Ⓥ Feel Good with Delicious, Healthy Eating Ⓥ

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{New Year Inspirational Kick-Off!}

 Kicking off this new year only feels right to be boasting with enthusiasm and inspirational to get things running all the more smoothly, so, I welcome you to the New Year Inspirational Kick-Off! The next several days will be dedicated to sharing fun projects and resources you can use to keep your own life bustling with gratitude and awesomeness.

New Year Positive Power! Huzzah!

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Today (meaning our usual Sunday Vegan Kitchen Posts), I wanted to do something a little different. After too much wine, too many cookies, too much eggnog, and too much junk food in general during the holiday season, getting back into shape, quite naturally, appears on our list of New Year's resolutions. My suggestion isn't going to be to go Vegan (though I do think you should), but merely to eat healthy and to feel good about the food you put into your body. Far too frequent is the mentality that healthy food tastes awful. Eww, gross, who wants to eat vegetables? Well, while you should enjoy the taste of raw vegetables, no one said that eating healthy meant you had to eat them all raw; come on now, you can dress up your food and make it explode with delicious, tantalizing flavours. And, yes, it will still be healthy. 

The recipes posted here on ReLove Plan.et are always vegan (again, ditch the mentality that vegan food is gross… or expensive for that matter), and are also usually gluten-free and free of common allergies. On top of that, the recipes I post focus on Health. I want you to eat right, I want you to feel Good about what you're eating, and I want you to enjoy every mouthful and want more once you're done. Because that's the way we should eat, that's the way we should enjoy food. That's the way eating is supposed to be! 

So, as well as checking in at ReLove Plan.et for recipes, I am sharing some of my favourite recipe resources. And after that, some eating tips to stay on track and have a super healthy year! 

Healthy, Yummy Recipe Resources! 

• ReLove Plan.et: All the recipes you can find archived by category and name by clicking Here (or the "Vegan Kitchen" tab on the right side of the blog). You can also search the tag "vegan kitchen" to scroll through them all (click here). Recipes are always vegan, usually gluten-free, free of allergies, and healthy and oh so good! 
• Fellowship of the Vegetable: This blog is wonderful, positive, and filled with yummy recipes. Plus the photos of all the food are beautifully displayed. The recipes are all vegan, and . Kylie, who runs the blog, says "I started this blog at the end of 2011 as a way to journal my journey through veganism, but I’m hoping it has evolved into more of a place for people to come together and see how easy and fun being vegan can be." It certainly is! Kylie also does lots of restaurant and food reviews of places she's gotten to try out. I love the creativity of the recipes, and I always look forward to seeing her new recipe posts. Check it out here: http://www.fellowshipofthevegetable.com/ 
• Lunch Box Bunch: This is probably my favourite place for recipes! They have so much to offer and they are usually on the healthier side with lots to offer and plenty of pretty pictures to entice your tastebuds. Check it out here: http://kblog.lunchboxbunch.com/
• This Rawsome Vegan Life: Every healthy diet should include more raw foods, and that's when "This Rawsome Vegan Life" comes in. If you think raw food isn't delicious, amazing, and packed full of flavour then you haven't been looking in the right places. This website is enough to make your mouth salivate the second you hit the main page with the photos alone. Raw desserts are my particular weak spot, I mean, who doesn't want to eat dessert and actually feel really good about doing so? I highly recommend you give it a try, soon all your desserts will be raw for the mere pleasure and health of it all. Check them out here: http://www.thisrawsomeveganlife.com/
• VegWeb: Oh my! The second you go to the VegWeb webpage you are immediately thrown into fits of enticement at all the yummy images of food. VegWeb is the world's largest collection of vegetarian (read vegan) recipes. You can literally find any kind of recipe you may be looking for on here. It's amazing! While not all the recipes may be incredibly healthy, vegan recipes are always a healthy start and there are lots of truly healthful recipes on the site you can turn to. Go to the site here: http://www.vegweb.com/
• One Green Planet: "Your online guide to making conscious choices that help people, animals, and the planet." This site is not only packed full of healthy vegan recipes, but it also has plenty of vegan, health, and activism resources you can check out and stay motivated with. Oh and, of course, there is an entire recipe section, including a gluten-free one, and raw living t keep your plate happy. Check them out: http://www.onegreenplanet.org/
• PPK (Post Punk Kitchen): The PPK was created by Isa Chandra Moskowitz with the idea to have a fun cooking show to give vegans something to watch. A website was also started to support the show and to foster a vegan cooking and baking community, where they could submit recipes, share ideas and maybe gossip a little bit. PPK is a super fun and vibrant place and packed full of amazing recipes. If you're looking to go vegan this new year, this is your hotspot to stay inspired! Check out PPK here: http://www.theppk.com/
• Vega: I love Vega, and I always will. The company, and founder, really have your health in mind when it comes to the products they sell and the website they share. There are health resources, fitness tips, and an entire recipe section, all with your health and happiness in mind. Check them out and enjoy all that they have to offer: http://myvega.com/vega-life/recipe-center/

