I've received a lot of interesting feedback on Part 1 of Tips For Juicing For Optimal Health. Mostly great feedback from people who love to juice as a part of their healthy diet. Then there are some who don't believe that juicing is a natural way to consume vegetables. The way I see it is if I can get people to eat more vegetables by juicing or by "hiding" vegetables in some of their foods (i.e., add spinach to spaghetti sauce), then I've done a great job of encouraging a healthier diet. Here is Part 2 of this series.
In Part 1 of this series I discussed what vegetables are good to start with. As you get accustomed to juicing and drinking liquid that is not sweetened, you can start to incorporate other nutrient dense vegetables. The following are the vegetables recommended by Dr. Joseph Mercola in progressive order:
Step 1:
- Celery,
- Fennel (anise)
- Cucumbers
Step 2:
- Red and green leaf lettuce,
- Romaine lettuce
- Endive
- Escarole
- Spinach
Step 3:
- Cabbage,
- Chinese cabbage
- Bok choy
(Note: cabbage is an excellent source of Vitamin U which helps to heal ulcers!)
Step 4 (Now you can start adding herbs):
- Parsley
- Cilantro
(Note: some people do not tolerate cilantro well so pay attention to cues from your body.)
Step 5:
- Kale
- Collard Greens
- Dandelion Greens
- Mustard Greens (bitter)
(Note: use only one or two of these leaves at a time as they can be very bitter.)
Make Your Juice a Balanced Meal
I previously mentioned adding some oil to your juice to help with the absorption of fat soluble vitamins. There are several other tricks to boost the nutrient content of your juice and make it a more balanced meal, especially if using to substitute a regular meal.
EGGS
I know many who freak out at the thought of eating raw eggs. However, if you purchase pastured organic eggs from a local farm, it is extremely unlikely that you will get bacterial contamination from these eggs. The proteins and fats in eggs become easily denatured when cooked. However, when you eat them raw you maintain the amazing benefits of these little protein meals. Eggs pack about 8 grams of protein and some healthy fats. Add them to your juice. I guarantee you will not taste them. Pregnant ladies should avoid raw eggs as they can contribute to biotin deficiency, a common concern in pregnancy.
SEEDS
Blending seeds with your juice is an excellent way to ward off hunger and boost the fat and protein content of your vegetable juice. I tend to use ground up flax seed that I pre-grind in my dedicated coffee grinder and then blend them in. You can also use pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds or chia seeds. Chia is an excellent source of essential fatty acids much like flax seed. And they do not need to be ground up like flax.
CHLORELLA
Chlorella is one of those superfoods that contribute amazing nutrient power in a small package. It is a form of algae that is excellent for the detoxification of heavy metals like mercury. It is attracted to the heavy metals that human cells are damaged by, yet does not bind to those we deem beneficial like zinc, copper and magnesium. Purchase a pure powdered source and scoop it into your juice for a detox boost! If you feel nauseous after consuming chlorella, you may be part of the 30 percent of folks that do not tolerate this food very well. If so, listen to your body and put it away. Spirulina is another beneficial algae minus the heavy metal binding ability of chlorella.
PROTEIN POWDER
If you're going to go with a protein powder, make sure you purchase the right one. I stay away from soy. Most soy is genetically modified. And the hormone disrupting nature of soy makes me nervous. Many cancers are hormone related and soy has been implicated in contributing to these concerns. Whey protein is an excellent option, especially if you buy those made from pastured animals. Why is a cow milk product. However, whey does not contain the allergy inducing protein called casein that bothers many people when they drink dairy. Again, if your body does not agree with this source, then avoid it. Pea protein is an option for those who can't do whey.
GARLIC AND GINGER
Garlic is a powerful antibacterial that can help the body fight many types of infection. Because it is not appealing to yeast and other pathogens, it helps to restore a healthy gut flora. Throw in one or two small cloves when juicing your vegetables. Ginger has amazing healing power for the gut and will quickly extinguish nausea. I regularly add a chunk of ginger to my juicer.
Read Part 3 of Tips For Juicing For Optimal Health!
Juicing is a great way to gently detox your organs and tissue. If you're interested in starting a detox program, sign up now for a FREE Detox Consultation!
Source
Juicing: Your Key to Radiant Health, by Dr. Joseph Mercola
