We have established that I am rather enthusiastic about making juices and smoothies, which inevitably leads me to buying much produce that I don’t grow, in bulk.

Many of my juices are based with carrots, apples or oranges, to which I add berries, either frozen or fresh. And seeing as I consider myself (almost) an expert at buying produce for my smoothie and juice endeavors, I thought I would share!

Freshness

The produce used for smoothies and juices should be as fresh as possible, unless of course they are intended to be frozen. This ensures that you get the maximum amount of nutrients possible.

It’s worth mentioning that for those of us who reside in winter climates, frozen produce is an excellent option, as it is generally frozen at its peak so as to lock in the key nutrients. In the summer months, scour your local market and buy in bulk and freeze your own summer produce for use in the winter months!

Storage

All fruits and vegetables benefit from being stored in cool, dry conditions. However, if the fruit is slightly under ripe and too firm to be juiced, it will certainly benefit from a sunny windowsill for a few days, as this will expedite ripening.

Store similar produce together and separate from others, since various fruits and vegetables ripen differently. One can affect the other, leading to premature aging.

Organic Produce

It is no secret that organic produce is the more expensive option, but there are clear advantages to springing the extra cash. We limit our exposure to pesticides, fungicides and fertilizers when we opt for organic produce.

There are those that even argue that organic produce tastes better, as it hasn’t been bulked up with excess water – meaning that our blends and juices benefit by having a more robust flavor. This is for you to decide. However, I would suggest you refer to the dirty dozen list and choose organic for anything on that is named.

Success at juicing and blending is largely based on the quality of the produce that you use, so I hope this guide shines some light on how to buy your produce wisely.

So your shiny new juicer has just arrived, and you’ve got it all set up and plugged in.

What now? Do you fling yourself into a frenzy of beet greens, nettle tea, and broccoli florets? Do you fill your juicer with stalks of kale and hope it turns out tasting like chocolate milk?

We’ve got your back on this one. Try this simple, sweet-tasting recipes that will have you asking for a refill.

The Ingredients

• 4 carrots
• 1 cucumber
• Handful of spinach
• 1 lemon
• 1 apple or pear

The Directions

First of all, wash everything! Peel the cucumber and lemon, then core the apple or pear. Carefully feed the produce into your juicer, alternating between soft produce (cucumber, spinach, fruits) and three of the carrots. Finish off with the last carrot to make sure everything gets pushed down and juiced.

Pour the juice into a frosty glass and sip away, preferably through one of those fancy, curly fluorescent straws.

The Flavor

This recipe balances the sweetness of carrot, apple, and/or pear with the grassiness of spinach and the tartness of lemon. (Let’s be honest: can anyone taste the cucumber? We can’t!) It’s a great mix of accessible flavor for the juicing neophyte. Spinach is one of the easiest leafy greens to disguise in a juice—its flavor is gentle, and quickly overpowered by sweeter fruits and vegetables.

The Benefits

Juicing breaks down the cell walls of the fruits and vegetables, making the nutrients easily absorbable and digestible. Essentially, the juicing action does the chewing for you, so you can consume huge amounts of fruits and vegetables without having to gnaw on a bag of carrots all day.

It’s important to add plenty of vegetables to your juice, since pure fruit juice can lead to a spike in blood sugar.

Spinach is packed full of vitamins A, C, and B2, as well as manganese, folate, iron, calcium, and potassium. Carrots are your friendly neighborhood powerhouse source of vitamin A (and they ain’t bad when it comes to vitamin K, C, and potassium, either). And the vitamin C punch of the lemon will help your body absorb the iron in the spinach. Win-win-win!

Photo attribute: www.nicolewaterhouse.com

Blend 'em up or juice 'em down?

To blend or to juice? - that is the question. Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to chug a frosty glass of sweet green nectar, or to slurp up a creamy concoction with a spoon…ahem.

