Ready for a Cleanse? The Simplest Detox...with Activated Charcoal

"New Year, New You" - right?  Or so they say! :)

How many times have you seen a New Year Resolutions list with "detox", "cleanse", "healthier eating", "diet", "healthier lifestyle", etc. on it?  Pretty much every year, right?  And they probably appear on our own lists every year as well.  WHY?  Because we all know that we could do better no matter what kind of diet we are following and what kind of lifestyle we are living.

I'm there with you!

1 - I haven't been sleeping much...due to way too much work.
2 - I haven't been doing yoga...due to way too much work.

I need to make some serious (while keeping it fun ;) ) changes in those departments! *sigh*

Most of us are bombarded with stress, pollution from every direction...contaminants in food, water and the air we breathe, and most likely lacking sleep or at least quality sleep, as well as enough movement (exercise)...which adds to the problem by not letting us rejuvenate as best as we could.

So what do we do? The best we can...which involves daily / periodic / seasonal cleansing in my world.

Of course, cleansing and detoxification can mean completely different things to two different people....and they SHOULD!  But the simplest things are available to everyone and are doable for everyone....regardless of what types of kitchen equipment you have available or how much time you have on your hands to commit to this.

One of the simplest things that takes seconds from your day is adding Activated Charcoal Powder to your juice and you're done!

What does activated charcoal do for you? Well, it can do many things...in fact, the list is so long that there is no way I could cover it here.

But to give you an idea and share a few:

Activated Charcoal is neither absorbed nor metabolized by the body. It simply helps to Eliminate the Body of:
-Toxins
-Heavy Metals
-Pesticides
-Parasites
-Plaque and stains on teeth (it whitens teeth)
-Nicotine / Alcohol
-Chlorine etc. in water (hence, used as a water filter)
-(Lowers) Cholesterol
-(prevent or eliminate)Hangover --- a great thing right now, after the holidays, if you have some on hand!
-Flu Symptoms
-Bloating/Flatulence/Colic
-Stomach / Bowel Problems
-Bali Belly (traveler's upset stomach)
-Liver / Kidney Problems
-Heart Burn
-Nausea / Vomiting
-Insect Bites & Stings
-Candida / Thrush / UTI
-Mouth Ulcers/Cold Sores
-Cuts / Infections
-Eye Infections
-Skin Irritations
-Acne
-Cysts / Ulcers / Abscess
-Arthritis
-Neutralizes Odors (put some charcoal powder in a sachet and place wherever odors need to be eliminated - shoes, fridge, etc.)
-Impurities in Water (it's a water purification substance)
-Bad Breath
....and the list goes on.

So let's start with how to take advantage of it?!  Today I'll share my favorite charcoal drinks and I'll share other uses and tips in follow-up posts....fair enough?

The quickest way to take some charcoal is by mixing a teaspoon of the powder with a glass of water and drink it up.  That's it. But not everyone likes such a "drink".
I only use Food Grade Activated Charcoal by Schizandu Organics (which you can find at least two places online...on the Schizandu website and on Amazon)

This charcoal is 100% pure, additive-free, food grade, and tasteless and odorless and it's a very fine dust-like powder....specially-milled to blend well.  On top of that, you get a HUGE jar - enough to last you numerous 2-week detoxes, and you get an eBook with it too with all kinds of cool info about how you can use this jar of almost diamond dust :)

Here's what I do with it to make it a delicious black lemonade experience:

Black Detox Lemonade

(serves 1)

1 large glass of pure water

1 lemon (use the juice of it only)

1 tsp food grade activated charcoal powder

1 tsp maple syrup / honey / coconut sugar / your choice of sweetener

Drink this whenever you feel like cleansing is a good idea.  Some take it every day.  That is fine too. But be sure to take it about 1-2 hours away from medications and birth-control pills, etc.  Some say charcoal could even carry those out of the system, given it's such an excellent detoxify and used in hospitals to save lives when someone has overdosed or poisoned themselves.

