Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Power of Fresh, Raw Fruit & Vegetable Juice - Part 2

Labor Day Blessings To All! I can't believe the summer is nearly over . . . sure has been a hot and dry one here in my neck of northern coastal Maine! My organic, heirloom tomatoes are ripening quickly - finally - and are at least 1-2 pounds a piece . . . absolutely huge, sweet and tasty. Winter squashes and the pumpkin patch are sweetening up nicely, too. Mother Nature plus my good garden soil has sure produced a delicious bounty this summer. The squashes will be enjoyed long into winter.

Juice Blends & Singlular Taste Sensations

In the blog articles that will follow over the next couple of months, I will be sharing recipes that are tasty juice blends derived from a variety of fruits and vegetables. But if satisfying, single-ingredient simplicity is what you are after, you can always whip up a fresh and frothy glass of pure carrot juice (one of my personal favorites), or try tart and tangy Granny Smith apple juice, or a potassium-packed glass of straight-from-the-garden tomato juice - a late summer delight here in my state of Maine. FYI . . . my book, "Raw Energy" (the source of these blog articles), is all about integrating delicious, nutrient-and enzyme-rich, energizing snacks into your diet, so have fun, be creative, and don't be afraid to experiment with unfamiliar flavor combinations. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you can come up with!

A word to the health-wise: Fresh juices oxidize quickly - in other words, their rich nutrient bounty rapidly diminishes with exposure to oxygen. Always drink fresh juices immediately after juicing to derive optimum benefit. As an alternative, though not the ideal way to consume fresh juice, minimal nutrient loss will take place if stored properly for a short period of time. So if you'd like to drink your juice several hours after making it for an energizing snack at work or school, or following a workout at the gym, simply store it in an airtight container such as an insulated beveral bottle immediately after making it, and keep chilled. Consume within eight hours.

Todays' Part 2 of our discussion of fresh juices and health will include a fabulous veggie juice recipe for you to enjoy. Drink this "live" veggie cocktail daily for two weeks and I guarantee that your youthful vitality will spring forth once again. Your cells utilize the health benefits of this yummy "salad in a glass" almost immediately. If you consume an acid-producing, premature age-promoting diet (as most Americans do), heavy in meat, dairy, eggs, fast-food, fried foods, coffee, soda, and refined carbohydrates, then this is the drink for you. It will help to alkalize and normalize the body's chemistry.

V-5: Staying Alive Vegetable Juice Cocktail

Ingredients:
- 4 stalks celery
- 1/2 medium bell pepper (any color), seeded, stem removed
- 6 medium carrots
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 1 medium cucumber

Directions:
Juice the ingredients together. Stir well before serving. Pour into glasses and enjoy.

Yield: 2 or 3 generous servings

A Good Source Of: balanced vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin C, beta-carotene, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, calcium, silicon, and sodium


No time to juice???? I do understand . . . we're all very busy these days. I have a solution. On the market now, there are low-temperature juice powders available that are quite wonderful to use on a daily basis and nearly as good as fresh juicing. Hallelujah Acres, www.hacres.com retails dried barley, beet, and carrot juice powders that taste pretty good and also offers raw snack bars, among other products. Give them a try.

There's another product called "Juice Plus" that I simply adore and as a licensed, holistic esthetician, concerned about the health of my hair, skin, and nails, and youthful vitality, it is a product I won't do without. It is in capsule form and is made from fresh, high quality fruits and veggies. Juice Plus Orchard Blend (red capsule) and Juice Plus Garden Blend (green capsule) - between them - contain 17 total fruit and veggie varieties. The powders are concentrated fruit and veggie juices made using a low-temperature process that preserves the enzymes and nutrients. The dark purple capsule, Juice Plus Vineyard Blend, contains a wide variety of dark purple and red fruits, enzymes, and amino acids that are ultra-potent anti-oxidants. I wouldn't go a day without taking my Juice Plus.

Juice Plus also comes in flavorful, sugar-free, nutritious, chewable "gummies" - that children especially love as do elders and those who cannot or won't swallow capsules. I consider this product a true FIND! And . . . I don't recommend many products - because most don't meet my strict requirements. You can find out more about Juice Plus by going to my other website, www.rawenergy-juiceplus.com. Feel free to contact me through my website: www.stephanietourles.com or through Facebook is you have any questions about juicing or my product recommendations.


NOTE: This article was adapted from the book, "Raw Energy - 124 Raw Food Recipes for Energy Bars, Smoothies, and Other Snacks to Supercharge Your Body", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing 2009. The information is true and complete to the best of the author's knowledge. She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.

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