You get the point. Personally, we’re big proponents of the blend and juice theory (otherwise known as “get your greens whenever you can, however you can”), but if you’ve ever vacillated between the two, you know that each version has its pros and cons. So we’re here to help you decide.

There’s no right answer—it all comes down to what you want out of your veggies.

Juicing: It’s all about VOLUME

The biggest pro of juicing is that it enables you to get a ton of nutrients, fast. Are you planning to sit down and eat a head of kale, a plate of spinach, a couple of carrots, and a pear? Of course not—but with juicing, you can drink it all up in mere seconds.

Juicing reduces fruits and veggies to pure, liquid nutrients — no fiber involved. Basically, juicing does the chewing for you, so all the vitamins are delivered into your system much faster than they would be if you gnawed on a stalk of celery.

If you’re sick, or have a sensitive digestive system, juicing is especially beneficial, since your body doesn’t have to work hard to get a huge rush of nutrients. Of course, you have to be careful—pure fruit juice can make your blood sugar levels go wild. Add plenty of vegetables to your juices to avoid a spike in blood sugar.

Blending: It’s all about FIBER

When you blend a stalk of kale, all of the plant’s valuable fiber is still contained in the smoothie. The high fiber content of a green smoothie is part of why it’ll keep you much fuller than a glass of juice.

The blending action destroys the cell walls of fruits and veggies, making them easy for your system to digest, but the presence of fiber helps your body regulate your blood sugar levels. If you’re looking to replace a meal with something green, a smoothie is your best bet.

And let’s not forget that smoothies give you the option to add fancy, non-veggie ingredients like hemp, flax, or chia seeds.

Photo attribute: www.melodybeefarms.com

What do you think? Weigh-in using the comment form below!

This morning I had an epiphany. After slowly coming to consciousness from what appears to be a chocolate-induced full-body coma (I don’t remember much of what happened last night, but there’s evidence – a few dozen individually-wrapped candy bars wrappers littering the perimeter of my living-room couch like plastic Sloppy Joe’s rum cups line the gutters of Duval Street the morning following the last day of Fantasy Fest in Key West), I realize I need a shower. I also need some water. And some fresh juice.

And then it hit me! It was a shockingly joyous and exhilarating revelation, like the first time a four-year old discovers he can burp! One, Two, Three…they ran through my cranium so fast, I could barely keep up with the incredible wave of inspiration. I scrambled to jot down what was suddenly flooding my thoughts.

I grabbed a pen and paper, and wrote furiously. When I was finished, I sat back and took a deep breath. I raised the paper eye-level, and adjusted my focus, so that I could decipher the meaning of it all. And that’s when I realized I had become the humble recipient of a powerful, unexplain-able force - divine intervention, indeed – I’ve been called on to release the Ten Commandments of Juicing.

Having the blessing of the juice and fruit Gods reining through my chosen blood, I now bestow this incredible fountain of righteousness and wisdom on the meaning of juicing; to codify the path of the harvest believers to live a life of happiness, health, and of course, juice.

1. Thou Shall Put NO Task Before Juicing - get your juice in the morning. Not only will it give you the energy and nutrients to tackle your full day, but it will help you get into a consistent routine and give you something to look forward to each day.
2. Thou Shall Not Imitate Juice - many find supplement and vitamins to be a quick and easy alternative to juicing. The problem is that a growing body of researchers have found dietary and nutritional issues with vitamins and supplements, so I can’t suggest taking them. Besides, can anything really replace the taste of fresh juice?
3. Thou Shall Not Take The Name of Juice In Vain – when your juicer clogs, don’t curse it. It’s little motor can’t take that kind of harsh criticism. Unclog it, and try chopping your fruits and veggies into smaller chunks.
4. Remember To Juice on Holidays – I love holidays as much as the next guy, but it’s easy to get caught up in the whole “eat, drink and be merry” thing! Remember to juice on the holidays to keep up your regiment. Try some seasonal spices, fruits or veggies to keep it fun!
5. Honor Thy Juicer – keep it clean and use it properly. Your juicer should last quite a while, as long as you treat it with care!
6. You Shall Waste No Pulp – check out all the cool things you can do with juice and veggie pulp!
7. You Shall Not Commit Fruit-dultry – we know those Ring Dings look pretty awesome right there on the corner of the supermarket isle (damn those clever marketing reps!). We must avoid temptation to turn away from our juice to junk food!
8. You Shall Share Thy Juice – juice for your kids, neighbors, friends, and for get-togethers. This post was written last winter, but it’s still pretty cool. It’s my 4 favorite holiday drink recipes using fresh juice to entertain with!
9. Thou Shall Read Thy 877MyJuicer Blog – keep in touch with us! Post to our Facebook wall, join our mailing list, and Tweet at us!
10. Thou Shall Share Us – tell your friends about the blog, so they too can get a massive 15% off coupon on any product from the store!

