Browsing Tag

juicing

Pineapple Rosemary Limeade

May 30, 2013
pineapple-rosemary-limeade

There is nothing better than a long summer’s evening. With daylight stretching well past 10pm here in Ireland, there is plenty of time to unwind with a cold drink in hand. As the days get warmer and longer, nothing is quite as refreshing as a tall glass of limeade. Anyone who has made limeade from scratch before probably has their ideal ratio of lime and water down to a science. In case you don’t, I’ve got you covered – plus we’re adding some unexpected flavors. Classic limeade is nice, it is also extra nice with an added twist of rosemary and pineapple. This sunny weather classic has a woody, sour bite that would be a fine addition to any summertime spread.

Whether you’re hosting a summer party or just need to cool off with on a hot day, a good drink recipe is always good to have on hand. This sultry take on the sidewalk-stand classic will be a huge hit this weekend. If you’re feeling extra frisky, try adding a drop of your preferred liquor. I know what I’ll be sipping on this weekend ;)

rosemary-infused-limeade

Pineapple Rosemary Limeade

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 pineapple, chopped (3 cups)
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary, more for garnish
  • 1/2 cup lime juice (from about 4 limes)
  • 12 oz club soda
  • Ice, for serving

Directions:

  1. Pulse pineapple in a food processor until very finely chopped or run pineapple through a juicer. 
  2. Add pineapple, rosemary, lime juice and club soda to a pitcher and stir to combine. Serve over ice and garnish with additional rosemary.

My Three Day Detox Plan

April 26, 2013
my-three-day-detox-plan

Spring has definitely started to reveal it’s pretty face in my part of the world. The beginning of a new season always sparks enthusiasm for new habits, fresh goals and great ideas. If it takes the arrival of a new season to inspire you to do a detox, then let’s do it! But if you have never done a cleanse or detox before it can be overwhelming. On the other hand, if you have and you didn’t get the results you expected, this post might give you some insight and inspiration to give it a shot and succeed in a way that could truly change your life forever.

Whether you want to commit to a healthier eating regimen or simply treat your body to some rest, my three-day detox plan is a delicious way to do it. I’ve prepared a streamlined menu of big batch meals so that you can front load all of the work. By eating clean you will help your body focus on detoxing, rather than on breaking down complex foods. According to many ancient health philosophies such as traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, the spring season rules the liver, an organ that’s essential for overall wellness, but especially digestion.

These dishes give your digestive system a rest from processed foods and allergens like dairy and gluten. Loading up on the season’s fibrous fruits and vegetables helps remove toxins. A regular cleanse will support a desire to maintain a healthier, much lower level of toxins and move them out on a constant basis in order to avoid disease. Since spring is an optimal time to refresh your energy and start something new, it’s also a great time to simplify your eating and choose foods that will support your overall health.

green-smoothie

Basic Outline of the Detox

A plant-based, alkalizing lifestyle, as I embrace with this blog, will naturally flush toxins to detox the body and allow it to return to it’s ideal body weight.

  • Alkalizing the body with chlorophyll rich green veggies naturally buffers the acids from an acidic lifestyle and assists in flushing toxins.
  • A balance of 80% veggies to 20% healthy acidic whole foods – see alkaline chart here – in an everyday way to be constantly detoxing your body. Choose organic whenever possible, prepare meals that are colorful and juice daily if you can.
  • Consume good quality water, 2-3 liters per day to really flush those toxins and minimize the detox symptoms one might experience.  If you are quite “toxic” and have never cleansed I recommend you go easy and do a slower version by leaning into a clean detoxing alkaline lifestyle.  Start adding as much veggies and green juice as you can handle every single day and continually increase to the 80/20 ratio.
  • I highly recommend this juice cleanse to flush your system and jump start your detoxing alkaline lifestyle.  Take a thorough read through the post and see if it’s for you. It changed my life for good! If the body can really detox and there are no more or considerably less toxins coming in, magic happens!

