PRIME Juicers On Blogger

The Deadly Pesticides on Your Strawberries

Pink Orchard Berry Buster | Apple and Strawberry Juice

Sweet Pear Sensation | Pear, Apple, Celery, Lemon and Ginger Juice

Wow! Here’s a great recipe for you. The Sweet Pear Sensation comes from The Healthy Juicer’s Bible written by Farnoosh Brock.

I love pear in my juices and this one incorporates pear nicely with apple, lemon, celery and ginger. There’s just a hint of celery flavor and ginger in this one. I use very small amounts of ginger in my recipes because I think the Omega J8004 really squeezes out the ginger remarkably well. Too much ginger can ruin a juice for me.

I hope you enjoy this very delightful juice. Try some sparkling water with this, you might be surprised.

Sweet Pear Sensation

Makes 20 ounces

2 small pears, any kind

1 medium sweet apple ( I used Red Delicious)

2-4 celery stalks ( I used 3)

1/2 lemon ( I peel mine)

A small chunk of ginger

Update: The Health Benefits of Pears

Blood pressure: Pears have anti-oxidant and anti-carcinogen glutathione which help prevent high blood pressure and stroke.

Cancer prevention: The high vitamin C and copper content act as good anti-oxidants that protect cells from damages by free radicals.

Cholesterol: The high content of pectin in pears make it very useful in helping to lower cholesterol levels.

Colon health: When not juicing, eat the pear whole for its precious fiber that are highly beneficial for your colon health.

Constipation: The pectin in pears is diuretic and have a mild laxative effect. Drinking pear juice regularly helps regulate bowel movements.

Energy: You can get quick and natural source of energy from pear juice, due largely to its high amounts of fructose and glucose.

Fever: The cooling effect in pear is excellent in relieving fever. Best way to bring a fever down quickly is by drinking a big glass of pear juice.

Thank you again for reading and please let me know what you think of this recipe by commenting below. I try to keep the recipes simple.

Resources:

Sweet Pear Sensation | Pear, Apple, Celery, Lemon and Ginger Juice

The Health Benefits of Pear

P.S. Please remember to subscribe to my blog. You’ll only receive e-mail when I post a new article and nothing else. No Spam!

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Emerald Deluxe | Spinach,Celery,Cucumber Juice Recipe

The Emerald Deluxe also comes from The Healthy Juicer’s Bible written by Farnoosh Brock. This is another recipe I made before going on vacation, hoping to get the post done before taking off, but to no avail. It has a wonderful, deep, green (emerald) color. I love dark, emerald-green juices.When I drink them I can just feel the good, powerful nutrients entering my blood stream. Sounds crazy huh? Just try this recipe and use your imagination.

A full flavored drink: The Emerald Deluxe

I can just taste the ginger and cucumber. Absolutely a beautiful color and you can certainly tell how it got its name.

I use my Omega J8004 juicer and get plenty of fantastic, healthy juice from this recipe.

Makes 24 ounces

2-3 cups of baby or regular spinach

3-4 stalks of celery

3-4 small Persian cucumbers (I used what was available)

1 cup green or red grapes

1 large Granny Smith apple

a small piece of ginger (careful, very strong stuff)

UPDATE: Spinach and other green vegetables contain chlorophyll which has shown to be effective at blocking the carcinogenic effects of heterocyclic amines which are generated when grilling foods at a high temperature. Spinach is high in vitamin A, which is necessary for sebum production to keep hair moisturized. Vitamin A is also necessary for the growth of all bodily tissues, including skin and hair. Spinach and other leafy greens high in vitamin C are imperative for the building and maintenance of collagen, which provides structure to skin and hair.

Thank you again for reading and please let me know what you think of this recipe by commenting below. I try to keep the recipes simple.

Resources:

Emerald Deluxe | Spinach,Celery,Cucumber Juice Recipe

Medical News Today

P.S. Please remember to subscribe to my blog. You’ll only receive e-mail when I post a new article and nothing else. No Spam!

Zen Dragonfly | Spinach, Lettuce, Pear, Apple, Strawberry Juice

The Zen Dragonfly comes from the book The Healthy Juicer’s Bible written by Farnoosh Brock. I highly recommend this wonderful juicing book. It has many delicious recipes.

Do you like strawberries in your juices? If so, that’s great, because The Zen Dragonfly consists of 8-10 strawberries. I was a little hesitant to add strawberries to this green juice, but it turned out very well.

I’m always a little cautious to put anything other than apple and/or pear into my green juices, but Farnoosh knows what she’s making here.

