Longevity Series: Juicing Recipes For Health and Superfoods

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Superfoods, regardless of what the nickname may imply, are not food items that guarantee to have you wearing a cape and leaping tall buildings. That said, a diet that is consistently filling your body with superfoods can certainly make you feel like you could stop bullets and run faster than a speeding train. When you add any of these foods to your efforts of juicing recipes for health, you can be assured to get the biggest bang for your buck every time you fire up your super awesome juicer

The term superfood is often used to denote foods with high phytonutrient content. Phytonutrients - or phytochemicals - are those happy little chemical compounds that are found in plants and certain vegetables, the ones that give us the edge on sickness and disease. They have been used for medicinal purposes since time began. Salicin – for example – is a phytochemical that has proven anti-inflammatory (thus pain relieving) qualities. It can be found in the bark of certain Willow Trees. Now don't go running out to the yard for a Willow Tree to chop down and juice, I just thought that was a neat fact to add. Really, leave the trees alone.

I'm not here to give you a history lesson, or wax philosophical on the wonders of homeopathy, (and no, there won't be a test later ;)), but it is good to know that phytonutrients have been long held as a magic bullet in fighting the various physical problems we all face in life. To hammer the benefits of phytonutrients home, the phytochemicals found in fruits and plants have been linked to a reduced risk of cancer, cardio-vascular illness, and known to lessen the severity of common ailments such as colds and flus. This is all due to the antioxidant, fibrous, and anti-inflammatory properties they can manifest in us kind and gentle folks.

This is a smattering of phytonutrients, along with the food items that produce them:
  • Dillapoile – Dill
  • Carvavrol – thyme, oregeno.
  • Quercetin – cranberries, apples, tea and wine, beans
  • Apiole – parsley
  • Myricetin – grapes, walnuts.
Of course the list could go on but needless to say; remember all those foods that people in the know have constantly recommended to you? Well the reason they keep on about it is - in large part - due to the phytochemical content found in such foods, and their knowledge of just how much your body can benefit from such a gift of nature. 

The bottom line when it comes to superfoods is: they are loaded with good calories, often times packing an amazing amount of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, in a very small package. In other words, a loaf of white bread is to superfood as etch and sketch is to art. 

To get the most from your juicing for health program(s) I've compiled a list of potential superfoods that can easily be added to your vegetable/fruit juices. While they won't make you feel compelled to change into tights at the nearest phone booth, they will boost your immune system markedly and have you feeling an excess of good mental and physical energy. 

JUICING SUPERFOODS:
  • Berries: this includes anything from cranberries to blueberries, blackberries, acai berries, goji berries. Basically if it's a berry and you can handle the taste, throw it in your next juicing recipes for health concoction.
  • Greens: chorella, spirulina, spinach, turnip, collards, beets, anything you would consider as lettuce (romaine and green leaf) broccoli, broccoli (yes, I said it twice on purpose because it is THAT good for you), kale, alfalfa, barley.
  • Sea Borne Veggies: kelp, wakame, kombu, dulce.
  • Wheatgrass: Wheat-grass is in it's own category simply because as super-foods go, wheat-grass is a frikin rock star. Look for future posts where I will detail some awesome wheat-grass juicing techniques and juicing recipes.
  • Honey: Again, on it's own for emphasis. If wheat-grass is the Bentley of super-foods, honey is the Lamborghini. I'm not talking about typically store bought and pasteurized honey, I'm talking the real deal RAW honey, that is sold in most organic stores worth a salt. It seems that Winnie the Pooh knew what he was on about, because honey has antibacterial qualities, and some honeys are known for antimicrobial properties. It's been found useful for digestion, bronchitis, and some even swear that honey can get you better gas mileage. (OK, that last bit was a joke) In juices, honey is the great equalizer, since it can make the most disagreeable vegetable tasty in it's own right.
Here's a few Juicing Recipes that incorporate super-foods. Try them, test them, augment them to fit your own taste, and most importantly ... juice them all the time!

