Juice It Up!

image via here

over the winter holidays, like many people, i allowed myself to indulge more than i typically might have. i love a good gingerbread cookie as much as the next girl, but i know my body should only have so many. now that it's january it's time to clean up my act, and refresh my minds and my body. looking back, i've had a few good gluttonous years of trying new things and drinking, but now it's hard time to take some ownership over my health and my health related goals.

over the break, i watched a couple food related documentaries on Netflix, something i love to do! here are a few that just might change your view of how you eat, Vegucated, Food Inc, More Than Honey and last but not least one of my favourites Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead – how can you not love Joe and his juicing. 

while i don't think living off juice only is the answer, i was amazed by the immediate health benefits he shared (under the supervision of a dr) and the difference in energy levels by all those that tried it. I think juicing is a great way to fuel you body with nutrients in a naturally beneficial form that is easy enough for anyone to do. so, it was off to the shop to pick up a juicer for me!

top reasons why juicing is awesome, now having tried it for a few weeks:

• because you can use all your leftover lonely fruits and veggies,
• because it's packed with macronutrients that help fuel your body in the best way possible,
• because it's cost effective,
• because it's quick and easy, and probably close to the fastest healthy meal you can make,
• because you actually can't screw it up, and
• because you will surprise yourself with just how much you love it.

image via My Wife Makes

i have fallen for juicing, and i mean hard. it's been a few weeks and i don't see myself getting sick of it anytime soon. now i should specify that outside of maybe a 2 or 3 day cleanse every few months, we personally don't eat juices as meal replacements for the entire day. instead we've often start our day with a freshly made green juice to help get us going, followed then by healthy well-balanced meals made from whole foods. now, if you are watching your protein intake in a day, you can add some protein powder to your juice. we've tried it using an all natural raw organic protein (unflavoured) and the combo is actually quiet nice! 

a few helpful hints when consuming:

• drink your juice within 15-20 minutes of making it
• don't forget to chew even though you are drinking, this helps activate your digestive enzymes 
• watch your fruit intake per juice bearing in mind healthy fruit servings per meal
• vary up your greens, too much of one thing isn't good for your body so mix it up!

this month give juicing a try! it's some of the most vibrate colours and tasty flavours your kitchen will ever see.

one of our fav combo's right now is (this makes enough for 2 people):

• 2 celery stocks
• 2 handfuls of raw spinach
• 2 carrots
• 1 orange
• 1 apple
• 1 lemon
• 1 tbsp ginger