With the fourth of July weekend rapidly approaching, I wanted to give you a juice recipe that you could serve at a party or barbecue which would be both festive and healthful.
In almost every magazine issued in June/July there will be a recipe for a red white and blue smoothie which involves, blueberries, strawberries and a creamy vanilla something or other. I love these smoothies too, and they make very colourful additions to any table. However, I thought something a little different might be in order.
Coupled with the fact that the farmers markets are just bursting with fresh local produce right now, this is a great excuse to get down to your local market and pick up the main ingredient for this juice - tomatoes!
It's a classic, spicy tomato juice, but believe me, when you've tasted it made with fresh tomatoes, the stuff you get in the can just won't cut it anymore!
What you should know is that the tomato is the fantastic source of lycopene which is part of the family of pigments called carotenoids. Lycopene has been shown to be incredibly useful in disease prevention and in the fight against cancer.
There's only one problem with this recipe, and that's the blue. The red comes from the tomato obviously, the white comes from the ice, so I suggest that the blue can come from the colour of the cocktail napkin that you serve it on!!
Spicy Tomato Juice
3 big ripe tomatoes
2 stalks celery
1/4 lemon (rind on)
Fennel slice
1/4 cucumber
So, put everything through the juicer and pour over ice. I add some Worcestershire Sauce and Tabasco, and of course to really spice up your party, you could add a shot of vodka - who says juicing can't be fun!!
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Juice Therapy to Ease the Pressure
Having written a few blog posts now, I wanted to go back to basics and talk about what Natural Juice Therapy really is, and how it can help some common complaints that get us down.
The basic theory is that when our bodies are lacking in some vitamin, mineral or enzyme, we become out of balance and suffer from "dis-ease" literally. This can manifest itself in all sorts of ways, perhaps with a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, maybe asthma, arthritis, stomach pains, acid reflux, high blood pressure. Sadly, the list is long.
Natural juice therapy seeks to re balance the body, by flooding our cells with the appropriate vitamins, minerals and enzymes in a form which the body can use almost instantly, without having to digest it and process it first. In this way, we hope to redress the internal balance, and give the body the tools it needs to heal itself. At times when our bodies are fighting disease, giving the digestive system a break, and allowing that energy to be used elsewhere, whilst at the same time providing total nutrition, can be just the thing a body needs to help in the process of recovery.
Of course, it's important when considering using juice in a therapeutic way, to take the advice of your health care professional. You wouldn't want to suddenly come off your high blood pressure medicine and go on a strict regime of spinach and beetroot juice! However, incorporating specific juices into your diet, in order to help with specific conditions can be incredibly effective in the search for great health and vitality.
So, this weeks juice is one which you might choose to make and enjoy if high blood pressure is indeed one of your issues.
High blood pressure can be caused by the major blood vessels leading from the heart and lungs becoming furred up and constricted. The elasticity of the arterial walls is reduced, making the vessels very stiff. This increases the internal pressure of the blood flowing through the arteries and makes the blood pressure very high. The juice below contains spinach, carrots and beetroot all of which are known to be beneficial blood cleansers, clearing the blood of impurities which might otherwise be left behind to clog up the blood vessels. Apples contain pectin which is a soluble fibre and can help refine impurities from the blood stream and also help to clean the blood. Of course you need to have a sensible diet too, it's no good downing this juice three times a day then going out, having a burger and fries and expecting to see your blood pressure come down!
Whatever you do, don't change any of your medications, but try drinking this two or three times a day, for a week or so, and see if you feel any difference? The beautiful thing about juice, is that you can't do yourself any harm at all. Only good. There aren't many things that you can do to excess with no downside now are there?! Why not give it a try?
No Pressure
Spinach (a handful)
Carrots 3, unpeeled
Apple 1, unpeeled
Beetroot 1 medium, unpeeled with leaves
Put the spinach in the blender before turning it on, pack it down into the chute, then put the apple on top, and turn on the machine. Whizz everything else through, and serve over ice.
