did you know?

this kind of just blew my mind... 

I thought I was just being lazy when I put the whole lemon in the juicer, 

turns out I was just being smart!

 

via Food Inc

can't afford organic?

you may have heard of the dirty dozen before, 

 how about the clean fifteen?

navigating through the world of organic foods can be challenging and expensive

but these are the safest non-organic foods to enjoy anyway!

via

green juice a day

Cucumbers are the fourth most cultivated vegetable in the world 

and known to be one of the best foods for your body's overall health!

They are easy to snack on, taste great on sandwiches and of course prime to juice.

green juice a day

when i first started juicing i was quite surprised at how powerful certain fruit and veggies were, 

especially what flavours blend together and which ones don't. I typically follow the colour rule, 

juicing fruit and veggies of the same colour family but not always. 

So don't be afraid to experiment and use ingredients you might not normally eat! 

So chances are you probably already eat celery, its pretty basic but it's health benefits are anything but.

Only start off slow, maybe 1-2 stalks, I was very surprised at how it potent it tastes! 

So in honour of St. Patty's Day instead of guzzling green brews and irish car bombs shots,

do your bod a favour and down one of these instead!

planting roots

with spring just around the corner and although we still have ginormous snow banks 

(hopefully withering away with a few days of milder temps) I am happily forming our plans for an organic garden!

 this will our first year planting and I'm so looking forward to reaping the benefits of eating and juicing homegrown food. 

It just can't get any more local than that and I'm so excited for the kiddos to get involved too. 

this year will be a learning year and probably won't yield as good a crop as what we will get in the years to come but I can't wait to get started! 

I'll be sure to post our progress.... when we can see land again!

green juice a day

 Chard  also known as Swiss Chard or Silverbeet is a leafy green packing a powerful punch!
I often use this instead of kale or just to mix things up a bit in my green machine juice 
and I do juice the whole shabang but you can start with just the leafy part (as the stem is often bitter).
using lime definitely masks any other flavours at least that's what works for me!

variation of the green machine:
1 bunch of swiss chard (either 4-5 stalks or just the leaves from)
2 granny smith apples
1/2 cucumber
2 celery stalks
1 lime (optional)

green juice a day

it's obviously no secret that 'greens' are a crucial part to our diet. 

the benefits are o'plenty, it's just how to incorporate them into our daily diet and enjoy  them. 

I've started drinking a green juice a day, mixing up my recipes slightly... it's a little trickier in Canada in the dead of winter to have access to fresh greens (obviously not in season here) but I'm starting pretty basic and hopefully by summer when we have access to more varieties I'll be able to experiment a little!

 in this new series, I'll give you the health benefits for different green foods and also new recipes to try. 

I mean it's kind of great to know exactly what each food is doing for your body right? 

so let's start with Kale which I used in the green machine juice I posted a couple of weeks ago

kinfolk

my first issue of kinfolk magazine arrived last week!

filled with beautiful photography, recipes and great articles, 

it's such a pleasure to read and peruse. 

Hubs and I have made a pact to entertain more and after some small home renos 

I think we will have an even better setup for doing so. 

Oh yeah and I need to learn to spend a bit more time in the kitchen too. 

Hoping this new mag will help give me some inspiration!

ps. looking for a great gift for the foodie in your life 

or for someone like me that needs foodspiration?

Check out the kinfolk table

recipes for small gatherings- can't wait to my mitts on this.

the big carrot

I've been adding carrots into a lot of my juice recipes lately, not just because they are so readily available but because the bright orange root packs a powerful nutrition punch,

fresh carrot juice is full of beta-carotene, vitamin and minerals.

  

100 g of fresh carrot juice contains:

 2.1 mg of beta-carotene and 350 micrograms of vitamin A

    Up to 3 mg of vitamin C, which is necessary to maintain immunity

    0.2 mg of vitamin PP, which has beneficial effects on metabolic processes in the body

    0.01 mg of vitamin B1, required for proper function of the brain and nervous system

    0.02 mg of vitamin B2, needed to maintain healthy metabolism and vision

    0.3 mg of vitamin E for healthy cells and synthesis of hormones 

(It’s several times greater than in beet juice.)

Carrot juice is also rich in potassium (130 mg/100gr), calcium, sodium, magnesium, iron and phosphorus. Besides, this juice contains flavonoids, phytoncides and enzymes as well as organic acids, monosaccharides and disaccharides, starch and ash.

  source 

Carrot Juice Benefits, Nutrition Facts & Side Effects
April 23, 2013 Posted in Health Benefits and Side Effects of Foods 

Carrot Juice Health Benefits And Nutrition Facts Fresh carrot juice is the king of vegetable juices. It contains a lot of beta-carotene, vitamins and minerals. All this makes carrot juice indispensable for health maintenance, particularly for people with weak immune systems, skin and vision problems. Carrot juice benefits children greatly.

Read more at: http://myhealthbynature.com/carrot-juice-benefits-side-effects/
Copyright © MyHealthByNature.com

the big carrot juice:
4-5 large carrots
1 pear
1 gala apple
handful of strawberries
makes a full serving for me, the hubs and each of the kiddos (I top theirs up with water)

Benefits of carrot juice:    

• Slow down the aging process
•  reduce the risk of cancer 
• Help cleanse the cells of toxins and impurities 
•  Drinking carrot juice can help you get rid of dermatitis and eczema. 
•  Vitamin C acts as a protector of the nervous and immune systems. 
• A glass of fresh carrot juice perfectly relieves stress after a hard day and calms if one is overexcited. 
•  Vitamin C in combination with B vitamins reduces the level of harmful cholesterol, thereby protecting the cardiovascular system. 
•  Fresh carrot juice improves digestion.
•  It serves as a great resource in atherosclerosis, infections and kidney stones. 
•  Carrot juice is very helpful to women. Carotene normalizes the synthesis of female sex hormones. That allows women to stay young and healthy for longer. Because the lack of vitamin A leads to infertility, carrot juice, in some cases helps to resolve that problem. 
•  it contains a substance related to endorphins, which promotes a sense of joy.

maca

Maca is a root that belongs to the radish family. It's grown in the mountains of Peru and sometimes called “Peruvian ginseng,” maca’s benefits have been long valued, and now have been rediscovered as a supplement and ingredient it's available in pill, liquid and powder form.

I chose the pill form because it's easy to take on the fly and I went Vega again on this one.

There are no known side effects from taking maca but like any other supplement  it’s best to begin by taking smaller amounts and building up; no more then 2 tablespoons (of the powder) should be taken daily. Taking too much can lead to adverse effects and throw your hormones out of whack.

Benefits of Maca

• Maca is rich in vitamin B12 and protein. It also keeps you healthy by providing vitamins B1, B2, B12, C and E and also provides plenty of calcium, zinc, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and amino acids

• Maca is widely used to promote sexual function of both men and women. It serves as a boost to your libido and increases endurance. At the same time it balances your hormones and increases fertility.

• Maca relieves menstrual issues and menopause. It alleviates cramps, body pain, hot flashes, anxiety, mood swings and depression. If you are pregnant or lactating you should avoid taking maca.

• Within days of using maca your energy level may increase. It is also known for increasing stamina. Many athletes take maca for peak performance. If you find yourself tired most of the time, experiment with maca to see if it helps. Just a small amount could be exactly what you need for a boost!

• Maca helps your overall health in a number of ways. It supplies iron and helps restore red blood cells, which aids anemia and cardiovascular diseases. Maca keeps your bones and teeth healthy and allows you to heal from wounds more quickly. When used in conjunction with a good workout regime you will notice an increase in muscle mass.

• Many take macs for skin issues, as for some people it helps to clear acne and blemishes. Another benefit for your skin is that is decreases sensitivity. In hot or cold weather, maca may help your skin withstand extreme temperatures.

• If you find yourself overcome with anxiety, stress, depression or mood swings, maca may help alleviate these symptoms, though of the evidence is anecdotal. Some have reported an increase in mental energy and focus.

I've been taking Maca for the last couple of months, starting with just a single pill and now am up to taking 2 pills a day (which is still a low dose) but have been quite happy with the results!

vega 

food for thought

What are we eating?

Wow! This is really something to think about 

(and applies to where ever you live).

Sometimes it's nearly impossible to find local products in the grocery store or if you can they cost a fortune! Guy and I often discuss ways we can get more local foods without paying an arm and leg to do so. We are super lucky to live where we do and have more access to local produce and meats than most.  Look for a local co-op/market  for fresh local products and send complaints or requests to your grocery store asking them to supply  more local products! 

ACV Does a Body Good

Growing a baby and giving birth really takes a toll on your body and since Oliver was born I have definitely been feeling sluggish and depleated. I mean geez....

 this kid has been sucking the nutrients outta me for over a year now!

So I did a little searching online for a natural way to boost my energy and promote overall wellness. And I found Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) an old-school folk remedy that helps to cure all sorts of ailments including allergies, sinus infections, acne, high cholesterol, acid reflux, arthritis etc, (the list goes on and on). www.earthclinic.com/Remedies/acvinegar.html

Basically I thought I would give it a whirl ...

 I have been drinking ACV tonics for about a week now. That's 2 tsp of ACV in 16 oz (500 ml) of water 3x a day and I squeeze a little lemon juice and agave to sweeten it up . At first it tasted like something died in my mouth but now I am used to the taste and use much less lemon and agave. And I must say I am feeling much better.
The lazy-dazy tired spells have gone away.



(the glass says impeccable taste which is a lie but you get use to it!)

 I use Braggs Organic raw ACV with the mother (the mother is what makes it work) http://www.bragg.com/ but any raw, unpasteurized ACV will do the trick (Braggs brand can be bought at Bulk Barn in Canada). I have also been adding a cup of ACV to my bath (I lurve a good bath!) and my skin feels awesome afterwards.
I haven't tried it yet but it is also good for your hair too...
I'll let you know the results in a couple of days.

So far so good, ACV is a keeper!