You can just taste the strawberries and it gives it a very good flavor. I also detected the delicious taste of the Granny Smith apple.

This drink also has a beautiful green color. You can’t go wrong here. Gorgeous, Tasty and Nutritious!

Zen Dragonfly

Makes approximately 20 ounces

2-3 cups baby or regular spinach

A small head of Romaine lettuce ( I used 5 or 6 big leaves)

1 medium pear

1 medium Granny Smith apple

8-10 strawberries (sometimes mine aren’t the sweetest, but I got lucky this time)

Update: Buy organic strawberries or grow them yourself. Strawberries are known to be one of the most highly pesticide sprayed fruits. One report found 36 types of pesticides on strawberries. Out-of-season, imported strawberries are the most risky. But organic or homegrown strawberries are healthy. They are among the fruits and vegetables ranked highest in health-promoting antioxidants.

Thank you again for reading and please let me know what you think of this recipe by commenting below. I try to keep the recipes simple.

Resources:

Zen Dragonfly | Spinach, Lettuce, Pear, Apple, Strawberry Juice

DowntoEarth.org

P.S. Please remember to subscribe to my blog. You’ll only receive e-mail when I post a new article and nothing else. No Spam! I promise!

Friday, February 26, 2016

Bright Orange | Orange and Carrot Juice Recipe

This is another juice recipe that comes from The Big Book of Juices. I like making the Bright Orange juice recipe in the morning. I love it! I just naturally love to have an orange juice in the morning and the addition of a few carrots smooths out the flavor for me. How about adding a small piece of fresh ginger to it? Anyway, here’s a recipe you’re sure to love.

Bright Orange

I love how the addition of carrots to this drink really makes a beautiful orange color. The carrots do the same in another recipe I make with grapefruit. This is a nice, not to sweet, fresh, nutritious juice and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Makes 16 ounces

2 oranges

4 carrots

Why are carrots good for you? “The health benefits of carrots include reduced cholesterol, prevention from heart attacks, warding off of certain cancers, improving vision, and reducing the signs of premature aging. Furthermore, carrots have the ability to increase the health of your skin, boost the immune system, improve digestion, increase cardiovascular health, detoxify the body, and boost oral health in a variety of ways. They also provide a well-rounded influx of vitamins and minerals.” – Organic Facts

Thank you again for reading, please feel free to comment below.

Resources:

Health Benefits of Carrots | Organic Facts

P.S. Please remember to subscribe to my blog. No Spam!

Bright Orange | Orange and Carrot Juice Recipe

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Quick and Dirty Flu Fighter | Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Apple and Ginger Fruit Juice

It doesn’t have to be the flu season to enjoy the Quick and Dirty Flu Fighter fresh fruit juice. This recipe comes from one of my favorite juicing books, The Healthy Juicer’s Bible by Farnoosh Brock. This is an excellent book for both the beginner and experienced juicer.

The Quick and Dirty Flu Fighter

This is a delicious morning fruit juice and as I made it, I just knew it would be a favorite of mine. I love oranges and grapefruit. I added a few ice cubes and sparkling water to mine. Try this recipe and let me know what you think.

Makes approximately 20 ounces

2 small-medium oranges, peeled

1 small grapefruit, peeled

1/2 lemon (I peel mine)

1 Yellow or Macintosh apple

a small piece of ginger ( I used a very small piece and the juice had just a hint of ginger, just the way I like it)

Update:

13 Health Benefits of Oranges:

1. Helps Prevent Cancer

2. Prevents Kidney Diseases

3. Reduces Risk of Liver Cancer

4. Lowers Cholesterol

5. Boosts Heart Health

6. Lowers Risk of Disease

7. Fights Against Viral Infections

8. Relieves Constipation

9. Helps Create Good Vision

10. Regulates High Blood Pressure

11. Protects Skin

12. Oranges Alkalize the Body

13. Provides Smart Carbs

Note: drink juice in moderate amounts. The high sugar content of fruit juices can cause tooth decay and the high acid content can wear away enamel if consumed in excess. Please remember, if you’re diabetic, have a serious medical condition or take medication please check with your healthcare professional. Oranges have a lot of sugar in the juice and grapefruit juice doesn’t mix with some medications. It only takes a phone call to check.

Thank you for reading Quick and Dirty Flu Fighter. Please let me know what you think of this recipe by commenting below.

Resources:

13 Health Benefits of Oranges | Care2 Healthy Living

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog. You’ll only receive e-mail when I post a new article and nothing else. No Spam! I promise!

