Articles in the Juice Fasting Cleanse Category
Last night, I slept really, really well. That’s one of the awesome things about juice fasts–the restful nights are superb! 
And I woke up this morning feeling refreshed. I LOVE that feeling!!
Breakfast
Of course, I had my lemon water first. Then I listened to my body–it was craving apple juice! So, I got out 3 big apples and juiced ‘em up. They made 20 ounces of juice and I diluted it 50% (you don’t have to) and shared 3 glasses with family and had one myself (in my Amazing Grass shaker cup!!)
Juicing Apples for Breakfast!
Raw Apple Juice
Turkeys are Pigs!
(I gave the apple pulp to some of the critters–they LOVE it!! They’re thrilled that I’m juice fasting! )
Snack
For a “snack”, I had a big glass of water with a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar while I rode to town with my Mom. We ran some errands and decided to make time to follow a “Fresh Produce” sign we’ve been seeing. (We do have a huge garden but some of our stuff had to be re-planted because of all the rain we’ve had here.) So, anyway, we followed the sign and discovered it was Amish farmers selling the produce. Eeeek! Here’s what I got to juice….
Amish Cabbage & Beets!
(Dirt and all! LOL)
Mom also got Dad some apple butter and some little new potatoes (no pic, sorry!)
Also, the Amish don’t believe in photos. It’s against their religion to “capture images”. They believe it captures their soul. So, I can’t disrespect them and take photos. The produce stand was so neat, though. It was inside one of their buildings and there was long wooden tables with the produce on it. There was also big baskets sitting on the floor. And, my goodness, there was soooooooooooooo many potatoes in bins!!!
Lunch
I’m trying to mix things up. (One thing I keep forgetting to mention is that when you’re juice fasting, it’s important to not drink the same juice day in and day out. Our bodies need a variety of nutrients and by switching up the fruits and veggies I’m juicing and also the combos, I have a better chance of supplying my body’s nutritional needs.)
So for lunch, I listened to my body again and this is what it told me:
Lotsa Lunch!
1 green apple
heaping handful of baby spinach leaves
4 strawberries
1 carrot
1 (Amish) beet
few sprigs of parsley
The Lunch Juice
(Isn’t that juice gorgeous???!!!)
Yum-O!
(Oh my goodness!! This juice was soooooooooo DEEEEEEEELICIOUS!!!)
My lunch juice made 16 ounces and I decided not to dilute it this time–and it was all for ME!! It tasted soooooooo refreshing and sweet and just made me feel ALIVE!!! 
Snack
Today’s afternoon snack was my daily shot of E3 Live and a tall glass of herbal tea with a slice of lemon!
I also had more water with organic apple cider vinegar .
Dinner
I had another glass of iced herbal tea with lemon and about 6 ounces of green juice (from one of my frozen batches). That was the last of that green juice, I believe.
The past few days have been gardening days. Lots going on! We’re having to re-plant some stuff that didn’t make it through all the rain and storms we’ve had and we’re also trying to keep what is growing alive and weed-free–without chemicals! That is no easy task, let me tell you! Organic gardening is exhausting!!!
I paced myself, took breaks whenever I needed them–both to cool off and also to keep hydrated and drink raw juice and herbal iced tea, and lotsa water. I managed to maintain my energy and the only thing that really slowed me down was back pain (which I have suffered from for years due to domestic violence injuries).
That’s it for day 9. It was another great day!!
Just tuning in? Catch up:
Day 1 of a 30-Day Juice Fast and Juicer Mishaps
Day 2 of a 30-Day Juice Fast–and AMAZING GRASS!!
Day 4 + Wheat Grass Galore + a Juicer!!
Day 8, Let’s Talk About Weight!
Until tomorrow… happy juicing!
Contest Alert!
- Erica over at I Run Because I Can is having a super fantabulous contest for peanut AND almond butter PLUS other yummy stuff!! Check it out!
- Kristin from Iowa Girl Eats is hosting a super duper cool contest for Real Simple magazine and RAWsome Pure Bars!! Hurry and enter!!
- Don’t forget about the Living Tree Community contest! (You’ll win a 16 ounce jar of Coconut Mango Persimmon Butter AND an 8 ounce jar of Raw Almond Butter–both organic!!)
Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies
- 2 books by Nomi Shannon, The Raw Gourmet (These two books have GORGEOUS photos and the recipes are amazing!
- 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
- Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
- Living Tree Community (Raw almond butter and organic coconut mango persimmon butter!)
- Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
- E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
- and MORE!
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life. 
Note about yesterday evening: I was hit with tiredness out of the blue!! I was having a great day, feeling energetic, alert, etc., and then it just hit. That happens to me sometimes during these longer juice fasts. That’s my body telling me it’s just needing me to slow down a little and allow it to rest. I even took a 10 minute power nap! I ended up going to sleep earlier than usual but I didn’t sleep that well. That happens sometimes too but it’s the first really restless night I’ve had on this 30-day juice fast. Also, I ended up having TWO brown juices for my dinner juice(s) last night–they’re truly pick-me-ups (and I needed that)!
Today’s Details
I was surprised after not sleeping well that I’ve felt okay today–not fantabulous, not super energetic, but an “okay” I can be happy with. I haven’t taken photos of my juices today because I’ve had errands to run and have been gone for part of the day. But I do have photos for you!!
Oh, and I haven’t felt hungry today either. The digestive system is getting some Zs!
Breakfast
My day started out the same as always: With a cup of hot lemon water. After that, I had a glass of cucumber juice. It’s so refreshing, I knew that’s what I wanted for breakfast today!
I put some more cucumber juice in my E3 Live cup to take with me and also grabbed a container of water with one tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar so I wouldn’t be thirsty or get tired while I was running errands.
Lunch
For lunch, I had about 16 ounces of my brown juice (if you’re just tuning in, it’s only brown because of the beets mixing with the greens).
Snack
For a snack, I had my tablespoon of E3 Live and also a glass of herbal tea with lemon. Yum-O!
Dinner
For dinner, I’ll probably have a green juice.
As always, rest assured I’ll have had plenty of good old water and herbal tea before day 8 ends!
Reader’s Question
I receive this question from readers a lot: Will juice fasting help me lose weight? I addressed this question with an article at Raw People: Juice Fasting for Weight Loss. But I’ll discuss it here, too. I have lost weight during various juice fasts I’ve done–anywhere from 20 pounds up to 30-ish. I’m not following my weight on this juice fast because it isn’t about weight loss for me, it’s about cleaning my body and getting back on track after falling off the 100% raw food wagon. I confessed to the cooked foods I ate: Confessions of My Not-So-Raw Moments. The foods I ate weren’t all that bad and it was during an extremely high-stress situation (losing 3 young family members and almost losing my Dad). So, I have forgiven myself and moved on. I am 100% raw right now because of the juice fast, but before I started this juice fast, I was only 90%+ raw and although that is still excellent and I should be proud of myself (and I am), it isn’t the 100% raw status I was striving to maintain.
