Blending VS Juicing

The question that was posed to me is: "Can I make juice in my Vita-mix?" (or other turbo charged emulsifier) 

You can make smoothies, soups (cold or hot), and blends in a blender or emulsifier. But you can only get juice by using a juicer. I have both a vita-mix and a juicer. I use them for different purposes and love them both...I would not want to give up either.


Putting carrots in your vita-mix will give you a thick, sludgy carrot soup type blend. Putting carrots through your juicer will give you a nice sweet carrot juice with little pulp. Pour it through a strainer for an even clearer juice.


A juicer gives you the nutritional and antioxidant value of the fruit and veggies without the pulp that requires chewing. It allows you to get the nutrients of 2-3 lbs of veggies in one juice, where it would be next to impossible to eat that amount in a meal.


A commercial strength blender gives you the opportunity to make smoothies, blends and soups from raw ingredients. This allows you to enjoy the foods you love while getting the full nutritional value available because you are eating them in raw form. Even hot soup in the vita-mix has not been cooked, thereby retaining full unaltered nutritional content.


If you don't have either, and want to purchase one piece of equipment to help you move to a healthier lifestyle, I would recommend getting a juicer first. (Next post we'll discuss types of juicers and recipes).


If you have both, then you have the opportunity to enjoy a diet of intense nutritional therapy prepared in a variety of ways.


But since the questions posed to me today was about the Vita-mix, here are a few raw blender recipes:


TOMATO COCKTAIL
1 Cup Fresh Tomatoes
1/2 Tbsp Lemon juice
1/2 Extra Lg Vegetable Bouillon Cube
1/2 Cup Boiling Water 
Dash Dry Mustard
Optional: Dash Salt


Note: For a cold version, use 3/4 cup ice in place of boiling water, and run for 1 minute or until smooth.


Place all ingredients in Vita-mix container in order listed. Secure 2-part lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Turn on machine and gradually increase speed to #10; then to HIGH. Run for 2-3 minutes, until smooth. Serve immediately.


ORANGE JUICE PLUS
2 Medium Oranges, peeled and quartered
1/4 Cup Water
3/4 Cup Ice Cubes
1/4 tsp Vanilla Extract (may use a little more, to taste)


Variation: Add 1/2 cup fresh pineapple (or canned pineapple if canned without sugar)


Place all ingredients in Vita-mix container in order listed. Secure 2-part lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Turn on machine and quickly increase speed to #10; then to HIGH. Run for 1 minute or until smooth. Serve immediately.


SWEET GREEN SMOOTHIE
20 oz Water
1 Tbsp Flax Seeds
1/2 Tbsp Hemp Seed
4 Tbsp Protein Powder (should be 1 scoop or 1/2 scoop depending on your brand of protein)
1 Cup fresh Kale (1 large kale leaf)
4 Cups fresh Spinach (roughly 4 good handfuls)
3 large frozen Strawberries (see below tip)
1/2 frozen ripe Banana (see below tip)
1 Lg spear frozen Pineapple (roughly 1/2 cup, see below tip)

Place all ingredients in Vita-mix container in order listed. Secure 2-part lid. Select VARIABLE, speed #1. Turn on machine and slowly increase speed to #10; then to HIGH. Run for 1 minute or until smooth. 
Makes approximately 40 oz of smoothie. Definitely a full meal or enough to share or to carry with you through out the morning or afternoon.


TIP
I keep sandwich baggies in the freezer containing 3 strawberries, 1/2 banana and cut up pineapple. When I make this smoothie I can grab a bag that is ready to go (saving time) and it makes the smoothie ice cold like a smoothie should be.


Do you own a juicer or a commercial strength blender, or both? Do you have a favorite blender recipe? Please share it so I can try something new.

Is there fiber in juicing?

As friends become interested in juicing, they often ask "will I lose all the fiber in the vegetables by juicing?" The short answer is "No".

Did you ever wonder what fiber is and what it does; why it is important to eat fiber?