Quick and Dirty Flu Fighter | Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon, Apple and Ginger Fruit Juice

Beta-Carro Juice Recipe | Carrots, Apricots, Peaches

I had to try the Beta-Carro juice recipe because I bought so many apricots the last trip to the store. I love apricots and they produce a thick juice. You may have to add some water to this one. I think sparkling water would be great, but even purified water helps to thin this one out and doesn’t really take anything from the taste. That’s what I did.

Using my Omega J8004 masticating juicer I made this delicious recipe.

I always suggest people dilute the fruit juices, because of the sugar content. I’m careful about the quantity I drink at one time too and I’ve noticed in The Juicing Bible that some of the recipes for fruit juices says, “Serves 1” and I think it’s better to say “Serves 2”. I adjust for that in these articles.

If you’re like me, you’ll experience less of a sugar spike if you eat breakfast or some food with your fruit juices. If you have any medical conditions, please consult your healthcare professional. A phone call is all it takes. That said, fruit juice is great for fasting and cleanses!

Fresh Juice: Beta-Carro Juice Recipe

Serves 2

3 carrots

3 fresh apricots, pitted

3 peaches, pitted

Using your juicer, juice the apricots alternating 1/2 of a carrot between each. Juice the peaches doing the same. I had to let my Omega J8004 run for a few minutes after I finished to make sure I got all of the juice out. There still was quite a bit of juicy pulp on the auger.

Update: Beta-carotene, like all carotenoids, is an antioxidant. An antioxidant is a substance that inhibits the oxidation of other molecules; it protects the body from free radicals. Free radicals damage cells through oxidation. Eventually, the damage caused by free radicals can cause several chronic illnesses. – Medical News Today

If you have a juice recipe you’d like to share with me, please contact me. I’ll be sure to give credit where credit is due. As always, thanks for reading and happy juicing!

P.S. Please subscribe to my blog. You’ll receive my new articles and recipes via e-mail. No-SPAM!

Sources for this article include:

Medical News Today

The Juicing Bible 2nd Edition

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Beta-Carro Juice Recipe | Carrots, Apricots, Peaches

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Beta Blast Juice Recipe | Cantaloupe, Carrot, Apricot

Well what do you know, I found some apricots. If you’re keeping up and read my last article you may remember I substituted nectarines for apricots. So, I decided to go back and do the recipe the way it is in The Juicing Bible. The Beta Blast Juice recipe is an awesome fresh fruit juice for people looking to infuse their body with beta-carotene.

Fresh Juice: Beta Blast Juice Recipe

Serves 1

3 carrots

2 fresh apricots, pitted

1/4 cantaloupe, peeled and with seeds

The apricot doesn’t juice well in my Omega J8004 juicer, so I had to go slow and follow each one with a carrot. Slow and easy with this one and let the juicer run to get all of the apricot juice.

This is a delicious recipe, easy to make and full of beta-carotene. Juice and enjoy!

UPDATE: Tips for Picking Apricots

1 .Buy fresh. Opt for in-season apricots — late spring through the summer — which are grown in the U.S. Out-of-season (winter) apricots have to get shipped from other countries and, to make the long journey, these apricots have to be picked when they’re under-ripe, which means they’re more likely to contain less flavor.

2. Choose carefully. Examine each apricot for plumpness and a golden, or orange-red, color. Avoid apricots that are green or pale yellow, or that are bruised or shriveled.

3. Give them a sniff. An apricot that has flavor also has a sweet and ready fragrance.

If you have a juice recipe you’d like to share with me, please contact me. I’ll be sure to give credit where credit is due. As always, thanks for reading and happy juicing!

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog. No Spam! I promise!

Sources for this article include:

The Juicing Bible 2nd Edition

Medical Daily

Beta Blast Juice Recipe | Cantaloupe, Carrot, Apricot

Cantaloupe, Carrot, Nectarine Fruit Juice Recipe

My cantaloupe, carrot, nectarine fruit juice recipe originally came from the Beta Blast recipe in The Juicing Bible on page 164. The Beta Blast calls for apricots, but I couldn’t find fresh apricots anywhere. So, I made due with what I had available and chose to substitute nectarine’s. It turned out great and if you like cantaloupe, you’re going to love this Cantaloupe, Carrot, Nectarine juice recipe.

As you’re juicing be sure to alternate between the soft fruits and the carrot. The carrot is hard and will help push the cantaloupe and nectarine through your juicer. I use an Omega J8004 Nutrition Center.