Now go, and spread the mighty word of Juice!

This winter came and left in a blink of an eye. For most of the nation, our winter was especially warm. And now it’s getting warmer!

At our house, we’re playing outside almost daily, and my kiddos have started with their nonstop request of popsicles!

As a mother, I want to be able to give my children whatever their little hearts desire, but I don’t want to put junk into their bodies that doesn’t belong there. This includes most popsicles (bogus) ingredients: high fructose corn syrup, sugar, and artificial colors.

The amount of sugar we’re eating is alarming. The fructose in sugar and in high fructose corn syrup goes directly to our liver and is converted into fat, which can cause health issues like heart disease and diabetes.

Red Dye #40, Yellow Dye’s #5 & #6 have been linked to migraines and hyperactivity. Red Dye #40 has also shown to lower IQ levels and is banned in most countries in Europe.  We notice an immediate positive difference in our home when we eliminate these foods.

How to make your own healthy juice pops!

Even though it’s sometimes tough for me to get my kiddos to drink my juicing creations, I can ALWAYS get them to enjoy it in a frozen juice pop! You can find the frozen juice pop molds just about anywhere, even super markets. They are relatively inexpensive at about $5 for your basic set of 6 pops.

Simply juice or blend your favorite concoction and pour into the molds. Place the molds into the freezer for about 4 hours so they can set, and enjoy!

If you want to make a super fancy juice pop, try adding berries into the mold.

Or you can make a layered frozen pop by pouring one juice into the mold, filling it 1/2 of the way. Freeze for 2 hours. Pour another juice on top of the 1^st, filling the mold the rest of the way and freeze for 2 more hours. The variations on the layered pop are endless!

Try one of our favorite Juice Pop recipes!

Blended Strawberry Juice Pops (pictured)

• 2 cups Fresh Whole Strawberries
• 1 tbsp Sugar
• 1 tbsp Torini’s Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup
• 1 cup cold Water
• 1 tbsp Lemon Juice, freshly squeezed

Cut strawberries into thin slices. Sprinkle over with 1 tbsp sugar and 1 tbsp vanilla syrup. Leave in the fridge for two hours until the juice starts to come out. Process the strawberries with cold water and lemon juice in a blender. Strain the juice if desired and serve chilled.

Rise and Shine Pop

• 4 Carrots
• 2 Oranges

Cut the tops off of the carrots. Peel the oranges. Juice them up, pour into the molds and freeze!

Pina Colada Frozen Juice Pops

• 1 (5 oz) can pineapple chunks (with juice)
• 1 (10.5 oz) can coconut milk
• 2 bananas, peeled
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Blend all ingredients and pour into molds. Place in freezer for 2-4 hours.

Don’t have a blender or juicer?

No problem-o! Simply mix these ingredients together, pour into the molds and freeze!

Cinnamon Pops

• 1 cup plain nonfat yogurt
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

What is your favorite DIY Frozen Juice Pop recipe?