Of course, you can add a teaspoon of the charcoal powder to any juice as well.  Even better, make your own. I love this combination:

Activated Charcoal Detox Juice

(serves 1-2)

Juice of 5-8 celery stalks

Juice of 1-2 apples

Juice of 1-2 lemons

Juice of a thumb-walnut size ginger root (depends on how spicy you like it)

1-2 tsp food grade activated charcoal powder

And here's a detox shot....it comes to your rescue if you ever have a stomach bug / upset stomach / hangover:

Activated Charcoal Cleanse Gut Shot

(serves 1)

Juice of ½ apple

Juice of piece of ginger root

Juice of piece of turmeric root

1 tsp food grade activated charcoal powder

These are my favorites but you can certainly come up with other favorite recipes and I'm sure you will! :)

Pretty easy, right?

You can thank me later!  Happy cleansing and Happy New Year.....new chances for a new YOU! :)


♥

Dita
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"Black Magic"....Straight from the Earth

Shilajit..... "what!?" is the reaction I get form many people when I mention the name of this "thing" I love so much :)

This wonderful substance that is neither a supplement nor really a food (although, I'd call it that) is a mineral pitch (a tar-like substance, a resin) that literally oozes out of layers of rocks of the Earth in the Himalayas and other high mountains in the world.

So...what IS IT???
Shilajit is an ancient adaptogenic "herb" (it's classified as such, most of the time) that has been part of the Ayurvedic system for thousands of years and is also referred to as "destroyer of weakness" by some. It is taken by many people, including myself, who are familiar with its wonderful health-supporting benefits, kind of like a supplement once or twice a day.

Why take it? 
The food supply we rely on for "nourishing" our bodies is simply NOT sufficient and can NOT provide all the minerals and other nutrients we need to function at our peak. Minerals, vitamins, phytonutrients, enzymes, amino acids, etc are all lacking in today's sad-looking produce and not to mention other foods in grocery stores. And, while we can go to the farmers markets for fresher and more nutrient-dense foods or even grow our own, there is simply more need for nutrients for counterbalancing the toxic load we are exposed to in our daily lives. Most people reach for supplements and/or drugs in desperation and hoping to fix imbalances and or "treat" dis-eases in their bodies. Unfortunately, introducing these synthetic substances can, of course, further the existing problem(s).
This magical resin is a great way to provide our bodies with the nutrients its lacking.

What are its health benefits?
Shilajit is well known for its fulvic and fumic acid content. It is very high in 80+ trace minerals, provides a full spectrum of amino acids, many enzymes, phytonutrients and all of these together can make an incredible difference in someone's health when taken on a regular basis.
The complex nutritional profile translates to its powers for helping
- increase the body's adaptibility
- neutralize toxins and heavy metals
- assist the absorption of nutrients in foods you take in along with it
- get rid of "bad estrogens" and pesticides
- regulate hormones
- increase energy and sex drive
- tonify the kidneys (it's a Jing herb)

Seeing this list, I think you get an idea...it is amazing to have around AND take, no matter how strange it is ;)

I treasure it and it's one of my favorite foods.

The resin...

...is quite hard and can't even be "scooped" at colder temperatures. I took a picture of the open jar on a cool day and it was impossible to get any amount of it out.
However, it melts naturally on warmer days or when heated. You may heat it gently if it's not a hot summer day and you need to melt it on the stove in a double boiler. Do this by placing it in a bowl of water with its level lower then the lid / opening and pacing that bowl in a pot that you will heat GENTLY on the stove.

Once it's melted, it's very easy to "serve". You need to start with very little (pea size amount is suggested) and you can build up from there. You can't really overdose.

I've been consuming Shilajit for many years and I love it so much that most days I take 1-2 teaspoons of the powder (an extract) and this was my first time trying a resin, which can be just sucked on like candy but will probably not appeal to most people.....that is my hones and best guess.

Taste-wise, it might be something to get used to. I loved it from day one but when you first open any high quality Shilajit it will probably "shock" you because of the smell and then the taste when trying it. It has a very strong, kind of "smokey - as described by many - and, in my opinion, coffee-like flavor.

Pureblack (Pürblack) 

The Pürblack resin is nicely packaged. It comes in a very nice glass jar, similar to an expensive, high-end cosmetic. It also comes with a tiny foldout info sheet and a serial number is engraved into the jar to be able to keep track of the batch it comes from. Pürblack guarantees quality and purity, which is the most important issue when it comes to selecting Shilajit. I have not tested its purity myself but I'm planning on doing so and to compare it with other sources, just beacuse I'm curious and I think it's fun :) I do not know how one would know if the Shilajit taken in is really pure or even real vs. being a counterfeit but I think I would "feel" the difference.

