Plant Based Lifestyle Archives - Page 21 of 21

Prepping for a Week of Juicing

Since I began a plant based lifestyle 9 1/2 months ago, I’ve been interested in experiencing a juice cleanse. Inspired by Jonny Juicer on Instagram, I’ve followed his journey and saved some of his recipes, eager to take my own healing journey to a new level.

With spring well underway, and an international trip about a month away, this feels like the right time to initiate a seven day juice cleanse. I stocked up this afternoon on fresh fruits and veggies and cleared out the fridge, symbolizing a fresh, clean start.

There are many benefits to juicing for a short time, or even extended period of time.

Faster and more efficient way to get nutrients into the body
Gives the digestive system a break
Floods the body with micronutrients
Easy way to consume fresh produce
Promotes healthy eating habits
Removes insoluble fiber allowing for increased absorption of enzymes and phytonutrients
Feeds the body at a cellular level

And for me, I might add, this will be a creative way to experience something new and have fun trying out different veggie and fruit combinations as I create a variety of juices.

Part of today’s purchases. I have more veggies in the fridge.

Being plant based for a while, I am already familiar with juicing. Celery juice has been an important part of my health regime. My plan is to start the day with a cup of warm lemon water, followed by 16 ounces of fresh celery juice with a spoonful of barley grass juice powder added.

Breakfast will continue to be a fruit smoothie, with hemp and chia seeds added. During the rest of the day…lunch, dinner and at least two “snack” times…I’ll drink juices freshly prepared from my stash of veggies and fruits. I’ll finish the day with a cup of hot herbal tea. And I will take my daily supplements as well.

I’m excited about the week ahead. My body has been healing so beautifully and juicing feels like a vital next step. How do I know this is right for me? My body is letting me know. I am craving juice.

I’ll be sharing my experiences and a recipe each day, via this blog. And I will post a follow up next Sunday to give an honest opinion on juicing, including benefits and any challenges I encountered along the way.

Here’s to good health and vibrancy and a tall glass of juice!

Turn the Beet Around Juice

I was excited today to try out a new café that opened recently in downtown Joplin. Located at 122 S Main Street, Jasper’s Juicery features freshly prepared juices and smoothies and an assortment of delicious meals. I stopped in to sample a juice.

The cute café has a long counter for ordering and pulling up a stool. And there are tables and chairs in the front section of the restaurant with more seating available in a back room. I browsed the menu while a customer ahead of me placed her order.

I knew I wanted fresh juice, however looking over the menu I was impressed that Jasper’s Juicery uses locally provided ingredients, as much as possible, and that the smoothies are created with almond and coconut milk. I decided on the Turn the Beet Around juice blend, with beets, carrots, celery and apples.

Celery is a powerful anti-inflammatory vegetable that alkalizes the gut. Apples are a true brain food, high in anti-inflammatory properties. Carrots, a great antioxidant root vegetable, are high in vitamins and minerals, aid in digestion and promote healthy skin. And beets, another root vegetable, boost the immune system by providing vitamin C and essential minerals.

I watched as my juice was prepared. The staff was friendly and helpful. The young woman taking my order expressed excitement about my selection, telling me it was her favorite juice. In moments my drink was ready.

I took a sip while still in the café and gave a thumbs up to the staff. The juice was delicious, with a slightly sweet taste, due to the apple. I like beets, so the flavor was mild to me. I took my drink with me to my mom’s, where family members were gathered before a birthday celebration. Everyone bravely tried a sip. Beets are not everyone’s favorite vegetable, to eat or drink, however the consensus was that this was very good!

I love that Joplin has restaurants and grocery stores that offer healthy meal choices. I’m looking forward to trying other juices, and all of the smoothies, at Jasper’s Juicery. Five stars for this great little health conscious café.

Health Benefits of Celery Juice

One of the first shifts I made in my health routine was the inclusion of freshly prepared celery juice in the mornings. One year ago this month, after reading a post by the Medical Medium, Anthony William, I hauled out my juicer and ran a bunch of celery through it (literally one bunch of the green stalks, also called a head of celery), eager to try out this amazing juice.

According to the book, Life Changing Foods, by Anthony William, celery is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory foods because it starves unproductive bacteria, yeast, mold, fungus and viruses that are present in the body, and flushes their toxins and debris out of the liver and intestinal tract.

These pathogens are the underlying cause of inflammation in the body. Without the pathogens, the body is better able to handle the other stresses life often presents. Celery also helps good bacteria to thrive and alkalizes the gut. At the same time, celery raises hydrochloric acid in the stomach so that food digests easier and doesn’t putrefy. This prevents a multitude of gastrointestinal disorders and allows for restoration of the entire digestive system.

