Let's Juice...Beetroot

Gross right?!?  Not really when you mix it with the right things.  I made my second beet root juice for today after not hating my one from yesterday!  My turn on to Beet Root: liver detoxification...ummm yes please!!!

 

Beetroot juice is taken for many purposes, from aphrodisiac use to boosting exercise capacity to supporting liver and eye health. The supplement is rich in vitamin C, magnesium, manganese, potassium, bioflavonoids and beta-carotene. A concentrated beetroot extract, called betaine, is taken to maximize liver detoxification, to boost natural production of hormones in the body that promote the feelings of well-being and relaxation, and to remove excess homocysteine in the urine and blood. 

Recipe:

A Beet Beauty – This is packed with flavor and will keep you coming back for more and it's so pretty!!!

2 beets, (including greens optional)
2 carrots
1 apple, quartered and cored
1″ ginger

Let's Juice....Kale?!?!

I had never ever heard of Kale prior to getting into Juicing.  Turns out it is super cheap and actually tastes good in that you don't really taste it at all and it is loaded with nutrients.

Some of the beneys:

It's Low Calorie which is always important when you are trying to detox or lose weight.  Using kale in your juice blends is that it provides a large nutritional punch with one of the fewest calorie counts per cup of any other vegetable. In fact, juicing a cup of kale is only going to add an estimated 36 calories to your diet. according to the My Daily Plate calorie tool.

Kale is also a rich source of the carotenoid and phytonutrient lutein, a natural antioxidant that can increase the health of both your eyes by blocking the potential damage that can be done by exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun. Lutein may also help improve the health of your skin, states the Lutein Information Bureau.

Kale is also a substantial source of vitamin K, with 1 cup providing an estimated 1,327 percent of your daily needs of the vitamin. Vitamin K is most associated with providing your blood with the ability to clot in order to help stop the bleeding when your skin is cut or broken.

Juicing kale can also provide you with a substantial amount of vitamin A, with an estimated 192 percent of your daily value found in a single cup of kale. Vitamin A is essential for vision health, as well as maintaining healthy skin.

Vitamin C is also abundant in kale, which can be accessed through juicing this vegetable. A single cup of kale can provide you with an estimated 89 percent of your daily value of vitamin C. This vitamin is necessary for keeping your body tissues healthy, such as your muscles and skin, as well as can help your body resist infection.

 

Kale is also a rich source of calcium, which can be beneficial for those who need calcium sources outside of milk-based products. Calcium is essential for strong and healthy bones, and is needed for the contraction of muscles, the conduction of nerve pulses and several other processes in the body.

Kale is packed full of other vitamins and minerals outside of those discussed, including manganese, copper, potassium, iron, magnesium, vitamin E, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins B1, B

Cucumbers make me feel FRESH!!!

This past month and a half has been amazing, we have been to Sandbridge, Hatteras, and just returned from Tampa!!  All such great trips which of course means they were full of unhealthy apps, splurging way more than often, and an absurd amount of adult beverages....I think my body hates me!!  Answer- another juicing cleanse.  This time I am trying to stick more with vegetables rather than fruits and even trying new things I regularly hate- beet roots, ginger, etc etc...soooo while I'm trying to down these juice concoctions I have been reading on the benefits of all these super yummy (ha!) veggies!!

Today, and everyday, my focus was on cucumbers!  I have no specific recipe that I like more than others with cucumbers because I typically add at least a half of cucumber to every juice I make, they make so much juice and add a light refreshing flavor!

 

Cucumbers are so healthy!!  They are great for your skin, being so high in antioxidants and vitamin C, which make it a useful ingredient for treating skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, subburn, acne and even puffiness or swelling.  Cucumber juice is actually found in many beauty creams.  Cucumber juice is just as effective drinking as it is rubbing it against your skin...no wonder people sleep with cucumbers on their eyes!!!!  

Juicing cucumbers is also awesome for your hair!  Cucumber juice promotes hair growth due to its silicon and sulfur content.  Cucumbers also contain a ton of other ingredients including potassium, sodium, calcium and phosphorus.

Cucumbers are one of the most popular for weight loss as they are about 96% water, which when turned into juice you are left with vitamins in a pure liquid state. 