So, this juice fasting journey isn’t about losing weight for me (although I won’t be upset if it happens!), it’s about enjoying the serenity of the fast and being in tune to myself spiritually, emotionally, and mentally.
The answer to the question: Yes, many people do lose weight while juice fasting. Like I stressed in my article for Raw People, though, losing weight isn’t at all what juice fasting is about. If you’re heavier (200 lbs and up) you may lose 30 pounds or more during a 30-day juice fast. That’s from my own research. You may even lose around that much if you’re a little under 200. And some people have lost 50 or more pounds during a 30-day juice fast. It all depends on your body, that you’re not limiting your juice intake, that it’s 100% raw juices you’re drinking–and not storebought, etc.
But if you lose weight on a juice fast and don’t transition from the fasting mode correctly and just go back to eating junk, then you’ll gain all of that weight back!! Sorry, but it’s true. 
You have to target the root of why you’ve gained weight before you can successfully keep it off.
As you’ll see in the photos before, I’ve lost a significant amount of weight. I didn’t start juice fasting until I’d already lost around 50 pounds or so, but raw juices and juice fasting have been a huge part of not only my weight loss, but my maintenance.
Before & After
More before and after photos are available on my Before & After page.
Just tuning in? Catch up:
Day 1 of a 30-Day Juice Fast and Juicer Mishaps
Day 2 of a 30-Day Juice Fast–and AMAZING GRASS!!
Day 4 + Wheat Grass Galore + a Juicer!!
Until tomorrow… happy juicing!
Contest Alert!
Don’t forget about the Living Tree Community contest! (You’ll win a 16 ounce jar of Coconut Mango Persimmon Butter AND an 8 ounce jar of Raw Almond Butter–both organic!!)
Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies
- 2 books by Nomi Shannon, The Raw Gourmet (These two books have GORGEOUS photos and the recipes are amazing!
- 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
- Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
- Living Tree Community (Raw almond butter and organic coconut mango persimmon butter!)
- Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
- E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
- and MORE!
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
Day 7 has been another fantabulous day of this 30-day juice fasting journey. How awesome is that?! It’s evidence to me that I was absolutely right about hearing the call–I’m just so glad I took action and start this juice fast right away!
I have felt energetic, focused, and positive. Can’t ask for more than that!
Breakfast
Once again, warm lemon water started my day off in a soothing way! I then had a glass of water with organic apple cider vinegar
The kind folks at Navitas Naturals have graciously sent me this bag to sample. (A review–and CONTEST–for this rawsome product is coming in the near future!! Yay!!!)
Ch-ch-ch-ch Chia!
Going In
All Shook Up!
Lunch
I was sooooooooo excited yesterday when my neighbor gave me some cucumbers to juice (from his garden). Eeeek!! Mine aren’t ready yet so I was super happy!
My Mom sliced one and shared it with the family.
Cucumbers, dirt and all!
So I ended up with SEVEN for juicing–and this is day SEVEN of the juice fast!! Isn’t that crazy??!! Juicing seven cucumbers on day seven? LOL
I didn’t take photos of the juicing process this time. But I ended up with 40 ounces of juice, which I diluted 50% with water (I normally dilute juices while I’m on longer juice fasts–it seems like it’s easier on my system) and that made 80 ounces of cucumber juice. I drank some right away (in my Amazing Grass cup!) and shared 3 glasses with family and the rest went into the fridge for today and tomorrow.
Cool as a cucumber!
This cucumber juice was soooooooooooooo refreshing on a hot summer day!! LOVED it! (Thank you, neighbor!!!)
I also had my daily shot (aka tablespoon) of E3 Live.
Dinner
(I’m publishing this post early today.)
For dinner, I think I’ll have one of my brown juices (if you’re just tuning in, it’s only brown because of the beets mixing with the greens). You can rest assured I’ve also got in plenty of water and also had some herbal tea.
That’s it for day 7!
Just tuning in? Catch up:
Day 1 of a 30-Day Juice Fast and Juicer Mishaps
Day 2 of a 30-Day Juice Fast–and AMAZING GRASS!!
Day 4 + Wheat Grass Galore + a Juicer!!
Until tomorrow… happy juicing!
Contest Alert!
Don’t forget about the Living Tree Community contest! (You’ll win a 16 ounce jar of Coconut Mango Persimmon Butter AND an 8 ounce jar of Raw Almond Butter–both organic!!)
Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies
- 2 books by Nomi Shannon, The Raw Gourmet (These two books have GORGEOUS photos and the recipes are amazing!
- 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
- Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
- Living Tree Community (Raw almond butter and organic coconut mango persimmon butter!)
- Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
- E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
- and MORE!
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
Happy Father’s Day!
First, I want to say I’m so thankful for a great Dad!! And I’d like to wish all those great dad’s out there a very blessed, safe, and HAPPY Father’s Day!! Also, if you’re a single Mom, today’s your day too–kudos to you for being both parents!!!
And… for those of you who don’t have a Dad today, my heart aches for you, you’re in my heart and prayers!!
Details
Day 6 of this 30-day juice fast has been another fantabulous day! I’m sooooooooo excited. I love days like this when everything seems so “right”, mind, body, and soul: I’ve felt energetic, am not hungry at all, and I’ve felt so much mental clarity/sharpness today!!
Breakfast/Snack
Again, I started my day off with lemon water (recipe here) and then reached for a carrot-spinach-sprout juice. I was still craving more juice (and feeling just a tad bit tired) so I had some of the “brown” juice–which is only brown due to the beets mixing with the greens.
I then had water with organic apple cider vinegar. A little later, I had a glass of herbal tea with lemon.
Almost forgot! I had my daily tablespoon of E3 Live (straight up).
Juice Fasting on a Holiday
This is where sacrifice comes in. It isn’t always easy to fast or juice fast right on through holidays or special occasions. July 4th is also coming up–I know I’ll be juice fasting through that event as well. So, while my family enjoyed this…
Father’s Day Meal
(Salmon cake, cooked (mixed) greens, corn on the cob with sea salt)
(The greens: turnip greens, heirloom rainbow chard, heirloom beet greens)
Dessert
(Mandarin orange cake with crushed pineapple frosting)
My Lunch
(Of course, I’ve had the above meal–and dessert– before, so I know how delicious it is. I kept to my juice fasting regimen and enjoyed a green juice with Amazing Grass Wheat Grass.)
Yum-O!
Amazing Grass
Let me just say, I know why the company named themselves: Amazing Grass–this Wheat Grass of theirs is truly AMAZING! I loooooooooooove how it makes me feel. I definitely (highly!) recommend it. I love the packets because you could carry them in your purse (or pocket for those who don’t carry purses, and for the guys) and pop it in water, a smoothie, or juice wherever you are.