Cantaloupe, Carrot, Nectarine Fruit Juice – Beta Blast

I was curious why it is called the Beta Blast in the book, so I looked up some info on the ingredients and here’s what I found:

Researchers have recently measured the carotenoid contents of six different California-grown cantaloupe hybrids and discovered that their beta-carotene content can reach levels as high as 3,138 micrograms (per 100 grams of fresh weight). That’s about 30 times higher than the beta-carotene content of fresh oranges. – WHFoods

Now that level of beta-carotene doesn’t match up to the amount in carrots, but our recipe also has carrots! What about my substitute, the nectarine?

Juicy nectarines have delicious flavor and sweet cream-yellow or white flesh. Fruits and vegetables with a bright red, orange and yellow color often have a high amount of beta carotene. Did you know that? It’s the truth.

So there you go. All of the ingredients in this wonderful recipe have a good amount of beta carotene and if you’re lucky enough to find apricots, then you’ll have the exact “Beta Blast” recipe as in The Juicing Bible.

This is a delicious and healthy fruit juice recipe. I love the flavor, color and texture. Try this, you won’t be sorry!

Cantaloupe, Carrot, Nectarine

Serves 2 people

6 carrots

4 fresh nectarines, pitted ( the Beta Blast recipe called for apricots)

1/2 small cantaloupe ( I decided to peel mine, but left in the seeds)

If you have a juice recipe you’d like to share with me, please contact me. I’ll be sure to give credit where credit is due. As always, thanks for reading and happy juicing!

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog. No Spam! –

Sources for this article include:

WHFoods: Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe, Carrot, Nectarine Fruit Juice Recipe

(This article has been updated to include more information. Thank you for reading.)

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Apple Pear Fruit Juice Recipe

Do you like sweet apples mixed with delicious pears? If so, then this Apple Pear Fruit Juice is the recipe for you.

Fresh Fruit: Apple Pear Fruit Juice Recipe

This is another wonderful recipe from The Juicing Bible with a slight alteration. Even though the recipe doesn’t specify what type of apple and pear to use, I used braeburn apples and red pears. I also left out the ginger root and I list it below as optional.

I have nothing against ginger root. It has many positive nutritional benefits, but I just don’t care for it in some recipes. My taste may change as time goes on. It certainly has over the years and I may start using ginger root more often in fruit juice recipes.

This is a pleasant morning fruit juice and fruit juice is excellent for cleansing, but it does have more sugar than green drinks. I’m careful not to drink too much pure fruit juice and I’ve found that diluting it with purified water or sparkling water is a good choice. The recipe below makes more than enough for 2 people, especially if you dilute it.

Serves 2 people

2 apples (braeburn)

2 pears (red)

1/2 inch piece of ginger root (optional)

1/2 cup grapes (red)

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

If you have a juice recipe you’d like to share with me, please contact me. I’ll be sure to give credit where credit is due. As always, thanks for reading and happy juicing!

UPDATE: Apple Pear Fruit Juice Recipe: Try the ginger root. It is fantastic! I use just a small piece to livin this recipe up and ginger root has so many wonderful benefits. For one, it reduces pain and inflammation, making it valuable in managing arthritis, headaches, and menstrual cramps.- 7 Health Benefits of Ginger

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog. You’ll only receive an e-mail when I post a new article and nothing else. No Spam!

Sources for this article include:

7 Health Benefits of Ginger

Apple Pear Fruit Juice Recipe

Apple Fresh Fruit Juice Recipe

When I made my Apple Fresh Fruit Juice I used granny smith apples and the best red grapes I could find. This fresh fruit juice is absolutely delicious, but tart (sharp). Over ice it’s an excellent, refreshing morning drink to sip on and definitely a “wake me up” juice. If you prefer something sweeter, use a sweeter apple. As is, this is an awesome fruit juice and very easy to make. See below.

Apple Fresh Fruit Juice Recipe

The Apple Fresh recipe comes from the book, The Juicing Bible. This is a wonderful book and has many delicious recipes for juicing as well as smoothies. In addition it has an abundance of useful information on health conditions and healthy foods. I highly recommend this book.

The Apple Fresh Fruit Juice Recipe I show here has a slight modification. I used granny smith apples and I didn’t use the powdered ginseng as mentioned in The Juicing Bible. Maybe I’ll try the powdered ginseng (1/2 tsp.) the next time.

The recipe from The Juicing Bible isn’t specific regarding the apples. Granny smith apples are lower in sugar content and that’s why I try to use them. It’s a tangy taste too! For myself I love all apples. I mix them up sometimes and enjoy experimenting. This is an excellent morning drink and will get the body going. Juice and enjoy!

