Juicer Recipes Now

Okay, so maybe it’s more like ‘tricking’ them into eating more fruits and vegetables. Hey, it’s for their own good and it certainly won’t ‘hurt them more than it does you’, so let’s solve this problem. One of the best ways to get more nutritious foods into your children’s bodies is to have them drink them. You can juice all sorts of vegetables that you may not have thought of before. Mixing them with the right fruits, yogurt, and natural sweeteners (like honey or sweet fruits) can make it a breeze.

This is one of the more common problems that parents face. In many cases, if these parents would take an honest look at their own diets, the truth would be revealed – they don’t eat them either! Why would your children eat spinach and ‘weird’ stuff like flax seeds or oil if you aren’t consuming these things yourself? The answer: they wouldn’t.

If you’re looking to include some of these natural anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant foods into your diet, this can be a fun and easy way to do it. There are entire sites like the one you’re on dedicated to juicing your way to better health and well being. You can find a variety of recipes here to get you started. Once you know what you like, you can start creating your own. Better yet, have your kids help you create their very own. Let them have some fun with it. Oh, you want some pineapples with your spinach, you bet! The point is, make the process of eating healthier more fun and enjoyable.

This is one of the easiest ways to add more of these important groups into your diet. We’ve heard for many years now about the health benefits of any number of anti-oxidants. These are all found in the fruits you can find in most any grocery store or farmer’s market. You don’t need to take extensive or expensive supplements to get these things into you and your family’s diet.

While we’re on the subject, it is recommended that you eat as much of these foods organic as possible. Some foods, like grapes, strawberries and lettuce families are known to be more highly sprayed with insecticides and other commercial agricultural chemical compounds. You really don’t want these in your body. This is especially true of your children, who will build up higher concentrations of these toxins over time in their bodily tissues.

This is just one more reason to look locally and to your farmer’s markets for fresh, organic produce. Not only may you find some interesting fruit and vegetable choices, but you’ll be helping your local community. You may even find that you build relationships with some of these folks and end up helping your kids get involved in their own habit of lifelong healthy eating.

Dr. Michael J. Funicello is a chiropractor in Gilbert, AZ. He has been in private practice since 1998, serving the communities of the Phoenix-metro area. His particular area of expertise is Network Spinal Analysis or Network Chiropractic, a gentle and progressive form of care. You can learn more or contact him at infinitehealingarts.com.

Last year I bought an Omega Juicer and quickly learned that as much as I loved juicing, it was an expensive habit. I could easily spend $100 alone on just making wheat grass shots, never mind the other drinks I was making every day – sometimes more than once! With a budget firmly in mind, I started concentrating on making the best tasting yet  cheapest drinks I could make. I circled in on using organic carrots as the main ingredient, since they are the most economical option for drinks, and then experimented with ways to liven up the flavor. In this guest post I want to share with you some of the tips I’ve learned for making carrot juice tastier!

1. Cilantro for Refreshment
I’m a cilantro lover, liberally adding it to just about any dish or salad I’m making. But why stop with solid food? Hence, I began to add it to my carrot juice and discovered it compliments the taste very, very well. I know you might be thinking that cilantro is a very strange thing to add, but please try it before you knock it! I’ve converted skeptical friends by having them taste it and they agree, it works. It gives it a nice refreshing, satisfying kick that rounds out the flavor.

2. Crushed Ice for Texture
Crushed ice is another trick I learned early on that makes my drinks tastier. Mainly what I’m going for here is obviously not flavor but something else – texture. I find that adding a small but thick layer of crushed ice to my juice after it’s fully blended improves both the texture and the aesthetic appeal, as the appearance of the ice makes it look more complete.

3. Ginger for Zest
Buying a little bit of ginger root and keeping it on hand goes a long way for altering the taste of your drinks. A small amount of ginger – about the size of a dime – will give it a zesty burst of flavor. Additionally, ginger has many digestive health properties and this is a good way to incorporate those benefits into your diet.

4. Apple for Sweetness
Adding an apple to your carrot juice will make the drink taste lighter and much sweeter. If you have fancy yourself as having a sweet tooth, you will probably find it necessary to sweeten your carrot juice, as it is naturally not very sweet at all. I prefer the tart sweetness of a green Golden Delicious apple for my drinks.

5. Banana for Increased Thickness
One day I added a banana on a whim, without really any idea of how my Omega would treat it. I wasn’t sure if it would really juice or just gunk those up. Turns out it adds a nice thickening to the entire drink, making it a bit more like a carrot smoothie than normal carrot juice. This is a good way to dramatically change the texture, giving the drink more bulk, and add a bit more calories to the drink to make it more suitable as a breakfast replacement.

What other ways do you enjoy making carrot juice?

This article is by Ben Jacobs. If you’re a fan of juicing, raw foods, and radical health, check out my food processor juicer review. Does it really work to combine a juicer and a food processor in one machine? I explore this question by looking at all the combination machines on the market and seeing how well they work – or don’t work – in their goal of a two in one juicing machine.