Snack
No snack juice today–the Wheat Grass packet in my green juice is really keeping me happy. I’ve had more herbal tea and water (of course).
Dinner
For dinner, I’m planning either a brown or a green juice. Haven’t decided yet. I love them both! Decisions, decisions. I’ll update when I decide.
Is it the Juice Fast???
So far today, TWO people have told me I look SIXTEEN! Is it the juice fast?
Just tuning in? Catch up:
Day 1 of a 30-Day Juice Fast and Juicer Mishaps
Day 2 of a 30-Day Juice Fast–and AMAZING GRASS!!
Day 4 + Wheat Grass Galore + a Juicer!!
Until tomorrow… happy juicing!
Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies
- 2 books by Nomi Shannon, The Raw Gourmet (These two books have GORGEOUS photos and the recipes are amazing!
- 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
- Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
- Living Tree Community (Raw almond butter and organic coconut mango persimmon butter!)
- Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
- E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
- and MORE!
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
Day 5 has been fantabulous! I’ve felt energetic, happy, and very much at peace. No headaches, no emotional detox symptoms–just a smooth sailing day. Yay!
I’m afraid it’s been such a wonderful day that I forgot to take any photos! I’ve just been “in the moment” today and didn’t even think about my camera!
Why the title?
Some of you have questioned my decision to freeze my juices. I have never done this before. I mentioned in day one’s post that freezing the juices is a first for me. I am the #1 fan of drinking raw juices the instant they splash out of the juicer. Why? I believe (as do so many others) that the most of the juices’ nutrients are the strongest, most alive, and most beneficial as soon as they’re juiced–not a few days after.
So, are my juices beneficial to me during this 30-day juice fast–even though most of them are being frozen and not consumed right away? At this point, the way my body is reacting… I’d say absolutely! No, the juices may not be 100% alive. They may have lost a little nutrient value, but they haven’t lost enough that I can’t feel their health benefits. Today proved that for me. Each juice I drank rushed through my body and I felt rejuvenated with each sip. I know my frozen juices (and the ones in my fridge) are beneficial to my body.
It seems a lot of folks are torn on this one. Some say it’s okay to freeze it; others say it’s a no-no; others say don’t even store it in the fridge. What’s a Raw Juice Girl to do?! Keep on keepin’ on, that’s what. In other circumstances, I’d drag out the juicer and each juice I consumed would be freshly juiced, drank right away. But I’m not in those circumstances, and this is what’s working for me.
And I keep forgetting to mention: I’ve juice fasted for years–anywhere from 1 day to 52 days. I’ve been on 30-day juice fasts before so this isn’t new to me. The only thing different this time is that I a)am freezing juices and b)am sharing it with the world.
Breakfast
Today started out with lemon water, like always. Half an hour later or so (I’m going to explain this in an upcoming post), I had 12 ounces of delicious apple juice. It was a very nice breakfast!
Snack
After my morning juice, I had a glass of water with organic apple cider vinegar. (I drink this every day whether I’m eating or on a juice fast–I have for years.) I also had a tablespoon of E3 Live (straight up).
Lunch
For lunch, I enjoyed 12 ounces of the carrot-spinach-sprout juice. After that, I had a glass of herbal tea with lemon.
Snack
I had a brown juice. (Yes, a brown juice! In case you missed it in the previous post, it’s because the beets and greens mixed to create a mucky brown-colored juice. Still tasty, though!)
I planted some heirloom spinach and although I didn’t feel weak or weird or anything, I craved another juice! I was in the hot sun so I decided I deserved it. I treated myself to another carrot-spinach-sprout juice. I also had 2 glasses of herbal tea with lemon and water, of course. What? It was hot out there!
This photo wasn’t taken today (and only a portion of the garden is visible–so now you know why I didn’t take photos of my juices today!).
Yesterday in the garden.
We’ve had so much rain here, some of our seeds were washed away twice!
Dinner
I ended my day with another brown juice and more water. I really feel the nutrients racing through my veins. This juice was a great way to end a fantabulous day!
Just tuning in? Catch up:
Day 1 of a 30-Day Juice Fast and Juicer Mishaps
Day 2 of a 30-Day Juice Fast–and AMAZING GRASS!!
Day 4 + Wheat Grass Galore + a Juicer!!
Until tomorrow… happy juicing!
Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies
- 2 books by Nomi Shannon, The Raw Gourmet (These two books have GORGEOUS photos and the recipes are amazing!
- 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
- Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
- Living Tree Community (Raw almond butter and organic coconut mango persimmon butter!)
- Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
- E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
- and MORE!
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
Day 4 of this 3o-day juice fast has been crazy! I definitely feel the detox–big time. I’ve had a major headache most of today, have felt very emotional, and have really felt tired. That’s all normal for me. Emotional days slip up here and there while juice fasting (for some people) because of the body detoxing.
There is good news, though, so keep reading!
Breakfast
I had my usual cup of hot lemon water. About half an hour or so later, I decided to have a green juice–with a packet of Amazing Grass Wheat Grass powder.
Amazing/Wheat Grass Juice
In goes the packet
All shook up!
Lovin’ my shaker cup!
I’ll be honest, I totally expected the wheat grass powder to knock my socks off. In other words, I prepared to pucker! LOL But, that didn’t happen. It really didn’t taste bad!!! I was shocked–and happy! I waited to see how I felt and I totally could feel the difference. It was like a burst of energy–and I really needed that today. Kudos to Amazing Grass for making health taste great!
After this, I also had a tall glass of water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. And then I had a glass of herbal tea.
Then something truly AMAZING happened! I had forgotten about a Jack LaLanne Juicer
Now, I’m praying it holds up to the finish line of this 30-day juice fast!
Juicer Heaven
I didn’t waste any time at all. That juicer was eating an apple before you could blink!
Whole, organic apple
Washed and ready to go!
Organic Apple Juice Recipe
7 organic apples tossed into the juicer
I poured it into a container and ended up with 2/3 apple juice.
I added 1/3 water (to dilute)
Made 2 quarts…
and an extra glass for me (lunch)!
On a Roll
I didn’t want to stop! I decided to juice up some stuff I had in the fridge. Carrot-spinach juice is my all-time favorite. I decided to mix it up this time and add alfalfa sprouts.
Washed and Ready!
MMmmmmmm
Carrot-Spinach-Sprout Juice
7 big carrots
9 ounce bag spinach leaves
2 ounces sprouts
When I poured it into the freezer container, I had 2/3 juice.
I added 1/3 water to dilute.
Made 3 cups
Totally Forgot!
I discovered in my notes from day 1 when I juiced a bunch, that I had forgot to mention I had leftover veggies (I stored 2 zip lock bags full) because the juicer burnt out and I got tired of blending.
