Here I Go Again!

Cucumber Express juice for breakfast

May 2013, I participated in an extended juice fast for the purpose of losing weight, rebooting my body and retraining my taste buds so I could eat healthier when it was over. I accomplished each goal and actually juiced longer than I've ever managed to in the past. It went so well that I told myself that if it was at all possible, I would do some form of a juice fast each May.

Well, here it is May 2014 and to be honest, for the last month I have not been looking forward to juice fasting at all. Many bad eating habits have slipped back in and frankly...I love the taste of pizza...and cheesy Mexican food (happy Cinco de Mayo, by the way!)...and sugar. Ahhh...sugar!

But I also have a daughter that has shown me since last fall, it is possible to live a disciplined vegan lifestyle, eat out at restaurants and other homes, exercise faithfully, avoid processed, refined foods and thus...have more energy, vitality and stay healthy when the rest of the family has the flu or the now ever-present allergies.

Does it cost more? Yes...but we're also not paying out for any co-pays or prescriptions for chronic illnesses either. I'm thinking that over a lifetime, it all balances out. If not, at least she'll feel better in her old age than her peers who spent their youth eating fast food and, let's face it, convenience food garbage.

Additionally, I'm involved in a book group with my friend, Kari, where we're digging in monthly to the book 7, by Jen Hatmaker. Ridding your life of excess and the hold that stuff, food and media have on us is the primary thrust of the book. And for the last two weeks, my friend, Becky, has been leading a book/Bible study of Mark Patterson's All In. I'll review both of these when I've completed them, but for now it's enough to say that I am being deeply challenged to rid my life of anything that has a hold on me. If I need to eat simple meals, give up most (or dare I say all) my possessions and free up time from my entertainment and "fun" so that others can know there is a God who loves them...then shouldn't I be willing to do it?

I've been stuck since Christmas. I've shared this before. God is so good, so loving and so gracious that I've been overwhelmed at all He is doing. I have been keeping Him at arms length though because I can't even begin to process it all. But where He is guiding me right now is the reminder that I don't have to have it all figured out and understand how it will come to fruition. I simply should wake up every day and ask how do I live today like Your vision for my life is complete? Live for today, not next year or even next week.

So this time, it's a little more than a juice fast. Yes, I want to lose more weight (I'm starting out 16 pounds less than last year); I want to retrain my taste buds to rid my desire for meat, dairy, sugar and gluten; and I want to reboot my body to be ready to make the life changes I'm hoping will occur this time. Because in addition to these goals, this year I'm adding in exercise (starting with yoga to increase my flexibility) and placing boundaries on my media time. Today, I'm running late because I usually do on Mondays, but next Monday...I'm going media free again. I'm also limiting my Facebook and game usage to before 9 a.m. and one half hour to quickly check messages around bedtime. This is a work in progress and doesn't mean that I want to compensate for the loss with something else online. I do hope this frees up time for blogging, more book reviews and other pursuits. If not, it will be restricted further. 

Join my journey if you want. The media restrictions start tomorrow because today I have to focus on juicing and there some loose ends I need to tidy up before I downsize my media usage. Essentially I feel the Spirit leading me to join others I know who are risking everything and going All In.

I'm ready...or at least He's getting me ready! And I can't wait to see what He's up to!!

**I will be updating and sharing the juice fast through Twitter which posts directly to my Facebook account. If you'd like to follow the juice fast and aren't my Facebook "friend", you can click the link above and to the left to follow me on Facebook.**

Staples

I used to think of "staples" as bread, milk, coffee, sugar and flour. For years I have laughed as people inundated the grocery stores in anticipation of a winter storm to stock up on items that apparently, they can't live without for a day. Usually, in our neck of the world, that is about the longest you might be stuck inside without access to a store. Since we've become apartment dwellers, I've been even more at ease because one of us could always walk to the convenience store or grocery just up the street.