Pinterest: There are so many more website and resources I could share above to keep you motivated, by my favourite of them all? Pinterest. Why? Well! My oh my are the wonders you can find on Pinterest! I love using it as a collection of all my favourite recipes I find while trolling through the web or happen upon through any other social media site. Then, whenever I'm unsure what to make that day for supper, dessert, breakfast, or anything else, I simply turn to my list and start scrolling through tantalizing images. Here is my "Vegan Kitchen" board, I encourage you to make your own to keep motivated! http://www.pinterest.com/reloveplanet/vegan-kitchen/

I am also very much enjoying Kylie's (from Fellowship of the Vegetable) Pinterest, so you should check out hers for food ideas and inspiration as well. http://www.pinterest.com/faboofierce/vegan-yums/

Health Tips! 

Let's stay motivated and happy shall we? Here are some more tips to keeping your New Years happy and healthy! 

• Don't Overeat. It's so easy to do and it will be your biggest downfall. You should feel energized and awesome after eating, not like a lethargic mess. What you eat has a huge roll in this feeling. The other roll is played by How Much you eat. Need help? Buy yourself a smaller plate and/or bowl. It sounds kind of silly but it works. I have a beautiful little ceramic pottery bowl I bought locally that I absolutely love, and it gives me the perfect portion sizes. Just don't go back for seconds. ;)  
• Drink Lots of Water! Yes, cliche, but so important and so true. Do it! Your digestion, your body, and your mind will thank you. A few tips when it comes to drinking water: don't drink a ton of water after meals, you should be waiting at least half an hour to an hour before consuming a bunch. Drink a glass of water half an hour before meals, it will fill you up so you don't overeat and it will help your digestion along later. If you workout, drink more. 
• Take a MultiVitamin. You can do everything right, eat the right foods, exercise, and be an overall shining ball of health, but a multivitamin could still benefit you. Sadly, most of what we eat isn't what it used to be; the soil is depleted of its nutrients and therefor the food grown in it is lacking, and food is usually harvested too early in order to make it to us across the globe. On top of this, if you are stressed out then your body won't absorb all the nutrients either. Everyone could benefit from a multivitamin these days. Just make sure you choose a good one! There are plenty of bad-for-you vitamins on the market. Look for natural, organic, and vitamins that your body can absorb. I use RawOne for Women, it's amazing and perfect. If you are lacking in any other nutrients be aware and take supplements accordingly. 
• Choose Organic and Local. This should always be your first choice. Choose the right thing for the planet, your health, and the animals and people that live here. Support your community, it will not only be good for community, but their grown food is probably more nutrient rich than anything you buy in the supermarket. And Organic means freeing yourself of awful bad-for-you pesticides, chemicals, and GMO. If you aren't going to eat Organic, then at least avoid the list of the dirty dozen. 
• Eat Regular Meals. Don't skip meals, but don't spend all day eating either. Ideally, eat smaller meals every 3-4 hours, to give your digestion a break in between and to keep it happy and working optimally when you do eat. 
• Exercise. Exercise has everything to do with a health digestive system and a happy body. Exercise lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and it keeps your digestive system flowing. It also keeps your lymph system active which will keep away colds. Twenty to thirty minutes a day is all you need, even if it's just a leisurely walk. 
• Make Calories Count. Stop calorie counting. At once! Calorie counting is an awful way of trying to be healthy and it may work in some ways but fails when it comes to your overall well-being. Not all calories were created equal, this you need to keep in mind. When you are happy, exercising, and eating the right foods your body will metabolize and use the nutrients in those foods much more efficiently. Don't fall for the crappy "Special K" products or any other gimics of the sort, at the end of the day, these are still Junk Foods. Choose Real food and you will no longer need to count calories.

