Juice Cleanses seem to be increasingly popular these days. After a friend mentioned the topic to me, I did some research and planned to do one; so, I am writing a post about juice cleanses and my experience.
Juice Cleanses are seen by many people as an excellent way to lose weight. It may indeed cause people to lose weight; however, it should be seen as a "reset button." What I mean is that a juice cleanse should be seen as a detox, instead of an efficient way to lose weight. During a Juice Cleanse, an individual drinks fresh juices. These can either be found at a store made specifically for a juice cleanse or one might choose to make the juices with fruits and veggies in a juicer(not a blender). Since the person is drinking juice and not consuming fibers, the body pushes everything else out of the system quickly. The body is able to more easily retain vitamins, minerals and nutrients and leaves the body feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. Juice cleanses can last anywhere from 2-60 days.
When I decided to do a juice cleanse, I did it when i had a few "dead(er) days." I had just gotten home from a month of traveling. While I was traveling, everything I ate was actually pretty yummy. However, everything also was being cooked in bulk. That makes me nervous about what exactly was in my food. At the end of this adventure, I had three days where I saw a juice cleanse would be perfect. I only did one for three days because I was still a little skeptical of the entire idea. I juiced veggies in a juicer. For my three days, all my fruits and veggies cost less than $20. (If you have trouble finding good prices, Find your local farmer's market and GO! They usually have excellent prices.) The first day I was not hungry until I smelled BBQ. I hate pork, but my stomach started growling as I smelled it in the hallways of the office building. I drank a juice for breakfast, and then while I watched everyone eat their BBQ, I drank another juice. For dinner I had another juice. If I wanted to continually sip on a juice, just as a snack, I would add water to them and make them last longer. So I drank juices. I would save the pulp because I felt guilty throwing it out. (I have made pulp muffins for breakfast recently. If you have a sweet tooth, top them with all natural honey and you are set.) It was also very important to stay hydrated so I drank lots of water, coconut water and organic herbal teas. During a juice cleanse a person should not have caffeine, so I gave it up. That was huge for me. I definitely think the second day was the hardest day. I woke up with no energy. I should have added lemon to a juice and ginger to more juices so my metabolism got going. I learned my lesson the hard way.
One of my favorite recipes was beets and grapes. Beets and grapes sound weird together, but let me tell you that was one
of the best juices I had. My other favorite was an apple, lemon and
orange. I found recipes online and then I would tweak them, depending on
what I had.
The first day after my juice cleanse, I took it easy on foods. My body had stopped taking in as many calories as it was used to so my diet was mainly fruits and veggies. After just having a grapefruit for breakfast, I felt satisfied and energized. I think one thing I learned after the juice cleanse was portion control. I hear this all the time from nutritionists and now I see it playing in my own eating habits. You don't have to finish that meal. Throw it out or throw it in a Tupperware, refrigerate it and pop it in the oven for a few (if it needs it) the next day. Do not even get me started on my microwave rant. That's another post for another day. You should not eat meats for a day or two. So, I stuck to fruits and veggies the first day. the second day I made muffins with the leftover pulp I had. Before my juice cleanse I had had trouble with running a steady pace for more than 8 minutes. A few nights after my cleanse I ran close to 30 minutes at a steady pace and I think the juice cleanse really helped that. I have also not had the need for caffeine in the morning. I have been more energized throughout my days. There have been times I have actually craved juices, instead of food.
A question I have been asked a lot is:Did you lose weight? The answer is: I am not sure, and I really do not care. Someone, not knowing I had done the juice cleanse asked if I had lost weight. I told them about the juice cleanse and said maybe. However, like I said earlier, I wanted to press the "reset button." My main goal was not to lose weight.
Definitely want to do another juice cleanse in the futurer to detox. So thankful for the lessons it taught me.
Live Healthy. Be Happy.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Oink?
Pigs say oink. Some pigs become pork. What are we doing to our bodies when we decide to eat pork?