What struck me as funny today when I returned from my (almost) daily trip to the store is that the photo above now depicts what the word "staple" means to us. I could have thrown some spinach, kale, and leaf lettuce in the picture too. And when I stopped to think about it, I chuckled at the thought of the next "blizzard", as I will undoubtedly trek out...not to help clear off the bread aisles...but rather to elbow out some granny for the last bunch of bananas! 

My Child Asked for What???

Today at the grocery store, our youngest, Leah, bobbed up and down (like she frequently does) and asked if I would buy some cauliflower and make my knock-off version of mashed potatoes. It's also a healthier version. In the organic section, I looked at the price of $2.49 for one medium-sized head (nothing organic is usually very big...and that's a good sign that it's authentically organic!) and started to shake my head and say, "No, not today, it's too expensive."

But I hesitated just long enough to actually think about what I was doing. I quickly glanced around at the nearby Starbucks, deli, ready made food bars, take home pizzas and bakery and snapped out of thoughts of what she could be asking for and replied, "Yes!"

She's already eaten two helpings and will probably be back for more!

The "Down" Side of Healthy Eating

Okay, so the title is a little misleading, because there's really no down side to healthy eating and healthy living. I've discovered some side effects though that if you're not prepared can catch you off guard. Since I have experienced all of these within the last 24 hours, I thought I'd share them with you.

• You'll need a lot less sleep. Right now, if I get six uninterrupted hours of sleep, I wake up without an alarm clock and have no grogginess to overcome. I don't need coffee, tea, pop, energy drinks or other stimulants to get going.
• You know when you've had something you shouldn't or even too much of a good thing. As your body detoxifies, when you reintroduce something that isn't healthy...you'll know it...soon. For me, the trigger foods are anything fried, soy, meat, dairy,  processed/refined sugar or flours, and too much salt (even sea salt). Headaches, blemishes, brain fog, gas, bloating, swelling, body odor, dry mouth, or dry eyes can quickly ensue. And yeah...that last bite of salad looks good and you really hate to waste it, but it's not going to taste as good as the first bite did...and if your body is telling you it's full...stop.
• Your taste buds are clean and not coated with processed, refined junk so the old foods don't taste good anymore. A chemical manufactured in a lab is just not going to taste as good as sun-ripened berries or sweet, juicy watermelon. Those chemicals only taste good when we have a steady diet of them. That's why companies add addictive substances, like aspartame and MSG...it keeps you coming back for more.
• You may not experience specific cravings. I learned a long time ago that as you tune into your body and actually take the time to listen to it, it will most always tell you what you need. This is why people need the mid-afternoon coffee and sugar pick me up. The lunch they ate didn't satisfy their body's needs, so they are experiencing a blood sugar slump. The fastest way to fix it is with the bad options. But as your body is healing, and you're getting all of the nutrients you need, you may not have that "feeling" that you need protein or chocolate or dairy or whatever that thing is for you. Sometimes I have difficulty deciding what to eat because food is now fuel...not comfort. I do still crave a salad or a juicy fruit when I'm dehydrated though.
• Your muscles may behave differently when exercised. I say may because this is a new one for me. When I have eaten a mostly vegan diet in the past, it was not highly raw. When I have previously juiced, I was mostly focused on detoxifying, not concerned with exercise and didn't juice long enough to feel this good. So what I've been noticing is that when I go for a walk, which isn't even strenuous, my muscles feel tight, or maybe firm is the better word, and even if I have some knee or foot pain while I'm exercising...it is quickly gone. I'm finding that I also am having less stiffness of joints and muscles a few hours later like I have had in the past after a workout.

None of these "down" sides to eating and living healthy are reasons for me, or you, to give up. In fact, all of them are indications that I am on the right track and need to keep going. Weight loss isn't the only benefit, or even the best.

Berry Pickin' At Phillips' Berry Patch

Today I had the idea to research blueberry u-pick farms in our area. There really aren't very many if the online information is correct. But when I found Phillips' Berry Patch in Guilford, Indiana, (Dearborn County) and called, I discovered that she still had "a few" strawberries and the blueberries would be ready soon.

I didn't give the kids a choice about going and there were a few grumbles, but once we arrived, the girls pitched in on the picking and Noah elected to keep an eye on Jewell.