Eat Real Food

Drop any silly Diet Fad you may be following and, instead, just eat Real, Whole Food. That's all there is to eating healthy. Real Food. 

While there are so many debates on different dieting, these are some simple overall rounded tips you should follow these simple rules… 

• Lessen or cut out animal products. Even those that are pro-meat will almost all agree less is more. If you're going to eat animal products, reduce once or twice a week for meat and eggs. Dairy you really should try to cut out completely, but if you are going to consume then go for one or twice a week as well. 
• Carbs are good. But not equal. Choose whole grains and you won't have to worry about following silly low-carb diets. Vegetables and fruits are healthy carbs as well, eat lots of them! 
• Eat lots of Veggies. Vegetables are the cornerstone to health, eat lots of them! 
• Fruit, fruit. Fruit is best on its own and/or in the morning. However, fruit is good for you and don't react like nasty sugars, so eat your heart out. 
• Cut Out the Crap. No junk food, no processed foods, no high saturated fats, no refined flours or sugars. Got it? Good. 
• Omegas. Omegas are sooooo important for you health, and yet most of the population don't get their healthy omega 3s nearly enough. Your ratio should be 1:1, but you can be healthy with 1:3 (omega 3 to omega 6 ratio). Your best sources to boost your omega 3s are chia and flax. 

Above all else, stay motivated by being happy. The happier you feel, the more inclined and motivated you will be to eat healthy, because you will Want to make yourself feel good all the time. Stay on track by getting a friend involved, joining an online community, or really exploring all the resources around you. And have fun with it! And remember to be grateful for your food. 

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year! I know you can do it!  

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☺ The Balance to a Truly Healthy Happy Life ☺

Along the path to happiness, and manifesting (using the Law of Attraction) we often stumble and find it hard to maintain that positive level all the time. But there are some key points that many of us forget about, and that is that for happiness to truly flow freely and easily then you have to Feel Good. While choosing to be happy is indeed a choice that you do need to make in order to actually be happy, there are many things that will help your happy journey. Remember that everything in life is connected, and so if you want a truly happy life then everything within that life requires balance and love and attention. The key aspects of our lives that we should check on are our state of mind, our health (including diet and exercise), and general all-around balance in our active lives. 

Choose It!

Happiness is in your head, and it is certainly the biggest step you need to take to change your life. You always have a choice and that will be the key to unlocking all other aspects of your life. 

I'm not going to focus too much on this topic in this particular article because I have so many others that go into more in-depth details into tricks and ways to make your life happy and finding that within yourself. So go and explore my "Inspirational" posts for more tips there. ;)

Eat Well!

You have a choice to be happy and you have a choice to be healthy, but we often pay attention to one and forget the other yet they are both so closely connected. Being happy all the time is much harder when you are eating crappy foods. Remember a happy body is a happy mind. Food is fuel for your body and if you are giving your body junk food that it can't get proper energy or nutrients from then you are living your life running on empty all the time. And that is not a happy body. Your body and your brain cannot properly (or happily) function on junk food. If you are starving your body of what it needs then you are also starving your brain of what it needs. When you make healthy food choices then your body will feel wonderful, nourished, energetic, and alive! So how do you suppose your brain responds? It will also feel wonderful, nourished, energetic and alive! So many of our health problems today are a combination of too much stress and a poor diet. Making simple healthy changes can clear your mind and make you feel new again. If you want to be happy--which I assume you do--stop kidding yourself and get healthy! It's simple as that! 