So… here’s what was left over:
- 2 ounces alfalfa sprouts
- 1 celery stalk
- 6 kale leaves
- some chopped cabbage
That went into the juicer
Along with…
2 more ounces alfalfa sprouts
1 big head cabbage
1 cucumber
Big bunch mustard greens
1 bundle celery
2 (beautiful) heirloom, organic beets (with leaves) (from my garden)
Look at all that raw goodness!
Before I started this batch, I decided to run out to the garden and grab some rainbow chard and lettuce leaves…
Organic Rainbow Chard
I’m so excited because this is the first time I’ve juice rainbow chard! Even Raw Juice Girl needs to try new things! I wasn’t sure about it, actually so I asked around on Twitter.
Here was my tweet:
[asks] who juices rainbow chard? Anyone? Do you eat it raw? Juice it raw? Add it to smoothies? RTs and replies are much appreciated.
@rawliving (aka Earth Mother) gave me permission to use her tweet response:
rawliving@RawJuiceGirl I do I do! (raises hand) I juice rainbow chard and use it in GREEN smoothies. Yum!
Thanks, @rawliving–you helped make my juices brighter and healthier!
Note: Be sure to stop by @rawliving’s raw food blog: In the Raw
(Isn’t it beautiful???!!!)
Organic lettuce
Ready for the juicer!
7 big and 9 smaller rainbow chard (leaves and stalk)
4 heaping cups organic lettuce
Green–er, brown–juice
This juice turned out brown. LOL It doesn’t taste bad, though. It’s just that the beets mixed with the other greens and made this mucky color–that’s okay to me! I’m just happy to be truly juicing again. Woo hoo!
Oh, and that tall glass of yummy juice on the left end of the photo was my dinner–delish!
Just tuning in? Catch up:
Day 1 of a 30-Day Juice Fast and Juicer Mishaps
Day 2 of a 30-Day Juice Fast–and AMAZING GRASS!!
Day 3–E3 Living!
Until tomorrow… happy juicing!
Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies
- 2 books by Nomi Shannon, The Raw Gourmet (These two books have GORGEOUS photos and the recipes are amazing!
- 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
- Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
- Living Tree Community (Raw almond butter and organic coconut mango persimmon butter!)
- Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
- E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
- and MORE!
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
So far I’ve breezed through days 1 and 2 of this 30-day juice fast. Today marks day 3 and I thought I’d take advantage of the number 3 and talk about E3 Live. The company was kind enough to send me some to review (I’m LOVING it–thank you SO MUCH E3 Live!!!). I’m very pleased with the results so far! I’ll keep you updated on how I’m feeling while taking it but I plan on dedicating an entire in-depth post to E3 Live in the near future.
In the meantime, I’d like to introduce you to it. E3 Live is a superfood. (You can learn more about it at E3Live.com.)It’s a green liquid that a lot of people describe as tasting “green”. I have to describe it the same way–but it isn’t a strong green taste. It’s pretty mild to me. Of course, I’m used to green juices and smoothies and even herbal tonics, so I could be wrong but I think you’ll also find that it doesn’t have as potent of a green taste as you’d think. (I guess you’ll just have to try some for yourself!)
Day 3 Recap
This morning started off with lemon water (see yesterday’s post for the recipe). About half an hour later, I had a strawberry-blueberry juice. Around 10 a.m. or so, I had a tall glass of herbal iced tea. Then I did a no-no: I poured myself a cup of coffee. Just a few sips hit my stomach like a ton of bricks! (This is when I know that my body is finally rejecting coffee–yay!!! So, no more coffee!)
I noticed I was feeling really tired today, so a little before 1 p.m., I reached for a green juice. Until now, each time I’ve taken E3 Live, I’ve just downed it straight up. I haven’t added it to a smoothie or anything. But I felt like adding it to my green juice today–so I did!
E3 Live Juice
(1 tablespoon of E3 Live liquid into my green juice.)
The ingredient list for E3 Live (from the site):
Supplement Facts: Protein <1g; Trans Fat 0g; Vitamin A 1890 IU 38% daily value; Vitamin K 34mcg 43% daily value; Riboflavin 49 mcg 3% daily value; Vitamin B1 27 mcg 117% daily value; Organic Liquid AFA Algae (Fresh-frozen Aphanizomenon flos-aquae)
Lovin’ My E3 Live Shaker Cup!
(Thanks for letting me try your shaker, E3 Live!)
I’ve also had more herbal tea and water. It’s 5 p.m. as I’m typing this … I’ll probably have another green juice at 6 p.m. or so. I skipped the snack juice this afternoon–the E3 Live carried me right on through!
Note: I also noticed I slept better last night!
A First
I’ve never added anything to my juices while juice fasting. Adding E3 Live during a juice fast is a new experience for me–but it’s an experience I’m glad I’ve had and I’ll now continue it on future juice fasts!
What about you? Have you added superfood liquids or powders on your juice fasts? Why or why not? I can’t wait to read your juicy comments!
Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies
- 2 books by Nomi Shannon, The Raw Gourmet (These two books have GORGEOUS photos and the recipes are amazing!
- 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
- Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
- Living Tree Community (Raw almond butter and organic coconut mango persimmon butter!)
- Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
- E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
- and MORE!
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
Yesterday I shared with you that I started a 30-day juice fast--even though my juicer burnt out on me! And… I forgot to drink my lemon water yesterday morning!! Want to know why? Because I had a cup of coffee!! That’s one of the reasons I knew I had to just go for it and start this juicing journey: coffee+Raw Juice Girl doesn’t = a pretty cup of fantabulousness! I really don’t even care for coffee–honest! I started drinking it again after recent stressful events–and now I’m saying good-bye to it (again)! So, I started the day off right today.
Lemon Water
Lemon Water Recipe
What goes in:
- juice from half of a fresh lemon
- a cup of hot water (heated in a tea kettle)
What you do:
- squeeze your lemon juice in a cup
- add the hot water
- toss in the lemon itself–if it’s organic
Sip and enjoy!
Breakfast
About half an hour or so after the lemon water, I had 8 ounces of the strawberry-blueberry juice I made up.
Snack
1 tablespoon of E3Live (Yum-O!)
Note: I sipped on a cup of coffee. (Baby steps. )
About Coffee
Most folks frown at drinking coffee during a juice fast (honestly, I’m one of them!) but I won’t be drinking coffee for the duration of the fast. I have found that if I sip a little coffee (during the times I’ve drank it), the first few days of a juice fast, it’s way easier to eliminate coffee from my diet than when I’m eating. I believe this is because of all the nutrients that are hitting my blood stream and also the fact that a juice fast just motivates you mentally and helps you focus on all aspects of better health. So, if you’re a coffee drinker or even a soda lover, the first week of a juice fast is a great way to beat the habit.