Either way, I have not taken Pürblack for long enough to comment on this but I will certainly keep taking it and update you on whether I feel the difference or not (compared to the effects of the other Shilajit I've been taking for years).

How to take it..
I'm happy to take Shilajit straight, with a spoon. But most people will not like that idea, I'm certain of that, especially the first time.
I blend some into tonics most day where I combine it with other herbs and make a wonderful warming concoction of it that is the most nourishing and balancing meal in itself. I must say, I'm looking forward to my tonics every single day and blending Shilajit into them is my favorite way of taking this stuff. I just love this stuff!

Make sure the resin is melted and dip a toothpick or a small wooden utensil or whatever you may prefer and take a tiny dab of it. Take it straight if you're like me or add it to a glass of water or nutritious drink and let it dissolve off of the toothpick/spoon. Once all the Shilajit is off the spoon, stir your drink and it's ready to consume.

When NOT to take it?....caution
Some people say do not take it while pregnant. Of course, nobody wants to take responsibility for your health and, ultimately, YOU are in charge. As they say, "when in doubt, always consult your health practitioner"....of course, in my opinion, that's you! Most doctors and practitioners will not even have the slightest clue what shilajit IS if you ask them. I will tell you this much, it's the most amazing substance to take WHILE trying to get pregnant and planning for a baby and, personally, I would take this (and it's one of my top choices) while pregnant as well....if I ever have the experience. My intuition is that that's when women would need it most! (Anyway, listen to whomever you trust, whether that is your doctor or your own body. I choose my body : ) as you already know if you've bee reading my blog.)

The other thing to mention is that you might experience detoxification symptoms. The more toxic our bodies are, the worse we feel when detoxing. If you feel "horrible", cut back a bit and go slower or assist our detoxification by drinking more water, taking in substances that help remove the toxicity and assist their leaving the body once they're out of the cells.

If you're on medication, be aware that Shilajit can neutralize toxins and prescription drugs will most likely be recognized as such so they might be carried out with it and therefore, their effects will be lessened / prevented. Also be aware that Shilajit assists the absorption of nutrients so if you're taking something else, a natural supplement, for example, you may feel the effects of that/them even more.

All in all, I highly recommend Shilajit for everyone. I know I will never stop taking it.

I will finish my jar of Pürblack and add an update here to share about its effectiveness. 
Give it a try and let me know how you feel!

DISCLAIMER: Pürblack sent me this jar free of cost so that I can try it and share about it with you.
My conclusion: I LOVE IT :)

 
You can learn more about Pürblack Shilajit and get your jar here: https://purblack.com/

♥

Dita

Beautifying Lemonade

Oops, it's been a few days that I promised someone that I'd post this recipe..
He was begging for it and made me promise....when he saw me sipping it ever so enthusiastically the other "hot" day.

As I haven't posted anything in so long, due to a rather painful separation from the person I loved and spent my life with, a relocation to Los Angeles, a brutal car accident (which I still don't know how I survived), and my new business that kept me busy afterwards pretty much 24/7, this is a BIG deal to be back here! Yay! Hi AGAIN! :)

If you also happen to live in L.A. then you know it's been back in the high 80s to 90-ish degrees in the past 2-3 days and so refreshing drinks feel even more refreshing now AND we might as well "cheat" a bit and make them even more nutritious and healing than their commonly-known, traditional versions, right? Of course!..because if you're reading my blog, chances are, you're also into amazing foods for their health benefits, healing and beautifying qualities and the possibilities of its longevity-promoting effects.

Well, here's how I've been making "lemonade" lately....and, let me just say, it's been eye-catching. Yes, I DO take it with me often when I leave my little paradise behind and people ask me what I'm drinking. Most think it's a green juice...but nope. I blend ingredients for this one!
Great for your skin and gut health and a great detoxifier....so get in the garden and the kitchen and make this:

Beautifying Lemonade

Ingredients to be blended:

2-3 cups of the best quality water you can get

juice of 2 lemons

handful of fresh mint 

slice of fresh aloe gel (I used about a 3/4 inch thick slice)

favorite sweetener (I use raw honey* or maple syrup** usually) 

a really thin slice of ginger

pinch or two of (ground) cayenne 

*not vegan, ** not RAW

Blend all of the ingredients in a high powered blender that breaks down the mint leaves and the lemon seeds (which are best to keep in there). Grab a couple of straws and pour two servings of this wonderful treat if you have someone to share it with. If not, you will not have a problem finishing it all by yourself, I promise!