We didn't have her walking around barefoot...but we did set her in the patch for a few pictures. I don't think she knew quite what to make of it.

Abbey loves kids...and it doesn't take long for most kids to pick up on that. She made some new friends today, Addy and Ryan. They were the only other family there and it was their first time to pick. Their mom was really friendly and we chatted some. As I walked to my van a little later, I just had that "feeling" that I was probably talking to a Sister in Jesus. Not sure...but it definitely felt that way.

Then came the tasty part. I was curious to see what Jewell would do and before I could snap the second photo...

...a berry was already getting stuffed in her mouth, green top and all. 

She quickly spit it out, but it must either have been because of the size or the prickly top because she didn't hesitate to eat 10 of them for lunch when we got home. They're so juicy, I've already prepared her mama that she might have a berry-stained baby tonight.

Strawberries are normally $2 per pound, but because it was end of season (although she still had a lot) Mrs. Phillips gave them to us for $1 per pound. She also told me the blueberries will be ready in the next week or two...we'll be back, I know!

It's a success when the kids are eating fresh, locally grown strawberries all day and my 17 year summed up the experience with , "That was fun."

 

Baked Kale Chips Recipe

I know there are a lot of kale chip recipes available on the internet and elsewhere, so I am not attempting to reinvent the wheel. Basically, I wanted to show you how easy it is to make a healthy snack that tastes great too.

Take one bunch organic kale and cut leaves away from the stem. You can tear or cut with a knife or kitchen shears.

Then wash the leaves and use a salad spinner to get rid of excess water.

Place in a bowl and drizzle with about one Tablespoon olive oil. 

Next, you add any seasoning you want. We've tried garlic and sea salt, Italian seasoning and sea salt or Ani Phyo's sea salt, chipotle and agave syrup.

Last step is to place on a parchment lined, non-insulated baking sheet and bake at 350°F for 7 to 10 minutes. Some recipes call for up to 15 minutes, but I start checking them after 7 so they don't burn.

For some of the benefits of kale, see my previous Superfood Salad Recipe post. Optimally these should be dehydrated to retain all of their living enzymes and micronutrients. But if, like me, you don't have one yet, this method will work well. Enjoy!

Tasty Superfood Salad Recipe

Our Hebron Kroger Marketplace is basically my second home. Nary a day passes but what I am there...especially with all of the fresh produce I have gone through recently. Over the last few years our family has looked forward to the yummy samples throughout the store. No joke...there have been some days when there are so many that we can literally eat a light lunch as we walk through the store. 

Admittedly, there are normally very few vegan options in the samples. Imagine my delight yesterday when I found this wonderful salad that they called "Taylor Farms Superfood Salad". At $6.99 per pound, I bought a 1/3 pound container. After eating it for my lunch yesterday, I determined to see if I could duplicate it more cheaply. I don't think my expense was much less, but my version (pictured above) had more organic and raw ingredients and would make enough to feed the whole family. I'll list the ingredients, but there's no real recipe...adjust it as you desire.

Organic baby kale, torn or chopped into bite size pieces. Whole blueberries and organic grape tomatoes. Chopped red onion, sweetened dried cranberries, chopped organic raw cashews, organic raw sunflower seeds...

And Lighthouse Pomegranate Blueberry Vinaigrette. I didn't compare any dressings and this one does have sugar...but it must be nominal or the vinegar counteracts it because it didn't leave me thirsty like I have been experiencing lately when I've even had a small amount of sugar. It doesn't have soy oil or high fructose corn syrup though so I was excited! 

Place all ingredients in a container, including the dressing, cover with a lid and shake until well mixed. This is delicious and the baby kale isn't too chewy (my biggest dislike of kale). The only variation from the Kroger version is that they included edamame, which I left out because I am attempting to avoid soy. Enjoy!