Anybody remember the Middle Ages Black Plague? The rats on the ships are thought to have spread it. We are doing something similar when we get our pork imported. China is the largest importer of pigs, and over 100 viruses in the United States have come from dead pig meat (pork) from China. We all know about the huge "swine flu" epidemic that happened a few years ago. Some believe it is from the big, but the evidence does not seem to be concrete. However, there are other diseases to fear if you eat pork.
For a moment, stop and think about what pigs do all day. They roll around in mud, eat mud, eat anything in the mud, and eat what is basically trash by human standards; and we are putting that into our bodies? The human body is not a garbage disposal. The pig's digestive system works in a rather fast and sloppy manner. Unlike many other animals eaten by humans, it takes about 4 hours for a pig to digest his/her food. Pigs also have no amount of sweat glands. Consequently, many of the toxins are left in the tissue that later end up in the bodies of those who consume pork.
Pigs also are carriers of many parasites. Even once the pig is cooked, the parasites may not be killed. The leading disease caused by these parasites is trichinosis. This happens when the larva of a trichinella worm is eaten. The trichinella worm decides the best place to live is in the pigs muscles and can sometimes end up in the human body. This disease and its varying symptoms can last for weeks or even months. There are many other parasites too that can cause harm to the body and an effort should be made to not cause harm to our bodies.
There are many helthy alternatives to pork. However do your research and carefully consider your meat before buying and consuming.
Remember: Live Healthy. Be Happy.
Anybody remember the Middle Ages Black Plague? The rats on the ships are thought to have spread it. We are doing something similar when we get our pork imported. China is the largest importer of pigs, and over 100 viruses in the United States have come from dead pig meat (pork) from China. We all know about the huge "swine flu" epidemic that happened a few years ago. Some believe it is from the big, but the evidence does not seem to be concrete. However, there are other diseases to fear if you eat pork.
For a moment, stop and think about what pigs do all day. They roll around in mud, eat mud, eat anything in the mud, and eat what is basically trash by human standards; and we are putting that into our bodies? The human body is not a garbage disposal. The pig's digestive system works in a rather fast and sloppy manner. Unlike many other animals eaten by humans, it takes about 4 hours for a pig to digest his/her food. Pigs also have no amount of sweat glands. Consequently, many of the toxins are left in the tissue that later end up in the bodies of those who consume pork.
Pigs also are carriers of many parasites. Even once the pig is cooked, the parasites may not be killed. The leading disease caused by these parasites is trichinosis. This happens when the larva of a trichinella worm is eaten. The trichinella worm decides the best place to live is in the pigs muscles and can sometimes end up in the human body. This disease and its varying symptoms can last for weeks or even months. There are many other parasites too that can cause harm to the body and an effort should be made to not cause harm to our bodies.
There are many helthy alternatives to pork. However do your research and carefully consider your meat before buying and consuming.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Gluten Is Not Bad..But Watch the Flour.
When you read this title you think, "BREAD!" You now probably want to eat buckets and buckets of bread. After much research, I have found that gluten really is not all that bad for you. The only reason to go gluten free would be if you have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, or if you are very sensitive to it. If that's you, I truly am sorry!
While gluten alone doesn't contain health benefits, many whole grains that have nutritious vitamins and minerals also have gluten. If you remove the gluten, you eliminate the whole grain and then you no longer have the nutritious vitamins and minerals. Studies are showing the vitamins and minerals in these whole grains might indeed help lower your risk for heart disease.
Going gluten free can be risky. There are endless choices of gluten free foods. Not only are they pricy, but they can have negative nutritional benefits. The most common are high calories, high saturated fat and/or high cholesterol.
So gluten is not bad for you. Eating it has indirect health benefits. Now my favorite part is the flour, enriched bleached flour (EBF). At the grocery store it can be found packaged all by itself and in other foods. My heart was broken when I found out it was in almost every kind of roll that come in the tin pan, the ones you heat in the oven and then serve.
When people see the word "enriched" they think:"Oh, hooray! Healthy." Not in this case. Sorry(?)! The flour in this case has been deprived of its original nutrients, and unfortunately what has been added back is toxic. There is iron in this flour, metallic iron that is. You are not supposed to eat that, and the human body is not supposed to be able to digest that properly.