Lunch
I had 8 ounces of green juice.
Snack
For a “snack”, I had an herbal tea concoction (that my Mom made) with a slice of lemon and a packet of Stevia Balance
Dinner
I’m posting this at a little after 4 p.m. but I plan on having another 8 ounces of green juice probably around 6 p.m. or so.
Of course, besides the lemon water and juices, I had plain water throughout the day. Two down, twenty-eight more to go!
Overall Feelings
Yesterday, I had a slight headache. Today, I haven’t had a headache; I have felt hungry all day long, though. This is totally normal for me on day 2. I think I’ve felt this way on every juice fast (or water fast) I’ve ever done. So, I expected it.
Surprise!
As I was polishing this post, I heard something outside–it was the UPS man!! Yay!! We all know what that means. Guess what today’s package contained…. I’m waiting… Okay, I’ll tell you: It contained samples from Amazing Grass. Eeeeek! I’ve been seeing this company’s products on blogs all across the healthy blogosphere and I was really wanting to try them! I’m so excited!! There’s also going to be a fantabulous contest (sponsored by them!) coming up in the near future–so stay tuned…
Look at all those goodies!!
(I even got a pretty green cup like Kath’s!)
Thank you soooooooooooo much, Amazing Grass Team–you rock!!
Upcoming Contests Featuring These Fabulous Companies
- 2 books by Nomi Shannon, The Raw Gourmet (These two books have GORGEOUS photos and the recipes are amazing!
- 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
- Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
- Living Tree Community (Raw almond butter and organic coconut mango persimmon butter!)
- Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
- E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
- and MORE!
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
Contests on Other Blogs
June, over at An Apple A Day is currently running more than one contest!
- One is for Element Bars - contest ends Sunday, June 21st.
- Another is for Earthling Bars – contest also ends Sunday, June 21st.
It’s been a while since I’ve embarked on a longer juice fast. Things like moving to an Amish farm, the recent loss of several young family members and trying to balance my freelance writing and blogging assignments in the midst of all the chaos has pretty much kept me preoccupied.
So, the other night as I was reading Natalia Rose’s lastest book (Detox for Women: An All New Approach for a Sleek Body and Radiant Health in 4 Weeks
As I read Natalia’s tip, I made my decision: I’d juice up a bunch of raw goodness and freeze it; I’d start a 30-day juice fast ASAP. (After all, I’ve been hearing the call.) I made my list, went shopping–and even found some really cool freezable containers with twist-on lids to store my raw juices in. They each hold 4 cups and I bought 4 of the 2-packs, so I ended up with 8 of ‘em.
Once home, I went wild!
Check out my raw goodies!
First up: 100% pineapple juice. I cut it into long slices so it’d fit in the mouth of the juicer (which needs to be waaaaayyy bigger, in my opinion).
I don’t peel the pineapple; I just chop it up whole. Everything except the leaves went in. Bromelain, come on down!
Messy Pineapple Preparation
” … studies have shown that bromelain has a wide variety of health benefits, and that many of these benefits may not be related to the different enzymes found in this extract. Excessive inflammation, excessive coagulation of the blood, and certain types of tumor growth may all be reduced by therapeutic doses of bromelain when taken as a dietary supplement.”–WH Foods
Berzerk for Berries
Even I don’t want green juice 24/7, so besides the pineapple, I went for a strawberry-blueberry combo. Here’s what went into that batch (which made it through the juicer before it burnt out):
- 2 (12 ounce) bags of wild blueberries
- 1 (16 ounce) bag of strawberries
I divided this juice into two of the 4-cup freezable containers I bought (I love these things! I even held them upside down after I filled them to the top with juice–and nothing spilled out! Eeeek! ). So this recipe makes 8 cups (because I diluted it). If you don’t dilute it, it makes 4 cups or so. The reason I dilute my juices is because it is easier on the system while juice fasting (for some people, anyway).
In the freezer they went!
Green Goodness
For my green juice, I decided to throw in the following list of ingredients:
- 1 (big) bunch of parsley
- 1 bundle of celery
- 1 (2 pound) bag of carrots
- 1 bunch of kale
- 1/3 of a (2 pound) bag of turnip greens
- 1 big head of cabbage
- 3 (big) cucumbers
- 1 bag of spinach leaves
Yes, folks, I’m serious!
Chopped, Washed, Ready to Go!
Insert Mishap Here
Then it happened. My juicer burnt out on me! What’s a raw juice girl to do without a juicer? Nope, I didn’t have a backup juicer–it went out on me a while back. Hmmm…. So, the juice girl put her thinking cap on. She’s very, very stubborn you see. There’s no way on Earth she was going to be a quitter. Nope! She grabbed the next-best thing: her blender. And she went to town blending away! (Don’t ask why she’s typing in third-person all of a sudden; she has no clue!)
Juicing aka Blending
Foamy Green Stuff
The End
I poured my green juice into six of those freezable containers and into the freezer they went! I also had excess–enough for 3 jars that went into the fridge and I’m drinking those today. I normally don’t like to put juice in the fridge (I like to drink it as soon as possible after juicing, but I was kind of in a mess here with no juicer and all, so I compromised.)
Oh, and the happy part…
Yes, I do believe it is a happy ending after all. I started my 30-day juice fast anyway! My grandmother always taught me: Where there’s a will, there’s a way–and I believe that.
So far today I’ve drank:
6 ounces of 100% pineapple juice (breakfast)
and about 12 ounces of the green juice so far (It’s 3:15 as I write this). I’ll have another green juice soon, though.
I’ve also had plenty of water!
(Updated to add: I had another 8 ounces of green juice around 6 p.m. I also added a tablespoon of raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar
to one of my water servings today.) I also had my daily dose of E3Live (more about that in upcoming posts).
I’ve manually strained the green juice I’ve drank today (other than the pineapple juice which went through the juicer before it burnt out)–my other option is to chew it. LOL (Some of you do that (chew the pulp) with raw juices but I don’t recommend it during a juice fast; it defeats the whole purpose of giving your digestive system a rest.) So, now I’m looking for a new juicing machine. Any juice machine companies in need of a raw juice girl to do a review/contest?
Upcoming Contests Featuring these Fabulous Companies
- 2 books by Nomi Shannon, The Raw Gourmet (These two books have GORGEOUS photos and the recipes are amazing!
- 2 Food Matters DVDs (Haven’t had a chance to watch this one yet, but do check out their site–they have a RAWsome message to share!!)
- Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose (I read this book last night and it’s awesome; it really helps you understand water retention, etc!)
- Living Tree Community (Raw almond butter and organic coconut mango persimmon butter!)
- Oh Nuts! (raw macadamia nuts and pecans) <— These are seriously delicious nuts–and they’re JUMBO sized!