Enjoy! :)

And I'll be back soon.

♥

Dita

P.S: I'll be reviewing a TON of yummy and super healthy products in the next few weeks and some of them will involve giveaways too so stay tuned! You never know....you might get lucky and end up with a bunch of goodies delivered to your door! You can't beat that!

One Minute Green Soup That I Wish I Had on Tap!

I had the last few Persian cucumbers of the season sitting in the fridge. The crispy little things sure will be missed till they show up  at the market again because I can't get enough of this soup I use them for ALL THE TIME. So, that's what I made with them, yet again : )

I eat it at home or I take it with me in a mason jar...great travel food you can sip while long-distance-driving too....just make sure you have a straw! You get the picture...it's just perfect, easy, nourishing food, that's so tasty that it never gets boring (not to me, anyway).

And, yes, I do vary it a little bit, but most of the time I stick with this exact recipe:

Creamy Cucumber Soup 

(makes ~ enough to fill a quart size mason jar)

3 Persian cucumbers

generous handful of cilantro (leaves and stems, entire length)

small jalapeño (or other hot pepper)

2-3 tbsp hemp seeds

1 fat clove of garlic

generous splash of olive oil

pinch or oregano leaves

optional: cayenne for extra heat

½ tsp salt

1 cup (+) water

Blend it up and go! That's it! So quick, so yummy, so green, so nourishing, satisfying and hydrating. What else would you need?

Variations:

Summer time: use fresh basil instead of cilantro.
Calcium boost: use tahini instead of hemp seeds and dill instead of cilantro for another, very yummy, flavor combination and high amounts of calcium and copper.

No matter which of these alternatives you go with, it's a bone-nourishing soup and rather cleansing so it's a great "to-go" food when doing a detox (which is what I am doing with a group of other health-enthusiasts :) yay!). So go and make some! Your bones and skin will thank you...and once you taste it, you might even thank me for the recipe! :)

Enjoy!

Need A Drink?

Maybe it's just one of those days?!
How about one that will not only give you temporary pleasure only to make you feel "blah" later but also might just...

- make you feel refreshed
- ease your aches and pains
- help digest your dinner
- help balance your blood sugar levels
- relieve nausea

Well, I've got one for you that could do all that and much more because of the incredible medicinal qualities of the ingredients...Oh, and let's not forget to mention that it's also delicious!

Ready for a refreshing summer drink?

More good news: you can make this in minutes and store a pitcherful in the fridge to have within reach on hot summer days when the numbers are around 100˚F (~38˚C) on the thermometer!

You might wanna make a double-batch to have enough around to share with others!

Better-Than-Ginger-Ale

Ingredients:

~ 0.75 L Sparkling spring water (or your favorite water)

1 lemon 

~ 2 in piece (or more, for a strong flavor) fresh ginger root

~ 1 in piece (or more, for a strong flavor) fresh turmeric root

optional: Sweetener of your choice (honey/maple syrup/agave syrup/coconut palm sugar)

To prepare:
1. Juice the lemon, the ginger, and the turmeric and strain the liquid if you wish. It may be a little foamy and if you don't strain it you can just get the foam off the top to end up with a "cleaner" drink.
2. Add your freshly juiced ingredients and the sweetener of your choice to the spring water. Chill if you prefer it cold.

Serve chilled, with or without any ice or at room temperature. It's delicious any way.

Note: being flexible is an important aspect of a healthy, balanced life. Try to experiment with recipes and rely on what you have available. Don't worry about having to substitute some of the ingredients.

For example:
1. Don't have any lemons but you desire the sour taste? Maybe you have raw apple cider vinegar at home!? If so, use a splash of that to make your drink a bit tangy AND you'll have added health benefits from the malic acid and the enzymes in the vinegar, which is also great for helping with balancing your blood sugar levels and it has wonderful cleansing qualities.