Cucumber juice is also often used in cleansing the body and can help to lower blood pressure, strengthen connective tissues, dissolve kidney stones and alleviate arthritis.

Juicing...Day 3

So today I woke up at 7:15 (on my own thank goodness cuz Ryan was still sound asleep) in such an amazing mood.  I am not even kidding I feel awesome!  I am 5lbs down from Monday morning, love seeing results, and really just feeling totally rejuvenated.  I am starting to feel obsessed with juicing and even contemplating taking the juicer and all my ingredients to my friends lake house this weekend, would that make me a total loser?  I am sure you can just add vodka to the juices and get the same effect right?!?!  haha

Planning for the day:

Started off this morning the same as the others with the preworkout rush, I even added a little more lime this time to switch it up- sooo yummy.

2nd Juice was Good Morning Greens

This time nooooo celery and I LOVED it!!

  
3rd Juice was my fave the Pineapple cooler, this is just so refreshing!!! 

Afternoon Check in- I feel awesome and have so much energy, yes even more than normal.  My boss actually just asked me if I was putting crack in my juice, haha she loves my energy and enthusiasm!! 

Dinner- Again a salad.  Dad was in town for the night so Chris and I met him at Sweet Greens (thank you boys for being so accommodating to my salad thing) and I have the avocado Green Salad.  It was amazing sooo good.  If you haven't been to Sweet Greens you should go, right next to Jacksons at Reston Town Center.

Great great great day!! 

Juicing...Day 2

Juicing takes a lot of planning and a LOT of vegetables goodness, we are headed back to the store today for more ingredients.  This morning I washed everything, water and vinegar, then packed up different tupperwares with the ingredients for each juice.

BONUS- Started off this morning 2lbs lighter than yesterday whoo hoo!!

Started off the morning the same as yesterday, if you like some stick to it!!

Pre-workout Rush- yummmmyy
2 Peeled Kiwi's...4 Pieces of Kale...1/2 Lime...2 Apples...6 large Strawberries.

Second Juice around 11am, at work, I tried a new one.  Pineapple Cooler and I LOVE it!!!

Recipe calls for 1/3 a pineapple..a handful of your favorite greens, I chose Spinnach and one thing of Kale..and some mint leaves...I also added 3 strawberries, a cucumber, and some blueberries= DELISH!!!

Mid Day Check In: So far today I am feeling a lot better than yesterday.  Not dizzy yet, feeling satisfied- not full, peeing a ton (sorry if TMI), and overall just refreshed!

The Pineapple Cooler was so delicious I decided to do it again, that was my Juice #3 of the day!

Juice #4 Good Morning Greens

3 Leaves of Curly Kale...1 Kiwi - not too soft peeled...1 Granny Smith Apple...Optional - 2 Celery Stalks - I just went with one celery and that is all I taste, I hate Celery!!!

I did have a small salad again tonight, no chicken though and a few pretzel crips ooops!

All in all a good day.  I def feel a little bit "cleaner" and refreshed but I am not feeling super skinny or busting with energy...hopefully that is coming soon!

Juicing...Day 1

Started off the day with the Pre-Workout Rush

2 Peeled Kiwi's...4 Pieces of Kale...1/2 Lime...2 Apples...6 large Strawberries

This was a lovely green mixture and actually tasted great.  Loaded with fruit = sugar, good way to start off!!

2nd juice of the day was Orange Broccoli 

4 carrots...2 apples...1 broccoli spear 

This was orange, very interesting, not as good at Juice 1 but still not as bad as I was expecting.

3rd Juice of the day was Mineralizer with a Zing

1 bunch of kale...4 carrots...1/2 a cucumber...2 stalks celery...1 apple...1 lemon

Again Orange, and not so bad!  The carrots and apples keep things sweet!

Overall- I did it for a day, I am still alive, the juice isn't as bad as I was expecting going into this, certainly no where near a juicy cheeseburger but I am focused on my goal!  For dinner I did have a salad with some chicken because I was feeling light headed which is apparently normal.  I do feel a bit refreshed but today kinda tired, I guess that's what happens when you cuz your calorie in take in at least half.