- E3Live (Green-tasting (which I don’t mind!), but I REALLY notice that it’s making me feel better. It was definitely put to the test through my recent stressful events!)
- and MORE!
You’ll definitely want to stay tuned!
So… be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
References:
Is this your first time visiting? Subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed or via e-mail (sign up here). You’ll be notified to new contests and receive juice fasting tips and recipes, inspiration, and more!
Raw Reality
More and more as I reflect on my raw reality , I realize that for a while now my body has been crying out for a juice fast. Life can be so loud sometimes that we don’t hear the faint calls our body makes. Often, we don’t hear those calls until they’re so loud that our health is in jeopardy. Thankfully, I’ve learned to listen to my body and am willing to jump on the juicing wagon when my body needs me to.
Seeking Serenity
Some of you may think that a juice fast (especially a longer one) would be torturous. In ways, I suppose that could be true. I mean, it isn’t like you can gobble up chocolate cake if you’re at a party like everyone else. Instead, you’d either have to sip water or wag along your raw juice. It isn’t as bad as it sounds–I’ve been there.
Juice fasting definitely has it’s pros and cons. I tend to lean toward the positive aspect of a juicing journey. One thing that always astounds me is the sense of serenity I achieve on longer juice fasts. It’s such a blessing to zone into yourself spiritually and reach that still place that lays dormant inside, just waiting to be resurrected and enjoyed.
Signs and Signals
It seems like so many articles and blog posts–and even conversations–I’ve come across lately have been about green juices and smoothies. Lo and behold, I happened to stop by Choosing Raw today and Gena had answered one of her readers’ questions: Question of the Week: To Blend or To Juice?
There are times that your body–and the universe–screams at you to do something. I know this is one of those times. I’ve been craving a long juice fast for a while now. I’m listening. And, I’m starting that long juice fast. I know I need it–body, mind, and soul.
Stay tuned….
What about you? Do you hear the call? Would you answer it if you did? Have you ever juice fasted? How long was your longest juice fast? Would you do it again? Why or why not? Jump right on in the comments and tell us all about it!
Contest Alert!
Contest Alert 1: June, over at An Apple A Day, is hosting a contest for Once Again omega-3 peanut butter. June says: “12 winners will be selected on June 21st, 2009!”
Contest Alert 2: Don’t forget to enter the Navitas Naturals contest! You have until Monday, June 15th, at 9 p.m. (Central Time) to get your SIX entries in!
Coming Soon
- more contests and reviews
- photos and details about a pioneer festival I recently attended (including getting to meet an Editor and an Editor-In-Chief) Eeek!
- and updates from the Amish farm
Photo Credit: Grantsviews
As I was writing this week’s articles, I realized that you might like to have a list of the juice fasting articles I have written for Raw People so far. On days I don’t post here, you can re-visit this post and peruse the juice fasting information I’ve shared on RawPeople.com.
All you have to do is click on the title of the article and that link will take you to the article. I’ve included an excerpt from each article so you can have a sneak peek of each article….
Enjoy!
Raw Juice vs. Bottled
Freshly squeezed orange juice tastes so much better than store-bought, doesn’t it? There’s a reason. Know what it is?
Raw, Real, Rewarding: Juice Fasting 101
Sick? Tired? Overweight? Unhealthy? Out of shape? Stressed? Allow yourself to escape from the world’s noise by drifting into a juice fast—an experience that is serene and healing…
Raw Juice Fasting Journey: Part 2
Last week I introduced you to raw juice fasting. We discussed preparing your mind and body, why raw juices and fasting are beneficial to your health, some things you might expect during your raw juicing journey as your body begins to clean and rid itself of accumulated toxins, and more.
Raw Juice Fasting Journey: Part 3
“It is often the last key on the ring which opens the door” – Proverb Is Your Health Last on the List? I chose the above proverb because it truly resonated with me. Its words rang true as I reflected on life and health and searched my heart and soul for direction for this article. I realize that, for many people, juice fasting or converting to a raw food lifestyle is a last-ditch effort to rebuild their lives and improve the health they’ve taken for granted for way too long. Is that the situation you’re in?
Help: Juice Fasting is a Headache!
Why the Headache? Frustration has set in, right? You’ve spent money on a juicer, carefully shopped for beautiful organic produce, searched deeply and mustered up all the motivation you can, only to discover you’ve awaken with a splitting headache on day two of your juice fasting attempt.
Juice Fasting Minus the Juice
“Instead of using medicine, rather, fast a day.”—Plutarch Tired of Juicing? Switch Up! If you’re ever in the midst of a juice fast and are either a) tired of cleaning, preparing, and juicing fruits and veggies or b) would like to go into a deeper cleanse for a few days, you can switch up! Just eliminate the juices and enjoy ionized alkaline water and herbal tea for a few days.
Juicing—Without the Fasting
Success with Juices, No Fasting It’s quite interesting how many benefits you can get from juicing—without even fasting. Don’t take me wrong. I’m absolutely for fasting. I fast on water and herbal tea alone and I juice fast as well. But you don’t have to miss out on the nutrition raw juices provide simply because you misunderstand the concept and think you have to fast to reap the rewards. Drink your fresh, raw juices!
Raw Juice Ideas from Sunup to Sundown
Whether you’re juice fasting or just want to incorporate more raw juices into your day-to-day lifestyle, here are some juice combinations you can use in the morning, at lunch, and/or in the evening. These juices can absolutely take the place of your meal(s) or snacks. They can also just be a healthy beverage to enjoy along with your meal.
Juice Fasting for Weight Loss
Fantasizing for Freedom from Fat You’ve tried low-fat, low-calorie, low-carb, cabbage soup, and many other numerous diets to no avail, right? I understand your struggle. No, really, I do: I’ve lost over 100 pounds and it didn’t happen overnight.
Wonderful World of Wheatgrass
Grass is Greener Remember the old saying “the grass is greener on the other side”? Unless you’ve tasted the benefits and/or already know the true power of wheatgrass, you will be astounded! What’s that? You don’t know what the benefits of wheatgrass are? Well, let’s find out…
Raw Juices (and Smoothies) for Weight GAIN
We’ve looked at the pros and cons of juicing for weight loss, but what about weight gain? Yes, those of you who have struggled with losing weight might cringe or feel a tad bit jealous of those who strive to gain just a couple of pounds, who fantasize about gaining 10, even 20, pounds. But it’s a serious issue that affects many people.
Juice Fasting on Your Birthday—Or Someone Else’s
You’re more excited than you’ve ever been before: You’ve embarked on a juice fast and you have so many visions and dreams of vibrant health, a long, active life, and glowing skin. You’ve researched and read everything you can on juice fasting and its benefits, until you’re sure this is the right step for you. You’re confident that a journey filled with raw juices—and not one bite of food—is exactly what your body needs, craves even.