Remember that everyone's body is different, especially when it comes to food. Allergy tests are a great idea, but they are not always completely accurate as well. My suggestion is to cut out junk food, cut out common allergens (wheat & dairy), and seriously cut back on (or eliminate completely) sugar and refined foods. Some people can't tolerate grains well, others can't tolerate beans or starch well. Cut out the common problem areas and then slowly reintroduce them to see your body's reaction. If you don't think food affects you at all, please stop denying it, food affects everyone, we just aren't often very in-tune with our body's reactions and needs. If this sounds like a lot of work, take it one step at a time. Just remember that if you want to be happy then this really isn't as hard as you think.  

Exercise!

Being healthy also means being active. Exercise can do wonders for depression and your energy levels. All the amazing health benefits of exercise (read about them here!) will transform your life onto another level of bliss. Happy will flow much easier because you are giving your body more of what it needs--health! 

People & Surroundings!

Health is great, but what about your surroundings? What about the people you interact with on a regular basis? People can be just as toxic as food, negativity can completely overwhelm our minds and good energy. Bad vibes are bad vibes. If someone is negative all the time then chances are they are going to rub off on you. Don't put yourself through that. I'm not talking about people who need to do a little venting, most of us are guilty for needing a little venting, I'm talking about the people that literally have nothing good to say ever and complain constantly. Being in that person's negative cloud regularly is damaging to your own mental health and can drain you dry and leave you feeling just plain blah. People certainly can change, but there is no reason to primarily surround yourself with those types of people. If you have those negative people in your life but you don't want to end the relationship then make sure you have plenty of super positive people in your life to make up for it and try only to see the negative people on an occasional basis. Place yourself in a positive environment and surround yourself with positive people! It really helps--and it helps when dealing with those negative people as well.

Balance!

Maybe you've got all those topics covered, in which case good for you! But maybe happiness still isn't coming so easily. So how's the balance in your day to day life? Are you a workaholic? Do you have an active social life? Too much social life? Do you take time for yourself? Time for reflection and self work? We live in a very busy society that teaches us to be on the go all the time, but if we are always on the go then our minds can't keep up. Work should not be your whole life. Making money to buy things you don't need shouldn't be your life. Your life should contain the perfect balance for your time. Make time for work, for play, for people and social interaction, and for down-time (meaning You time). Every day you should also take time for self-reflection and positive affirmations to keep you on track. Balance is key.  

Unresolved Problems!

The last major issue that might be getting in your way to unreasonable happiness is any unresolved issues. It is hard to be happy when you have something nagging at your subconscious all the time with issues that have not yet been dealt with. Don't carry around extra baggage when you don't need to. When stress arises, deal with it. When problems arise, solve them. Work through things! And don't kid yourself, if you need help then get it! We are not meant to go through this world alone, so seek out others who can help you. 

  

Again I will say that balance is everything. Your body being in harmony and healthy is everything. If you are struggling to find happiness then be sure to check what it is you are eating, how active you are, if there are unresolved issues, and how your day to day life is. 

Happiness is within everyone's grasp, so long as we are attentive and kind to our individual needs.

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Ⓥ Super Foods! Ⓥ

Superfoods are all the health rage these days, and why the hell not? Who doesn't want amazing exotic treats that increase your health, keep your heart healthy and fight off cancer. I know I do. Here are some wonderful special super foods and their health benefits, as well as how to incorporate them into your diet. 

Cacao is the antioxidant powerhouse! Raw cacao beans have ten times more antioxidants than blueberries, twenty times more than red wine and thirty times more than green tea! Even cooked cocoa is still one of the highest antioxidant rich foods. Antioxidants protect your cells from the damaging molecules of free radicals which are thought to the underlining cause of many chronic diseases, reducing the risk of many kinds of illness from heart disease to cancer. Antioxidants found in foods such as cocoa are also anti-aging agents and have also been shown to improve cardiovascular health, enhancing blood flow, healthy cholesterol levels and, in some cases, reducing blood pressure. Cacao also contains "blissful" chemicals that enhance mood and decrease depression. 

Chocolate lovers rejoice--but not too soon… look for raw cocoa powder and add it to your smoothies to get the most health benefits. Or, again, make raw truffles! If you are looking for it in chocolate, stay clear of sugar-laden chocolate bars, as there is so very little cocoa that you really aren't seeing any health benefits--not to mention all the sugar and other crap that is bad for you. Instead, opt for dark chocolate that is sweetened with something more natural and dairy-free. Look for a high cocoa content. My favourite? Endangered Species dark chocolate. 