When EBF is consumed, the human body recognizes it as a starch. Therefore, the energy is not absorbed and not able to be used over a long period of time as grains are able to do. Your body reacts to starch in the same way it reacts to sugar. EBF is made up of refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates can contribute to obesity. You do not need those lying around in the pantry. Carbs should come from natural sources such as fruits and veggies, not what is bad for you.
Some alternatives can be whole wheat flour, almond meal and rye flour,
Learn how to say no to the bad carbs and as always...
Live Healthy. Be Happy.
While gluten alone doesn't contain health benefits, many whole grains that have nutritious vitamins and minerals also have gluten. If you remove the gluten, you eliminate the whole grain and then you no longer have the nutritious vitamins and minerals. Studies are showing the vitamins and minerals in these whole grains might indeed help lower your risk for heart disease.
Going gluten free can be risky. There are endless choices of gluten free foods. Not only are they pricy, but they can have negative nutritional benefits. The most common are high calories, high saturated fat and/or high cholesterol.
So gluten is not bad for you. Eating it has indirect health benefits. Now my favorite part is the flour, enriched bleached flour (EBF). At the grocery store it can be found packaged all by itself and in other foods. My heart was broken when I found out it was in almost every kind of roll that come in the tin pan, the ones you heat in the oven and then serve.
When people see the word "enriched" they think:"Oh, hooray! Healthy." Not in this case. Sorry(?)! The flour in this case has been deprived of its original nutrients, and unfortunately what has been added back is toxic. There is iron in this flour, metallic iron that is. You are not supposed to eat that, and the human body is not supposed to be able to digest that properly.
When EBF is consumed, the human body recognizes it as a starch. Therefore, the energy is not absorbed and not able to be used over a long period of time as grains are able to do. Your body reacts to starch in the same way it reacts to sugar. EBF is made up of refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates can contribute to obesity. You do not need those lying around in the pantry. Carbs should come from natural sources such as fruits and veggies, not what is bad for you.
Some alternatives can be whole wheat flour, almond meal and rye flour,
Learn how to say no to the bad carbs and as always...
Live Healthy. Be Happy.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Santa, Beware the Milk!
The Holidays are upon us. This means in the kitchen there is often something cooking and the entire house smells delightful.
However, when you are baking, often times you use milk. The stuff that comes from a cow. You've been drinking milk since you were born. It's human nature. Now if you are lactose intolerant, HOORAY! Avoid these next words until you see the word soy (or keep reading if you wish). However, if you are constantly by the gallon purchasing pasteurized or unpasteurized cow's milk, read carefully. Most mammals drink milk from their mother. In the same way, cow's milk was made for calves. A calve is usually born at about 100 punds and usually gain up to 700 more pounds. The nutrients in the milk are what calves need for their proper growth. Humans are the only species on the planet that drink milk from another animal. Strange? Yes. So how did this start? According to archaeological finds, this can be traced back as far as the Sumerian civilization. That was about 4,000 years ago. Yet, somehow we do not still mummify humans like the Egyptians did. Go figure. Another minus of cow's milk is the lie that people believe of cow's milk making bones strong.. Yes, the LIE! Cow's milk depletes calcium in the bones. (Gasp. Shocking I know.) Here's the proof: The animal proteins in the milk go into the body and raise the pH level in the body and the blood is more acidic. Then, the bones release calcium because of the acidity and the calcium goes away. A study done at Harvard showed that those who drank cow's milk were more likely to fracture bones than those who did not. If the milk is being depleted from your bones then that leads to osteoporosis, pain and costly prescriptions. So you think to switch to SOY milk. Goodness, NO! Soy is bad for your body. This is a recent proves study that the effects of soy on the brain can cause it to not function properly. Soy can also cause imbalanced hormone levels. Don't me a meanie cat! Rice milk has also been suggested as an alternative to milk, but the calcium level is low. So I recommend almond milk. the brand I buy has the 50% daily serving of calcium in 8 ounces. Almonds are good for the brain and packed full of antioxidants which are amazing for the skin. The other plus of almond milk is you can cook with it. You use the same amount called for. You can also make it yourself. However, that can become interestingly difficult. It's a little more expensive but you are saving your bones. it's so worth it. The flavors it comes in are awesome too.