Fiber is the portion of the plant that moves food through the digestive system. It is generally categorized as either 'soluble' or 'insoluble'. Both types of fiber help to increase bulk, soften stools, and shorten the transit time of food moving through the intestinal tract. Both soluble and insoluble fibers are present in whole plan foods like vegetables, fruits, legumes and grains. There is generally only soluble fiber in juice.


Soluble fiber (like pectins and gums) partially dissolves in water and forms a type of gel, but it is not digested. It absorbs digestive bile, which is made from cholesterol. When it's eliminated, it causes more cholesterol to be converted to digestive bile, thereby lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol. Soluble fiber also helps sugar be more slowly absorbed, which helps regulate blood sugar and control diabetes.


The best vegetable sources of soluble fiber are broccoli, carrots, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, turnips, beets, squash, and pumpkin. All of these can be juiced and the taste 'hidden' by other ingredients. So, if you don't care for the flavor of any of these veggies there is a way to get the nutrition from them while not tasting them.


Insoluble fiber is also indigestible, but does not dissolve in water. It absorbs water and serves as a bulking agent as it passes through the digestive system. Insoluble fiber promotes regular bowel movements and prevents constipation. It also helps to maintain a balanced pH in the intestines. It is important in cleansing because it removes toxic substances that tend to accumulate in the colon. There is lots of insoluble fiber in vegetables like dark, leafy vegetables, green beans, and root vegetable skins, as well as fruit skins.


In simple terms, fiber doesn't stay in your system. It moves through the intestines, scraping away toxins and residue that line the intestines as a result of the 'not so healthy' things we eat.


In the past it was thought when juicing fruits and vegetables, a significant amount of nutrients remained in the fiber of fruits and vegetables, but that theory has been disproved. The Department of Agriculture analyzed twelve fruits and found that 90% of the antioxidant activity was in the juice rather than the fiber.


In other words, drinking a glass of fresh juice gives you the same amount of antioxidants as eating 2-3 lbs of fruit.


It was also thought that the juice had no fiber. Juicing got a bad rap in the early nineties because it was thought that the juice lacked fiber. But that assertion was simply not true; only the insoluble fiber is removed in the juicing process, and it's loaded with soluble fiber, which is excellent for the intestinal tract.


A 2006 study published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, found that "Cancer and cardiovascular benefits may be more attributable to antioxidants rather than fibre." The researchers concluded that " the theory that pure fruit and vegetable juices are nutritionally inferior to whole fruit and vegetables, in relation to chronic disease risk reduction, is not justified."


In other words, the high antioxidant content and intense nutritional therapy provided by fresh juice is an excellent and proven way to fight and prevent cancer as well as other chronic diseases.


The recommended fiber intake for adults is between 20 and 35 grams per day, but the average American's daily intake of dietary fiber is only around 14 to 15 grams. It is easy to double that by juicing once each day. You can drink 2-3 lbs of veggies in one juicing, where it would be next to impossible to eat that amount in a meal.


So, the bottom line is that most people get more fiber from juicing each day than they would from eating regular meals, unless they are already eating a diet very high in raw vegetables including a very large salad every day.


Go ahead, try it! You may be surprised at how much better you feel after juicing for just a few days.


Are you thinking of juicing? Do you already juice and would like to do it more frequently? Are you a regular juicer and won't give it up?














Reference Material: 'Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing For Life', Cherie Calbom, MS (all references to studies and research found in chapter 2 references).

Juicing Mickey Mouse

I didn't mean to juice Mickey Mouse, it just happened. And it tasted so good!


Sometimes when I juice it just looks like a mess. Unfortunately, sometimes when trying a new recipe it also tastes like a mess.


This time what I saw in the bowl looked bright and inviting. Then Mickey jumped out, promising a fun and happy experience with bright and vibrant colors like that of an Arizona sunset. And then I tasted it and the flavors did a happy dance on my tongue and I knew immediately why Mickey was claiming this as his.


So, after all the faces people have seen in tree trunks and toast, I got the happiest face on earth in my juice and it tasted great!


Mickey Mouse Juice
1 Lemon
1 Lime
2 Pears
2 Green Apples
2 Wedges Purple Cabbage
2 Large Carrots


Enjoy!!