Maca is a wonderful super food, usually available in pill, liquid, or powder form. Why is it amazing? Maca has a high concentration of proteins and vital nutrients, fully loaded with vitamins and nutrients that support brain function and regulate hormones. It helps to rebuild the adrenal gland, which is the body's centre for handling stress, so makes a great mood booster. Maca's root plant is also traditionally used medicinally to enhance stamina, endurance and sex drive--making it a natural aphrodisiac, and has even been shown to increase fertility in men. Because of it's ability to increase stamina, people swear by it for their workout and to help build muscle mass as well. 

Easiest way to add Maca into your diet: add anywhere from a teaspoon to a tablespoon into your smoothies. It is also great in raw truffles or treats. 

Hemp is one the most nutritionally well-balanced foods on the planet. Usually eaten as shelled seeds, oil, butter, flour, or protein powders. Hemp is not only a healthy, raw source of protein, it is also a complete protein that is easily digestible, containing essential amino acids and omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids. Such amino acids that are necessary for cellular detoxification and for proper enzyme formation, as well as muscle growth and repair. The omegas and fatty acids reduce inflammation in the body, and is one of the most powerful nutrients for balancing hormones. Raw hemp provides such a huge array of health benefits, including: weight loss, increased and sustained energy, rapid recovery from disease or injury, lowered cholesterol and blood pressure, reduced inflammation, improvement in circulation and immune system as well as natural blood sugar control, promotes healthy skin, hair, & nails, and increases metabolism. Pretty super huh? 

The best part about hemp is that there are so many ways to incorporate it into your diet! Hemp butter can replace other nut butters. Hemp oil and/or hemp seeds (or "hearts") are great to add on a salad. Hemp protein powders can easily be added to smoothies or shakes. Oh, and, raw truffles--almost forgot. ;) 

Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) is a Brazilian berry that is packed with antioxidants, amino acids and omega-3's. It is heart-healthy, preventing or decreasing heart disease, diabetes and depression, and can help lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol. The extracts from the berry also help destroy leukemia cells. Açaí is known to help boost energy levels, improve digestion, promote sleep, promote healthier and younger-looking skin and cleanse the body of toxins.

Like any berry, eat as such; add some to your smoothies, over cereal or in raw treats. You can also find acai juices. 

Goji berries are a small tart Himalayan berry that has been said to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet and had been used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. Goji berries pack more vitamin C than some oranges and more beta-carotene than carrots. Health benefits have been shown to treat diabetes, hypertension, malaria, fever, cancer and other ailments. They are also one of the rare fruits that contain protein, and since they are meant to be eaten raw, the protein absorption is undisturbed. They are also a perfect blend of carbohydrates, protein, fat and dietary fibre, making them, well, a superfood.

Again, eat them like any other berry and eat them raw to keep the most health benefits. Add them to raw cereals, bliss balls, truffles, smoothies, or eat them on the go. Goji berry juice has also become more and more popular and can be found in health food stores. 

Of course, there are so many other amazing super foods and beneficial foods out there to increase your health. I would also, lastly, like to remind you that eating super foods is only going to do you good if you are doing other things to keep your health up to speed. Eat plenty of veggies, fruits, and balanced meals (and go vegan!). You should also stay active, exercise, after all, is crucial for good health. And make sure you are doing things to keep stress at bay--like being happy and positive and optimistic, you know, all the stuff I always encourage here at ReLove Plan.et. 

What's your favourite superfood? :) 

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☆ What's Going On: Juicing ☆

Juicing is awesome! And Juice Fasts will boost your body and get you pumped and detoxing! 

Benefits of Juicing: 

It is recommended that we eat five servings of vegetables and three of fruits each day, but sadly most of us don't even come close to this. The average American eats only 1 1/2 servings of vegetables and, on average, no fruit on any given day.