Serves 2 people

3 apples (granny smith)

1 cup of red grapes

1/2 lemon (peeled)

UPDATE ON GRAPES:

The wealth of antioxidant nutrients in grapes is somewhat startling! In addition to providing us with conventional antioxidant nutrient like vitamin C and manganese, grapes are filled with antioxidant phytonutrients that range from common carotenoids like beta-carotene to unusual stilbenes like resveratrol, and the total number of different antioxidant nutrients in grapes runs well into the hundreds. – whfoods.com

Do you like tart fruit drinks?

As always, thanks for reading and happy juicing!

P.S. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog. You’ll only receive an e-mail when I post a new article. No Spam!

Sources for this article include:

Grapes – WHFoods.com

Apple, Beet, Pear Fruit Juice Recipe

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Apple Fresh Fruit Juice Recipe

Friday, February 19, 2016

Apple, Beet, Pear Fruit Juice Recipe

UPDATE: The Apple, Beet, Pear Fruit Juice recipe comes from The Juicing Bible. Most of my recipes come from books I’ve purchased and some come from a FREE juice suggestion software program. I modify the recipes for my taste and you can too!

I also find recipes online and some get sent to me by fellow bloggers and followers. Whenever possible I credit the source.

Fresh Juice: Apple, Beet, Pear Fruit Juice Recipe

As I said, this recipe (apple, beet, pear) comes from the book, The Juicing Bible. I really have enjoyed this book and use it for reference quite frequently. So if you can, I recommend you have a copy for yourself. Here’s the Apple, Beet, Pear recipe with a slight modification (remove lemon peel) of my own. Actually the book does mention to remove the lemon peel in another chapter, but I want to make it a point in this recipe. Leave as much of the pith (white stuff) as possible. As with other citrus fruit, the pith contains pectin and bioflavonoids, which help the body to absorb vitamin C. I find lemon peel too bitter for my taste, especially when juiced in the Omega J8004 Masticating Juicer.

This is a delicious recipe and I love the bit of foam on top. On this recipe anyway.

Before juicing I didn’t like fresh beets, but juicing has really expanded my taste. I love raw, fresh beet juice now.

This is a simple recipe and very enjoyable to make. Try it, you’ll like it!

Serves 2 people

2 apples

1 pear

3 beets (small to medium, with tops)

1/2 lemon (peeled)

1/2 inch piece of ginger root (optional)

I start with the ginger root, then the lemon and after those have gone through I process the rest in my juicer. My reason to start with the ginger root and lemon is that I want to get all that I can out of it, since it’s such a tiny amount. I think juicing them first will allow the rest, as it pushes through, to capture any residual ginger root and lemon left in the auger.

Some people like to juice the lemon last because it helps clean and freshen the juicer parts. Personal preference I suppose. As I see it there’s really no right way or wrong way when it comes to this. Experiment and enjoy.

If you have a juice recipe you’d like to share with me, please contact me. I’ll be sure to give credit where credit is due. As always, thanks for reading and happy juicing!

Sources for this article include:

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Health and Nutrition: Healthy Aging

Regular physical activity can be a fun and effective way to maintain physical function and prevent some of the most

common physical impairments associated with increasing age, including loss of balance, flexibility and bone strength. Healthy aging has been a primary focus for me in the last 3 to 4 years. I’m 53 now.

Years ago I had a track coach tell me that the first thing to go with aging is flexibility. How right he was!

Physical Activity for Healthy Aging

Balance – Loss of balance is one of the primary causes of life threatening falls in elderly people. To help, try adding one-leg balance exercises to your routine. Also, balancing while performing routine tasks can also improve your balance. While cooking or talking on the phone, try balancing on one leg. You’ll become better balanced in no time. Keeping good balance is important in healthy aging. I enjoy yoga poses that require balance. The half moon or high lunge are excellent. See: Balancing Poses.

Flexibility – As I mentioned flexibility is the first thing to go In order to maintain flexibility you should stretch daily. Who likes stretching? I know, I don’t like it anymore than most. I have to force myself to stretch before and after every run. It takes discipline. So for me, I had to make it a part of my exercise routine. In my running app I have 5 minutes scheduled before and 5 minutes scheduled after each run, just for stretching. This has helped me become better at it. I still skip this step sometimes, but I get’er done most of the time. It’s progress, not perfection for me.

Yoga or Pilates are beneficial for flexibility as well as balance and bone strength. Try Yoga if you haven’t already. I started Yoga by going to classes at the YMCA. I found that committing myself to a regular class, and paying for it, I was more motivated to go. It worked! I went once a week for a year straight. It’s still part of my healthy aging routine.