Favorite Juicing & Blending Recipes

A lot of you have asked for juice recipes to start with if you are new to juicing and blending. Here are three of my favorites. I typically make at least two of the three each day. Doug carries two bottles with him to work every day. I like to start my day with the Sweet Green Smoothie because of the high protein content. It is super high in 'green' nutrition yet tastes sweet like a smoothie because of the pineapple. I make it in my Vita-mix blender. The other two are juices and work well in either a centrifugal or masticating juicer.

Vita-mix (commercial strength) Blender:

Example of Centrifugal Juicer:

Example of Masticating Juicer:

A few tips for easy prep and great taste:

Green Smoothie: I prepare 6-8 baggies of fruit for Green Smoothies ahead of time with 1/2 ripe banana, 3 strawberries (frozen or fresh) and one large spear of (cut into chunks) pineapple. I keep a stash of baggies of fruit in the freezer so it easy to grab one when I want a smoothie. May substitute 1/2 cup of blueberries or other berries for strawberries)

Green Smoothie: It's important to put the water in first, then the supplements, then the greens, then the fruit on top. If you don't have a Vita-mix or other commercial strength blender, add the supplements into the water and blend. Then add the kale and blend. Then add the spinach and blend. Finally add the fruit and blend.

Ginger in Carrot/Apple/Ginger juice: I recommend starting with a very small chunk (1/4 inch or less) of ginger and add more each time if you want stronger flavor.

Apples: I have found that in most juices that call for apples, the best flavor comes from Granny Smith Apples. Unless the recipe specifically calls for a certain type of apple I use Granny Smith; the green apple, for those who are unfamiliar.

Beets: I have never liked eating beets, but they are great in juice. Be sure to use the greens (leaves and stems) as well.

On with the recipes:

SWEET GREEN SMOOTHIE (in Vita-mix)
20 oz Water
1 Tbsp Flax Seeds
1/2 Tbsp Hemp Seed
4 Tbsp Protein Powder (should be 1 scoop or 1/2 scoop depending on your brand of protein)
1 Cup fresh Kale (1 large kale leaf)
2 Cups fresh Spinach (roughly 4 good handfuls)
3 large frozen Strawberries (see above tip)
1/2 frozen ripe Banana (see above tip)
1 Lg spear frozen Pineapple (roughly 1/2 cup, see above tip)

Add in order, blend and drink. Makes approximately 40 oz of smoothie. Definitely a full meal or enough to share.

CARROT/APPLE/GINGER JUICE
I always make 32 oz of juice at a time, so my recipes will all reflect that.
1 Granny Smith Apple
1 small chunk (1/4 inch) FRESH Ginger (see above tip)
Carrots (approximately 12-14 large)

Juice the apple and ginger, then add carrots until you reach 32 ounces. The number of carrots depends on the size. Could be 16 if they are small, could be 10-11 if they are very large. That's why I add the carrots third, so I can just add them til I reach 32 ounces.

CARROT/BEET/CUCUMBER JUICE
1/2 Large Cucumber (2/3 of a small)
1 Small Beet including the green tops (1/2 medium beet or 1/3 large beet)
Carrots (approximately 10-12 large)

Juice the Cucumber and Beet first, then add Carrots until you reach 32 ounces.

What is your favorite juice recipe. I love to try new combinations, so please share. Are you finding it fairly easy to add one juice a day to your diet? If so, have you noticed a change in your energy level or alertness?

Down 9.5 lbs After Juicing For One Week

After one week of juicing I am down 9.5 lbs and Doug has lost 7.5 lbs.

Not bad. Especially considering the fact that we weren't very strict in sticking to juice only. I hate to admit it,  but after juicing for a couple of days I found myself wanting to bite into a burger, so we made a quick trip to 'Five Guy's' for dinner. One day Doug was craving a burrito. So we went to our favorite little Mexican place. This time we were quite motivated from the success we had seen so far, so we broke open the burrito's and ate the insides, leaving the tortilla.