Juicing is quickly becoming all the rage, with juice bars popping up all over the place. Not to mention the juice cleanse craze that seems to be sweeping the nation. I bet small appliance stores are having a hard time keeping juicers on the shelves, with everyone wanting to get in on the action.

But before you up and buy a juicer of your own, there are few housekeeping rules to know.

The organic versus non organic war rages on, and I don’t intend to weigh in here; however, there are a few things you should be concerned with when juicing.

There is a term called the “Dirty Dozen”, and it refers the fruits and vegetables with high levels of pesticide residue. Sometimes eating organic can get pricey, especially in winter climates. But with this list we can be sure that we at least know what we’re getting into, and therefore can make educated decisions about what we should be consuming organically.

Whether you eat organically or not is especially important if you’ll be juicing your fruits and veggies.

The Dirty Dozen, in terms of the highest to the lowest pesticide residue measured on average:

• Apples
• Celery
• Strawberries
• Peaches
• Spinach
• Imported Nectarines
• Grapes
• Sweet Bell Peppers
• Potatoes
• Domestic Blueberries
• Lettuce
• Kale/Collard Greens

When I first came across this list, I was surprised and a little bit saddened as some of my favorite fruits and vegetables have the dishonor of being named dirty. But I also felt empowered that at least now I knew.

Immediately I began buying the aforementioned produce organic or local, via the farmer’s market, because I believe buying local and knowing my produce purveyor provides me the luxury of asking key questions, such as “is this sprayed?”

I also set out to find what fruits and vegetables were more safe, containing less pesticide residue. Luckily I also found “The Clean Fifteen”- such cute names they give these lists! Happily, this list contained some of my favorites as well!

• Onions
• Sweet Corn
• Pineapples
• Avocados
• Asparagus
• Sweet Peas
• Mangoes
• Eggplant
• Domestic Cantaloupe
• Kiwi
• Cabbage
• Watermelon
• Sweet Potatoes
• Grapefruit
• Mushrooms

So many options, no?!

How to juggle between buying organic and non-organic

Now when I am feeling the budgetary pinch, for whatever reason, I tend to stick with the clean fifteen for my juice and smoothie contents. Also I have found that frozen organic varieties tend to be cheaper and last longer, due to the nature of them being frozen.

So the next time you juice, ask yourself, am I being “clean” or am I being “dirty”?

I was at a conference this weekend, spending my days in rooms full of people networking, shaking hands and sharing re-circulated air. It was awfully busy – late nights, early morning and meals that had little emphasis on health, but rather convenience.

And wouldn’t you know it – I can feel myself getting sick. I’ve got the ticklish throat, mild aches and an overall tired feeling that I cannot seem to shake, on the eve of a coming getaway, no less.

It figures.

I leave for my weekend sojourn in exactly two days, so how do I kick this sickness in the butt without having to set foot inside a pharmacy? You guessed it – juice!

My bet on juice as the cure

Whenever I am in a time crunch, like this one, I look to juice to help cure what ails me, for fast relief. Now, there are many juice combinations that are guaranteed to keep us healthy as a measure of prevention, but when sickness is at the front door, there a few juices that get the job done quite like citrus juice.

Citrus juice is packed with vitamin C, well known for being an extremely powerful antioxidant, with an ability to relieve and reduce many sicknesses and keep our body systems working at optimum level. The antioxidant powerhouse that is vitamin C is found in abundance in lemons, limes, grapefruit and oranges.

Typically you can often find me, early in AM, taking a shot of lemon juice on any given day, anyway. However, during this conference weekend, I let my routine get away from me – and that’s a lesson learned.

So this morning as I awoke, feeling less than stellar, I decided that I was going blast my malady with nutrients. I’ve been drinking juice all day – but specifically citrus juice.

My juice combination to relieve sickness

I combine two oranges, one grapefruit, one orange, one lime, and one lemon. You’d think the blend would be sharp and sour, characteristic of citrus fruits, but the sweetness of the orange takes the edge off quite nicely.

