alcohol isn't exactly cured.  When I go back to regular eating, I slowly slip back into bad habits and gain back all the weight lost. I'll be honest, it's not easy. The first two days are the most difficult for me, but I've heard that it's the fourth day or sixth day for others. If you drink caffeine, then you will get a headache for at least a day. Why bother? I feel that I take years off my aging body. Everyone enjoys a clean house no matter how onerous the task is. Once a year I like to clean out my pipes. It rejuvenates my cells, mind and spirit. Yes, it is a huge exercise in self discipline too, which if anyone knew how self indulgent I usually am, they would have to applaud my efforts. Okay, it's enough for me to pat my own back then.

The first thing is make a plan and mark your calender. This year I proposed a date to fast in tandem with my Hula instructor who, has in the past organized her students to juice together because not everybody had a juicer. Then the morning of I realize that I haven't done the shopping for organic fruits and vegetables that I needed. Yipes! So at 6:00 in the morning I frantically text my guru an FYI. Fast delayed by one day. Then, because I didn't consult my social calender, I forgot that my husband and I were invited to a very high class dinner party on the second day of my diet! Ahhhrrrrg. What do I do? Feign illness and stay home? Not my style to miss a party, so I thought I should pack a salad in case all the veggies were too rich. My husband was dead set against bringing my own Tupperware, besides I was running late getting ready, scratch that idea.

Now to get the body ready for a purely juice diet, you must prepare by only ingesting raw or plain cooked fruits and vegetables for a couple of days, so there is some wiggle room in social occasions on those days. Aiming to stick to the veggies, hoping no one would notice....I managed to avoid the fried bitter ball (some Dutch concoction) appetizer. But soon the smells of the prime rib roast and mushroom gravy was too much for me to resist the smallest portion I could taste. Oh well, I blew it; may as well have that glass of wine too!

As my mother was fond of saying, "Do as I say not as I do." Let's review, plan your ten day juice cleanse around any special occasions. Then shopping is your next step. I like the variety of organic produce in some of the higher end food chains that cater to the green movement. Obviously the Farmers Market is a good venue to buy beautiful food too. Here is what you need....

A good quality extra virgin olive oil that tastes good to you.
A high quality fiber/ colon cleanser found in health food stores
Herbal teas, if you like them (instead of black teas or coffee)
Soy sauce, or better yet Braggs Liquid Aminos to season (instead of salt)
A good pro biotic to replace the beneficial flora of the intestines. Check the refridgerated vitamin section.
Lemons, at least a half dozen
Carrots, buy the largest quantity available unless you just buy carrot juice by the quart as you need it.
Leafy greens, I like parsley, kale, spinach, dandelion greens, etc.
Celery, tomatoes, pears, grapes, as much as 5 pounds each, what ever you can afford.
1 bunch of red beets, a bit of garlic and ginger, one or two onions,
Broccoli, cabbage, radishes, are strong tasting so don't need more than one each, if you like them.
Cantaloupe, watermelon, pineapple --- leave skins on for their vitamin content (only if organic)
Citrus fruits pare off skins, leaving as much pith for health benefits

My day to day juicing adventures will be posted soon.