Happy Juicing,
Jx
The basic theory is that when our bodies are lacking in some vitamin, mineral or enzyme, we become out of balance and suffer from "dis-ease" literally. This can manifest itself in all sorts of ways, perhaps with a skin condition like eczema or psoriasis, maybe asthma, arthritis, stomach pains, acid reflux, high blood pressure. Sadly, the list is long.
Natural juice therapy seeks to re balance the body, by flooding our cells with the appropriate vitamins, minerals and enzymes in a form which the body can use almost instantly, without having to digest it and process it first. In this way, we hope to redress the internal balance, and give the body the tools it needs to heal itself. At times when our bodies are fighting disease, giving the digestive system a break, and allowing that energy to be used elsewhere, whilst at the same time providing total nutrition, can be just the thing a body needs to help in the process of recovery.
Of course, it's important when considering using juice in a therapeutic way, to take the advice of your health care professional. You wouldn't want to suddenly come off your high blood pressure medicine and go on a strict regime of spinach and beetroot juice! However, incorporating specific juices into your diet, in order to help with specific conditions can be incredibly effective in the search for great health and vitality.
So, this weeks juice is one which you might choose to make and enjoy if high blood pressure is indeed one of your issues.
High blood pressure can be caused by the major blood vessels leading from the heart and lungs becoming furred up and constricted. The elasticity of the arterial walls is reduced, making the vessels very stiff. This increases the internal pressure of the blood flowing through the arteries and makes the blood pressure very high. The juice below contains spinach, carrots and beetroot all of which are known to be beneficial blood cleansers, clearing the blood of impurities which might otherwise be left behind to clog up the blood vessels. Apples contain pectin which is a soluble fibre and can help refine impurities from the blood stream and also help to clean the blood. Of course you need to have a sensible diet too, it's no good downing this juice three times a day then going out, having a burger and fries and expecting to see your blood pressure come down!
Whatever you do, don't change any of your medications, but try drinking this two or three times a day, for a week or so, and see if you feel any difference? The beautiful thing about juice, is that you can't do yourself any harm at all. Only good. There aren't many things that you can do to excess with no downside now are there?! Why not give it a try?
No Pressure
Spinach (a handful)
Carrots 3, unpeeled
Apple 1, unpeeled
Beetroot 1 medium, unpeeled with leaves
Put the spinach in the blender before turning it on, pack it down into the chute, then put the apple on top, and turn on the machine. Whizz everything else through, and serve over ice.
Happy Juicing,
Jx
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Hot, Hot Hot!!!
You know it's hot when the Jones put on their air conditioning.
It's something that I instinctively fight against. I'd love to say it's because I'm trying to help the environment by not using the electricity, or because I'm trying to save money by not turning on the air conditioning system to keep my house cool. But really, it's because I love the heat. I love that it's too hot to sleep well, that every window and door in my house is open and that it's not cold!
For so long I was bundled up in fleece and wool, praying for the day when I could leave the house without adding several layers to my already bundled up body, and finally, those days are here! Why would I want to make my house cold again???
However. Tonight, I turned on the air conditioning. It's really hot.
The schools are advising that the children will be allowed to bring extra water to school tomorrow, they won't be running around outside and parents are allowed to collect them early if they are concerned. It must be really hot.
So, this weeks juice is double winner, a delicious sparkling juice which can also be turned into a fantastically refreshing popsicle for when the kids come home from school, ready to burn off all the energy they've not been allowed to burn at school!!!
Seriously, when the weather is like this, hydration is critical. Juice can be a good way to stay hydrated and still get valuable nutrition into your system. It's also helpful for children who don't like to drink straight water, diluting juice helps them get more water into their hot little bodies in a tasty way.
Thirst Quencher
2 grapefruits
2 oranges
1 pear
1/4 pineapple
1/2 a lime
Peel the grapefruit and oranges, then whizz everything through the juicer.
To make a delcious fizzy quencher, pour juice into a glass until it's about half full, add some ice and sparkling water to the juice. To make fantastically fun popsicles, pour the non diluted juice into the popsicle molds and put in the freezer for 4 hours or so. Really yummy!
So, for those of reading this in the tri state area, keep cool out there over the next few days! For those of you reading this in less sunny climes, turn on the heating and try it anyway!!!!!