I will be drinking this juice blend three times today and three times tomorrow. Combined with rest, I firmly believe that wellness will be mine. I’ll report back soon!

With that, it’s back to my juicer and then back to bed.

What are your favorite juice blends to help relieve sickness? Share with us in the comments below!

During my pregnancies, I didn’t have Morning Sickness – I had All Day Sickness that lasted the entire nine months.  There wasn’t much that would bring me relief, so I was willing to try anything and everything. This is when I discovered a little root called ginger.

You can find ginger root at your local supermarket or specialty store. It typically costs about $1.99 a pound and will survive for up to 3 weeks if stored in a plastic bag in your refrigerator.

To relive my nausea, I’d peel the root and slice a one inch chunk into 15 pieces, then boil the chunks in water for 30 minutes, and viola! I had a tea that settles the tummy. Little did I know that the power in ginger was oh so much more than it’s awesome soothing abilities.

What else can ginger do for you?

•  In addition to helping with nausea, ginger also relives bloating and gas!
•  Ginger contains antioxidants and phytochemicals. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory that helps arthritis, asthma, and even migraines.
• In the battle against heart disease, it prevents cholesterol from oxidizing and lowers your LDL (lousy) cholesterol. Ginger also lowers your triglycerides, which are important as a mechanism for storing your unused calories.
• Ginger helps prevent blood clots, which then lowers your risk of stroke and heart attack.
•  In the home, ginger is used to treat coughs, colds, and congestion. Ginger also acts as an antihistamine to help with allergies.
•  Ginger juice can also be used on snake bites. As a natural pain killer it provides immediate relief for tooth aches and minor burns!
•  The University of Minnesota conducted a study that found ginger may slow the growth of colorectal cancer cells (colon cancer).
•  A study conducted at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center found that when ginger powder was applied to ovarian cancer cells it induced cell death.
•  Heartburn sufferers can find relief in the root. It also helps protect against ulcers and gall stones.
•  And ladies…ginger can help with those awful menstrual cramps!

Impressive, right? My husband calls it the miracle spice!

Juicing with ginger!

Ginger can be added to almost all your favorite juicing recipes! The daily recommendation is 5g, so I usually use recipes that call for 1 inch of ginger.

Kick start your morning with this simple recipe (pictured above):

• 8 medium Carrots
• 3 Apples
• 1 inch of Ginger

Remember to wash your fruits and veggies before juicing, especially fruits that have a wax coating – like apples. The ginger adds a nice finish to the juice and you’ll find yourself with a boost of energy!

Here is a yummy recipe that will also get you going. Literally.

• 3 medium Apples
• 3 large Pears
• 1 inch of ginger

This recipe is a mild laxative, so it’s great for regulating bowel movements.

For a sweet green juice, try this:

•  1 cucumber
•  1 carrot
•  1 green apple
•  1/4 cup parsley
•  1/4 cup mint
•  1 stalk of celery
• 1/2 inch ginger
• 1/2 lemon (peeled)

Cucumber is great for your skin and the celery is a natural diuretic, helping with the unwanted water weight!

What is your favorite Ginger juicing recipe?

Tell us in the comments below!

What is the Chicoine family’s Marathon of Health all about?

Dr. Ed Chicoine, a quiet chiropractor from Vancouver, Canada, and his family of 6 started their Marathon of Health on May 8, 2011. The family had resolved to run about 12,500 miles(!), from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic, crossing the Canada to Quebec, then heading southbound through New York to Boston, cutting through Tennessee and across the southwest to Pheonix. They’ll be coming through our neighborhood in San Diego, before turning north and heading home!

While the feat is physically amazing in and of itself, it’s the message they are bringing to towns all across the nation that are inspiring thousands.