Juicing is an easy way to get in those extra servings and to reap the benefits from fruits and vegetables. They contain essential phytochemicals that have shown to heal the body of all sorts of ailments, including cancer, heart disease, as well as some of our most common, like asthma, arthritis, and allergies.

Juicing is an easy process in which its natural vitamins, nutrients, and raw enzymes are extracted and easily absorbed by our bodies. Fresh juice is packed full of nutrients, minerals and vitamins, and raw enzymes so you're feeding your body all sorts of goodness it often lacks in your regular diet too. 

Fresh juices are a tremendous source of enzymes which is why the whole "freshness" of juicing is so important. The natural enzymes found in our foods are destroyed by heat, so when you eat cooked foods, whether its grains, fruits, or vegetables, if the food is cooked at temperatures above 114 degrees, the enzymes have been destroyed by the heat. Since fruits and vegetables are juiced raw, the enzymes are still viable when you drink the juice.

Juicing also removes the indigestible fiber, meaning the nutrients are available to the body in much larger quantities than if the piece of fruit or vegetable was eaten whole. For example, because many of the nutrients are trapped in the fiber, when you eat a raw carrot, you are only able to make use of about 1% of the available beta carotene. When a carrot is juiced, removing the fiber, nearly 100% of the beta carotene can be assimilated.

Juicing literally give our bodies a boost with all of those amazing nutrients. Plus, it's much easier to juice 5 carrots than to eat them all. (I'm not saying don't eat raw carrots, in fact, eat LOTS of raw fruits and veggies as well as juicing ~_^). 

Juice Fasting:

A Juice Fast is a great way to cleanse the body because the juice is rapidly digested and only uses a small amount of energy to do so, giving your body that chance to cleanse. It makes more sense to me as well as opposed to starving your body with a water fast. 

To do a full juice fast, typically you should be juicing for Eight Days. Why? Because for the first couple of days your body uses stored food reserves from your liver. However, if you have never done a juice fast, or even if you have, it can be a challenge. Juicing for even one day reaps tons of benefits and still begins the detoxing. 

It is important that when you stop a juice fast that you EASE back into eating solids and you should watch what you are eating thereafter. This is equally important going Into the cleanse. For the days prior and after you should avoid eating coffee, dairy products, meat, sugar, wheat, flour-products of any kind, and alcohol. 

While doing a juice fast you can drink as much juice as you want! If you're hungry, juice. If you're thirsty, juice! 

Drink plenty of water with any cleanse as well. Well, drink lots of water regardless of what you are doing, it is necessary for the body to keep it healthy and to upkeep proper digestion. 

*Because your body has a build up of toxins, quite often you may feel undesirable side-effects while doing a cleanse. This is known as a "healing crisis". The more badly you need a cleanse, the worse the side-effects usually are. Let it be a wake up call to eat better and cleanse more ;). Just remember that while these symptoms can be uncomfortable, but they are a part of the cleansing process.

It is quite normal to feel one or more of the following; mild nausea, rashes, headaches, irritability, joint pains, or other indications of detox. You can also sometimes feel weepy or emotional--that can be years of pent up tensions releasing.

But the possible side-effects pass fairly quickly and are insignificant when you think of the rewards.

Afterwards you will be be blessed with feeling energized, clearheaded, rejuvenated and revitalized! Your body and your mind will thank you for it! Hugely!!! 

To find out more about Why you should cleanse, check this post.

A little Note:

*Please note, I am not a doctor or medical practitioner of any kind, this is a sum of research and personal experience. Fasting is not for growing children, and not for anyone pregnant or nursing. People who are taking certain medications and people who have other compelling medical reasons should not fast. If you are uncertain, maybe talk to your doctor (I'm against doctors but I kinda have to suggest it ;p).*

That being said, there is argument against fasting as there is argument against anything that is healthy for you and takes money away from the medical industry. You'll learn from your own experience and consider the following as well before you buy into any of the skepticism that is being put out there.

"Each year, doctor-prescribed drugs kill more Americans than street drugs. Drug Abuse Warning Network statistics indicate less than 10,000 deaths annually from illegal drugs. 130,000 Americans actually die in hospitals each year from prescription medication." (Whitaker, J. in Health and Healing, September 1993 Supplement, Phillips Publishing, page 3)

All animals naturally use fasting as a means to heal itself when it is sick. Neat huh? ;)

Cancer patients and many others with severe illnesses have CURED themselves through juice fasting! 