Happy Juicing,
Jx
It's something that I instinctively fight against. I'd love to say it's because I'm trying to help the environment by not using the electricity, or because I'm trying to save money by not turning on the air conditioning system to keep my house cool. But really, it's because I love the heat. I love that it's too hot to sleep well, that every window and door in my house is open and that it's not cold!
For so long I was bundled up in fleece and wool, praying for the day when I could leave the house without adding several layers to my already bundled up body, and finally, those days are here! Why would I want to make my house cold again???
However. Tonight, I turned on the air conditioning. It's really hot.
The schools are advising that the children will be allowed to bring extra water to school tomorrow, they won't be running around outside and parents are allowed to collect them early if they are concerned. It must be really hot.
So, this weeks juice is double winner, a delicious sparkling juice which can also be turned into a fantastically refreshing popsicle for when the kids come home from school, ready to burn off all the energy they've not been allowed to burn at school!!!
Seriously, when the weather is like this, hydration is critical. Juice can be a good way to stay hydrated and still get valuable nutrition into your system. It's also helpful for children who don't like to drink straight water, diluting juice helps them get more water into their hot little bodies in a tasty way.
Thirst Quencher
2 grapefruits
2 oranges
1 pear
1/4 pineapple
1/2 a lime
Peel the grapefruit and oranges, then whizz everything through the juicer.
To make a delcious fizzy quencher, pour juice into a glass until it's about half full, add some ice and sparkling water to the juice. To make fantastically fun popsicles, pour the non diluted juice into the popsicle molds and put in the freezer for 4 hours or so. Really yummy!
So, for those of reading this in the tri state area, keep cool out there over the next few days! For those of you reading this in less sunny climes, turn on the heating and try it anyway!!!!!
Happy Juicing,
Jx
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Metabolic Boost!
There's an expression that my granny used to say which was “ne’er cast a cloot, til May is oot”. She was from Edinburgh, Scotland, and roughly translated it means “ don’t put away your winter woollies until the end of May, or you’ll end up freezing cold and wet!” I would say this year, she was on the money‼
However, now that June is here, it seems we have turned a corner. The dull days do seem to be over (hope I’m not speaking too soon!) and the lazy hazy days of summer are feeling tantilizingly near. I am feeling confident enough to put away the majority of my winter woollies, and bring out the shorts and t-shirts. You’re probably doing the same. However, as we dig out the short shorts, bikinis and swim shorts, the short sleeved shirts and skimpy sundresses, it’s worth doing a bit of an assessment as to the state of the affairs in the body department. In my house at least, it seems that the extended winter months have taken their toll, and the warm comfort food, the casseroles, breads, cakes and cookies have found themselves sitting comfortably in areas where they really shouldn’t be and aren’t appreciated!
I was therefore thrilled when reading one of my juicing books, to find a recipe for a metabolism boosting juice which I am really enjoying and it is certainly getting me zinging again! That and the regular 30 minutes running with Abby the retriever, and I am soon going to be feeling ready to put my gardening shorts on in public!
Here’s the recipe, it really is delicious.
Metabolic Boost Juice
1 tomato
3 sprigs parsley
2 sticks celery
1 orange
1 spring onion
1 grapefruit
1 radish
1 medium red or green pepper
Peel the grapefruit and de-seed the pepper. Wash all ingredients, trim, chop and put through the juicer.
The pepper, tomatoes, parsley and orange are all rich in bioflavonoids to support the capillaries. The grapefruit stimulates fat metabolism and celery helps to remove excess fluid. It's a fat melting, metabolism boosting glory in a glass!
Happy Juicing
Jx
However, now that June is here, it seems we have turned a corner. The dull days do seem to be over (hope I’m not speaking too soon!) and the lazy hazy days of summer are feeling tantilizingly near. I am feeling confident enough to put away the majority of my winter woollies, and bring out the shorts and t-shirts. You’re probably doing the same. However, as we dig out the short shorts, bikinis and swim shorts, the short sleeved shirts and skimpy sundresses, it’s worth doing a bit of an assessment as to the state of the affairs in the body department. In my house at least, it seems that the extended winter months have taken their toll, and the warm comfort food, the casseroles, breads, cakes and cookies have found themselves sitting comfortably in areas where they really shouldn’t be and aren’t appreciated!
