#4 and 5#

I was really busy yesterday finishing off my essays for uni so I didn't get a chance to post my juice challenge pictures up here,
But, better late than never. :)
On day 4 the recipe was;

- apple 2 apples
- celery 4 stalks
- carrot  3 carrots

I have to say I wasn't too keen on this one, there was a lot of celery and it was just a bit too peppery for me. Nonetheless, I still felt great afterwards. It looks pretty though, sort of like a sunset.

day 5 juice was much better;

- carrot 7

- apple 2

- lemon 1

- ginger 1 thumb 

This one was great, really refreshing with the lemon but warming with the ginger. 

So far Im really enjoying the juice challenge, I am feeling very alert and more able to focus. 

Also I would recommend this juice book - Reboot with Joe,  its by the guy on Fat, Sick and Nearly dead if anyone has seen that, if not I would recommend that you watch it!  Really inspiring stuff. 

#3 plus a few extras

Day three of the juicing challenge, I have to say this weeks juices are very carrot based and I think i'm craving something less carroty!
Although saying that I am still thoroughly enjoying my morning juice. But the one today was HUGE I couldn't finish it all I had to save some of it to have with my lunch!!
I have a whole heap of essay writing to be doing at the moment as well, and I have to say that my mental clarity is at it's peak! Something which i'm putting down to the juice for sure.
So here is a snap of today's juice

What a lovely, vibrant orange it is indeed!
The ingredients for this one are;
10 carrots (Yes 10!!)
2 apples
2 oranges

Not only have I been juicing today but I also had a crack at making a raw blue berry ice cream. Since I have stopped having dairy ice cream is something that I really miss. So I thought why not give this raw, dairy free one a go. It was DELICIOUS! extra creamy too as i used coconut milk rather than water. The recipe for this is;

Severs 4

180g frozen blueberries
100g raw cashew nuts
2 tablespoons of agarvae nectar (available form health food shops and some supermarkets)
80ml of water (or I used coconut milk)

Whizz it up in your blender then pop into the freezer and keep whisking every now and again so it doesn't get too frosty.
And here it is

If you are wondering what the dark chips are- I sprinkled a few raw cacao nibs on top for that luxury chocolaty taste we all love. Raw cacao has the highest concentrate of antioxidants so its really great for a detox and for fantastic radiant skin! These I think you can get online as well as in health food shops.

Mental health today -- 9/10
Physical health -- 8/10     >> (Still a bit sluggish after the christmas period! )



Look out for the next days in my juicing challenge and more scrummy raw food and healthy recipes :)

Happy Juicing  

Going Green

Today I had a delicious green juice. To make this juice you will need:

- 1/4 cucumber
- 2 pears
- 1 orange
- 1 stick of celery
- 6 romaine lettuce leaves

Juice everything , give it a good stir and ENJOY!!

Where has all the juice gone?

For the past 3 days I have not had my daily morning pint of juice and I have to say I have definitely tell!? My mood isn't as bouncy and my energy levels are somewhat diminished.   most of the research done on juicing which is all mainly based on self report, has shown that it increases energy levels immediately,  I can absolutely agree. I feel like I m missing that morning kick, that enviable buzz that gets me going in the early hours.
Though im pleased to say that my juice journey will be back on track this coming week as it is time for a much needed food shop. i have been reading about celery juice recently and its benifits which appear to be related to reducing inflammation and water retention. It also has lots of B vitamins which many of us are lacking in. These are great for getting your calcium without eating too much dairy.
If you want to find out more about the benefits of celery take a look on this page, it has some really great, easy to read info

  http://juicing-for-health.com/basic-nutrition/healing-vegetables/health-benefits-of-celery.html

My Kit

I realized that it would probably be a good idea for me to share with you what kind of juicer I have and how it works. 
This is the one I have - its made by Heston Blumenthal's range of kitchen products and is really great!
It really does get ALL of the juice out of whatever you pop in. I think the best thing about this one is that the shoot is really wide so when your making it early in the morning you don't have to worry too much about chopping your veg up too much. It's also very fast taking only a few minutes to make about a pint of juice! 
There are lots of different types of juicers from the more basic citrus juicers to the centrifugal juicers which I think are the most technical though still simple to use.

The only thing with using the juicer is that it is really important to clean it straight away after use otherwise you end up with the pulp getting everywhere!

If anyone is interested in the types of juicers then there is some pretty good info at this page  >>> http://www.harvestessentials.com/whatjuicisri.html

If you do decide to buy a juicer it doesn't have to be the most expensive one but it is a good piece of kit to invest in if you are going to be using it on a regular basis.

Also, I found this article in the telegraph online which has some good info on why juicing is beneficial and a link to a documentary which I think everyone needs to watch !!  

>>>>> http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG10162603/The-real-benefits-of-juicing.html

The Journey Begins

I have recently got my hands on my very own juicer thanks to my lovely parents who gave this to me as a gift for my recent 22nd birthday! 
I was introduced to raw juicing by my Dad who seems to have had a nutritional revolution over the past year or so. He is very much into the vegetable juice, which i'm told is the best kind, particularly the green juices. I have been given this great opportunity to start my own juicing journey and hopefully find my way to a clearer more attentive mind, which, lets face it, everyone seems to want these days! 
So, I am inviting you to share this experience with me, through the nice and the nasty. Not only is this a discovery of health but also of food and the different ways that you can enjoy it and use it! Flavour combinations are sure to be outrageous and exciting! 
But lets start as we mean to go on with a picture of my very first juice I made with my very own juicer !