The next couple of days we were real good about only juicing. But then came the day that I had a STRONG desire for, perhaps even a craving for, M&M's. I was working from home that day. I ate a handful of plain M&M's as I worked at my computer. One dropped on the floor. I looked down, but couldn't see it. I moved away from my chair and looked around; still couldn't see it. By now I was frustrated because it was too late for the "5-second rule", and I really didn't want to step on it and smash it into the carpet at a later time. I even got down on my knees, but could not locate that rogue M&M. "Oh well", I thought. "I'll find it when we vacuum." I went back to work. A few hours later when Doug came home I was still sitting at my computer working. He sat down in the chair next to me and proceeded to tell me about his day. As he was talking, he looked down at the carpet. I'll be darned if that brown M&M didn't jump right off the carpet at him!! BUSTED! "Look what I found", he said as he bent over and picked it up. I looked at him and didn't say a word. "Were you eating M&M's today when you were supposed to be only juicing?" he asked. I couldn't lie, but I didn't want to admit the truth, so I just kept my mouth shut. Well, I tried to keep my mouth shut. But he looked me in the eye and quietly waited, and waited, and waited, for my response. I finally burst. Boy did I feel horrible!!

But the point is, even though we didn't stick with juicing exclusively, we still had amazing results in how we felt and in weight loss. While juicing we feel lighter, more energetic and vibrant, never having a full, heavy stomach. Our thoughts are clear, as are our sinuses. Now we're in Vegas for a week where we won't have access to juicing and we have several big dinner events to attend. Even after two days of not juicing we can both feel the physical difference.

It has been a good little experiment. We have seen, in a big way, how beneficial juicing is to us and what a difference it makes in how we feel. We are having a great time in Vegas, and loving the fabulous meals we are experiencing. But I can honestly say that we are both looking forward to being able to juice the majority of our meals when we get home. We love the way it makes us feel, and we may need to lose some extra weight we brought home from Vegas!!

Have you tried juicing? How does it make you feel? Was the result enough to motivate you to juice regularly?

Juicing For Excellence

This past month Doug and I have really stepped up our juicing. I have been juicing for 28 years and have enjoyed the benefits of it in the form of energy and nutritional health. I would typically juice one giant glass a day, usually for breakfast. It's like pouring vitamins straight into my bloodstream...total energy boost. Since I've had several surgeries this past year I am feeling the need to detox my system. Juicing will also help me lose the extra 20 lbs I put on last year, five with each surgery.

Juicing is a great way to get mega doses of natural vitamins, minerals and enzymes. You could never eat enough fresh produce to get the nutrients that just a glass or two of juice will provide. If you are looking for a jump start on weight loss, a way to clean out or detox your system, or just want more energy, I would highly recommend you try raw juice. If you are someone who doesn't eat enough veggies then you need to be juicing! Many vegetables are actually quite sweet when juiced. Carrots and beets are a good example. I love most all veggies, but have never been able to develop a taste for beets even though I know they contain valuable vitamins for the blood and also have cleansing properties. While I won't eat cooked beets, I drink them every day in my Carrot/Beet/Cucumber juice. You don't go hungry; drink as much as you want.

Since I am feeling the need to detox right now I will consume mostly raw juice as my diet. When I feel the need to chew, I will have fresh fruits and veggies. After doing this for only THREE days I am down 7 lbs. The payoff is immediate. I felt better after just one day of juicing and the weight started coming off immediately. Side note: I had already been drinking a glass of juice a day. If you are eating a diet that is high in junk food you may feel worse the first couple of days while your body detoxes. Then you will be amazed at how great you feel.

We are headed to Vegas in a couple of days. I won't be able to juice while there and we are scheduled to attend several dinner events. I will do my best to keep at least 50% of my food intake raw. (I'll let you know how my weight looks when I return.) Then I will return to juicing as the majority of my meals.

While I have been juicing for years, it seems just recently that a lot of people are asking me about it. I found two documentaries that provide very valuable information. I know they are both available on Netflix. Both are available for purchase as well. I have no connection to either of these. I watched them on Netflix. If you want to understand exactly what affect food has on your body you need to watch these. As Maya Angelou said, "I did then what I knew how to do. Now I know better, I do better." Some will choose not to watch because they don't want to "know better" Knowing better means I am now accountable to myself for what I know.