Now that that has been said, onto more about juicing ;) 

Buy yourself a Juicer:

To make juice you WILL need a Juicer. 

Juicers are needed to extract the fluid part of the vegetable along with the vitamins, minerals and enzymes it contains. This is why a blender isn't the same thing, or buying prepackaged "juice" in stores isn't the same either. There are juice bars out there though, which are always great on those lazy days when you don't feel like juicing yourself or when you are out and about.  

There are tons of juicers on the market, ranging from all sorts of price-ranges. It's a good idea to spend the extra money to get a good juicer though. The "Champion" brand are one of the best, but they are also expensive! One day I will invest in one of these but until then I will recommend a "Brevelle" one for that in-between price range. They are sturdy machines and do the trick. I don't recommend the cheaper ones, I've owned one before and it was not worth it. 

What to Juice:

Vegetables are best, especially carrots, cucumbers, beets, tomatoes, zucchini squash, romaine lettuce, sprouts, celery and cabbage. 

Fruits are great too and can add that extra sweetness to a juice combination. Raw apples are best but its always fun to play around with different flavors. 

Buy Organic vegetables and fruits to juice. I'd say that you can juice non-organics and peel them, but I don't want to even suggest it. The point of a cleanse is to detox your body and you're not doing yourself any favors by putting pesticide-heavy produce into your body--those are some of the toxins you are trying to Detox from!!!   

Drink your juice right away! I mean, immediately! Fresh juice contains all those amazing food enzymes and vitamins and they are easily lost the longer the juice sits there. 

Carrots are amazing to juice, they are definitely my favorite. They taste amazing and are sweet, so they go great with any combination you choose to juice. 

Other fruits and veggies commonly used in juice fasts:

Vegetables - celery, cucumber, red bell pepper

Greens - parsley, kale, beet greens, chard, spinach, dandelion leaf

Cruciferous vegetables - broccoli, cabbage

Root vegetables - carrots, beets, sweet potatoes

Fruits - dark grapes, apples, lemon, Açai berry

Herbs - yucca root, fennel, spearmint, peppermint, basil, ginger, garlic, green onion, chilli pepper, fresh turmeric root, milk thistle

Wheatgrass juice, spirulina (a blue-green sea algae)

I'll say it again; there should be a gradual return to solid foods! Start with raw foods and maybe a bit of grains (quinoa or brown rice) the day after juice fasting. After that, ease into other solids but keep away from those mentioned earlier. If you want to start eating those "no-no" foods again, introduce them ONE DAY AT A TIME! This way you will actually notice the effect they have on your body. You may be amazed! Better yet, it may make you want to continue to keep them out of your diet. It's easier than it sounds, trust me. ;) 

Whether you are fasting or not, a cup of fresh Juice a day is great! Your body will thank you for it too. So invest in a juicer and enjoy all the fun you can create with all those different veggie and fruit combinations! 

Peace & Love,

xo

~Bianca

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☆ What's Going On: Why Detox? ☆

As part of the "30 Day Self Challenge" I am doing a cleanse for today and the week and getting into awesome eating habits for the rest of the month too. 

So, why do a cleanse? Why Detox?

We live in a very toxic world, surrounded by potential toxins in the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the food we eat, that build up in our organs, cells, blood and body. The body tries to protect itself by storing those foreign substances and toxins as balls of mucus or fat in its fatty deposits to prevent triggering adverse immune reactions. People can actually be carrying up to ten or more extra pounds of unhealthy mucus-harboring toxic waste!!! No wonder doing a cleanse can make you lose weight!

But the body can only do this for so long before the toxins begin to seep into the bloodstream and into cell membranes causing all sorts of trouble.   

All those toxins can make you tired, give PMS, digestive disorders, headaches, joint pains, bad breath, allergies, intolerances, constipation, brittle nails, skin eruptions, poor memory, depression, insomnia, excess weight, and other health issues.