I was therefore thrilled when reading one of my juicing books, to find a recipe for a metabolism boosting juice which I am really enjoying and it is certainly getting me zinging again! That and the regular 30 minutes running with Abby the retriever, and I am soon going to be feeling ready to put my gardening shorts on in public!
Here’s the recipe, it really is delicious.
Metabolic Boost Juice
1 tomato
3 sprigs parsley
2 sticks celery
1 orange
1 spring onion
1 grapefruit
1 radish
1 medium red or green pepper
Peel the grapefruit and de-seed the pepper. Wash all ingredients, trim, chop and put through the juicer.
The pepper, tomatoes, parsley and orange are all rich in bioflavonoids to support the capillaries. The grapefruit stimulates fat metabolism and celery helps to remove excess fluid. It's a fat melting, metabolism boosting glory in a glass!
Happy Juicing
Jx
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Exercise is just like brushing your teeth!
So far in this blog I have focused on the benefits of vegetable and fruit juicing. But I did promise to talk about fitness too. I am a qualified American College of Sports Medicine personal trainer and enjoy a full range of fitness activities.
One of the things I have learned over the last few years, is that you can't keep in shape without exercising to keep in shape! It sounds obvious, but so many of us optimistically hope that we'll be able to continue to eat and drink as we like without any consequence to our waistline, or our feeling of well being.
Exercise is like brushing your teeth - you can't maintain cavity free teeth and a healthy mouth, without brushing twice a day. We don't question it, we just do it, it's part of the job when looking to maintain a healthy body, and we encourage our children to do it too. Exercise needs to take the same priority in our daily lives. You won't be able to keep your body in good shape and your heart healthy without flexing those muscles and increasing your heart rate every day. Just as you wouldn't dream of going out of the house before giving your "pearly whites" a good scrub, you need to feel the same about giving your heart a good workout every single day. We need to educate our children too, that exercise must become part of their daily routine.
Many people in this community are very physically active, enjoying triathlons, biking, running, walking, soccer etc. You only have to walk down Wyoming Avenue on a Saturday or Sunday morning to see people getting out there and getting on with it. Now, some of these people will be exercising because they just love to get out there and run, bike, or walk. Perhaps others will be pounding the pavement because maybe they have got the message. The message that exercise is a necessary part of everyday body health care - it's not a choice if you want to stay healthy and active as the years go by.
I believe the solution to everyday exercise is to find something that you are able to fit into your daily routine and then just accept the fact that it needs to be done every day, no debate, no questions. Maybe you can combine it with something else, another job that needs doing, so that you can multi task to get both things done - walking the kids to school and then taking the long way home perhaps, walking to the store to get the groceries and then carrying the bags home, cycling to the next town to meet friends instead of driving, cycling with the kids to soccer practise instead of driving.
Recently I have started running with my golden retriever Abby. My dog needs at least 30 minutes exercise every day, and so do I. By putting the two together, I am able to combine two things which I need to do every day, and we are both loving it!
So, this weeks juice recipe is a reward for those of you who are inspired to take up the challenge of 30 minutes exercise every day. Try it for a week. It's said that it takes seven days to establish a new habit. Make this the week that you try to make exercising a great new habit. When you come home, this great post-workout juice will give you a good energy boost to get you through the day.
Post Workout Treat
6 carrots
1 apple
1 stick celery
1" piece ginger
1/4 pineapple
1/2 a lime with peel on
Simply push all the ingredients through the juicer and enjoy!
Happy Juicing, and Happy Exercising!!!!!
Jx
One of the things I have learned over the last few years, is that you can't keep in shape without exercising to keep in shape! It sounds obvious, but so many of us optimistically hope that we'll be able to continue to eat and drink as we like without any consequence to our waistline, or our feeling of well being.