The old phrase, “You Are What You Eat” is scary in light of what most Americans are putting in their bodies these days. From the antibiotics in meat, to high-fructose corn syrup in almost everything else, the Standard American Diet (SAD) has the nation’s population on the fast track to develop serious disease. For those who manage to eat the recommended five to nine servings of vegetables a day, it’s now clear that the origin of those vegetables and how they’re prepared determines whether they will actually do a body good. Modern agricultural techniques yield fruit and vegetables that have suffered from “the dilution effect,” which is the hyper-absorption of water caused by too much nitrogen fertilizer, resulting in produce with reduced vitamin and mineral content, and less flavor as well.
Processed and cooked food, along with beverages like soft drinks, coffee, tea, and wine acidify the blood and tissue, creating the ideal terrain for molds, funguses, and bacteria to grow. Stress, pesticides and pollution also have acidifying properties.

Raw, organic food grown in mineral-rich soil is the answer to the problem, but in today’s world it can be difficult and expensive to stick with such a pure diet. Fortunately, there are natural, whole food supplements,known as “green superfoods,” which can counter many of the onslaughts our bodies receive while going through the paces of modern life.

Green Superfoods to the rescue

Blue green algae, little green algae, brown-algae seaweed, and cereal grasses comprise the green superfoods. They are better known as Spirulina, Chlorella, Kelp, Wheat Grass, Barley Grass, and Alfalfa. Each one is packed with nutrients that restore the body’s alkaline equilibrium and assist the immune system in combating disease.

Spirulina for energy

If you’re feeling fatigued and generally lacking energy, then Spirulina is the green superfood to help restore stamina and energy levels. Its name comes from its spiral coil shape. Evidence points to the consumption of blue green algae by ancient civilizations. Here are a few examples of how spirulina can benefit your health;

– Contains more protein by dry weight than any other known food
– Contains all the essential amino acids, making it a complete
protein
– A highly digestible protein source for vegetarians and vegans
– An excellent source of essential fatty acids, including GLA
(gamma linolenic acid)
– Helps regulate blood glucose levels
– Contains most of the B vitamins, including folic acid, as well
as vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin D so essential to good
health
– Rich in minerals, especially potassium, which is an ingredient
in many supplements meant to increase energy levels
– Helps regulate the body’s inflammatory response
– Improves focus and mental clarity

Chlorella for detox

Green algae may be the oldest form of plant food on the planet. It’s the very best known source of Chlorophyll and has impressive detoxification potential. This is important because it’s so difficult to keep the modern environment free of pollutants. Trans-fats, refined carbohydrates, heated oils, pesticide residues, artificial flavorings, and colorings are just some of the toxins that may be encountered on a daily basis. Symptoms of toxic overload include; skin problems, body odor, flatulence, irritability, and low energy. Studies have shown Chlorella to be an excellent detoxifying agent, supplying these benefits:

– Flushes out pollutants
– Clears dioxin from breast milk
– Cleanses the bloodstream
– Improves overall bowel health
– Reduces flatulence
– Acts internally as a deodorant
– Freshens the breath
– Helps eliminate skin problems
– Reduces hangovers

Kelp for glandular health

The kelp forests of shallow oceans yield over 300 kinds of brown-algae seaweed. This herb of the sea is rich in minerals, contains 21 amino acids, and has an abundant store of iodine.
In addition, kelp:

– Promotes functionality of the thyroid, adrenal and pituitary
glands
– Maintains healthy hair and skin
– Neutralizes radiation pollution
– Neutralizes heavy metal pollution
– Improves digestion

Cereal grasses for alkalizing

Like all raw greens, Barley Grass, Wheat Grass ,and Alfalfa have an alkalizing effect on the system. Some of their attributes include:

– Superior, easily digested nutrition
– Assistance lowering blood pressure
– Strengthening of the digestive system
– Improvement in cholesterol levels (a decrease in the bad LDL
type and an increase in the good HDL variety)
– Invigoration of the immune system
– Better than vitamins

Green superfoods are whole foods, making them instantly superior to the isolated components and synthetic vitamins created in laboratories. They are easily obtained from health food stores and online sources, and come with clear instructions concerning contra-indications, (such as pregnancy) and daily dosage.

The high nutritive value of green superfoods makes them a viable solution to the deficiencies in the modern diet. By adding a small amount to juice, water, soup, or salad dressing, you can get all your minimal daily requirements of vitamins and minerals at one meal. They are portable and easily taken along on trips so that travel does not have to equate to a break from healthy initiatives. If you are what you eat, then you’ll definitely want to add green superfoods to your diet.

About the Author

Tom Hines, co-owner of NutritionGeeks.com (Minnesota’s #1 Now Foods brand retailer), has been working in the nutrition industry since 1997 and is a retired power lifter. He has a true passion for creatively helping others to learn about health and nutrition, which enhances their lives and well-being. He lives on the prairie in West Central Minnesota, and spends his leisure time coaching youth wrestling, working with his horses, and being play toy #1 for his 3 boys; TJ, Grady, and Brock.