DAY 1, 2 & 3

RECIPES

Ginger Lemon Detox

ginger-lemon-detox 
Serves 1

Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces spring or filtered water, at room temperature
  • juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/2-inch knob of ginger root

Directions:

  1. Add the lemon juice  and ginger root to the glass of water. Enjoy at room temperature upon rising for an amazing start to the day!

 

Apple with Tahini

apple-with-tahini

Serves 1

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon tahini
  • 1 sweet apple (such as Honeycrisp or Pink Lady), cored and sliced

Directions:

  1. Drizzle tahini over apple.

 

Activated Nuts and Seeds

activated-nuts-and-seeds

Serves 3

Ingredients:

  • 3 handfuls raw almonds (you can use almonds or a mixture of macadamia nuts, pecans, hazelnuts, Brazil nuts, pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds if desired)
  • filtered or spring water, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

Directions:

  1. In a large bowl, place all of the ingredients with enough water to cover fully. Leave at room temperature for at least 4 hours, or overnight. Strain and store the nuts in a covered container in the fridge.

 

Calming Chamomile Tea

calming-chamomile-tea

Serves 1

  • 1 cup spring or filtered water
  • 1 chamomile tea bag or 1 tablespoon dried chamomile flowers

Directions:

  1. Bring the water to a boil and pour into a teacup or mug. Add the tea bag or, if using loose flowers, use a teapot and a strainer. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes, then enjoy.

Optionally, try other herbal detox teas such as nettle, dandelion root or licorice root.

simple-quinoa-salad

After completing such a regimen, you will develop a pattern of taking care of yourself that will stick if you are persistent right now. You’ll also begin to notice some pretty amazing things. Pay attention to your body and really try to feel and notice the way your energy changes. Do you feel more vibrant, more energetic? Are you sleeping better? Is your skin glowing? Your skin tells all- your depth of color and brightness and clarity show how healthy you are! It will be contagious and maybe your friends will start on a healthier journey with you!

Are you excited about a new direction for your health? I hope you are inspired by the messages here. I’m about to start a spring cleaning so I’d love to have you join me May 1st-3rd! As always, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line with any questions or comments you might have. Also be sure to sign up for my newsletter where I share exclusive content, recipes and fun tips!

Sending you vibrant health and strength to make the best choices possible for your body so you can thrive this year and for many more to come!

 

*Disclaimer: The content on this site is not written with intentions to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatments. Our content is for information purposes only and should not be used to diagnose or treat health issues of any sort. We cannot be held liable for any ill effects caused by following these instructions or this material. Always consult with a medical professional when adjusting your diet. 

 

Celery, Cucumber & Mint Juice

April 7, 2013
celery-cucumber-and-mint-juice

As the seasons make their transition outside, it feels so right to make one inside. This year I have made it a personal goal of mine to sip on more green juices. Enjoying green juices daily is the best way to alkalize the body with extremely vital nutrients that nature provides for us, in turn supporting a healthy immune system that will protect us from disease. Juicing these greens allows for the vital nutrients to be assimilated easily and immediately, giving you an immediate energy boost.

I drink this juice almost daily, and with good reason. The base is cucumber, which is a little known nutritional powerhouse. Its loaded with potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and folate while being very low in calories. It is a perfect choice for before or after exercise since its loaded with electrolytes. After adding cucumber, I throw in celery, apple, spinach and mint -creating an extremely potent, detoxifying cocktail.

Freshly squeezed juice is a wonderful drink all year round. You can easily vary it and use all sorts of vegetables and fruits. A rule of thumb is to use 80% vegetables and 20% fruit in order to get a perfectly balanced sweetness and avoid too much fructose (natural sugar from the fruit). Lemon, lime, ginger and fennel are some of the taste boosters you can add to any juice.

An important tip: always buy organic fruits and vegetables to use for your juice making. This way you can avoid peeling your fruit and vegetables and instead use all of their tasty parts and get all those lovely vitamins and nutrients.