Additionally, celery, which is technically an herb, not a vegetable, improves kidney function, restores the adrenals, and eases the mind by supporting neuron function. This in turn helps with brain fog and memory loss. Celery hydrates at a deep cellular level, lessening migraines and stress, and it helps to repair DNA.

No other juice brings the pure healing power of simple celery juice. While it makes a great additional to other green juice recipes, drinking freshly prepared celery juice has the most health benefits.

And it couldn’t be easier to prepare. Wash one bunch of celery, trim the base from the stalks, and run through a juicer. One bunch makes about 20 ounces of juice. I like the taste of celery. The juice is light and refreshing to me. Anthony suggests running half an apple through the juicer, along with the celery stalks, if you don’t care for the taste of celery. And then gradually use less and less apple, to gain the most benefits from the celery.

Drink celery juice on an empty stomach to raise hydrochloric acid levels. I start the day with a mug of warm lemon water and then follow it with celery juice. A breakfast smoothie follows later in the morning.

I love how my body responds to drinking celery juice. I feel better. My energy vibrations begin rising while I am making the juice. It’s that powerful. Unfortunately, when I have a busy day ahead, it is the part of my morning routine that I am most likely to skip. No more. Even if this post doesn’t encourage anyone else to improve his or her health through drinking celery juice, it reminds me of what I am missing if I don’t.

Greater health is worth the few extra minutes that it takes to make fresh celery juice every morning. I am worth it…and so are you. So….Cheers! Here’s to our health, wellness and vitality.

Read more about the benefits of celery, and 49 other life changing foods:

And try out this juicer, to make your own celery juice and other delicious healthy blends:

I am an Amazon Affiliate and may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for considering making a purchase of these products, or any other items, through my Amazon links!

What Do You Eat Following a Plant Based Lifestyle?

This is by far the most frequent question that I get asked, when people learn I’ve adopted a plant based lifestyle. They are curious, or incredulous, or considering a change in diet themselves. I am always happy to answer questions! Today’s post covers a typical day for me, following a plant based lifestyle.

My morning routine is important. I have rested and there are toxins ready to be flushed from my body as I rehydrate and prepare for the day.

There are so many benefits from drinking a cup of warm water with the juice from half a fresh lemon, that it warrants its on blog post. Soon. This drink wakes up my body as it provides hydration, and necessary minerals and vitamin C.

After lemon water comes a glass of freshly prepared celery juice. I began drinking this juice about a year ago, after reading the Medical Medium’s post about its many health benefits. Celery juice heals the digestive system by alkalizing the gut. It is a powerful anti-inflammatory that flushes toxins and debris out of the intestinal tract. More about the amazing healing properties of celery in an upcoming post.

Breakfast smoothies are my favorite meal of the day. Fruits can be blended together in endless combinations. I have a different smoothie every morning, using a banana as the base. I add fresh fruits, such as strawberries or an orange or a chopped up pear, and add a cup of frozen fruit, such as wild blueberries or pineapple chunks, and 3/4 cup of water. I also like to add chia or hemp seeds.

Lunch is a simple, raw salad such as this grapefruit, avocado delight. Or it might be a fresh fruit bowl. I typically eat raw for lunch, however a platter of cooked veggies is a possibility too.

Afternoon snack is fresh fruit, such as sliced apples, an orange, and dates with a cup of hot herbal or Scottish tea.

Dinner is a bowl of cooked and raw veggies with brown rice, or vegan pizza on gluten free crust, a bowl of vegetable soup or brown rice pasta with my own marinara sauce. Again, the possibilities are many, and can be as simple as oven roasted potato wedges or more creative, like lentil curry.

I finish the day with a cup of hot herbal tea and a small snack if I’m hungry. That might be raw fresh fruit, celery, dates or a handful of unsalted cashews.

This is an average day. On busy mornings I may skip the lemon water or celery juice, but I would rather not. I might have salsa and non GMO gluten free chips for a snack. I read labels on everything and avoid most cooking oils such as canola. I’m aware of my NO list, which includes meat, dairy, eggs, sugar, corn, soy and gluten.

I remind myself daily that I have made this choice and this commitment for improved health and well being. I take 18 supplements a day, herbs primarily, to support my immunesystem and destroy viruses in my body.

This has not been a difficult transition to make, as there is such a variety of fruits and vegetables available. What I eat is not boring or bland. It is full of flavor and life nourishing nutrients. I am highly motivated to continue this journey because of the good health I am experiencing and the amazing changes in my body in a relatively short amount of time.

The next most frequently asked question I get is How long are you going to eat this way?

My answer is, for the rest of my life. Simple enough, right? I am not missing any foods or missing out on any celebrations or life events. Trust me, I am eating well and loving what I eat. I have a very healthy relationship with my food. And a very healthy relationship with myself.

I am plant based. And I love it.