Strong Bones – Weight bearing exercise is ideal for brittle bone prevention. Any activity where you support your weight such as walking, running, badminton, or weight training is good. Having 30 minutes of weight training twice per week is recommended for maximum benefits.

_{* Weight-bearing exercise and weight training can be dangerous if you already have low bone density. Check with your doctor before adding this to your routine.}

So What About Juicing?

Get those essential vitamins and nutrients through juicing. There’ nothing better than a fresh glass of homemade juice before or after a workout. Juicing can help with all of the above, because when you add fuel to your body with juicing, you’ll be in top shape for any physical activity.

Resources:

Wellbeing Insights Sept 2015

Balancing Poses: Yoga Poses/Asanas/Postures

Health and Nutrition: Healthy Aging

Orange Morning | Grapefruit, Carrot and Ginger Juice Recipe

Wow! I never would have thought to mix carrots with grapefruit, but Orange Morning does it! I was very pleasantly surprised at how good this fruit juice is. The combination of grapefruit, carrots and ginger is perfect. The grapefruit isn’t near as strong with the carrot and ginger added in. Honestly I could barely taste the carrots and there’s just the slightest hint of ginger. This is one time where I can actually add the suggested amount of ginger in a juice and not be overwhelmed by it.

Orange Morning

“Another great morning staple but one where the sharp, awakening grapefruit tang is tempered by the sweet, rich carrot” – Orange Morning from The Big Book of Juices

In my opinion, one of the best grapefruit juice recipes out there and pretty low in calories. Only 152 calories according to Juice Recipe Builder | Juice Recipes, and that’s if you drink the entire 20 ounces.

Makes 20 ounces

2 grapefruits

3 carrots

1/2 inch ginger root

“A glass of chilled grapefruit juice, especially in winter, helps seriously boost your levels of vitamin C, which gives grapefruits a high place amongst various citrus fruits. It’s packed with the benefits derived from various nutrients and vitamins, including potassium and lycopene.” – Organicfacts.net

Thank you again for reading and please let me know what you think of this recipe by commenting below. I try to keep the recipes simple.

Note: If you’re taking medication consult your health care professional. It’s been known for some time that grapefruit juice can interact badly with some medications.

Resources:

Juice Recipe Builder | Juice Recipes

Health Benefits of Grapefruits | Organic Facts

P.S. Please remember to subscribe to my blog. You’ll only receive e-mail when I post a new article and nothing else. No Spam!

Orange Morning | Grapefruit, Carrot and Ginger Juice Recipe

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Juicing Sprouts

I’ve really enjoyed growing alfalfa sprouts with my Victorio VKP1014 4-Tray Kitchen Seed Sprouter. It’s super easy to do and the little kit actually produces plenty of sprouts, especially for one or two people. Juicing sprouts is very easy. I use my Omega J8004 Nutrition Center Commercial Masticating Juicer and even though they don’t produce a lot of juice, it’s tasty and of course very nutritious.

Growing Sprouts For Juicing

I purchased a Victorio Growing Kit that had everything I needed to grow sprouts. The trays, seeds and instructions were all included. All I had to do was provide the water and sunlight. They don’t even need direct sunlight to grow and for them to sprout they don’t need any sunlight. I have mine sitting on my plant cart and they get a little direct sun in the morning.

It takes about 5 to 7 days to grow sprouts for juicing.

After they mature, I just dumped them out of the sprouting tray and on to some paper towels for drying. I store my sprouts in a plastic container, the kind that strawberries come in. They’ve stayed fresh for up to a week or more in the refrigerator. It’s easy to know when sprouts are fresh because they’re crisp. I love the crisp texture of fresh sprouts. They go great on salads and sandwiches too.

Juicing Sprouts

As I said, they don’t produce a lot of juice, but what you get is extremely nutritious. They go into the Omega J8004 easily and unlike wheatgrass there’s no cutting with these alfalfa sprouts, so no mess involved. Once in the chute of the juicer they are pushed down with the plunger.

In the beginning I started juicing three or four handfuls of sprouts along with three or four carrots to make a nice glass of fresh juice in the morning. The sprouts aren’t very strong so I hardly notice that they’re in there. There’s just a hint of sprout taste and it’s delicious.

After a few times and experimenting with simple recipes, I started adding sprouts to all of my green juices. One of my favorite green juices includes cucumber, spinach, celery, kale (or romaine lettuce), carrots and an apple. Now with the addition of sprouts it’s an even better green drink.

Sprouts add a green, living nutritional boost to any juice. Try juicing sprouts with fruit! You might be surprised.