2. Don't want to add / or don't have any sweetener? Juice some fruit, a couple of oranges or apples or something else you have around, to add to your drink for a sweeter taste to help offset the bitterness of the turmeric.

Cheers! : )

xo

Dita

Come To My Free Class, Get a Chance to Win a Whole Foods Gift Card, and Enter a raffle to Win Superfoods!

All that in one evening?? Yes! Mark your calendar for June 12th! I'll be teaching a class at Whole Foods at 7pm on Thursday evening.

Topic: Cleansing, to welcome in the summer

Come and learn how to prepare delicious cleansing dishes, such as:

Cucumber Cleanse - A refreshing soup to welcome the summer

Hemp Tabouleh

Berrylicious Summer Salad

Space is limited! RSVP by commenting below and you will have a chance to win a Whole Foods gift card and be entered in the raffle to win cacao, goji berries, etc by Navitas Naturals.*

Is there anything you'd like to learn about (within the subject of cleansing and raw foods) during this class? Share in your comment below!

See You There! 

Don't forget to bring your kids, your questions, and your appetite!

Also, share this free event with your friends around the Bay Area. You never know who will benefit from learning how to make clean, nutritious dishes that are so simple to prepare!

♥

*You must be present to win. 

Thirst Quencher Of The Season

Enjoying the hot summer days? I sure am! Unlimited sunshine and a farmers market so abundant...more fruit than what I could do with, sometimes.
This time, I had a half a watermelon left over. Couldn't finish the "ten-pounder" so I had to figure out how to take the rest to work...

It was either going to cut it all up and take it with me in a huge bowl so I can sit and eat it for an hour....not ideal...OR, make a drink out of it...excellent idea! Easy to transport, easy to carry around and consume throughout the day. Here's what I combined:


Watermelon Slushy
(Makes ~2 quarts / liters)
The red part of 5 pounds of watermelon
2 cups ice cubes
1 lime without the peel (or use ony the juice, if you wish)
Leaves of 8 sprigs of peppermint

Of course, you could add sweetener, if you'd like. The lime and mint will add a sort of bitterness to it but I like it that way. This melon was also particularly sweet.

Blend the ingredients for just a few seconds and serve it in chilled glasses with a sprig of mint or a slice of lime, or pour it into a large mason jar if you're taking it with you, like I did, or keep it in a pitcher chilled, to have within reach if you're lucky to be hanging out at home.

Nutrition
Watermelon is very cleansing and it's very rich in lycopene (good for your eyes), high in vitamin C, and even has a notable amount of magnesium (an important mineral for maintaining strong bones).

Hydrating, sweet, and so refreshing...enjoy!

Blessings of Nature...

....all around us.
Have you ever been out of greens, that is, opened your fridge only to be reminded that yesterday you used up your last piece of kale or spinach or whatever used to be there? This happens to me waaaay too often, but the truth is I don't forget, I just simply run out because when I stock up while visiting the farmers market nearby (that is, only once a week during the winter) I simply don't have any more greens to juice or blend after a few days, period. So what's a raw girl to do? Well, let's be reminded that nature has always taken care of us! And even during times when GMO crops are spreading around the world at the speed of light, it seems, there's a place to go for the freshest, highly nutritious, unmolested, purest, wild, tender greens....and that place is called the YARD!

Don't have a yard? Surely you can find a place nearby where you can hike and pick some greens along the trail. Well, I hope you can, for sure you can if you live in the Bay Area...

What is there to find?

Dandelion
Remember the days when you were assigned chores by your parents? I do. And maybe the list included  pulling weeds??? Mine did! Little did I know back then that I was killing stuff we could have eaten. They were considered harmful invaders...haha. I find it really funny looking back.
Now, do you remember the yellow flowers of a weed with long stemmed green leaves that when you picked them released a milk-like substance? How about the puffy ball that you picked to blow on and make a wish? All these memories are describing dandelion. The weed that some health-food stores sell by the bunches for $3-5 a bunch! And it's free to pick. Chances are, you just have to step outside your home and they're there for you. More good news: the more you pick them, the more they'll grow, so you'll have an endless supply of dandelions, the incredibly nutritious, liver cleansing plant, freely provided by nature.