Grab your organic wonders and follow me…

cucumber-celery-mint-juice

Celery, Cucumber & Mint Juice

Serves 1

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium cucumber
  • 1 celery stalk
  • 1 apple
  • 1 handful spinach (or other greens)
  • 2-3 sprigs mint

Directions:

  1. Rinse all ingredients.
  2. Add ingredients through juicer.
  3. Serve and enjoy!

How are you enjoying spring? Would any of you be interested in joining me for a juice cleanse or raw food detox the first week of May? This is a good time of year to do a cleanse or detox because the weather is warming up so our bodies can take more raw foods plus more fruits and veggies are coming into season. Let me know your thoughts below!

My Three Day Juice Cleanse

June 21, 2012
three-day-juice-cleanse

I completed my 3 day juice cleanse! A few days of juice was just what my system needed to re-charge. I’m not going to say it was easy, but it was definitely worthwhile.

Cleansing is one of the most powerful things we can do to bring our bodies (and our minds) back into alignment. After all, balance is one of the most important things in our lives, right? Even though I eat a plant-based diet of whole foods, I am still exposed to environmental toxins, occasional stress, and if I can’t get my greens organic, I’m sure there have been pesticides in my salads too. I also have a pretty major sweet tooth, so I felt my body could do with a little clean up.

This is a good time of year to do a juice fast because fruits and veggies are coming into season, weather is warming up so our bodies can take more raw foods and as the seasons make their transition outside, it feels so right to make one inside.

First you might ask, why would anyone want to do a juice cleanse for goodness sake?  The answer is – to jump start your health journey! This is especially good if you are not well or you have low energy. Drinking fresh juice will give your body incredible easily absorbed nutrition that its craving. This is quite a gentle cleanse compared to many others. I chose to include smoothies in addition to fresh juices in mine because this is what felt right for me. I didn’t experience many hunger pangs and instead I felt this wonderful overall feeling of comfort knowing that I was feeding my body the best thing on this planet. Its very empowering to say the least.

There are so many reasons why juicing is beneficial. Fresh juice gives you energy and vitality that you will notice right away since it is so easily assimilated by your body and bloodstream, you can feel the boost within 10-15 minutes. Without the added burden of digestion, which takes quite a lot of time and energy, the body is now free to work on other things like detoxing the liver and kidneys. The liver is involved with detoxifying harmful substances (like environmental toxins, chemicals, food additives, preservatives, drugs, etc) before they can enter the bloodstream and harm the body. Periodic cleansing of the liver through juicing can be important in maintaining good health.

I like to include plenty of vegetables in my juices. All vegetables are alkalizing. The benefits of maintaining alkalinity in the body are crucial. Here are just a few benefits of maintaining an alkaline environment in our tissues: improved focus and mental clarity, stronger immune system, better digestion, healthier hair, skin and nails, and more energy!

Tasty fresh juice recipes need not be complicated. I have found with experimenting that the simple flavors of fresh veggies can be highlighted or buried. I rather enjoy tasting the individual veggies I put in and combining them in various ways. I certainly encourage you to do your own experimenting as it’s fun and exciting to find interesting combinations that become favorites.

The recipes below are a few of the ones that I enjoy using for this juice cleanse or just as a snack when I am craving some serious nourishment. I usually go for 6-7 juices in total everyday when I’m cleansing, so I pick and choose from the following “menu” depending on the time of day.

juice-cleanse-green-lemonade

Green Lemonade

  • 1 cucumber
  • 2 med size apples
  • 1 bunch kale
  • a few large handfuls of spinach
  • 1 lemon

Run all ingredients through a juicer and enjoy!

 

 


juice-cleanse-heartbeet-juiceHeart Beet 

  • 1 beetroot
  • 2 apples
  • 1 pear
  • thin slice of ginger
  • juice of 1/2 lemon

Place all ingredients in juicer and drink immediately.