The amazing health benefits of these RAW ingredients include:

• Kale is low-calorie, zero fat, high in fiber, iron, Vitamin K (great for bone health and blood clotting), and is filled with antioxidants. It is an anti-inflammatory food and is also high in Vitamins A and C and calcium. It is a powerful detoxifying food.
• Blueberries are also loaded with antioxidants, but are great for brain health too. They are low glycemic and chock-full of Vitamins K and C, manganese and fiber.
• Red onion is packed with the bioflavenoid quercetin, which is great at scavenging free radicals. This antioxidant is cancer fighting, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory. It is being studied for its ability to prevent and control intestinal polyps and for suppressing rhinoviruses that are an underlying cause of the common cold. Allicin, also in onions, has been shown to promote cardiovascular health, prevent and treat cancer and reduce high blood pressure. Allicin, may also help people with dandruff because of its anti-fungal properties. The chromium contained in red onions makes it a great food to fight insulin resistance and there is more...but I have additional foods to get to.
• Tomatoes are a great source of Vitamins C, A, and K, plus folate and potassium.They also provide thiamin, niacin, Vitamin B6, magnesium, phosphorus and copper. The lycopene and beta-carotene found in tomatoes can make your skin look great and reduce the damage caused by harmful UV rays.
• Raw cashews are a good source of healthy fats, protein and fiber. They are loaded with manganese, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and tryptophan which can help elevate moods, thus combating depression. I recently heard in the documentary, Food Matters, that just one handful of raw cashews a day can significantly decrease the side effects of depression. Yet, in our fat-crazed society...we are overly concerned with consuming the fat. Your choice...anti-depressants or tasty cashews?
• Raw sunflower seeds are the mighty food in this salad. Don't let their tiny size fool you. Sunflower seeds have a high oil content that is a good source of polyunsaturated fats. They are also overflowing with Vitamins E, B1 and B6, manganese, copper, tryptophan, magnesium, selenium, phosphorus and folate.
• Edamame (optional) in only a one cup serving has at least 6% RDA of all the nutrients you need, except Vitamin D. They also provide 20-40% of your RDA for protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, folate and Vitamin K. Since edamame is a soybean, it contains isoflavones that are similar to estrogen. Therefore, they can be helpful in reducing mood swings, hot flashes, and other hormonal stressors. According to research, if you have a normal level of estrogen, soy can attach itself to receptors first, thus making your estrogen levels go down. A word of caution though...I know women in whom soy has had harmful effects upon their hormone levels. I suggest using soy sparingly.

As stated above, I know with the dried sweetened cranberries and the salad dressing, there is sugar added, so eat this salad in moderation. But if I have to choose between this and caving in to a sweet craving...this is definitely the optimal choice!

Chocolate Mint "Larabar" Recipe

I'm trying to get some healthy foods prepared for our vacation and homemade "Larabars" are at the top of my list. I thought since some of you have been following my journey toward better health, I'd share the preparation experience with you. There's no baking or cooking involved...it's that easy, and being mostly raw, they're that good for you too.

Start with a packed cup of pitted dates. I have always used Medjool dates in the past, but due to the cost, I recently purchased Deglet Noor dates that were not only cheaper, but already pitted too. They taste exactly the same as the Medjool ones.

Medjool on the left, Deglet Noor on the right.

Then, in a food processor (or blender), grind 1 cup of raw almonds until they are in small pieces. There is no magic size...it is completely based on your preference. Empty the nuts into a bowl and take about 1/4 cup to dust your pan. I use an 11 X 7 inch Pyrex, but for thicker bars, we have used a glass bread loaf pan.

Next I took a small handful of chocolate mint, right off my back patio, rinsed and removed the leaves from the stem and chopped the leaves into small pieces in the food processor. It's okay to leave some of the almond crumbs in the processor because they actually help keep the next step with the dates from sticking.

Leaving the mint in the food processor, add the dates to it and grind/chop them a few pulses. Add about 1/2 Tablespoon of raw cacao powder and continuing pulsing the mixture until it begins to form a ball.

Place the date mixture in the bowl with the almonds and with your hands...get messy...and mush it all together until the nuts are evenly distributed throughout the dates. Now, press the mixture into the prepared pan. You can attempt to get it evenly spread, but for me the unevenness is fine.

