Day 48:

Juice: Bleeding Grapefruit

Bleeding Grapefruit:
2 Grapefruit
2 Sticks of Celery
1/4 Beetroot

This is a great picker-uper of a juice! A wonderful morning juice. Real zingy and sweet.

Personally, I find beets can be an overpowering flavor in juices and typically when purchase a fresh juice from a juice bar there is always too much beet. I get it. It's a cheap veg to have on hand and fills up a cup nicely. But, it's sweet taste can quickly turn on you and become sickly sweet! Yuck!
So a Top Tip when dealing with beetroot, start small. You can always add more.

As a rule, if you want fresh juice, the absolute best thing you can do it make it yourself, at home with produce you have purchased locally. BUT we all know that is not always possible.

Sometimes when you're in a pinch and want something juicy you pick up one of these:

 (or one of the many variations that occur)

Please note, I am not promoting this brand over any other, but I did choose this particular bottle today because of the word "Superblend" and "Superfruits" being listed on the front of the packaging. Now, I have seen (possibly even used) the term "Superfood" when referring to kale, quinoa, broccoli, etc... but I thought it was interesting that a label would list something as a "Superfruit" instead of a "Superfood". Surely a "Superfruit" should be covered under the "Superfood" label, since fruits - super or not - are still in the "food" category.
But, I digress....

So, I flipped the bottle around to look at what fruit Bolthouse Farms considered to be SO SUPER.

For those of you who may not be able to read my blurry image the list is as follows:

Acai Berry
Goji Berry
Bilberry
Black Current
Mangosteen
Blueberry
Noni Berry
Yumberry
Raspberry
Pomegranate

Now, with the exception of the Yumberry and the Noni Berry, I know a bit about the rest of the fruits and all are good choices, I couldn't think of a reason why they were "Super" and a apple - for example - is not. So, I thought it must be in the definition of the word - Superfruit.

However, there is no agreed upon definition. Hmmm...

Wikipedia states "Superfruit is a marketing term first used in the food and beverage industry in 2005..." and "...the designation of a fruit as a superfruit is entirely up to the product manufacturer." (Wikipedia) Interesting, no?

Also, the USDA and FDA have not officially endorsed the term. So, Superfruit means whatever a corporation wants it to mean.

But at the very end of the wikipedia page glowed a little blue link instructing me to "see also: superfood". Well I couldn't resist that. Click.

Superfood seems to have a definition, but only in some dictionaries. Macmillan and Oxford have defined superfood as: "A nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being." (Oxford) Okay, aside from the fact that I think this definition can be applied to most raw fruits and vegetables, it is at least a base to work from. 

*It should also be noted that wikipedia describes superfood as "a marketing term used to describe foods with supposed health benefits." (Wikipedia)

The best description/definition of the term superfood came from the Food Matters website (some of you may have seen the documentary). There they define superfood as "a special category of foods found in nature. By definition they are calorie sparse and nutrient dense meaning they pack a lot of punch for their weight as far as goodness goes. They are superior sources of anti-oxidants and essential nutrients - nutrients we need but cannot make ourselves."

Now it says "by definition" but I could not see a link or footnote as to which "definition" they are referring to. However, I think it is the most specific definition I could find...let's call it a nice working definition.

But at the end of the day this is a marketing term, both Superfruit and Superfood. It is VERY important to note that the juice bottle DID NOT have an USDA organic label or even claim to be organic...It merely said "All Natural" which means nothing in the food world.

So I ask you this: What good is a "superfruit" or "superfood" if it isn't grown under good conditions?

Let me know your thoughts?

Also if you have a spare 20mins...this is a GREAT video!

Day 47: 

Black Grapefruit:

Black Grapefruit:
2 Grapefruits
1 Handful of Blackberries
1 Handful of Blackcurrants

Back again my friends with another amazing juice recipe for you. Though I will note that I had a hard time tracking down blackcurrants (it is probably because Blackcurrants aren't in season).

Today is all about storage.

If you are prepping to do a juice fast or just looking to incorporate fresh juice (and all the benefits that come with it) into your daily life than careful storage is important.

Ideally, fresh juice is not to be stored. It is to be drunk.

A lot the goodness (healing enzymes) in fresh juice oxidize (decays when it is exposed to oxygen) quickly. So in a perfect world without work, kids and other obligations outside your own home, but alas, most of us don't have that luxury. (Though vacations are a great time to do a juice fast - lots of sleep, plenty of time and the ability to consume you're fresh made concoctions right after you've made them.)

So the question is:

What is the best way to store your fresh made juice?

Organic Produce:

Hopefully this is something you all already do, but I cannot stress this point enough (and most credible resources do too). As organic as possible all the time. This ensures you get maximum goodness out of your produce, since storing juice diminishes some of the nutrients. Now in small town with access to great local produce this will probably work out to be the cheaper option too, but in a place like New York City it is means kissing goodbye the remnants of your already demolished paycheck (thanks rent).

BUT it is widely accepted that what you put in your body matters, so why put in a whole lot of trash - especially on a juice fast. You could do that with a delicious cupcake instead!
So, when you walk through the grocery store, numbers swirling in your head, nausea rising beacuse you realize you're one of those people technically living in poverty, still buy the organic stuff. Your health is worth it!

*Here is information from the USDA on what "organic" means: Organic 101. Totally interesting!







Glass Containers:
All the research I have seen prefers glass containers over plastic.

Firstly, plastic containers leach chemicals into your food. Most of us have seen the labels warning us about BPA or Bisphenol A, which "is an industrial chemical used to make a hard, clear plastic known as polycarbonate, which has been used in many consumer products, including reusable water bottles. BPA is also found in epoxy resins, which act as a protective lining on the inside of metal-based food and beverage cans." (FDA) But even in BPA free bottles have other chemicals which still leach into your food.

Second, a lot of plastic containers are thin and allow for more rapid oxidization.

Glass jars are the preferred method, probably because The Gerson Institute (a GREAT source of knowledge for those who really want to delve into the healing powers of fresh juice) recommends 8oz Mason jars (Gerson FAQ)...I know, how very hipster of us juice lovers.

Now, to keep things cheap, I just reuse jam jars, salsa jars, and applesauce jars. Since I eat all of those foods (and have paid for the jar along with the food) I just peel the label off and reuse.

Citrus:
Adding citrus to you juice concoction when you are planning to store is a good idea, since citrus can
slow the process of oxidization.






The Recommended Process of Storing:

• Wash, prepare and juice you're veggie's. Some research recommends refrigerating your jars before juicing into them - a way to keep the juice as cold as possible for as long as possible. 
• 3oz-8oz jars are great! Small is good. Since we don't want the juice to oxidize, a small jar allows you to fill the jar right to the top, leaving little or no room for air (juice will probably ooze out when you shut the jar - good!). 
• Then refrigerate immediately. Consider buying a refrigerator tote.
• When you go to drink your stored juice, drink it all in one sitting. Avoid opening and closing the container, since exposing it to air is bad.

If you find anymore tips send them my way!

Happy Juicing!