Juice Fasting: The Eco-Friendly Cooling System
Juice Fasting to Cool Off This Summer Think you need an air conditioner to beat the heat and cool your sizzling body temperature down this summer? Think again! While juice fasting may not have been the first thing to come to mind when you envisioned yourself cooling down, it is most certainly an eco-friendly way to beat the heat.
I also contribute to Raw People in the following categories:
I hope you enjoy RawPeople.com as much as I do!
Don’t forget to enter the Navitas Naturals contest! You have until Monday, June 15th, at 9 p.m. (Central Time) to get your SIX entries in!
Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll also receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health–and more personal posts about stuff that’s going on in my life.
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Making Up Your Mind to Juice Fast
Okay, so you’ve decided to go on a juice fast. Maybe it’s just because you want to get healthier, or perhaps you’re looking to get a jump-start on weight loss. Let’s hope you’ve decided to sacrifice your favorite foods and survive a few days on raw juices because you want to focus on cleaning your body and helping it get rid of years – maybe even decades – of all the bad stuff that’s caked up inside. Let’s also hope it’s because you’ve truly searched your heart and wholeheartedly decided to lead a lifestyle that promotes life instead of one that promotes sickness, premature death, and obesity.
If you’re only planning on juice fasting to lose weight, you may as well not do it. Yes, most people lose several pounds juice fasting – I have. But weight loss is about so much more than lost pounds. Weight loss is about changing your entire lifestyle – mind, body, and soul. Weight loss is about targeting why you gained weight in the first place and what you’re going to do to prevent yourself from gaining weight again once you’ve lost it. So, although you probably will lose weight during your juice fast, it’s best to think of those lost pounds as just part of the process and not your sole reason for juicing fasting. Trust me; I do know what I’m talking about. I’ve lost over 100 pounds – and kept it off.
Made up your mind yet? Fantabulous! Let’s get started!
A few ideas for that pre-juice fast menu:
Organic Greek yogurt with raw walnuts, and fresh or frozen blueberries
This is a yummy treat you can enjoy any time. I prefer Oikos organic Greek yogurt myself, but you may like another brand. (Nope, I didn’t get paid for saying I love Oikos – it’s delish, filling, and most importantly, healthy!) Besides the protein in the yogurt, you’re getting protein from the heart-healthy walnuts, and loading up on antioxidants in those juicy blueberries.
Chopped avocado, tomato, red onion, juice from a real lemon
This is yum-o!! Simply cut up a fresh tomato and avocado and toss in a bowl. You can add a homemade vinaigrette if you want to. I don’t. I do squeeze the juice of about a half of a lemon over the avocado. (I wouldn’t use the lemon juice that comes in a bottle.)
Salad: raw spinach, Napa cabbage, carrots, blueberries, raw walnuts, salmon
This is one of my favorite salads ever. You can throw in whatever your favorite veggies are. The blueberries are optional but they are divine on salad! If you’re a big meat eater, adding salmon or tuna to your salad is a wonderful way to still feed your body a protein that will satisfy you while staying away from red meat. I normally don’t eat salmon or tuna within a few days of a juice fast, simply because it’s a little bit difficult for our bodies to adjust to an all liquid diet after consuming a lot of protein each day.
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare
I’ve mentioned this before but it really is crucial to prepare your body and your mind before setting out on this amazing journey with raw juices.
I’m so used to juice fasting it’s pretty much become second nature for me. I listen to my body – and mind – and I know when both are craving a raw juice fast. You’ll learn to do this too as you become more experienced with juice fasting.
I never, ever recommend that you start a long juice fast right off the bat. Like anything else, you want to ease your body into juice fasting. Think about it. You wouldn’t wake up one day and decide you want to be a runner, hop out of bed, and run the longest marathon there is. No, you’d go buy yourself some running shoes, maybe pick out an area to start running, jump online and study the stretches you need to do to prepare your muscles for a run. You might start jogging and/or doing some other exercises.
The most important message I want to share is that juice fasting is a marvelous way to nourish your body and mind. It’s a beautiful journey between the person who is fasting and the raw food our bodies were made to consume. It’s a great way to slow yourself down and find the calm that lies within you, but is drowned out by all the world’s chaotic noises.
Have you ever juice fasted? Are you just venturing out to try it? What are your thoughts on juice fasting? I’d love to hear them!
Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and juice fasting tips and encouragement to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health.
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January is a month for resolutions, dreams, promises – to ourselves and others – and a time to reflect on what the previous year held for us, as well as ponder where the new year will take us. Instead of making resolutions that are so hard to keep, why not set some goals you know you’ll actually attempt reaching? How can you do that? Let’s have a look at the following suggestions.
- Set short-term goals instead of focusing on the overall picture. Have 50 or 100 pounds to lose? Work on losing 10. That’s right. Just 10. If you focus on losing weight in 10 pound increments, you’re more likely to keep going when you reach an 8 pound weight loss. If you lose 8 pounds and keep dwelling on the fact you have 92 more to lose, you might get discouraged and give up. (For more tips on losing weight, read this article.)
- Work toward your new health regimen gradually. Don’t stop enjoying your favorite foods and drinks cold turkey. If you’re drinking 4 sodas a day, knock off one, then another – until you eventually only drink a soda on occasion, if at all. By easing into your new health regimen, you’ll find yourself being able to stick with it.
- Invest in a quality juicing machine so you can experiment with fresh, raw fruit and vegetable juices. Not only are these raw juices filled with living enzymes and vitamins that are beneficial to your health, they taste delicious! Also, be sure to check out: “Creating Juice Recipes for Weight Loss“.
- Not a fan of juice? What about creamy, rich smoothies? Look for a blender so you can make smoothies at home. They’re less expensive and you’re in control of the ingredients. (Check out these smoothie recipes.) You can also toss in ground flax seeds (for Omegas), powdered vitamins, or even nut butters for extra health benefits!
- Find a fun exercise – like rebounding. Jumping on a mini trampoline – even for just a few short minutes a day – can help you achieve better health. You’ll be increasing your lung capacity, cleansing your lymph system, and will get those endorphins going. The best part of rebounding? It makes you feel like a kid again!
Don’t spend 2009 being sick and tired of being sick and tired. Take your life – and your health – back. Follow these tips and focus on the short-term, ease into your new health regimen, invest in a juicing machine (or blender) and add just a little exercise so you can be accomplishing your goals by this time next year. Hey, hopefully you’ll reach all your goals before then!
Be sure to subscribe to Healing with Juices’ Feed for free updates. You can get free updates to your email as well (sign up here). You’ll receive inspiration, juice and smoothie recipes, and tips to help keep you motivated toward your ultimate health.
Here’s to life, health, and healing with juices (and smoothies!)