So make the switch and save Santa! Merry Christmas!
However, when you are baking, often times you use milk. The stuff that comes from a cow. You've been drinking milk since you were born. It's human nature. Now if you are lactose intolerant, HOORAY! Avoid these next words until you see the word soy (or keep reading if you wish). However, if you are constantly by the gallon purchasing pasteurized or unpasteurized cow's milk, read carefully. Most mammals drink milk from their mother. In the same way, cow's milk was made for calves. A calve is usually born at about 100 punds and usually gain up to 700 more pounds. The nutrients in the milk are what calves need for their proper growth. Humans are the only species on the planet that drink milk from another animal. Strange? Yes. So how did this start? According to archaeological finds, this can be traced back as far as the Sumerian civilization. That was about 4,000 years ago. Yet, somehow we do not still mummify humans like the Egyptians did. Go figure. Another minus of cow's milk is the lie that people believe of cow's milk making bones strong.. Yes, the LIE! Cow's milk depletes calcium in the bones. (Gasp. Shocking I know.) Here's the proof: The animal proteins in the milk go into the body and raise the pH level in the body and the blood is more acidic. Then, the bones release calcium because of the acidity and the calcium goes away. A study done at Harvard showed that those who drank cow's milk were more likely to fracture bones than those who did not. If the milk is being depleted from your bones then that leads to osteoporosis, pain and costly prescriptions. So you think to switch to SOY milk. Goodness, NO! Soy is bad for your body. This is a recent proves study that the effects of soy on the brain can cause it to not function properly. Soy can also cause imbalanced hormone levels. Don't me a meanie cat! Rice milk has also been suggested as an alternative to milk, but the calcium level is low. So I recommend almond milk. the brand I buy has the 50% daily serving of calcium in 8 ounces. Almonds are good for the brain and packed full of antioxidants which are amazing for the skin. The other plus of almond milk is you can cook with it. You use the same amount called for. You can also make it yourself. However, that can become interestingly difficult. It's a little more expensive but you are saving your bones. it's so worth it. The flavors it comes in are awesome too.
So make the switch and save Santa! Merry Christmas!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Going Green
This is NOT about recycling and reusing. (However, please do be kind to the earth.) This is about another substance that I am currently obsessed with, green tea.
Now there are many different types of tea and I love many kinds of tea, but I am zeroing in on green tea.
The first thing we need to understand is that the studies on green tea are limited. However, studies of people who drink green tea tend to be healthier overall than those who don't. Now probably one important aspect of green tea is that it is considered one of the "negative calorie foods." By "negative calorie food" I mean that it takes more energy to process it than some other foods you would normally eat. Therefore, your body is burning off some calories that are needed to help process the green tea. Another important aspect is that it is packed full of antioxidants, which makes it good for your skin. Antioxidants repair the tissue in your skin and leave you with the skin most people crave, and it's all natural too. Another positive element of green tea is that it is known to reduce the risk of serious issues, such as heart disease and many forms of cancer. These include stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. However, the last element I issued is where these studies are limited. Also green tea has natural caffeine. It's a great way to start a morning. Now some people take green tea extract. However, in labs, scientists and nutrition specialists are not quite sure what or what combinations of things produce the healthy results. Some people say though that the taste is disgusting. To this of you that this applies to, I encourage you to find a way with NATURAL flavorings and sweeteners (honey is a good one) to find ways to make it healthier for you. Please do not go crazy with the sweeteners though. Keep this treat healthy. When I first started drinking green tea I used sweeteners. However, over time I have been able to reduce the amount of sweetener to none, and I actually enjoy it! This is how I and some friends of mine start our mornings.
Please treat yourself to a cup of green tea. It's worth the results. Live healthy! Be happy!