Where to find dandelion?
I've lived in many places and this weed is literally everywhere. I'm pretty sure you won't have a hard time finding some. Go picking!

What does dandelion have to offer?
Since they're dark leafy greens it won't come as a surprise that they're loaded with vitamin K and A, also have a good amount of vitamin B and they're high in minerals such as calcium, magnesium, manganese, and iron. All-in-all, they're very good greens for beautiful skin, strong bones, and for cleansing the liver, as I mentioned before. But wait, would you have guessed that just about two cups of them provide you with 3g of protein?! They also have antiviral qualities and are a good addition to your diet for cancer prevention. Pretty respectable, isn't it?

Ok, let's move on to my new found delicacy...

Miner's lettuce
I've recently learned that these heart-shaped, tender greens, called miner's lettuce (claytonia perfoliata), are edible. I've been picking them over the past couple of weeks and adding them to juice mainly. I even picked a few and ate them just like that out in the yard but they will be a great addition to a salads too. They have a very mild flavor, no wild-green bitterness one might expect, at all.
The leaves and the stems, basically the entire plant is very delicate. They have somewhat of a velvety feel to them when you sweep your hands along the top of a cluster of them.
When they're young, especially when they first pop up, they have heart-shaped little leaves, which later become a different form with a tiny white flower at the center. Quite unique, in other words, easy to identify.

Where to find miner's lettuce?
They might be around anywhere in the Northern states of the U.S. especially during spring time, but this plant I have only seen here, in California. If you can find them where you live (as long as you live somewhere other than California), let me know, please, I'm curious to learn of its whereabouts!

What's in miner's lettuce?
This wild lettuce is famous for having qualities that help prevent scurvy, from which we can guess that they're rich in vitamin C. Wherever you find information about them the same historical fact is mentioned: they got their name from being consumed by the miners during the California Gold Rush to prevent scurvy.

An exert from the fed database http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/claper/all.html  states:

NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The nutritional composition of miner's-lettuce has been determined to be
37.1 percent protein, 42.5 percent total carbohydrate, and 12.4 percent
crude fiber.  The calcium:phosphorus ratio is 0.66:1.0 [37].

Note: be careful when picking them. Do not pull on the stems, if you do, the entire plant will come out with the root. They seem to be barely connected to the earth. You can just pinch them off or use scissors if you wish instead and leave the bottom part of the stem and the root undisturbed. Also, try to not clear a large area because the seeds need to spread for next season. Leaving some scattered will ensure their existence : )

So look around in your yard and see what's waiting for you there. There's not a more eco-friendly way of living. Expect more on "what's in your yard".
Happy Foraging!

♥♥♥

A Salad Dressing You'll Want Every Day

Ok, another favorite of mine, lemongrass, is the pick of the day.
I love salads so much that I really don't like going without one for a day. Remember the party I wrote about yesterday? A woman asked which dish I liked the most (there were dozens of dishes, many of which were more like the raw gourmet kind of foods that took a long time to prepare). And what was my answer? The salad! : ) She was so surprised; she was shocked!...haha. Yes, I do love salads. Naturally, I get to play a lot with creating salad dressings to vary the flavor and nutrition poured over the greens and veggies. My latest favorite is this almond-butter-based, aroma-filled concoction. It's very much like a Thai dressing and it will be wonderful in the summer to toss fresh cucumbers and chilis in it.

Lemongrass Dressing

1 lemongrass

1/4 cup (or more) almond butter

~3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

2 cloves garlic

2-3 tsp coconut sugar or your preferred sweetener

salt

1/2 cup (or less, to taste) water

optional: piece of jalapeno / other hot pepper / dash of ground cayenne 

To prepare:
1. Lemongrass is a very fibrous herb and the outer leaves, most of the top, and the bottom stem are all removed. Only a relatively small piece of the fresh herb you'll end up using.
2. Once you end up with just the core that is much easier to slice, chop it to small pieces to help the blender.
3. Place all ingredients in a blender with only some of the water to begin with so that you can add more as you adjust the flavors when taste-testing.
4. Blend the ingredients on a high speed until you get a smooth, uniform consistency. Taste-test and adjust ingredients.
5. Pour it over your favorite salad ingredients...so yummy.