Refrigerate for about an hour or until set up fairly well. They will not get hard. Cut and serve or place in covered container and keep in the refrigerator. These usually don't last long, but we have had them in the fridge for over a week and they are fine.

This was the first time I've tried this flavor combination and they are delicious! This recipe is easily modified with different nuts [Abbey's favorite of cashews, vanilla and a pinch of salt] or flavors [lime or lemon juice instead of mint and cacao] and items such as dried fruit [dried cranberries and raw cacao make a great black forest cake flavor] or coconut [Key lime, my favorite!] can be added if desired.

Enjoy this whole foods, raw treat without regret. Here are some of the health benefits:

• Dates contain protein and fiber and trace elements of boron, cobalt, copper, magnesium, manganese, selenium and zinc.
• Raw cacao is a superfood that contains theobromine which can help treat depression. It is very high in antioxidant flavanoids, sulfur and magnesium. It also has the highest amount of iron found in any food source...16% of your RDA for iron in only 1 ounce
• Raw almonds are high in monounsaturated fats (a good fat), rich in antioxidants, can help stabilize blood sugar, high in Vitamin E and a good source of Vitamin B2, and may even help with weight loss.
• The Mint herb leaves are great for gastrointestinal disorders, helps the liver and calms indigestion. It contains menthol, Vitamin C and antibiotic substances. It can treat diarrhea, gastric fever and toxic infections. It is recommend for asthma, bronchitis and flu because of its antispasmodic and sedative properties.

That Yucky Feeling Is Just Not Worth It

I've already noticed that It Doesn't Take Long for Change, and in the past I have had similar experiences after detoxifying my body. If or when you add food back into your diet to which you are either sensitive or have an allergy, your body will tell you...quickly.

So far, my list of foods to exclude or at least decrease to almost non-existent includes refined sugar, refined wheat, beef, pork and dairy. Today, I'm pretty certain I have to go even further and unfortunately, this one could have huge ramifications for one of my favorite activities...baking.

I am still juicing two or three times a day, but have been attempting to add in some healthy options too. I confess, they haven't all been healthy, but a majority have been. This morning I fixed my breakfast juice and was looking for my sourdough bread recipe...when I came across my pumpkin scone recipe instead. I even had some canned pumpkin already open in the refrigerator that needed used up too. It was too good to be true...literally.

I don't know what my body is rejecting, but ever since an hour after eating it, I have had a horrible, pounding headache. I have even felt lightheaded and fuzzy. I used whole ingredients, including a blend of gluten free and organic spelt flours, aluminium free baking powder, organic spices, pumpkin puree, farm fresh eggs, coconut oil and organic sucanot. There isn't much sugar in scones to begin with and I thought using sucanot, which hasn't been processed and refined would be even better. I was wrong.

This feeling is just not worth the brief taste experience of a fresh scone. My family will have to adjust to Mom baking less, but they've already done great with the changes I've made. This was the first time I've baked anything for breakfast since my juicing began on May 14th and they haven't complained once.

I truly am okay with giving up breakfast carbs if it means being healthy...but I'm left with one lingering question: Next week, on our vacation, without my ever-present juicer and smoothie blender by my side...how will I consistently eat healthy so I can avoid missteps like this one?

Just Downright Silly!

I am always attempting to be open to God's refining and inch my way closer to the balanced life He calls all of us to live. During this season of life though, I have been experiencing what must be, for lack of a better explanation, hormonal changes that manifest in a feeling of high-anxiety stress.

Eating better is one of my efforts to combat this...but I've also learned that weight loss is greatly hindered by stress. Essentially, too much stress means you are fighting a losing battle. Among the measures I am taking to combat stress, I have researched meditation. Don't worry that I am going all "eastern religion" or anything. But there is substantial, significant research into the benefits of meditating. Richard Foster even writes about the Christian discipline of meditation as practiced by our ancient church ancestors in his book, Celebration of Discipline. 

I am now, on most days, taking at least a little time out for myself...aside from my prayer and Bible reading time...just to sit and relax. I even found a free app for my Kindle Fire that has multiple sounds that range from nature to Gregorian chant that I can listen to while I unwind. 