Now there are many different types of tea and I love many kinds of tea, but I am zeroing in on green tea.
The first thing we need to understand is that the studies on green tea are limited. However, studies of people who drink green tea tend to be healthier overall than those who don't. Now probably one important aspect of green tea is that it is considered one of the "negative calorie foods." By "negative calorie food" I mean that it takes more energy to process it than some other foods you would normally eat. Therefore, your body is burning off some calories that are needed to help process the green tea. Another important aspect is that it is packed full of antioxidants, which makes it good for your skin. Antioxidants repair the tissue in your skin and leave you with the skin most people crave, and it's all natural too. Another positive element of green tea is that it is known to reduce the risk of serious issues, such as heart disease and many forms of cancer. These include stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer. However, the last element I issued is where these studies are limited. Also green tea has natural caffeine. It's a great way to start a morning. Now some people take green tea extract. However, in labs, scientists and nutrition specialists are not quite sure what or what combinations of things produce the healthy results. Some people say though that the taste is disgusting. To this of you that this applies to, I encourage you to find a way with NATURAL flavorings and sweeteners (honey is a good one) to find ways to make it healthier for you. Please do not go crazy with the sweeteners though. Keep this treat healthy. When I first started drinking green tea I used sweeteners. However, over time I have been able to reduce the amount of sweetener to none, and I actually enjoy it! This is how I and some friends of mine start our mornings.
Please treat yourself to a cup of green tea. It's worth the results. Live healthy! Be happy!
Friday, August 3, 2012
Sports Love
How do I start my first blog post? Many people do a hello
and their current phase of life, career, Alma mater etc. However, I decided for
my first blog post I would talk about 1 of my 2 obsessions. I love food. It is
one of the most wonderful things on the planet, but today I am gonna talk about
sports. That is right! I said sports. I am a girl, and I said sports. Believe
it or not, some Saturday mornings consist of waking up and turning on Sports
Center, but that is beside the point.
So anyway, what is my favorite sport? Oh
this is hard (sarcasm). It's definitely
football. I love it because it is so unique to America and the game contains so
many different varied elements. Now I will talk teams. So my favorite college
team would be the Tennessee Volunteers! Coach Derick Dooley had a
disappointing season last season, but please cut the guy some slack. A few of
his best players were hurt and it's not like he was not trying. He still has
nightmares about the final game of the season against the Kentucky Cats. So, I
have confidence about Dooley's skills this year (as I always have) and that our team will have an
unapologetic, orange and white, well fought season. Looking forward to kickoff and our September 1 game against NC state. 29 days people. 29 days. Now, my favorite NFL team is the Dallas Cowboys. That's how I've grown up cheering for the cowboys on Sundays. Thank you Father. I owe that one to you.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying those are the only sports I like. It's London 2012 and the variety of sports I can watch thrills me! However, I also like other non-olympic, multinational sports. Basketball is probably my second favorite.
Now do I do sports? I run. I'm not on a team but the feeling I get when I'm running is a great feeling. I love in the winter, stepping out into the chilly outdoors and pouring in sweat by the end of it. It's that feeling of accomplishment and I did it. HIIT is great exercise too, but I'll have to rant and rave about that another time.
So my question to you is are you participating in sports or just sitting on the sidelines? Are you taking action in your health and making it a priority? I believe health is a HUGE concern stressed much, but not enough. If it were stressed more, wouldn't we see change? Wouldn't we see numbers dropping of people dying from illnesses due to their weight? I am not saying skinny is fit Fit is healthy and many health percentages and numbers would change for the better. C'mon people. You can't only eat the right stuff (Although that is important and I'll discuss that too in another post). You must also take a stand and move. Maybe find creative ideas online about different exercises ideas during commercials so you don't have to miss your favorite show.
One excuse many use is the "Oh! It's not important and I don't have time." Saying exercise is not important is sating that you are not important. This is your health and ultimately your life we are talking about.
So take some time for yourself. Treat yourself to a workout and let it be good and full of burning calories!
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