Akai Berry Delightalicious:
  • 4 ounces of fresh (frozen if necessary) acai berries
  • juice from ½ lemon
  • 1 banana (peeled)
  • 1 tablespoon honey.

Tropical Magic Medicine:
  • ½ cup peaches
  • ½ cup of pineapple
  • 1 mango (peeled)
  • 1 tablespoon honey.
  • 1 teaspoon of ginger
  • 1 scoop of blueberries (or goji berries)

Most of my more tasty and Uber healthy super-food juices will be detailed in an upcoming book. Included you will find an entire chapter on super-foods, along with 300 + awesome juice recipes, and detailed instructions for making over 50 delicious super-food recipes. And while that might seem like a whole heap of shameless self promotion, if you do happen to pick it up it should become obvious rather quickly that my work stands on it's own merit. ;)

DISCLAIMER: The video below is promoting a website I do not endorse, so I cannot verify that the site will be useful to you. Don't let that stop you from watching the speaker. The video itself is very useful in explaining how super-foods can enhance your quality of life and longevity, and the speaker, David Wolfe, is a certified rock star when it comes to nutrition. So as a disclaimer; while the video and the speaker have been included for your viewing pleasure, the site promotion within the video has not been verified by me. Having rambled all that, you really should listen to this guy, he seriously knows what he's on about. He knows more about nutrition then NASA does about rocket fuel. :)

Cheers!



Juicing For Weight Loss Specifics: The Main Players

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I know it gets confusing around here occasionally, if you come to this site looking for juicing recipes and end up with advice on how to get a six pack, or what's best for living long life. Whether you're here looking for advice on juicing for weight loss, overall health, or just because you love the noise your Uber cool machine makes, sometimes the topics here can get a tad convoluted on first glance. 

Here's the thing; I could give up recipes here all day long, without any discussion on the lifestyle that should revolve around your juicing goals, but in doing so I'm just the becoming the same cookie cutter site as every other web address involved around juicing. Don't get me wrong, the other sites have a place (some more than others) but there's nothing useful at all in me just being a parrot. Plainly, to keep my promise to you, occasionally I have to touch on the other areas in life that should be of paramount importance to anyone involved in juicing. 

But don't fear, today I won't be rattling on about sit ups, yoga, or meditation. Today is strictly a juicing recipes fiesta! Besides, I have already written a great post that properly explains why I'm constantly on about so much other than juicing - you can stop back tomorrow to read it. But now, without further adieu, here's a whole heap of great juices and information on the main players in your kitchen and juicer.  Check in tomorrow folks, more good stuff abounds 'round here. :)


............................. Apples:
Vegetables, in all their nutritious glory, can taste awesome, or they can taste like sweat socks, depending on your personal preference. Well as it turns out, nature has you covered since apples happen to be natures version of Sweet and Low - they are natural flavor enhancers, and can make the most offensive veggie combination taste like your favorite after-workout cocktail. So when you're juicing and having issues with a bitter/boring/blah veggie taste, apples are your friend. 

An Apple A Day:

  • 2 green apples
  • 4 stalks celery
  • 8 stalks bok choy
  • ¼ pound spinach
  • 1 bunch parsley
Wash the stuff (duh!) cut into small sections if at all necessary. Juice the apples and then set it aside, while you juice everything else together. Throw it all together with your green apple juice when finished. In a word, UberAwesomealicious!
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............................. Asparagus:
Some love asparagus, some run screaming for the hills at the mere mention. Me, I'm in between. But asparagus is virtually packed with vitamins and minerals, and always a perfect juicing addition. It's a natural diuretic and helps afflictions such as eczema, acne, and that ever so embarrassing issue I'll whisper for the sensibility of some.... male impotence. 