Note: the dressing will keep in the fridge for days. It will thicken and separate but can be simply stirred and you can add a little vinegar or water if you find it too thick.

The incredible flavor is paired with many health benefits
Lemongrass is a cleanser, in other words, it helps the elimination of toxins. It's a digestive aid and it has warming energy, which means it helps improve blood circulation and this makes it a great cold weather raw food ingredient. It can come to your rescue when fighting a fever (it's even referred to as fever grass at times), coughs and colds, can help lower high blood pressure and balance cholesterol levels.
This grass of wonderful aroma also has antibacterial, antiseptic, and antifungal qualities, is very high in fiber, and rich in minerals especially manganese (a hard-to-get mineral!!!), iron, potassium, magnesium, and zinc. This adds up to a "nutrition facts" label that says eat this to support strong bones, great brain function, and heart health. I still eat it just because it's so delicious : )
Enjoy and have a lovely weekend!

Lineup of Juices

Alright, as I've promised, here are some juice combinations I like. These are all very cleansing and each one is a power shot in itself, an immune system booster, a multivitamin, and so forth. Real vitamins don't come in pill form, flu-shots are what they are (I won't get into that here) and these are cupfuls of nutrition that will easily replace and surpass whatever any of the well-advertised "other" products promise to give your body. SO get the juicer out of your cabinet and get peeling, chopping, and squeeze some juice out of whatever produce you have, or try some of these:

Here's one of my absolute favorite ones. I love pineapple in every form, mainly freshly cut up and consumed immediately but it's quite the winner juiced too. One thing to keep in mind: the enzymes in the pineapple will start breaking down the protein in the greens so you might want to drink this juice right after you made it. Hmm, this is so yummy. Enjoy!

The Sweet Bright & Green 

1 cucumber

2 inch thick slice of a pineapple

piece of ginger

few leaves of greens

Next, a savory one that I love so much, especially after drinking a lot of sweet juice:
It can get pretty boring and sometimes I feel I "need" salt and something savory....that's when I make this, serve it in a bowl, and eat it like soup instead of drinking it.

Savory Savior Amidst The Sweets

1 fat carrot

1 large tomato/several cherry tomatoes

5-6 stalks celery

1 cucumber

2-3 cloves garlic

1/2 cayenne pepper (or add some ground cayenne powder)

optional: 2-3 leaves romaine lettuce, salt

This one is a wonderful liver cleanser. The burdock root is very earthy and, in a way, almost spicy. It has a very distinct taste that doesn't really resemble anything. I like it, sometimes even crave it, ok, not crave it but you know, I really feel like it, or wait, is that the same thing? I don't know :) Anyway, if it's new to you start with a smaller piece and see if you like it:

Earthy Liver Cleanser 

1 lemon (with no peel)

1-2 oranges (with no peel)

1-2 leaves collard greens

3-4 stalks celery

1/2 cucumber

1 small burdock root

piece of ginger

Similarly, just by replacing the burdock root with a small carrot you'll get a somewhat less bright green but sweeter juice, which you might prefer:

Citrus With Greens and Roots

1-2 oranges (with no peel)

1 lemon (with no peel)

1-2 leaves collard greens

3-4 stalks celery

1/2 cucumber

1 small carrot

piece of ginger

Enjoy! Ah, the beauty of creating delicious combinations... Happy Juicing! : )
Love.

Just Beet It!

What have I been up to lately? Lots of things. Some of them are a surprise for now but I'll be sharing with you all in the upcoming posts, promise. First off, I started juicing more so I'll be taking notes of my favorite combinations for you. Here's the first one:

I wasn't targeting a liver cleanse or doing a detox at all, it just so happens that the ingredients combined here could be used for the housekeeping of this precious organ.

The Earthy Liver Cleanser

(Serves 1)

5 stalks celery

1 cucumber (or use a half and add 1 green apple)

1 peeled lemon

1 small beet

1 in (~2.5 cm) piece ginger root

2 leaves of kale (or other dark green leaves like dandelion, which is especially good for liver cleansing)

Feed them through your juicer and drink it up.

Fruits and vegetables to juice for a liver cleanse: dandelion leaves, lemon, burdock root, carrot, beets, apples, garlic, turmeric root, etc.

Happy Juicing! : )