The Marathon of Health is aiming to raise at least $5 million of more that will be donated to various charities such as Kid SportCanada, Right to Play and Get America Fit, and other organizations whose mission is in helping to raise awareness and support for children’s fitness not only in North America, but also across the globe.

They’re also collecting signatures for their petition in an effort, as their website states, “To create one strong voice and demand change from the food, fitness and health industries, and government.”

Preachin’ Veggies

The group is speaking to children and families about adopting and sticking to a healthy, physical lifestyle and diet. Fruits and vegetables are the centerpiece of that message, as they discuss how these foods are loaded with vitamins and nutrients. All it takes is a little will power and practice to begin swapping out sodas, snacks and other foods that are loaded with calories, sugar and preservatives with fruits and veggies.

And maybe we can learn a thing or two from the Chicoine family, too. I’m in no position to run across two countries. But their efforts are inspiring; it’s helped to remind me of the importance in sticking to a healthy lifestyle, diet and exercise, and be more conscious when I recognize that the daily grind of life is getting in the way.

Your very own Marathon of Health!

Here’s some tips we can take away for sticking to your own healthy, physical, everyday regiment if you find life getting in the way like I do!

• Early to bed and early to rise. Sleep has been proven to dramatically increase our energy levels and overall health, especially in individuals who are used to being up late at night and getting up late in the morning, who then make the switch.
• Doing some morning stretches (5 minutes worth, even!) helps relieve joint and muscle pain.
• Eat a big, hearty breakfast, a medium-portioned lunch, and a small dinner.
• Brisk, morning walks (15-25 minutes), even just a few times a week, will strengthen your heart and probably lengthen your life span, in addition to all the short-term benefits.
• Eat more fruits and veggies. Our second grade teacher was right after all!
• Forgo the elevator. Take the stairs once or twice a week, at least.
• When parking your car, park as far away as possible, whether while shopping or at work.

Any more tips you’d like to share? Please do so in the comments!

Although people would be inclined to think that a seven-day detox would be seven miserable days subsisting on watery concoctions that leave much to be desired, detoxification has come a long way. Gone are the days of cayenne pepper and maple syrup. Juices, smoothies and soups are all power-packed with vegetables, key phyto-nutrients and antioxidants bursting out of them at the seems to help jump start our bodies.

In this series of articles, I’m going to explain how to put together your own healthy and effective detox plan for morning, noon and night, without the low energy and hunger.

Although I’m not an advocate of completely avoiding certain foods groups, while cleansing you’ll want to avoid dairy (except Greek yogurt), gluten, meat, cheese, fatty nuts (except nut milk), condiments, sugar, and of course the usual suspects: soda, caffeinated beverages and alcohol.

Upon rising

Every day upon rising, have the juice of one lemon in a glass of lukewarm water; this acts as a liver cleanser. This is a simple behavior that can have a huge impact on the way we feel daily. Check out Lyric’s post last month about how/why lemons clean out our livers.

Breakfast

Each morning, no later than two hours after waking up, enjoy a breakfast that consists of whole grains with a protein source. This can be achieved by making a smoothie with protein powder, fruits, milk, and Greek yogurt.

The importance of a healthy breakfast cannot be overstated, especially when cleansing – we must start the day feeling full and satisfied to avoid the inclination to indulge later. When we get hungry, that is when the cravings get stronger. And smoothies are known as a nutrient-dense food, which provides us with the energy that will keep us going strong until the next meal.

This tangy morning sipper is a perfect way to wake up, and helps to fill us up at the same time! Rich in antioxidants and protein-packed from the Greek yogurt – I couldn’t think of a more perfect detox breakfast smoothie.

Raspberry Zinger

• ½ cup Greek yogurt
• ½ cup romaine lettuce
• 1 cup frozen raspberries
• Juice and zest of ½ lime
• ½ cup water

In a blender, combine all the ingredients until smooth. You may need more water – if so add in ¼ cup increments.

What other kinds of morning detoxifying rituals do you enjoy? Share with me in the comments!