Exercise is like brushing your teeth - you can't maintain cavity free teeth and a healthy mouth, without brushing twice a day. We don't question it, we just do it, it's part of the job when looking to maintain a healthy body, and we encourage our children to do it too. Exercise needs to take the same priority in our daily lives. You won't be able to keep your body in good shape and your heart healthy without flexing those muscles and increasing your heart rate every day. Just as you wouldn't dream of going out of the house before giving your "pearly whites" a good scrub, you need to feel the same about giving your heart a good workout every single day. We need to educate our children too, that exercise must become part of their daily routine.
Many people in this community are very physically active, enjoying triathlons, biking, running, walking, soccer etc. You only have to walk down Wyoming Avenue on a Saturday or Sunday morning to see people getting out there and getting on with it. Now, some of these people will be exercising because they just love to get out there and run, bike, or walk. Perhaps others will be pounding the pavement because maybe they have got the message. The message that exercise is a necessary part of everyday body health care - it's not a choice if you want to stay healthy and active as the years go by.
I believe the solution to everyday exercise is to find something that you are able to fit into your daily routine and then just accept the fact that it needs to be done every day, no debate, no questions. Maybe you can combine it with something else, another job that needs doing, so that you can multi task to get both things done - walking the kids to school and then taking the long way home perhaps, walking to the store to get the groceries and then carrying the bags home, cycling to the next town to meet friends instead of driving, cycling with the kids to soccer practise instead of driving.
Recently I have started running with my golden retriever Abby. My dog needs at least 30 minutes exercise every day, and so do I. By putting the two together, I am able to combine two things which I need to do every day, and we are both loving it!
So, this weeks juice recipe is a reward for those of you who are inspired to take up the challenge of 30 minutes exercise every day. Try it for a week. It's said that it takes seven days to establish a new habit. Make this the week that you try to make exercising a great new habit. When you come home, this great post-workout juice will give you a good energy boost to get you through the day.
Post Workout Treat
6 carrots
1 apple
1 stick celery
1" piece ginger
1/4 pineapple
1/2 a lime with peel on
Simply push all the ingredients through the juicer and enjoy!
Happy Juicing, and Happy Exercising!!!!!
Jx
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
A Glass of Salad Anyone?
This week, I was out for dinner with the family, enjoying a delicious meal. I ordered a beet and orange salad as an appetizer and was not disappointed in the result. The way the taste of the earthy beetroot was offset by the sweetness of the orange was delicious. I suddenly thought what a great juice this would make, and how good for you it would be!
Beetroots are one of nature's finest blood builders and cleansers, so can be very useful in the treatment of high blood pressure, and also anaemia. Although they are a vegetable, they have a surprisingly sweet taste, so work well in a number of different vegetable juices.
As with the salad, the addition of the orange juice cuts through the earthiness of the beet flavour, making it much more palatable.
The grated carrots on the top of the salad gave me the idea of incorporating the great beta-carotene king carrot into the juice too.
Now of course the real benefit comes in turning these great flavours into a juice, because your juicing machine has already done the digestive work for you, so that your body can access the vitamins and minerals much more quickly and efficiently. you get all the flavour and benefits without the work!
I highly recommend giving this recipe a try - it really is delicious, and your blood cells will thank you for it!
Beautiful Beet
1 beetroot (washed but not peeled)
3 oranges (peeled)
6 carrots (washed but not peeled)
Put everything through your juicer. You'll end up with a gorgeous rich pink/purple juice which is sweet and creamy. Enjoy!
Happy Juicing,
Jx
Beetroots are one of nature's finest blood builders and cleansers, so can be very useful in the treatment of high blood pressure, and also anaemia. Although they are a vegetable, they have a surprisingly sweet taste, so work well in a number of different vegetable juices.
As with the salad, the addition of the orange juice cuts through the earthiness of the beet flavour, making it much more palatable.
The grated carrots on the top of the salad gave me the idea of incorporating the great beta-carotene king carrot into the juice too.
Now of course the real benefit comes in turning these great flavours into a juice, because your juicing machine has already done the digestive work for you, so that your body can access the vitamins and minerals much more quickly and efficiently. you get all the flavour and benefits without the work!
