Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Another Gorgeous Juice

I guess I just can't help myself.  I love pretty juices!  Here's another beauty.



This juice is supposed to be good for asthma and it consists of carrots, celery and grapefruit juice.  I just love the way it separates.  Even after shaking up the jar and drinking some juice, it reverts back to this lovely sight after about 10 minutes.  Simply gorgeous rawesomeness!

Sorry about the crumbs under the dehydrator.  I made this pretty amazing Sprouted Chickpea Bread the same day I was drinking this juice and didn't realize I'd captured the crumbs in my photo until much later ... after the juice - and the crumbs - were gone.  Oh well.  Life goes on. =)

To life!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Nature's Flu Shot

Someone sent me a recipe to "Natures Flu Shot" and just a couple of days after receiving said recipe, I had the opportunity to test it out. Fortunately, I did NOT get the flu, but I did get a healthy dose of pharyngitis/bronchitis/sinusitis ... on top of my asthma!

I didn't have enough lemons to mix up a full batch, so I made half a batch. Folks, let me tell you, this stuff really works!! And it's quite tasty too ... well, at least for the first few seconds, and then the afterburner affect of the cayenne, garlic and ginger kicks in! YOWZA!! I really should divulge here that I am NOT a "spice girl" but lean more towards being a "sugar baby." I can barely handle black pepper, much less cayenne! lol. So, if you like spice, then you'll probably love this tonic. Actually, after the first few sips, the "heat" didn't bother me anymore. YAY!

Here is the recipe:

Juice of 6 fresh lemons, preferably organic
1 "bulb" of garlic (Yep, a full bulb - the whole shebang - not a "clove")
2 tsp of ginger powder, preferably organic
2 TBSP raw local honey
3 cups of fresh pineapple juice*
1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper

Blend all ingredients thoroughly and store in a glass jar.  
Drink 1 cup, 4 times a day until symptoms are resolved.

* * *
I didn't keep drinking the juice until symptoms were "resolved" because, as mentioned, I didn't have enough ingredients; however, I did notice a significant difference in chest congestion, coughing and stuffiness every time I drank a cup of juice.

*I buy pineapples already cored.  For this recipe, I just cut the cored pineapple into spears and ran them through the juicer.  I then saved the pineapple pulp (which came out more like soft serve ice cream) and used it in smoothies.  =)  Just make sure when you juice the pineapples, that the juicer is clean so your pineapple pulp is pure and not mixed with other produce.

Even though there's a full bulb of garlic in this photo, I only used half since I halved the recipe.

I hope you won't need this, but if you do get the flu, this tonic is, by far, a much better and healthier alternative to a toxic flu shot.  Here are a few of the health benefits of the ingredients in the Natural Flu Shot tonic:

GARLIC is renowned as a natural antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral ... and with NO side effects!  Well, except for smelling like garlic!

On Dr. Mercola's site, he quotes John Summerly:

Forget the flu shot. A soup based on more than 50 cloves of garlic, onions, thyme and lemon will destroy almost any virus that enters its path including colds, flu and even norovirus.”

LEMON has strong antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-boosting powers. In addition, it is a liver cleanser and aids digestion. Lemons contain many vitamins and nutrients that fight infections by enhancing immunities -- notably citric acid, Vitamin C, bioflavonoids, calcium, magnesium, pectin, and limonene.

PINEAPPLE is extremely nutritious and is loaded with many essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes.  One enzyme, Bromelain, has anti-inflammatory, anti-clotting and anti-cancer properties, and is effective in breaking up mucus and suppressing coughs.  Pineapple is also rich in vitamin C that can ward off viruses that cause colds and cough, plus it can accelerate healing.  Besides Vitamins C, pineapple also contains Thiamine, Manganese, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium and proteins.  Oh, and Vitamin B6 which helps to promote a healthy immune system!

GINGER has anti-inflammatory properties and has long been used as a natural treatment for colds and the flu.  If you've ever had "Ginger Ale" you know ginger eases the symptoms of stomach flus and food poisoning.

RAW HONEY is just loaded with benefits!  For one thing, it's a fabulous antiseptic that promotes healing and fights infection.  It is also an anti-bacterial and anti-viral that contains enzymes and antioxidants proven to fight bacterial and viral infections, like sore throats, coughs, colds, bronchitis, flu ... you know, all the stuff that the "flu shot" is supposed to (ahem) treat.  If you take RAW HONEY every day, the antioxidants and phytonutrients that it contains enhances the immune system.  

***NOTE OF CAUTION: It is crucial that you buy raw, local honey.  According to Food Safety News, more than three-fourths of the processed honey sold in U.S. grocery stores isn't even honey!  The bee pollen has been deliberately filtered out.  Bee pollen is what makes honey, honey!  When the pollen is not present, there is no way to verify its origin, which typically means it is fake honey from China.  Honey that comes from China is contaminated with chloramphenicol and other illegal animal antibiotics which are dangerous, even fatal, to a very small percentage of the population.  So buyer BEWARE!!

CAYENNE PEPPER, according to Eat This! is one of nature's most healing and therapeutic foods.  It is a powerful anti-inflammatory that stimulates circulation and neutralizes acidity.  It also has the ability to ease stomach upset, sore throats, as well as spasmodic and irritating coughs.  Since it helps to break up and move congested mucus out of the body, relief of flu symptoms usually follows shortly afterwards.

So there you have it - a natural alternative to the flu shot that TASTES GOOD, is HIGHLY BENEFICIAL, and has NO SIDE-EFFECTS!  Hmmmm... seems like a no-brainer to me! 

Stay healthy and be wise. 

Monday, February 4, 2013

"Freebasing Mother Nature!"

The juice fast ended on January 28th; however, I did not achieve the desired health results that I was expecting.  Apparently my immune system is really out of whack (consequences of cheating on my diet) so the healing process is going to take longer than I'd hoped. I have decided to continue juicing, but since I'm down to 114 pounds, I am allowing myself to indulge on eggs in the morning for breakfast (omelet or scrambled veggie mash), hoping that I do not lose any more weight.  Besides, I love me some fresh, organic, free-range eggs and it was tough going three weeks without.

Aren't they just eggceptional! 

And here are they lovely ladies who delivered them!
Thank you my chickadees!

Okay, so getting back on topic ... I watched an awesome documentary titled Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead created by Joe Cross, an Aussie who was fat, sick and nearly dead! It was very inspiring, and the motivating force behind my decision to pursue another 3-4 weeks.

Joe Cross not only made the movie about his transformation through juicing, but he also has a website - Reboot With Joe - that has tons of awesome recipes. God bless him!! I love trying new recipes!

I highly recommend watching the documentary.  It's funny, interesting, educational and motivating!   As a matter of fact, it was Joe Cross who made the comment in his film that juicing is like "freebasing Mother Nature!"  HA HA HA HA!!  That phrase SO cracked me up.  There are a lot of humorous moments in the film.  Watch it!  You won't be sorry.  It may change your life!  =D

Speaking of juicing, check out this photo of pure rawesomeness!

Isn't that just too cool!?  If I remember correctly, this was spinach and pineapple juice. I love the way it splits into three shades of green. Even after blending it up by shaking, after letting it sit about 20 minutes, it reverts back to the three shades. Such fun and oh so delicious ... and healthy!  I especially love when people say, "WHAT are you drinking?!"  My response is usually, "Pond scum."  LOL!!!