This is a delicious and refreshing juice which promotes weight loss. You can drink this juice twice a day on an empty stomach to help suppress your appetite. If possible, use organic produce for this recipe.

1 bunch of alfalfa sprouts

1 bunch of kale

1/2 cucumber

2 celery stalks

1 apple – From Juicers 2 Health

When I ran out of seeds for juicing sprouts I purchased more: Certified Organic Alfalfa Sprout Seed -1 Lb – Handy Pantry Brand Seeds For: Salad Sprouts & Sprouting – Can Be Grown in Any Sprouter.

Thank you for reading and as always, please feel free to comment below. I’d love to hear from you. What’s your experience juicing sprouts?

Sources for this article (Juicing Sprouts) include:

Juicers 2 Health – Alfalfa Sprout Juice Recipe

Vegetarian Nutrition: Sprouts: Super, Simple, Nutritious and Healthy

Juicing Sprouts

Health and Nutrition: Sprouts Protein

Sprouts, specifically alfalfa sprouts, that’s what I’m growing. I purchased the Victorio VKP1014 4-Tray Kitchen Seed Sprouter and started the day I got it. I used to love the texture and taste of it in sandwiches and salads, but where I live those tasty green morsels are hard to come by. And, I want my own, freshly grown-organic sprouts!

Recently I read an article on juicing them and that really peaked my interest! Can you imagine?

About Sprouts

I’ve read and heard for a long time that sprouts are very nutritional, but I never put that much emphasis on them. Not any longer. Today I’m particularly interested in the protein value of sprouts. Now’s the time for a little more research.

What makes sprouts nutritious?

Sprouts are very nutritious, as they contain all the elements that a plant needs for life and growth. The simple process of sprouting brings out many enzymes in germinated seeds, legumes, and grains, making them easier to digest. It also increases the amounts and bioavailability of protein, vitamins and minerals, transforming them into nutrition powerhouses. Overall, sprouts provide excellent quality nutrients and, by weight, are the rich sources of an array of vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants. – Vegetarian Nutrition

I received a package of alfalfa seeds with my growing kit and I wanted to see exactly what the benefits of alfalfa sprouts are. After doing a little research I found that alfalfa contains 35% protein and are abundant in vitamins A, B, C, E and K. Alfalfa sprouts contain the minerals calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. Also carotene, chlorophyll, amino acids and trace elements. How awesome is that?

After reading some more I found that lentil sprouts are a good source of protein too. A 1-cup serving of fresh or cooked lentil sprouts contains about 7 grams of protein, according to USDA figures. Yabba-Dabba Doo! I want some of that! I’ll buy lentil seeds and grow them with my alfalfa.

So, if you’re like me and looking for the most nutritional foods out there, it appears to me that the good ole’ tasty sprouts that I used to get in my sandwiches are just the ticket. They’re also a good source of protein and it’s the kind of protein I can live with (I’m distancing myself from eating meat).

I’ve continued growing sprouts on and off since I got my growing kit. I like Certified Organic Alfalfa Sprout Seed -1 Lb – Handy Pantry Brand Seeds For: Salad Sprouts & Sprouting. Basically all spouts are delicious, so what ever seeds you get, grow and enjoy!

Thanks for reading and next I’ll share what I’ve learned from juicing this little, green, wonder food . So, what do you do with your sprouts? Put them on salads? Please share with us and happy juicing!

Sources for this article include:

Health Eating Advisor: Sprouts Have The Highest Concentration Of Nutrition Per Calorie Of Any Food

LIVESTRONG: Lentil Sprouts and Protein

Health and Nutrition: Sprouts Protein

Monday, February 15, 2016

Health and Nutrition: Know Your Fats

Talking about fats is not one of my favorite topics, but it’s important. It’s confusing at first (I know I was) so I’m going to try and keep this simple. – Fats provide energy for your everyday activities. Try to avoid saturated and trans fats while focusing on mono and polyunsaturated fats.

Why are fats so important?

Do you like that feeling of fullness when you eat? Most people do. Fats provide a feeling of fullness as well as the calories, vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to survive.

Healthy fats help with absorption of fat soluble vitamins and phytonutrients, like antioxidants, Vitamin E, carotenes, Vitamin D and Vitamin K. Essential fats are important for anti-inflammatory actions and healthy brain function and development. Essential fats reduce risk for heart disease.

But a word of caution — don’t go overboard even on healthy fats. All fats, including the healthy ones, are high in calories. Also, if something is advertised as fat-free, that doesn’t mean that it has any fewer calories than full or low-fat foods. Any extra calories in your diet will cause weight gain.