Copyright 2008 Healing with Juices
Photos and Article
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After my recent birthday dinner, I decided I should drink a few raw juices to flush my system. I prefer actually juice fasting for at least two days (without eating at all) but haven’t had time to do that. Also, I finally found my favorite organic Greek yogurt at a local store so I bought several containers of it. Now I have to finish them all before they ruin! A short juice fast is just around the corner for me, though.
As I work toward the fast, I’ve only been eating some raw fruit and veggies, the Greek yogurt, raw nuts
My regular diet is pretty much clean anyway but I like to really prepare my body for a juice fast – and that means a goal of 100% raw foods, lots of water and herbal tea. I do eat some fish, eggs, and cooked vegetables, so I just begin to eliminate them a little at a time until I’m eating only raw. Another thing I do to transition into a juice fast is start drinking the raw juices like I’m doing now.
I’ve enjoyed a variety of raw juices so far, but today I want to focus on the watermelon juice. Watermelon is an amazing fruit. It’s loaded with goodies for our bodies to drink up and its juice will flush your kidneys. It’s nice to give the kidneys a boost and help them rid our bodies of toxins (toxins are in the air we breathe, food we eat, etc.) So, It’s very healing – and delicious too!
Here are a few fun facts:
- Eating watermelon may help fight inflammation in diseases such as colon cancer, arthritis, asthma, and others.
- Three servings a day could fight macular degeneration.
- It could possibly even prevent cancer!
Healing for (Raw) Juices Tip:
- You could get all 3 of those servings in one tall glass of tasty juice.
A few nutrients you’ll be feeding your body are:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B-6
- Vitamin B-1
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Antioxidants
- and more!
*Nutrition information from whfoods.com
The fun part is you get to juice the entire watermelon. Yes, there are nutrients in the rind and seeds – isn’t that great? You just chop the watermelon into pieces that will fit into the top of your juicing machine and if you want a regular glass (approx. 16 oz.) you’ll need 2 pieces (about 1 inch or so thick) or 4 cups, chopped.
It takes only a short time to get all the pieces in and then you can enjoy its sweet goodness. You’ll wonder how something so tasty is so healthy for you, but it is!
Enjoy your watermelon flush…
Here’s to life, health, and healing with (raw) juices!
Copyright 2008 Healing with Juices
Posted Sunday, August 17, 2008
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Many people don’t realize skin problems can come from within. Instead of reaching for the telephone to order the magic chemical cocktail you’ve just watched on the latest infomercial, why not reach for fresh fruit and veggies and make yourself a juice?
I’m a big fan of juice fasting. I love how my skin looks and feels during and after (and I get compliments on my skin all the time), but you don’t have to juice fast for your skin to reap the natural benefits. Simply incorporate fresh juices with your meals.
Pick up an inexpensive juicing machine from your favorite store, flea market, or even a garage sale. If possible, shop your local farmer’s market for the fresh fruits and veggies you’ll be using to create the following delicious drinks.
Not only does the healthy extracted freshness tickle the taste buds, it also purifies your blood (which affects your skin’s appearance) and rejuvenates your complexion.
Here are a few simple recipes to begin with.
If you have a lot of breakouts, you may want to cleanse your blood.
For this, you’ll need:
- 3 sweet apples
- 8 strawberries
To enhance your complexion, you’ll want to use:
- 8 strawberries
- 2 bunches of grapes
And, to improve your skin overall, try mixing:
- 6 carrots
- ½ green bell pepper
You’ll love these sweet juices and your skin will, too!
Beauty Tip:
If you can tolerate doing without food for a couple of days, experiment with a cleansing juice fast. It’s a great way to detox from all the chemicals we come in contact with each day and unearth our natural beauty.
What are your thoughts on reaping beautiful benefits from raw juices? Do you ever think about beauty coming from within? Or do you focus on creams and potions externally only? Share with us in the comments!
Here’s to life, health, and healing with juices – and beauty!
Photo Credit(s): http://www.sxc.hu/
Copyright of Healing with Juices
Posted Friday, August 8, 2008
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I can’t count the times folks have asked me, “Can’t I just use canned or bottled juice from the store for my juice fasting cleanse?” I never hesitate when I answer, “No, you cannot.” And, it never fails their second question is, “Well, why not?” I always have the same answer so instead of repeating myself or responding to mutliple e-mails, I’ll just answer here in this post.
There is only one bottled juice I’ll drink. I don’t use it as a primary juice for a juice fasting cleanse, though. I’ll tell more about this mystery juice later, in an upcoming post. I adore it, highly recommend it, but it deserves it’s very own post. So, it must wait.
A few things I don’t like about store-bought juices:
- they’re processed
- they contain sugar and/or artificial sweeteners
- they contain additives, preservatives, etc.
My opinion of store-bought juices? You may as well drink a soda or fattening latte!
Why does a juice fasting cleanse require real, raw juices? Because the nutrients are “alive” in fruits and veggies you juice yourself. The ideal situation would be where you grew the produce yourself (organically, of course) and juiced it as soon as you plucked it. I realize that isn’t an option for many, so the second best option is buying locally (organic, if at all possible). If you can only get produce from the grocery store that is NOT organic, you should at least soak it in a water bath with a splash of organic vinegar for a good, thorough washing.
Why should you drink the (raw) juice as soon as you juice it? Again, because the nutrients are “alive” and the longer you wait to drink the juice, the less “live” nutrients you’re actually getting. There are times (like if you’re doing a cleanse during the work week and you work outside the home) you simply can’t juice the produce and drink it right away. During a time like that, you can compromise by juicing whatever recipes you decide you like or want to try and then filling small or medium canning jars to the very top with the liquid. Put the lids on tight and try to drink within a day or two max. It’s much better for you to drink the juice this way than none at all.
I’ll be honest, juice fasting is a lot of hard work. You have to take special care and pay attention to the type of produce you’re buying or growing to assure it’s organic and safe to consume. And you have to bring home all the produce, wash and prepare it, juice it, clean up the mess, and start at the beginning and repeat. But the rewards are so amazing. You’ll fall in love with the sense of peace, calm, health, satisfaction, pride, mental clarity… It’s so wonderful to be able to enjoy a juice fasting cleanse. The body is a wonderful thing. It has the ability to heal itself, if we’ll only let it and help it along.
Sure, it may be easier to grab a bottle of juice off the store shelf, go home, and pour it in a glass. The easiest way isn’t always the best way, though. Remember the old adage: Anything worth having is worth working for? It rings true today as well. If you’re searching for improved health, a better quality of life, and you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, what do you have to lose? Work hard to be healthy and your body will thank you.
Have you tried a juice fasting cleanse? Are you prepared to work hard so you can live a long, healthy life? In the end, sometimes we just have to dig deep and go for it. I always juice fruits and veggies myself using my Jack LaLanne Juicer
Here’s to life, health, and healing with (raw) juices!
Photo Credit(s): http://www.sxc.hu/