What You Need to Know About Tap Water Toxins

In his book The Ripple Effect, Alex Prud’homme warns that we are facing an imminent global danger of running out of potable water. And although many third world countries already suffer serious problems with access to water, in the U.S., most of people only have to turn on the tap to get water flowing into their homes. However, although our tap water doesn’t cause dysentery, it does contain contaminants and chemicals—including carcinogens—that can cause health problems over time. As Prud’homme explains, these contaminants are increasing at alarming rates.

Fortunately, water filter technology provides some practical ways to deal with the immediate problem. Water filters can eliminate most of the contaminants in tap water. However, many people do not take advantage of this convenient and easily accessible solution.  Many think they are protected by water softener technology. To help you determine whether you need a water filter, take this short True/False quiz. 

I don’t need a water filter because… 

1. The EPA sets standards that make tap water safe.

Trick question. True. The EPA sets standards, but an alarming number of cities don’t meet the standards. Fortunately, you can request a water quality report to make an informed decision about the need for a water filter.

2. We have a bottled water machine. 

True. If you also use the pricey bottled water to cook with, you are probably safe. And many of today’s bottled water machines also heat water, so you won’t be uncomfortable when you bathe in it. 

3. I already have a water softener.

False. Water softening devices do not remove contaminants from the water. They generally use salt to minimize the hardening effects of minerals. So while a water softener may improve the appearance of your shower tiles, even a salt free water softener won’t do much for the safety of your tap water. To remove contaminants, you need a water softener alternative.

4. A filter on my kitchen tap is enough.

True, if you are willing to run to the kitchen when you want to get a glass of water in the middle of the night.  And if you set a schedule, the morning line for brushing teeth at the kitchen sink should move along smoothly.  

5. I have well water, so I don’t need a filter.

False. The contaminants that come in through the tap don’t usually come from the city’s pipes. They get into the groundwater—which is where your well water comes from too. In addition, well water can have other particulates that can occasionally cause your tap water to taste like mud.

We may have serious problems facing us in the future, but the immediate problem of contaminants in tap water has a solution: a whole house water filtration system. Why not use it?

Jessica writes about a wide variety of topics.  She especially enjoys writing about water. You can learn more about water filter technology at http://www.lifesourcewater.com/

Smoothies are a tasty, easy way to increase the nutrients in your diet without increasing your calorie intake too much. They can be used in weight-loss diets as a nutrient-dense, calorie-controlled meal substitute; as a way to add additional fiber or protein to the diet; or as an easily-digested way to increase calorie and nutrient intake for those going through chemotherapy, post-surgical patients, or patients with digestive issues.

Smoothies are versatile and delicious, and can be used to “sneak” healthy foods into a child’s diet, or into your own. Disguising the flavor of healthy foods you don’t care for in a smoothie is an easy way to increase the variety in your own diet, and in the diets of your family members. They can be substituted for high-calorie, nutrient-poor desserts without causing you or your family to feel deprived; and are easily adapted to special diets as well.

Your family doesn’t like dark green leafy vegetables? No problem. Make them a fruit smoothie and toss in a couple of fresh spinach leaves. They’ll never notice they’re in there, but they’ll still get the vitamins and minerals they need.
Are you taking antibiotics and need to replace the good bacteria in your digestive system, but don’t like the flavor of yogurt? A smoothie is the ideal solution. With fruits you enjoy, and a bit of honey for sweetness, you’ll never taste the yogurt.

Are you allergic to cow’s milk, or lactose intolerant? Substitute yogurt made from goat’s milk, soy milk, almond milk, or coconut milk.

Want to lose weight. Try one of my top three healthy smoothie recipes for weight loss.

Love chocolate, but hate all the fat and sugar added to commercial chocolate products? Make a smoothie with a good quality, unsweetened dark chocolate powder or a few chocolate nibs and add just enough honey to keep it from being too bitter. You get all the health benefits of the antioxidants in dark chocolate, without the disadvantages of hydrogenated fats and huge amounts of processed sugar you’ll find in cakes, ice cream or candy bars.

For even more variety, you can substitute sweeteners as well. Instead of honey; try agave nectar, rice syrup, or molasses. They’ll add different nutrients, and each sweetener will provide a different flavor.

Need extra protein in your diet? Add a good quality protein powder or a handful of raw tree nuts to your smoothies. More fiber? Toss in some ground flaxseed, and get the bonus of omega-3 fatty acids as well.

Looking for an antioxidant boost? Blueberries, cherries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and carrots are all great sources.

Author Bio: Daisy Raybould has a passion for solving health problems the way nature intended. She, along with a number of fellow natural health enthusiasts, share their tips, secrets and recipes designed to help you obtain perfect health using the power of nature’s wonders at RevitaliseYourHealth.com