The Healthier Fats

Monounsaturated fat is a type of fat found in a variety of foods and oils and polyunsaturated fat is a type of fat found mostly in plant-based foods and oils.

Foods that contain healthy fats are: Nuts (almonds, peanuts, walnuts, pecans and cashews), chia seeds, peanut butter, fish (salmon, tuna, trout and sardines), oils (olive, canola, sunflower, peanut, sesame, soybean and corn), avocados, olives, soy milk, and tofu. Kale, celery, apple and carrots.

The Unhealthy Fats

Too much saturated fat is unhealthy and is associated with increased levels of cholesterol. Saturated fats are usually solid fats, meaning they are solid at room temperature. Saturated fats are in foods like butter, meat and dairy fats, shortening and lard. Some vegetarian sources of saturated fat are coconut and palm kernel. Consuming a diet high in saturated fat will increase your LDL or “bad” cholesterol and also your risk for heart disease.

Another type of unhealthy fat is called trans fat. Trans fat is a type of unsaturated fatty acid that naturally occurs in dairy and beef. It is also produced when manufacturers hydrogenate or add hydrogen to an oil to make it more spreadable, solid or more shelf-stable. Items like stick varieties of margarine, baked goods, commercially prepared foods and fast foods contain up to 50 percent of their fat from trans fat. Eating high amounts of trans fat can raise your LDL cholesterol and decrease your HDL or “good” cholesterol. It produces inflammation and increases your risk for heart disease. Trans fats have been linked to increased cancer risk, premature skin aging and lower immune response. Trans fat is bad!

A Word About Cholesterol

Cholesterol is an important substance which can be made by our bodies and is not an “essential” nutrient. It is present in foods of animal origin only, meaning there is no cholesterol in plants. Cholesterol forms the major parts of plaques that narrow arteries in atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is the narrowing of arteries and is the underlying cause of strokes and heart attacks. The National Cholesterol Education Program advises for a consumption of 300 milligrams or less of cholesterol per day. Cutting back on meat and animal products is a good way to decrease your intake of cholesterol and saturated fats. Let me emphasize, cutting back on meat and animal products is a good way to decrease your intake of cholesterol and saturated fats!

So what about juicing?

Cholesterol – present in foods of animal origin only, meaning there is no cholesterol in plants.

Fats – certain fruits and vegetables contain small amounts of fats:

Kale

Celery

Apple

Carrots

If you want to add a little bit more of the healthy fats to your juices, try adding just 1-2 teaspoons of:

Coconut oil

Olive oil

Chia seeds (an ounce (28 grams) of chia seeds actually contains 9 grams of fat.)

So what is the bottom line? Try to avoid saturated and trans fats while focusing on mono and polyunsaturated fats. Consume more fresh fruits and vegetables and eat less meat and more fish! That’s my bottom line and you can’t go wrong with that. What do you think?

Resources:

Wellbeing Insights March 2015

Healthy Fats: Are you getting enough on a reboot?

Healthy Healing: A Guide to Self Healing for Everyone

Health and Nutrition: Know Your Fats

Apple Blues | Apple and Blueberry Juice Recipe

Apple Blues is a delicious fruit juice recipe that I got from The Big Book of Juices. This is quickly becoming my favorite book for recipes.

Apple Blues is so simple, combining the sweet flavor of apples with the nutritious benefit of blueberries. And, who doesn’t like blueberries?

Apple Blues

I made this juice in the morning for us to have with a light breakfast (other fruit and almonds). I was pleasantly surprised by the sweetness of this juice and the fiber. I’m using my Omega J8004 juicer with most of these recipes and this juice has some fiber to it. We thoroughly enjoyed our little breakfast together and especially Apple Blues, which brightened our morning.

Makes 20 ounces

3 apples

2 large handfuls of blueberries

Update: One cup of fresh blueberries contains 84 calories, 0 grams of cholesterol, 1.1 grams of protein, 0.49 grams of fat, 21 grams of carbohydrate and 3.6 grams of dietary fiber (14% of daily requirements). That same one-cup serving provides 24% of daily vitamin C, 5% vitamin of B6 and 36% of vitamin K needs. Blueberries also provide iron, calcium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, manganese, zinc, copper, folate, beta-carotene, folate, choline, vitamin A and vitamin E. Possible benefits of blueberries – Lowering blood pressure, managing diabetes, warding off heart disease, preventing cancer, improving mental health, healthy digestion, weight loss and fighting wrinkles. – Medical News Today

Thank you again for reading and please let me know what you think of this recipe by commenting below. I try to keep the recipes simple.

Resources: