Day 29: 

Juice: Prime Cooler

Prime Cooler:
3 Apples
1/2 Cucumber
1 Inch Ginger Root
1 Small Bunch of Fresh Mint

Sorry for the lack of posting friends...I have been continuing on the 400 Days without you. The busy holiday season has stolen all of my weeks away. But, now I'm on vacation and now...I have some time.

 
Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) a gourd from the Cucurbitaceae family and the fourth most cultivated vegetable after tomatoes, cabbage and onions. Cucumbers are the in the same botanical club as melons and squashes.

Though not well publicized, cucumbers are rich in phytonutrients, especially in cucurbitacins, lignans, and flavonoid.  Lignans: "any of a class of propyl phenolic dimers including many found in plants and noted for having antioxidant and estrogenic activity". www.merriam-webster.com Basically, Lignans can have some compounds that act like natural estrogen in the body and in doing so can help the reduce or prevent cancers - especially hormone related cancers - lower cholesterol and atherosclerosis. They have also been shown to help reduce symptoms of menopause.

*Remember estrogen is present in both men and women, so this is beneficial for all.*

Cucumbers are known to have a good amount of polyphenols (a branch on the lignans tree). Polyphenols: "a polyhydroxy phenol; especially : an antioxidant phytochemical (as chlorogenic acid) that tends to prevent or neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals." www.merriam-webster.com Antioxidants, especially polyphenols, have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and some cancers, including breast, uterine, ovarian, and prostate cancers. According to World's Healthiest Foods:

"...fresh extracts from cucumber have been shown to provide specific antioxidant benefits, including increased scavenging of free radicals and increased overall antioxidant capacity. Fresh cucumber extracts have also been shown to reduce unwanted inflammation..." (www.whfoods.com)

So, juicing them is a fantastic idea! It is good for the heart, cells, metabolism and your taste buds!

Being a part of the melon family it may not surprise you to learn that cucumbers are incredibly hydrating - 95% water. So, a juice drink of cucumber and celery is like a homemade sports drink.
See Entry 7 of this blog for more about the hydrating components of Celery.

A bulk of the nutrition in cucumbers actually resides in the skin and seeds, so when possible consume both. However, something to be cautious of is that most commercially grown cucumbers, both organic and non-organic, are waxed to protect them from bruising during transit. Organically grown cucumbers - in order to get the label 'organic' - have to used non-synthetic waxes, which are free of all chemical contaminants. Non-organic, however, may be waxed with synthetic waxes that contain unwanted chemical contaminants.

So, it is suggested that you buy only organic cucumbers, but I am realistic and I have a budget, so if you purchase non-organics just peel before juicing. No need to ingest harmful chemicals and carcinogens along with the nutrients to cleanse the body of such things.

Emotional Lifestyle: 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS ALL!!!
 

Day 28: 

Juice: Cranapple

Cranapple:
3 Apples
1 Handful of Cranberries
1 Handful of Grapes

I have always been a fan of cranberry juice, usually plain, but I really like this juice. The tartness of the cranberries mixed with the multi-layered sweetness of the Apples and Grapes - delicious. This is also the first time I have juiced Cranberries and when I finished I looked up how to make homemade jam with the pulp. These are the great resources I found:

1. http://www.all-about-juicing.com/ (Fruit Sauce & Other Recipes)
2. http://www.ehow.com/ (Homemade Jam)

*If you try any of these, I'd love to hear about it.

The Cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon, is one of the few crops native to New England (woot, woot!). Cranberries grow in acid bogs that lack a sufficient amount of nitrogen for most plant life. They are low, creeping plants that have - grower refer to them as vines - thin, wiry stems. Pollinated by bees, the cranberry flower appear mid-summer, they are white to light pink and bell-shaped.

According to UCLA's botany website:

"The common name cranberry is a modification of the colonial name 'crane berry,' because the drooping flower looked like the neck and head of the sand crane, which was often seen eating the fruits." (http://www.botgard.ucla.edu/)

 Now, Cranberries has always gotten a lot of good press. When one thinks of cranberries, usually one thinks of a high vitamin C content, a good portion of fiber and maybe it has been mentioned as being an anti-oxidant. Cranberry juice is also commonly known to treat Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). But, its complete phytonutrient package is what makes cranberries such an impressive and important fruit.

World's Healthiest Foods lists "5 key categories of health-supportive phytonutrients in cranberries" in the chart below: (Source)

Type of Phytonutrient	Specific Molecules
Phenolic Acids	hydroxybenzoic acids including vanillic acids; hydroxycinnamic acids inculding caffeic, coumaric, cinnamic, and ferulic acids
Proanthocyanidins	epicatechins
Anthocyanins	cyanidins, malvidins, and peonidins
Flavonoids	quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol
Triterpenoids	ursolic acid

Most of these phytonutrients have been studied independently for - mainly - anti-cancer, antioxidant and, anti-inflammatory properties (If you have been following my blog, we have talked about phenolic acids and flavonoids - btws). However, one of the main things researchers have discovered is that "...isolated phytonutrients in cranberry do not account for the same degree of health benefit as phytonutrients taken as a complete, synergistic group." (Source) The whole is more than the sum of its parts - if you will.

All of phytonutrients in cranberries have been shown to help protect against heart disease, cancer, gum disease, stomach ulcers, urinary tract infections and other diseases. A great resource for more information is the www.cranberryinstitute.org.

Day 26: 

Juice: Parsnapple

Parsnapple:
3 Apples
2 Parsnips
1 Pinch of Nutmeg


Yum! This is a perfect juice for the upcoming holidays! It seriously tastes like eggnog...well like the juice form of eggnog. It is smooth and creamy and the nutmeg gives it a little warmth.

The Parsnip. Pastinaca sativa.  Original to the Mediterranean and a relative of the carrot - could you tell? Parsnips, however, are known to be sweeter, especially when cooked. Fully matured parsnips have to be picked right after the first frost, so fall and winter is the season for parsnips.

Full of Vitamin C, many B-complex groups as well as vitamin K and vitamin E, Parsnips are also a great source of the mineral silicon, which promotes healthy bones. Parsnips are shown to help fight cancer by "nourishing the immune system, decrease inflammation in the body [anti-oxidants], and stimulate beneficial enzymes. They improve conditions of constipation and help to normalize high blood pressure." (Source)

Technical note for making this juice: You don't want to just sprinkle the nutmeg on top of the juice 'cause it'll get all caught up in the foam. Instead try either of these techniques: 

1. The book suggests: Pour some of the juice into a jar. Add nutmeg. Shake it up until fully mixed. Pour mix back into the juice. Stir. 
2. I did this: Juice an apple. Stop the juicer. Add nutmeg to the small amount of juice. Juice the rest of your ingredients. [See Pictures Below]

I just find the second easier and faster. Plus I don't have to wash a jar and my juicer.

Sweet and smooth, parsnips are a great juicing vegetable to have in your toolbox, especially once we get on to more vegetable juice, because it is always a great substitute for the carrot - trust me, you'll get sick of the carrot.

Day 25: 

Juice: Grape Ape

Grape Ape:
3 Apples
1 Bunch of Grapes
1 Nectarine

This is my first time juicing grape. Grape Juice is an iconic grade school juice like Apple, but I had never tried making grape juice before. (Obviously, I make apple juice all the time, since it is the base for most juice recipes.)
It was delicious and a beautiful color (though you can't really tell from my picture).

When I was a kid I had a love hate relationship with grapes. Mainly because I had to mow our fourteen acre farm and concord grapes - the native grape species - grew their way all over our property. I would battle them and their woody vines all summer long with an ancient lawn mower and a rusty pair of bush shears.

Inside, I would enjoy their sweet tartness by the handfuls, but outside it was grape guts everywhere. No mercy. Give them an inch and next summer they'd take a mile. A amicable resolution has not yet been reached...it is a war that is still being fought. (Some may wish to refer to it a 'police action'- to each his own).

Needless to say, Grapes are worthy opponents, but even better allies (ain't that always the way). Grapes, though small, are crammed full of nutritional benefits (good things come in small packages). Worlds Healthiest Foods has provided a list of Grapes phytonutrient content:

"While a single grape variety is unlikely to contain all of the phytonutrients listed below, grapes as a group have been shown to provide us with the following health-supportive nutrients:

• Stilbenes
  • resveratrol
  • piceatannol
  • pterostilbene
• Flavanols
  • catechins
  • epicatechins
  • procyanidins
  • proanthocyanidins
  • viniferones
• Flavonols
  • quercetin
  • kaempferol
  • myricetin
  • isorhamnetin
• Phenolic Acids
  • caffeic acid
  • coumaric acid
  • ferulic acid
  • gallic acid
• Carotenoids
  • beta-carotene
  • lutein
  • zeaxanthin

In addition to the above-listed nutrients, grapes have also been shown to contain the hormone and antioxidant melatonin as well as unique oligopeptides (small protein-like molecules) that have anti-bacterial and other properties." (Source)

Woah, right! Now, I know that is a list of a lot of words you may not know the meaning of, but the key thing to take away from this is...to mix it up. Look for other varieties at the store and mix 'em all up. 

But also, this astounding list of nutrients means grapes can benefit "cardiovascular system, respiratory system, immune system, inflammatory system, blood sugar regulating system, and nervous system. Another area of special benefit is cancer prevention, with risk of breast, prostate, and colon cancer emerging as the most likely areas of grape anti-cancer benefits." (Source)

So, It turns out this grade school favorite made the list for good reason, so just 'cause you aren't in school anymore doesn't mean you can't enjoy a little blast from the past!

Emotional Lifestyle:

Sometimes as a nanny/babysitter I have a hard time believing I, essentially, get paid to play.

 

This is how I spent my Thursday. I build a block castle. 11 month old baby is the wrecking ball. I build another. Repeat.

It is civilization in fast forward...............................or a really bad habit for preschool.

Day 24: 

Juice: Apple Lullaby

Apple Lullaby:
2 Apples
1/4 Lettuce
1/2 Lemon

This is the first time I have ever juiced lettuce. Spinach, Kale, sure. Lettuce...never. I used iceberg lettuce, because that's what I had on hand, but you can use whatever lettuce you like.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) is a member of the Aster or sunflower family Asteraceae.

Aster: any of various chiefly fall-blooming leafy-stemmed composite herbs (Aster and closely related genera) with often showy heads containing disk flowers or both disk and ray flowers. (http://www.merriam-webster.com)

 Lettuce was first cultivated in Egypt, there is evidence of its cultivation as early as 2680 BC. The Romans referred to lettuce as lactuca, due to the white substance excreted when the stems are cut now called latex. (lac meaning milk in Latin). Latex, specifically Lactucarium in lettuce, is the reason behind this juice's name. Merriam-Webster describes Lactucarium's effects as resembling "opium in physical properties and was formerly used as a sedative" (http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/lactucarium). So this should be the night time juice of choice. It also tastes like lemonade. Typically when I want to have juice lemonade I just do apples and lemon, but lettuce was a tasty new addition. I also might put less lemon in if I was going to eat it at night.

Emotional Lifestyle:

I try to be like this girl everyday...and after the hurricane I am trying to appreciate everything I have and how lucky I am to still have it.
Enjoy!!

Addition: "I LIKE THIS BLOG!"

Day 23: 

Juice: Waterapple

Waterapple:
3 Apple
2 Thick Slices of Watermelon
1 Lime

Now, I don't like watermelon. I'm just not a fan, but juicing it is fine, especially if it is mixed with other stuff. Since I don't like watermelon I didn't want a whole melon lying around, instead I went to the corner grocer and purchased pre-cut watermelon. When doing this, look for the date on the package - usually it will have the date it was packaged, not an expiration date - try to find one that was packaged within a day or so.

Fun fact: Sometimes you see fruit salad with a slice of orange. This is because Vitamin C helps slow down the oxidization process. If you ever want to make some juice to go, Vitamin C powder should help it keep. Also, be sure to refrigerate it.

Watermelon is 92% water, which is where it gets its name. It is low in calories and refreshing on a hot summer day. Watermelons are believed to have actually originated in Africa several thousand years ago. They are a member of the Cucurbitaceae family. Cucurbitaceae family consists of various squashes, melons, and gourds, including crops such as cucumber, pumpkins, luffas, and watermelons.

Besides being a great source of Vitamin C and A, Watermelons are a great source of beta-carotene (See Day 6 for more), potassium and magnesium. It also turns out that watermelons are an anti-inflammatory powerhouse with an array of phenolic (Definition of Phenolic) compounds like our friendly neighborhood flavonoids (See Day 11 for more), carotenoids, and triterpenoids. Recent studies have also shown that watermelons may be "especially important for our cardiovascular health" (Source) because of a carotenoid called lycopene. Cancer.org describes lycopene as:

"...one of the major carotenoids in the diet of North Americans and Europeans. Carotenoids are pigments that give yellow, red, and orange vegetables and fruits their colors...lycopene may lower the risk of heart disease; macular degenerative disease, an age-related illness that can lead to blindness; and lipid oxidation, the damage to normal fat molecules that can cause inflammation and disease. It is also said to lower LDL ("bad" cholesterol), enhance the body's defenses, and protect enzymes, DNA, and cellular fats. A major claim for lycopene's benefits is in the prevention and treatment of cancers of the lung, prostate, stomach, bladder, cervix, skin, and, especially, prostate." (Source Page)

 So even I, who is more against watermelon than for it, will recommend you add it to juices...frequently. To fight the bad, ingest the good!

Day 22:

Juice: Apple Gone Loupey

Apple Gone Loupey:

3 Apples

2 Thick Slices of Melon

1 Small Bunch of Mint

I love this! Again, I am a huge fan of mint in my juice. It is fresh, fun and adds a zing! It also reminds me of summer, especially with the melon added in (my choice being Cantaloupe). I wanted to sip this juice on a porch somewhere.

*Note: I cut the melon in half and spooned the insides (seeds included) into the juicer first before cutting the melon into slices. I like to get as much food value as I can from my produce.

*Also, once the slices are cut, trim the skin off the melon.

Mint. A versatile and well loved herb used to season everything from meat to ice cream or floating in a glass of iced tea. Yum. Mint or Mentha is a part of the Lamiaceae (mint family), a genus of flowering plants that are know for medicinal properties and aromatics. 

Mint has over 25 species. So, it is 'native' all over the world. It shows up in all its forms in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America. Natural hybridization has occurred throughout the centuries a well as purposeful cross-breeding. 

Which should you use for this juice?  I don't think it matters. I think you can take culinary liberty as to which mint species you choose.  Personally, I just grabbed what was in the store. Based on images and description of the leaves, I am guessing it is Water Mint. #1 on the chart below.

Along with its cousin peppermint or our other friendly juice ingredient Ginger, Mint it good for the tummy. It is known to have a soothing effect on the belly. It has been proven relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, including indigestion, dyspepsia, and colonic muscle spasms. (Source)

New research is suggesting that mint (particularly peppermint) may contain cancer fighting effects: 

"Perillyl alcohol is a phytonutrient called a monoterpene, and it is plentiful in peppermint oil. In animal studies, this phytonutrient has been shown to stop the growth of pancreatic, mammary, and liver tumors. It has also been shown to protect against cancer formation in the colon, skin, and lungs." (Source)

Mint, among being rich in vitamin A, B2 and C, fiber, potassium, iron and a whole mess of other phytonutrients, it is also a wonderful diuretic. So, it is very cleansing. Mint has also been shown to improve the skin, ease chronic asthma and respiratory disorders.
AND it really livens up a juice!

Right after juicing.

After it settled.

Day 21:

Juice: Apple Tang

Apple Tang:
3 Apples
1 Grapefruit
1 Lime

I needed to cut down on the fruit for this juice because my glasses aren't big enough sometimes to hold all of the juice. The recipes are big. I normally cut back and apple, which is what I did today, but then the whole lime was too much. It was all a bit too bitter and sour for me.

 *Note: Oranges and Grapefruit and other citrus should be peeled (I use a paring knife) of their skin, but leave as much of the white pith as possible. It is a big percentage of the food value.  They also make the juice nice and frothy!


Grapefruits. Normally thought of as the diet breakfast food. But, they are ideal for juicing. As a member of the citrus family, Grapefruits carry a lot of the same stuff as their relatives: oranges, tangerines, etc... Typically big, juicier, Grapefruits are rich with flavonoids (our friendly plant pigment: See Day 11 for more detail), Vitamin A, B5, B6, and of course C. So, consuming a good amount of Grapefruits has many health benefits.

According to the USDA, one half a Grapefruit supplies 80% of an adults daily required intake of Vitamin C. Nice, right? Vitamin C helps boost and support the immune system, so flu season is a great time to hit the fruit isle for some Grapefruit.

Pink and Red Grapefruit (not white) contain lycopene, a carotenoid phytonutrient. "Lycopene appears to have anti-tumor activity. Among the common dietary carotenoids, lycopene has the highest capacity to help fight oxygen free radicals, which are compounds that can damage cells.
Choosing to regularly eat lycopene-rich foods, such as pink grapefruit, and drink green tea may greatly reduce a man's risk of developing prostate cancer, suggests research published the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition (Jian L, Lee AH, et al." (Source)

High in antioxidants and soluble fiber, Grapefruits have been proved to lower cholesterol, prevent kidney stones, and may even help repair DNA. I don't know about you, but this ruby red fruit seems like a good person to have on your team in time of need.

Emotional Lifestyle:

The Walking Dead: A Female's Critique of a Sexist Show
 

DISCLAIMER: I apologize in advance if you are a die-hard Walking Dead fan. Also, please note I am not writing about the comics...I have never read the comic books, so I cannot critique them. This is a critique of the television show only. I am through season one and half of season two. 

The Walking Dead, an AMC original, is a show I have been trying desperately to like (much like Joss Whedon's Dollhouse, which aired on Fox [2009-2010]). Now, The Walking Dead is already infinitely better than The Dollhouse just by the casting:

Andrew Lincoln, caught my eye in Love Actually (2003) - yes, he was in Love Actually. Though his part was small and his storyline was stupid, I liked what he did with it. I researched him and discovered her was/is a fantastic actor. The BBC show Teachers (2001-2003) is hilarious and wonderful. There is also an array of other talented actors like Norman Reedus, known primarily for The Boondock Saints (1999), Jon Bernthal, who I noticed in the mini-series The Pacific (2010), and Jeffrey DeMunn, who I feel like I have watched my whole life. He's in everything! So, with a cast like this and a few bright new faces - most notably: Steven Yeun and Melissa McBride - how is this show sub-par?

As far as action, blood, guts, and gore The Walking Dead plays it well. I am a Zombie fan so, I generally enjoy the show. I am even willing to overlook the 'Walkers' (as the Zombies are called) many inconsistencies and contradictions (How are they rotting and outrunning our cast?). However, what I have a hard time watching is there horrible (would prefer to use a stronger, non-family friendly word there) female characters and character development. Why do all the women characters suck so hard?!?! I will reiterate, this is season one and half of season two I am referring to.

The guys, good and bad, are funny, fun, interesting and constantly kicking Walker ass, while the women are back in the camp - where they'll be safe, obviously, they left a few men behind to guard them. *Note the old man in the background. He gets to carry a gun.*

 

At the campsite, the ladies busy themselves with home-style chores - just 'cause the world's gone to hell, doesn't mean you can't have an orderly campsite.

Cooking the men dinner - because after a day of splitting Walker's heads and figuring out what's going on they'll be famished, of course.

Caring for the children - they're called maternal instincts not paternal instincts for a reason. 

 

 

And doing laundry:

Why do you think you have hands ladies? It sure ain't to carry a gun. That there is men's work. 

I don't think any of the women, with the exception of Andrea (the blonde one) even pick up a gun in season one. And I'm pretty sure Andrea only fires it once...to kill her own sister. She threatens to use it all the time, but it turns out she doesn't even know how to use it. Well, thank god the men are there when it really matters: 

 Shane beating up the abusive husband of one of the female characters.

The Guys got back just in time to save the women and children from the Walkers that wandered into camp. (Maybe if they'd left some guns with the girls they wouldn't have had to rush back)

**I love that in both pictures the women screaming and crying, helpless in the background.**

The women do nothing. Nothing! And they are the most annoying characters in the show. Not a brain in the bunch. They are always making hard situations worse and mucking everything up. The men constantly have to jump in and save them.

In Season two I think it actually gets worse. Spoilers Ahead.

Of course  the stupid little girl Sophia (daughter of the abused woman) gets herself lost in the woods when she can't follow the simple instructions given to her by the sheriff and leader of the pack Rick Grimes. I'd also love to not she is supposed to be the same age as Carl Grimes (son of the sheriff) and yet:

Do they look the same age to you? What eleven year old girl trots around with her Raggedy Ann Doll? If she had that, she'd probably have it safely hidden in her pillow case where no one would see it.

Shane (a police officer and best friend of the sheriff) starts to train these women to shoot, and yet they rarely do. Except Andrea, who clearly isn't ready to handle a gun when she almost kills a Daryl (a group member) when he is returning to camp. Thank god her aim sucked. The men then decided to take her gun away from her like a child (in a very weird scene with the older father-like figure), but the eleven year-old boy...he gets to have a gun. Well, that's just common sense.

But my favorite is when Lori Grimes (wife of Sheriff, who thought he was dead and couldn't stand being without the protection of a man even for a month, so she shacked up with his best friend - Shane) becomes pregnant and she's also not sure if she wants to have it. She keeps it a secret, but slowly news spreads around the camp. Practically every man gives her a little speech telling her she has to keep it for the future of mankind (dramatic much). However, when she decides to get rid of it and downs a handful of  morning after pills (as if it would abort it), but suddenly she has a change of heart (of course she does) and hucks them up. Her husband, The Sheriff, finds out he full on yells at her (and he never yells at her for anything...not even the affair she had with his best friend) for trying to loose it...apparently, an affair it's not as bad as a woman wanting/trying to have an abortion. The scene turns into a big cry-fest on her part and she pleads and sobs for forgiveness saying "I made a mistake." The scene feel like she was alcoholic who started drinking again, not a women who weigh the options (for the previous two episodes) and decided the best course of action for survival. Why is everyone telling this woman to have a kid in an apocalypse?! 

So, the show is sexist and pro-life apparently. 

Now, I am not asking for all of the females to be amazing gun slingers, just some equal representation. There wasn't a single women on the Atlanta police force with them who survived? Not a single women in the military made it anywhere? Can't we just have one character who can do something other than chores?

You know, maybe this should actually be a critique of AMC in general because now that I'm thinking about it...a lot of there shows have annoying/ stupid female characters.

• Mad Men is 'allowed' to be sexist under the guise of the 1960's. The 'strong' women are strong while glammed up in 1960's constricted clothing, make-up, hair dos and 'strong' by 1960's standards.
• Breaking Bad the wife sucks. She is one of the worst characters on the show. The other female character, her sister is neurotic, of course both have fantastic husbands with deep and rich character growth. The son is a wonderful character as well and well acted character. Pinkman, like Daryl in The Walking Dead (The Redneck Character), is portrayed as uneducated, immoral, and has questionable loyalties but written well - endearing himself to us as viewers.
• Hell On Wheels set in the 1860's so it is 'allowed' to be sexist, but there really aren't a lot of women characters. There is one main female character that I can think of. 

 Maybe AMC should consider hiring some new writers, because though the they are showing this:

A lot of women are seeing this:

For more about this topic consider reading:

1. ‘The Walking Dead’ and Gender: Why I’m Skeptical the Addition of BadassMichonne Will Change the TV Series’ Retro Sexism 
2.  What's Wrong With the Women of AMC?

Day 20: 

Juice: Bleeding Apples 

Bleeding Apples:
3 Apples
1/2 Beet (beetroot)

This would be a great juice for Halloween morning to get you in the spirit. Blood red and wonderfully sweet, it is a perfect Trick or Treat snack.

Beetroot or Beets. It is not the first time you have seen beets in a recipe on this blog and it will not be the last. Beets are a longtime juicing favorite.

Beets (beetroot) belong to the chenopod (or Chenopodiaceae) Family - including beets, chard, spinach and quinoa. This is a powerhouse of a family. I mean, have you ever heard anything but good things about those foods? So, its not surprising that this small, blood red vegetable is packed with phytonutrient goodness. Beets are especially known (and researched) for the betalain pigments contained within.

betalain [′bed·ə‚lān]
(biochemistry) 
The name for a group of 35 red or yellow compounds found only in plants of the family Caryophyllales, including red beets, red chard, and cactus fruits.
(thefreedictionary.com/betalain)

Betalains pigments are responsible for rich color of beets and have been shown to provide antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification support. Also, report was recently released showing the that nitrates (contained in betalains) in beets can 'boost stamina'. The study actually used beetroot juice. "Beetroot juice has previously been shown to reduce blood pressure. The researchers believe their findings could help people with cardiovascular, respiratory or metabolic diseases - and endurance athletes." (Source)

The two main reason to juice beets:

1. Betalain pigments are actually visible in other foods (like the stems of chard or rhubarb), but for beets the high concentration of betalains in the flesh and skin, making this vegetable a betalain powerhouse. So, consuming the beet with the skin on is a great idea. *Here's where a vegetable brush and wash would come in handy before popping them in the juicer. 
2. It has recently been proven that betalains are far less heat stable than most plant pigments. Meaning, you loose the nutrient content the longer you cook them. So, consuming them raw is ideal. *I'm not sure about you, but I am not a fan of just biting into a beet, so chucking them into my juicer is a perfect solution.
3. Beets are also sweet in flavor, so they are another way to sweeten up vegetable juice.

How can it get any better than that?

Day 19: 

Juice: Waldorf Salad

Waldorf Salad:
2 Apples
2 Stalks of Celery
1 Tablespoon of Cold-Pressed Hemp-Seed Oil

In honor of full disclosure...I did not make this juice. Ah. I know, I know...I made our dear old friend Apple/Celery juice, but I did not add any of the hemp-seed oil. I didn't have enough time to research it and see if I would actually use an entire bottle of the stuff.

 So, here is the research and you all can decide if you want to invest in hemp-seed oil.

Hemp-seed oil, as you may have guessed, comes from the hemp seed. It is actually pressed (juiced) from the seed.

Here is a link to a, very long and kind of boring video, that shows the process: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXMGpZj4Vdo
After the first few minutes you can shut it off. It's just kind of nice to get a taste.

Hemp seed is becoming much more common in grocery store in North America. It looks like it has grown in popularity along the growing awareness of essential fatty acids, which makes sense since hemp seed (and thus, hemp seed oil) provide a wonderful amount of fatty acids.

So, what are these essential fatty acids everyone keeps talking about?
Mainly the Omega's, like Omega-3 or Omega-6. They are reffered to as 'necessary' and 'essential' because "the body can' t make them -- you have to get them through food." (Source) These fatty acids are commonly found in fish oils (such as salmon, tuna, and halibut, other seafood including algae and krill) some plants, and nut oils. Hemp seed oil considered a nut oil.  

In 1999 U.S. National Institute of Health held a workshop to study theses essential oils and it "demonstrated the impressive benefits of a balanced omega-6/omega-3 ratio in our diet: reduced risk of athero-sclerosis, sudden cardiac death and certain types of cancers, decrease in the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, mood improvement in bipolar disorders and optimized development in infants." (Source). It also goes on to compare different nut seed oils, it says "hemp's main nutritional advantage over other seeds lies in the composition of its oil, i.e. its fatty acid profile, and in its protein which contains all of the essential amino acids in nutritionally significant amounts and in a desirable ratio."

So, not only could these fatty acids help with internal issues like cancer, heart disease, but they have shown to help with cognitive disorders like depression, bipolar disorder...did I also mention it is great for your hair. The essential oils stimulate hair growth and heath. It is often used as a hair treatment. Article: Why Hemp Seed Oil Is A Miraculous Hair Care Elixir

Hemp seed oil, much like Spirulina Powder, is probably a good thing to keep around the house and stir into different juices at your will. After all, if you are along for the ride, you'll be making a lot of juice over the next year or so.

Day 18: 

Juice: Double Apple

Double Apple:
2 Apples
1/3 Pineapple
1 Small Bunch of Mint


Oh, this is delicious!
Pineapple is my favorite fruit and I am big fan of mint in my juice, so.....this juice is bliss in a glass!
*Note: I wanted a little less juice, so I only used one apple.*

Pineapples are amazing and we'll have time to talk about them another day. But today I just want to go over how to cut one up. When I first started juicing, cutting up a pineapple seemed daunting. Having pretty much only eaten them out of a can or bought them pre-sliced from the store, I wasn't really sure what to do. Eventually, I sucked it up and bought one whole took it home and... googled 'How to cut up a pineapple'. Now, for all of you out there I have written up some instructions for you.

Step 1: 
Get a Pineapple, Cutting Board and a Big Ole Knife

Step 2: 
Cut off the top and the bottom of the pineapple.

Step 3:   
Shave the outside of the pineapple off with the knife. Since you are juicing it, don't worry about it being perfect. The juicer can handle a little bit of the rind. 

Note: 

If you are cutting the pineapple to eat, you will not want the core (the whitish part in the middle). So, you should cut the sides off around the core and cube it. However, for most juicers (even the cheap little ones) the core wont matter.

Step 4:

Slice it and cube it. Store it any way you'd like. 
Again don't worry about imperfections on the outside.