I highly recommend giving this recipe a try - it really is delicious, and your blood cells will thank you for it!
Beautiful Beet
1 beetroot (washed but not peeled)
3 oranges (peeled)
6 carrots (washed but not peeled)
Put everything through your juicer. You'll end up with a gorgeous rich pink/purple juice which is sweet and creamy. Enjoy!
Happy Juicing,
Jx
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Good Housekeeping
This week I'm preparing to welcome my parents who will be visiting with us from Dinnet in Scotland, UK. I'm so excited to have them come, I get butterflies in my tummy when I think about it. My Mum was the one who first got me into juicing, when, many years ago, she embarked on a programme by UK juicing guru Jason Vale. Inspired by her success with weight loss, glowing skin and improved overall health, I too bought a juicer and followed in her footsteps.
However, as I scurry around my house, trying to make sure that all the dust bunnies are swept away, that the windows are sparkling and the floors shining, I find myself drawing one or two analogies about both my "housekeeping" and my "bodykeeping" if you will.
Our bodies are like our houses. They are where we live. They need regular care and maintenance to make sure they don't fall down, or develop dry rot. They need decorating (at least that's what I call those trips to the Mall!) and exercising to make sure they look nice, inside and out. Our homes like our bodies should be a source of pride to us, a place where we feel comfortable and safe, but they do require looking after.
So, it occurred to me that my big Spring Clean in preparation for my parent's visit, is like a "Juice Fest" or "Detox". Where I give my body a chance to clear out all the rubbish that has been gathering over the last few months. I give my digestive system a break, and allow the extra energy to be used on other body systems, making sure that all the cells in my body have everything they need to function better. So in the same way as my vacuum cleaner sucks up all the dust bunnies from under the beds, so, my liver helps to suck up and eliminate all the toxins that have been lurking in my body!
With that in mind, I offer you my Spring Clean Juice. If you have one of these tasty juices every day for a week, as well as plenty of water, and some moderate exercise, you'll be well on the way to a "cleaner house" for you to live in!
Remember, if you don't look after your body, you'll have nowhere to live!
Spring Clean Juice
3 carrots
1 beetroot
1/2 red pepper (deseeded)
1 handful parsley
1 handful spinach
Put everything through the juicer, packing down the greenery first before you turn the juicer on. This juice is super rich in vitamins A, C and E. Rich in folic acid and potassium it also contains useful amounts of some B vitamins.
Happy Juicing
Jx
However, as I scurry around my house, trying to make sure that all the dust bunnies are swept away, that the windows are sparkling and the floors shining, I find myself drawing one or two analogies about both my "housekeeping" and my "bodykeeping" if you will.
Our bodies are like our houses. They are where we live. They need regular care and maintenance to make sure they don't fall down, or develop dry rot. They need decorating (at least that's what I call those trips to the Mall!) and exercising to make sure they look nice, inside and out. Our homes like our bodies should be a source of pride to us, a place where we feel comfortable and safe, but they do require looking after.
So, it occurred to me that my big Spring Clean in preparation for my parent's visit, is like a "Juice Fest" or "Detox". Where I give my body a chance to clear out all the rubbish that has been gathering over the last few months. I give my digestive system a break, and allow the extra energy to be used on other body systems, making sure that all the cells in my body have everything they need to function better. So in the same way as my vacuum cleaner sucks up all the dust bunnies from under the beds, so, my liver helps to suck up and eliminate all the toxins that have been lurking in my body!
With that in mind, I offer you my Spring Clean Juice. If you have one of these tasty juices every day for a week, as well as plenty of water, and some moderate exercise, you'll be well on the way to a "cleaner house" for you to live in!
Remember, if you don't look after your body, you'll have nowhere to live!
Spring Clean Juice
3 carrots
1 beetroot
1/2 red pepper (deseeded)
1 handful parsley
1 handful spinach
Put everything through the juicer, packing down the greenery first before you turn the juicer on. This juice is super rich in vitamins A, C and E. Rich in folic acid and potassium it also contains useful amounts of some B vitamins.
Happy Juicing
Jx
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