Juicing?

This past weekend I watched "Hungry for Change" on Netflix.  This movie is on the same line of thought as "Food Matters" and "Forks over Knives".  All of these documentaries point at food as the foundation for all other things.  And, interestingly enough, all support 'juicing' as a way of helping your body stay clean.  'Juicing'.  Hmmmm.  Sounds expensive.

I do not have a food processor, nor do I have a juicer.  I own a blender and a water bottle, ice cube trays and a bit of imagination, but that is it.  Juicing requires an apparatus that turns raw food into juice and mountains of fresh produce.  I can justify spending money on food, I am even doing better choosing organic food over the pesticide variety, but I do not have the budget for juicing as a staple in my diet (especially since there are four others to feed), at least not yet.

Before I go and try juicing recipes and blending food flavors and combos I thought I should give the 'juice' a try first.  Naked Juice has several varieties of smoothies available ready made so that is where I started.  The Green Machine and Blue Machine were my first two choices and they are fantastic.  I do not want to buy bananas, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, apple juice, mango, heads of broccoli, spirulina, ginger, pineapple, wheat grass, blue green algae, and odorless garlic to purée, but I don't mind purchasing the blend ready made for my enjoyment ~ and my health.  Naked uses NonGMO produce and all natural ingredients.  They don't add sugar, they don't add preservatives;  'they only add a label'.  I look forward to trying more of their blends.

So why juice?  Why isn't real food enough?  When we eat we have to digest.  The body has to liquify our food in order to absorb it.  Some foods contain fat and water soluble nutrients which require more or less form the liver, the pancreas, and the intestines.  Juice, because it is already in liquid form and because it is made of raw food, is recognized and absorbed immediately by the body without the process of breaking it down.  From mouth to cells in roughly 15 minutes vs the 30 minutes to 12 hours cooked or intact foods can take to digest.  Not to mention the powerful, cell cleansing ingredients!  (This week we'll talk about those ingredients!)

Juicing.  After a few days and then a few weeks I will let you know if I notice any differences (internal or external).  For now, I encourage you to eat real food, to give your vitamins their vitamins, to drink plenty of water, and to remember to wash your hands.  Try something new~  or turn it into juice!

Anna