Any of the following will also increase the toxic levels in your body: 

If you live in a city; work in an office; frequently walk/jog/run alongside busy traffic roads; use a cell phone, use a computer; live near high-voltage power lines; smoke cigarettes or other substances; use prescription drugs or medication; drink alcohol; never exercise; drink coffee, milk, unfiltered water, carbonated or fizzy drinks; eat sugar, sweets, white bread, canned foods, microwaves foods, fried foots, meats; add lots of salt to cooking; consume lots of preservatives and additives in foods. 

Again, we live in a very toxic world so it is important to cleanse your body and to properly detoxify it regularly. What better way to kick-start the new year than with a nice fresh detoxified body? :)  

Any cleanse that basically suggests that you starve yourself is no good. And all the big health gurus say the same. Here are the cleanses that I most recommend...

Juice Fast: It's easy on your body, you're putting amazing super nutrients into your system, and you still get a magnificent cleanse while doing so. People have cured themselves of cancer and all sorts of other illnesses just through juicing! It's magical! It may take a little getting used to the not actually eating part since your brain is so used to the mechanical eating process, so it may still feel like you're hungry. Remember, if you're feeling hungry then drink more juice. Oh, and you'll need a juicer for this one. ;)

Raw Diet: If you can actually just plain have a raw diet all the time then all the power to you, I don't have the will-power yet, but maybe one day. There is probably nothing you could do better than eating a purely raw diet. Lots of people do it, and all that do remain looking youthful with clear skin and no digestive problems. Score! Raw foods are Living foods; they have not been cooked, boiled, stewed, microwaved, frozen, baked, or steamed. They are still in their original state and contain all their natural food enzymes. Food enzymes are essential for digestion, to nourish our bodies, provide us with energy, and balance our metabolism. So you can see how beneficial a raw diet is.

WildRose Cleanse: I've done this cleanse myself a couple of times and have always found great benefit in it. Not only does it detox your body, but it also teaches you better eating habits that you can continue even after you're done the cleanse. The key points are what you are eating; cutting out certain foods while taking supplements to aid the colon. It lasts 12 days, although you can do it in 7 days too and just do half instead. But this cleanse is really quite easy in comparison to other detox systems. 

Dr. Gillian McKeith's One Day Detox: This cleanse is for just one day, although you can take it longer. It's a bit of a combination of the cleanses above. You are mainly drinking juice, eating a bit of raw fruit and veggies, drinking lots of tea, and you're allowed a little bit of grains. Pick up her book
"You Are What You Eat"
It's amazing and incredibly helpful!

I am really only brushing the surface of these detox programs, I encourage you to look into whichever method you choose. 

Things to remember while detoxing...

*Make sure you drink LOTS OF WATER no matter what detox you're doing. Drinking at least 8 glasses a day is vital to a healthy body, but especially when you are trying to detox. You have to keep those toxins moving out of the body remember?! 

*Because your body has a build up of toxins, quite often you may feel undesirable side-effects while doing a cleanse. This is known as a "healing crisis". The more badly you need a cleanse, the worse the side-effects usually are. Let it be a wake up call to eat better and cleanse more ;). Just remember that while these symptoms can be uncomfortable, but they are a part of the cleansing process.

It is quite normal to feel one or more of the following; mild nausea, rashes, headaches, irritability, joint pains, or other indications of detox. You can also sometimes feel weepy or emotional--that can be years of pent up tensions releasing.

But the possible side-effects pass fairly quickly and are insignificant when you think of the rewards.

Afterwards you will be be blessed with feeling energized, clearheaded, rejuvenated and revitalized! Your body and your mind will thank you for it! Hugely!!! 

My Plan:

As part of the 30 Day Self Challenge, I am starting the cleanse with a juice fast all day (today). Tomorrow I will be doing Dr Gillian's Detox system, and from there I will continue to drink lots of juice and stick mostly to raw foods for the week. My personal intention is to keep my diet amazing! I will very slowly introduce other foods to my diet while paying close attention to how my body feels. I highly recommend doing this. You often don't realize the negative effect of certain foods have on your body until you have the chance to cut them out and then reintroduce them.

Peace & Love,

xo

~Bianca

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