 

Carrot & Lemon

  • 4-5 carrots
  • 1 lemon, peeled

Place in juicer and drink immediately.


juice-cleanse-orange-dream-juiceOrange Dream

  • 2 carrots
  • 3-4 oranges, peeled
  • 2-3 pears
  • 1 medium sweet potato

Place everything in the juicer and juice away.

 

 

juice-cleanse-cucumber-fennel-juice

 Cucumber Fennel

  •        1 cucumber
  •        a piece of fennel
  •        1 lemon, peeled
  •        1 stalk celery
  •        few stems of bok choy.

Place in juicer and drink immediately.

 

Green Ginger Ale

  • 1 cucumber
  • few stems of each mint & parsely
  • 2 leaves of kale
  • 1/2 inch piece of ginger
  • 1 lemon, peeled

Place in juicer and drink immediately.

 

juice-cleanse-berry-smoothieBerry Superfood Smoothie

(I used raspberries, blueberries and strawberries)

  • 1 banana
  • handful of fresh baby spinach

Place everything in blender and blend until smooth.

 

Day 1: I was pretty excited to get started. I started off my day with a warm cup of water with a slice of lemon. I consumed six juices and one smoothie throughout the day. I must admit, I was really full from all the liquid so I wasn’t feeling hungry. I was feeling a little worn down so I went to bed early.

Day 2: Woke up first thing in the morning to grab a warm cup of water and lemon. When I was writing in the afternoon I felt very clear-headed and seemed to get more done than usual. Juice is definitely a productivity booster! I felt restored and rejuvenated. As the day wore on I was feeling a bit achy as if some detox symptoms were kicking in – stuffy nose and a slight headache.

Day 3: I woke up feeling great! Any sort of ill feeling I had the night prior had disappeared. The thought of chewing some real food was sneaking into my mind today so I ended up consuming two smoothies throughout the day in addition to juice and plenty of water. I’ve noticed I feel lighter and my skin is looking more hydrated and clear.

After the cleanse: The cleanse has given me a deeper connection with my mind/body. It has helped me realize and identify my emotional ties to food. I’m never physically hungry, I just feel like eating because I am bored, cold, procrastinating, stressed, etc. I’ve learned to be in the moment when I’m eating and appreciate it. I was delighted that I no longer had any sugar cravings. I was  real excited to eat food again. I broke my fast by consuming a huge salad of greens, sprouts and assorted veggies.

Important bits to know:

  • Be prepared. It’s always good to be a little prepared for any sort of program, but as you’ll be living on nothing but the finest juices and smoothies for 3 days, good preparation is of paramount importance. Purchase organic produce if your budget permits.
  • Get mentally prepared. Making sure you have all the fruit and veg you’ll need for the program in advance is important, but even more so is the right frame of mind before you start.
  • Sleep. Rest is as important as clean air, exercise, good nutrition and an attitude of gratitude, so allow yourself to do it over the next few days.
  • Pamper yourself. If you are going to do a detox then really go for it. Maybe schedule a massage, attend a few yoga classes, relax in a hot tub… heaven!
  • Detox. If your body is pretty toxic, you may experience detox symptoms in the form of headaches, lethargy, and nausea. You can give the process a little nudge by eliminating toxins with things like dry skin brushing.
  • Ease out of cleanse. When you come out of a gentle cleanse such as this one, I recommend easing out of it slowly. Gradually start adding foods back in to the diet.
  • Take care. Continue eating a balanced, whole foods diet, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep. As we treat our bodies with the physical and emotional respect they deserve, our need to detoxify becomes less and less and the better we will feel everyday.

Interested in getting started with juicing? Here you can find a post I did recently called Quick Guide to Juicing.

Please don’t hesitate to drop me a line with any questions or comments you have as I love to help and inspire :)

(Photo Credit: my sister, Jenny Norris – jjnorris.com)

 

PLEASE NOTE: Juice cleansing is a pretty major undertaking and you should consult with a qualified health practitioner prior to commencing any sort of fast. Do not use this post as your sole reference. The content on this site is for information purposes only and not written with intentions to substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatments.