To Juice or Not to Juice...

It’s that time of year again!!!  Cleaning leaves and wearing sweaters?!?!  Well, yes, but no.  Time for detoxing, fasting cleansing…  Sound difficult or unappetizing?  Doesn’t have to! 

Spring and fall have been considered the seasons of reboot and rebalance since the birth of Hinduism, Jesus, Hippocrates, Aristotle.  Herbert Shelton (1895-1985), the physician who supervised the fasts of over 40,000 people in the last century, wrote "Fasting must be recognized as a fundamental and radical process that is older than any other mode of caring for the sick organism, for it is employed on the plane of instinct..."1

I, myself, don’t take easily to fasting.  Why?  I LOVE FOOD! 

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I do intellectually and instinctive also appreciate disciplining myself from time to time to quit eating so much so that I can give my GI tract and other organs a rest… It’s a good idea (check out some benefits).  All day (and night) our bodies are consuming so much – so much food, information, artificial lighting, germs, and experiences.  To process and integrate that massive amount of…STUFF, it’s important to let the body rest.

JUICING
Here’s my system:  Like I wrote, I love FOOD!  Fasting just makes me feel weak and angry.  My Solution – juice cleanse!

First time I did this, I cured myself of an emerging sugar addiction (I was working at Olive Garden putting myself through college.  Need I say more?).  I started doing this periodically – like once a year. 

The biggest “Aha!” came after I broke my neck and spent weeks and weeks on pain killers and muscle relaxants.  After I weened myself off the drugs, I was still left with this brain fog, sticky, sludgy feeling in my system… like my blood was made of syrup.  So, I did a 10 day juice fast (not suggesting everyone do 10 days…) and voila, I got my life back!  My thoughts cleared, my body came back to life, I was sleeping, eating and exercising normally again!

Here’s some idea for considering a little “house cleaning” this fall utilizing a juice cleanse.

** Consider what is best for you.  If you go to a physician, consider discussing your juice cleanse before you even begin and consider for how long.  If this is your first juice cleanse, you might consider 5-7 days a whopping good success and leave it at that.  For more encouragement check out the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead if you haven’t already.  Awesome 1.5 hours spent! 

Basically plan on spending a few days nourishing the body with fresh squeezed veggie (and a little fruit) juices instead of a plate of food.  This way you are still getting great nutrition (probably better than your typical diet) but letting the organs rest.  Only when our bodily systems are at rest do we actually detox anything that our body deems toxic to us.  So if we never let the digestive system rest... you get the idea.

Benefits:

• Fast and easy absorption of nutrients
• Increased energy levels
• Clearer thinking ability
• Glowing eyes and skin
•  Strong hair and nails
•  Heightened sense of taste and smell

•  Strengthened immune system
• Improved appetite control
• Provides a healthy rest for your digestive system
• Health benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables that you wouldn’t normally eat raw or whole

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Tips:
1. Drink it fresh. Fresh juice can develop bacteria rather quickly, so to be safe, don’t wait. Vitamins and minerals can be destroyed with increased exposure to air and light, so in order to get the most from your juice, drink your juice right away.

2. Make use of the pulp. It may be an inconvenience to clean your juicer, but instead of throwing away your leftover pulp, consider putting it to good use. Pulp can be added to garden compost, or recreated into your favorite dishes using some very creative recipes.

3. Be adventurous with your produce selections. One of the biggest benefits of juicing is that it allows you to consume a variety of fresh fruit and vegetables.  The next time you shop, choose something you’ve never juiced before and try it out.  Here are a few recipes to get you started!

4. Choose high quality produce. Going organic can be more expensive but it’s a health investment that pays off long-term. Make savvy shopping decisions using the Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen lists.

5. All juices are not created equal. Vegetable juices are nutrition powerhouses. Fruit juices, although an excellent source of vitamin C, are high in naturally occurring sugars and should be consumed less often. If you’re new to juicing, try adding apples, pears, lemon, or ginger to help make your vegetable juice more palatable. Slowly work towards a 3:1 ratio – three vegetables to one piece of fruit.

WHAT’S IN A JUICER?
When researching the right juicer, there are three to choose from – centrifugal, masticating, and twin-gear. 

Centrifugal juicers are usually the cheapest and the easiest to clean, however the fast processing oxidizes nutrients faster, causing your juice to lose some of its sass before it gets to your glass. 

Masticating juicers extract more juice because they operate at slower speeds, so you get more nutrition per glass. Also, nutrients don’t oxidize as quickly; therefore, juices can be stored in a well-sealed container for up to 24 hours. 

Twin-gear juicers are the most powerful, and can be used to make nut butters and ice-cream. Juices stay fresh for up to 72 hours, once it’s refrigerated in a well-sealed container; however, they tend to be the most expensive.

Here is a guide I used to buy my new Omega Vertical masticating juicer (I <3 it so much!)

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What to Expect:
First day or two:  You may not feel that different.  A little happier because you’re taking on a new healthy challenge.  A little bored because you are used to eating when you need to be entertained.  Also… don’t plan any big car trips or hikes… you will want PLENTY of access to a toilet.  Just “keepin’ it real…”

Day three and four:  This tends to be the hard part…  Like kicking an addiction, this is where your little inner demons come out to play.  For me, I start craving things I’ve never considered before – “Mmmm, those Cheetos look FAAAAbulous!”  Perhaps best described by my mother regarding menopause:  “I just want to eat a bunch of chocolate and kill people.”  Keep calm!  This too shall pass and it’s sooo worth it!

Day five:  Life ROCKS!  This is where the payoff comes!  More energy, clarity, balance, pizzazz, clear skin, glow and your clothes might fit a little better too!

The rest:  When you end your cleanse.  Start back on simple, organic, fruit and veg for a day or too.  Be patient and slow coming back to a full menu that you are used to.  PS:  You might be surprised how your preferences regarding your old menu have shifted!!

I hope this article helps you out!  Please comment and share as much as your heart desires!  I would love to hear how your fall juice cleanse goes so give me shout on my facebook page!

Be happy.  Be healthy.  Be YOU.

Much Love,
Elise