"Food Matters" - available to view on Netflix or purchase at www.foodmatters.tv This is about 75 minutes long. You will see how it is true...YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.

"Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead" - available to view on Netflix or purchase at www.fatsickandnearlydead.com Runs about an hour and a half. Follow Joe Cross as he travels across the US. For 60 days he consumes only fresh juice and loses 90 lbs and gets off of all his medication. Pretty inspiring.

I'm curious to hear what you think after watching either or both of these. I'll do a follow up post with some of my favorite juice recipes. Have you ever tried juicing, either as a supplement to your diet or a juice fast?

Should A Blog Be Personal, Informational, Or Both?

Recently I was participating in a discussion about blogging; how we present our posts as a writer, and blogs we follow. The question was raised about whether a blogger should keep the blog entirely informational, let it be a personal diary of sorts, or a combination of both. It made me think about the blogs I follow. Do I follow them for information only? Or do I enjoy reading them because the author shows a part of themselves and gives me a peek into their life? I analyzed the blogs I most look forward to reading and decided they were a combination of both.

I am NOT extremely interested in knowing what you ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day this week. But I AM interested in new recipes you tried and your opinion of them.

I DON'T care to see pictures of your pet every single day as he follows you around the house.

But I DO appreciate the occasional cute pet photo.

I DON'T want to hear you complain about every difficulty in your life.

However, I AM motivated by your positive outlook as you deal with struggles and the life lessons you learned and wisdom you can share as you overcome trials. 

I have a friend who blogs about the daily struggles and trials of a family with a special needs child. You will never hear him complain about it. This doesn’t mean that he doesn’t take the situation very seriously or that his family doesn't experience some very difficult times. He understands the blessings his family receives through this experience and he manages to find the humor in each situation. You can read his humorous and touching stories at http://jymmebe.blogspot.com/. His posts help give us a better understanding of his child and educate us on what it means to live with this condition every day as well as how to best deal with it.

I then thought about my own blog and how it has mostly been informational, and my intention with that. My intent is to motive, educate and share great information. Being a person who tends to look at the positive side of a situation, I don’t enjoy being around people who are whining and complaining. I don't think others want to hear that either and I certainly don't want to be one who brings others down. Therefore, I don’t ever want to come across as one who is complaining about my lot in life. I do however, appreciate knowing when my friends are struggling, even while they are not complaining. We learn through each other.

As I look at my blog, I can see that the posts that have gotten the most feedback, whether from comments, emails, Facebook comments, or person to person, are posts in which I have shared something of a personal nature. It seems to me that since we all struggle with many of the same issues, it can be consoling to know that we are not alone. We may also be motivated by hearing how someone overcame or is dealing with an issue that is of concern to us as well.

By the end of our conversation my friends convinced me that by showing a little more of 'me' in my posts, it would not only add interest but give credibility to the things I write about. 

Those who know me well know that I have spent a great deal of time researching health and fitness. I have experienced chemotherapy with Lupus and Breast Cancer and beat both. I have survived nearly three dozen surgeries and procedures. I have gained a great deal of weight very quickly with chemo and steroids. I have lost a great deal of weight with a personal commitment to eating less and moving more. I understand how difficult it is and I empathize with health issues and injuries getting the way.

I have had four surgeries in this past year and gained five pounds with each of them after not being allowed to exercise for weeks after surgery. I now struggle with losing that 20 pounds (again). While chemo helped preserve my life, it also helped destroy my joints. I now have osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease in both knees, hips, shoulders and my lower back. Just three months ago I had my first hip replacement...there will be more joint replacements to follow. 

This is something that I have to live with. It doesn't help me to whine or be negative about it. Please don't think I am complaining. I always joke that when you look at me I am the picture of health, but on paper I look half dead. I will not give in and give up. I will continue to fight for good health and fitness. I ask questions and learn from others who have gone before me. I hope my experiences can help someone who might travel the same road.

What motivates you to read the blogs you follow? Are you entertained or motivated? Do you think a blog should be informational, personal, or a combination of both?