Spare an Asparagus?:

  • 8 asparagus (remove tough stems)
  • 1 lb of carrots
  • dash of honey or lime juice (to taste)
  • 1 tomato
Juice 'em up and serve!
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............................. Beets:
Beets are are an excellent part of a juice fast, as they are a great way to help your liver detoxify the body. We all know by now that the liver is the body's filtering system yes? As well, many doctors who treat alcoholism have recommended drinking beet juice on the regular. Not that we're all party animals or hapless booze hounds (and I mean no offense to the seriousness of alcoholism), but adding beets to a recipe gives your liver a flak jacket. (*Milk thistle is also known for it's protective properties where the liver is concerned)

Beets are also great for PMS. BTW, if you haven't read it, here's my Juicing Recipes Great PMS Escape article folks. If you have harsh PMS or if you're a significant other in aggressive psychiatric therapy due to you're wifes' PMS, that article is biblical. (Husbands and boyfriends everywhere have already thanked me for that particular piece). 


To Be Toxic, Or ...:

  • 2 apples
  • 1/4 grapefruit (peeled or not - your call)
  • 1 small bunch of grapes (or acai berries)
  • 1/4 lemon - peeled.
  • 1/2 Beet
Again, juice 'em up and serve! It's so good your liver will wake up in the middle of the night an email me a thank you note.
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............................. Berries:
Another one of natures sweeteners, berries are chock full of so many minerals, vitamins, and antioxidant properties that an explanation would take days to write. Berries are blood purifiers, they offer significant protection against heart disease and cancer. Heck, they're beneficial for bladder infections, bad breath, high blood pressure, colds, even fatigue. Need another reason for adding them to your latest greatest juicing concoction? OK, here's one: because I said so!


 Life's Been Berry, Berry Good To Me:

  • 8 large carrots
  • 1/2 large beet
  • 1/2 turnip
  • 1/2 parsnip
  • 5 celery stalks
  • 1/4 rutabaga
  • 1/8 head red cabbage.
  • 5 radishes
  • 1 large apple
  • 1 cup cranberries
Juice 'em up and serve! *recipe courtesy of soymilkquick.com
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............................. Carrots:
Here's a fun fact about carrots you can use to win friends and influence people ... Carrot juice is almost identical to the structure of blood! Betchya didn't know that! Carrots are ubiquitous in the juicing for health lifestyle. I'd venture to say that they're the most commonly juiced vegetable of any. They are considered the most nutritious veggies on the planet, with good reason. Carotene exists in no other food in such quantities. (Hence the name "carrot") Aside from that carrots are loaded with pectin, vitamin C, potassium and fluorine. When juiced, carrots have a sweet taste as well, and great filler for any juice.


Carrot Creation:

  • 4 carrots
  • 1 beet with greens
  • 5 leaves of lettuce
  • 4 leaves of spinach

Do I really need to keep mentioning that you need to wash these things? Anyways, juice 2 carrots, the entire beet, using the remaining 2 carrots to push the lettuce and spinach through the juicer. *It's not necessary to use the carrots to push through your leafy stuff if you own an awesome and Uber great juicer with many fantastic helpful tools. (hint hint)
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............................. String Beans:
Juicing string beans with brussel sprouts is great for diabetics, since the effect is very close to the natural insulin the pancreas produces in our body. Need I say more? OK. These beans are chock full of vitamin K, which aids blood clotting. Vitamin K has also been linked as helping prevent osteopenia and osteoporosis, and is a combatant against colon cancer. So when you see string beans sitting at your local organic produce section, grab some and juice them (and add them to your meals often).


String Bean Blowout:

  • 1 large handful of string beans
  • 2 apples (green or red - your choice)
  • 1 LB carrots
  • 1/8 - 1/4 inch ginger root (to taste)

Juice away! 

Future posts will continue detailing the fruits and veggies you should be regularly consuming. Not wishing to bore you with self promotion, but in my upcoming book there's a very detailed nutritional breakdown on many of these "main players" - along with more juicing recipe options for getting these Uber foods into your body via the almighty juice machine.

Cheers!