While the baby we're caring for is napping, I thought I'd come hang out on our patio and listen to something on my app and take in the cool, 60°F morning and soak up some Vitamin D too. But as I put on the headphones and searched for the perfect water sound to relax by, Holy Spirit whispered: "Now that's just downright silly. Listening to recorded birds and water, when there's a fountain on the pond and the red-winged blackbirds, robins and others are singing to Me. The trees are blowing and the sun is coming around to shine on you too." While I've typed this, the bullfrogs have even joined in the chorus.

All of this made me stop and ask myself a question though: How often am I settling for the "canned", manufactured copy of pleasure, joy and fun...when the real thing is just outside my back door?

It Doesn't Take Long for Change

The body is a remarkable thing...as it is designed by its Creator to be. I have been juicing two weeks and one day. I have not strictly juiced, but when I have eaten food...about 90% of my choices have been healthy. Why I find the body to be so amazing is that I could probably recount for you just exactly what has not been good for my body by how the food has affected me.

I've experienced this in the past also:

• Eliminate all dairy for two weeks, then have some cheese and you get runny nose and congestion the next day
• Detoxify your body completely then attempt to switch to organic soy milk (this was about nine years ago) and feel it burn all the way down to your stomach...clarifying that you are indeed sensitive to soy
• During that same detoxification, continue to use your old Mary Kay eye makeup and watch as your eye turns red, itchy and swollen because your body is saying, "There is no way I am letting you put that c--- back on me!"
• After having eliminated meat from your diet, have a small amount and you'll have heart burn like never before for the rest of the night

Such was the case with my beautiful meal pictured above last night. It was my oldest daughter's last home economics meal for the semester and I let her choose anything she wanted. She selected Olympian burgers which were very yummy. I had the smallest burger available and ate it along with all of the colorful, beautiful fruits and veggies you see in the photo. 

But I should have known based on my past experience with attempting to eat Vegan a couple of years ago...when you eliminate items from your body...that are just not good for your body...your body will let you know it...and quickly! So while I was thrilled to not make dinner and it was delicious...I have to remember in the future to continue to abstain from red meat. It is just too challenging for my stomach enzymes to digest and I do not enjoy heartburn.

The good news is, I'm also becoming adept at distinguishing how much wheat is too much wheat and the same goes for sugar. Discerning, listening to and obeying our God-given body cues are the best way to stay on track with our health. But I adamantly recommend a thorough detoxification first. Your body really does come alive and your senses awaken when you get all of that clutter out. No joke...the water in my shower even feels hotter when I'm cleansed and eating well!

The best thing about listening to your body is that when you do have something that irritates, you can also ask yourself what you need to eat or drink to get yourself back on track. Last night...for me...it was a mango, kiwi, orange juice, coconut water smoothie. Halfway through it, the heartburn was gone and it never returned.

Fresh vs. Bagged

          


I'm not promoting any one brand of baby spinach over another. My observations are purely for the sake of getting the most benefit and bang for my buck when it comes to juicing greens. I've pictured spinach above, but have had the same experiences with kale, romaine lettuce and leaf lettuce.

When I juiced in the past, I would always use bagged spinach. Why wouldn't I? It was the easiest, fastest way to get my juicing done and required no washing. But once I tried the fresh bunches of spinach in the organic section, I will never go back. Sure there's a little gritty sand to wash off, but I can use the same amount of spinach for my juice recipe and get double or more the amount of juice.

That makes sense when you think about it though, doesn't it? All bagged greens have been pre-washed and spun (just like a salad spinner) to remove the water so the greens will remain fresh during packaging and shipment to your store. Lots of water in an enclosed bag = nasty greens when you take them home.

But doesn't it stand to reason that when all of that high-powered spinning to get the greens dry is going on...some of the juice would be lost also?

Yes, I absolutely do recommend organic greens. The cost is usually not that much higher and if you're buying fresh, instead of the bag or box...they are always less per pound than conventional greens in a bag. One bag of Dole salad mix can cost $2.50 or more and will feed me about two salads. One bunch of red or green leaf lettuce is between $1.19-$1.49 per pound and one bunch will last for 3-5 salads. When I'm wanting convenience, I buy the box of organic greens, but we have to use it more quickly than the fresh bunches.

Switching back to my juicing gears. Here are some of the amazing health benefits of juicing your greens:

• Spinach is high in Vitamins A, B2, B6, C, E and K, magnesium, manganese, folate, iron, calcium, potassium, protein (important for a juice fast!), phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium and omega-3 fatty acids (if you don't want to eat fish!)
• Kale is high in Vitamins C and K, beta carotene, calcium, lutein and zeaxanthin. Plus Kale and broccoli are both high in sulforaphane, a chemical with potent anti-cancer properties.
• Leaf lettuce (with the exception of iceberg) is high in Vitamins A, C and K, potassium, iron, calcium and supplies fiber, carbohydrates, protein and a small amount of fat. Just remember, the darker the green of your lettuce, the healthier it will be!

Of course, eating your greens are a great way to get all of these benefits, but when you juice, you're giving your body all of those micronutrients in a high dose form, straight into your bloodstream because your body doesn't have to work to break them down.

An Easy Way to Start

I knew going public about my juice fast could generate some questions, but I've actually been a little surprised at the response. I've been asked about how it's affecting/changing me, how long I plan to juice and even to share some recipes. I have been sharing articles and other information about health that I come across through Twitter which also pastes onto Facebook. Follow me on Twitter if you'd like to read those. I may begin to post them through here if I have the time.

As I've pondered some of these questions, I keep coming back to this thought: "How do people who've never juiced for health get started?" The photo above represents my best effort at an easy answer...citrus juicing.

Just go to Amazon.com and you'll find more options for juicers than you could ever possibly want. There are those that use centrifugal force or shred into pulp and then juice the pulp or even those specifically for juicing wheat, alfalfa and barley grasses. I, personally, have a GE juicer that uses centrifugal force and it has done well for over two years now. Admittedly, the blades are getting dull and I'd like to have less pulp in my juice, but I've yet to find a replacement blade basket for it. But varieties of juicers abound, and so do the prices. You can spend from $40 to $2400 depending on the maker, model and what you would like to accomplish. My GE juicer is around the $40-50 option. But if I were knowingly fighting cancer with my juices, you better believe I would invest in the top of the line Norwalk Juicers as recommended by the Gerson Institute. It is at the very top of the price range too.

But for the casual juicer or for the one that doesn't know where to start or even the person that wants to juice but has a very limited budget, there is good news. A standard citrus juicer, like the one in my photo, can be found for as little as $12-$24. I purchased mine at Ollies, but they are widely available. Actually, for citrus, they are the recommended juicer. Centrifugal force juicers will tell you they can juice citrus, but you have to peel them and damaging the flesh of the citrus while juicing is not recommended. According to the Gerson Therapy, any juice press in which an orange is inserted with its skin, when it is pressed, will emit harmful fatty acids and aromatic substances contained on the surface.

The great news though is that not only is this a cheaper juicer to own...citrus, pound for pound, will give you more juice than apples, carrots, beets, greens and many other fruits and vegetables. True, you need more than just citrus juice...but again, this is a post to encourage you to simply get started somewhere. And honestly, once you've had fresh squeezed orange juice, you will never want to go back to juice from concentrate and you may not even be able to bring yourself to purchase it in the carton either. When my kids have about 4 ounces of fresh-squeezed juice in the morning, they are often not hungry until lunchtime. No matter what western nutritionists try to tell you, waiting until later in the day to eat is healthy for your digestive system. That's why we call it break-fast.

I haven't even gotten to the health benefits yet. For one thing, you don't have to buy organic. Some seasons, the organic is the same price as conventional, so I do purchase it. But when organic costs more, and I'm not using the peel, I feel okay with buying conventional citrus.

Make your own lemonade or limeade with fresh squeezed juice, raw honey to taste and water and you have a great summer drink that's healthy for you too. Juiced grapefruit is far and away better tasting than anything that comes in a glass containter or metal can. Plus, when your juice hasn't been processed in a factory, that means it hasn't been heated and all of the micronutrients that you're body needs are still in the juice. When my kids have colds, the first plan of attack is fresh-squeezed orange juice, then supplement Vitamin C, zinc and echinacea as needed. 

Some benefits of citrus juicing:

• Rich in Vitamin C, most B vitamins, folic acid, beta carotene, potassium, calcium and even iron and zinc...and more! (depending upon the fruit)
• About two oranges can yield a full serving of 2-4 ounces of juice
• No peeling required, just slice in half and juice
• Citrus juicer clean up is much easier than a standard juicer.
• Many citrus juicers allow you to select and set the amount of pulp you would like in your juice.

For more information, check out All About Juicing

***One note of caution, if you are juice fasting, do not overdo your amount of citrus. Too much, without solid foods in your stomach, can irritate it. Listen to your body. There are juicing recipes for citrus mixed with greens available too.

Recap of Day One

I promise I won't do this every day, but to start out...I thought I'd share a little about how I did. Mornings are usually the easiest and it was this time also. But I was long overdue for making my somewhat weekly sourdough bread. I thought I'd had the brilliant idea to make two batches and thus freeze two loaves. True...I could...but it also meant torturing myself with that fresh-baked bread smell for over an hour.

Somehow I made it. Texting my juicing buddy helped. Although, I began to fear that I could get sneaky with nibbling and not feel the need to make it known to her. I think that's why I had the idea to go public with this.

Sure, I hope to inspire someone else to take control of their health...but honestly my first goal is to get through these first three days. They are always the toughest. And I think this "going public" thing is working...at least it did last night.

I made crispy oven potatoes for the family for dinner. The crunchy bits in the pan were calling my name! Three times I caught myself reaching for a tiny taste and I heard "that Voice" ask me if I would be honest and share that I'd had those on Twitter too.

I, sadly, rarely stop and think before eating. This is one of my major hurdles. So at least for last night, the addition of updating through Twitter was a huge benefit.

Here's to another day of juicing! Remember...My goal is three days for now. Although I hope to go much longer, this is where I have to start.

I will definitely continue to update through Twitter. You can find me and follow along by clicking on the link to the left above.

****I feel that I need to add a brief disclaimer/apology to some of my international readers. When over half the world is malnourished, I am somewhat ashamed that I need to juice fast to break this addiction that I have had to food for most of my life. But it is the biggest stronghold I face. My prayer is that this is it...the last time I have to get it right. My Enemy is telling me this is just one more chance to fail. If me or my journey come to mind, please pray that I will succeed in letting the Spirit have complete control of everything...including food!

You'll Know It All!

This morning I started a juice fast/reboot. I have someone that I have buddied up with, but I won't reveal whom so as not to put them on the spot. But I feel compelled to share this experience with a broader audience. I have a few reasons...one, that a little more accountability can't hurt. I know this isn't true accountability because it's one sided.

I confess that I have done several juice fasts before, the longest lasting almost a week. But I have always felt like I have failed because I go right back to my old (bad) ways of eating. So this time, I thought that maybe if I took a few of you along for the ride, I would be inspired to make permanent changes. Here's hoping!

I plan to Tweet this experience. You can follow me by clicking on the Twitter link on the upper left. I'll be nothing, if not honest and just maybe you'll get some inspiration for change too.

The photo above was my breakfast this morning. It was grapefruit, orange, apple, carrot, sweet potato and it was delicious. As I type this, I'm drinking my lunch of kale, apple, cucumber, carrot juice. It's pretty good too.

Juicing is not just for weight loss either. Thousands of people have found health and healing for chronic and debilitating illnesses through juicing. If you'd like more information about juicing, the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead is a great place to start. They also have a Facebook page and website with lots of recipes and advice, plus supervised reboots. You'll find it at www.rebootwithjoe.com Other internet websites with juicing recipes and info abound.

Stay tuned...I plan to update often.