Can I Juice While Breastfeeding...?

YES... YES... and YES! 

Of course I have to say to check with your healthcare professional before veering from your normal routine... but the short answer is YES!

First off it is critical to remember that juicing for breastfeeding (or pregnancy for that matter) is NOT a replacement for meals.  Juicing is to enhance your health and to offer a way of easily absorbing and processing nutrients.  You should not be focused on weight-loss.  What you should be focused on is the health of your growing baby and your overall health and well-being.

Why is juicing good for a new momma?

Juicing offers up a way of basically "injecting" micro-nutrients and active enzymes straight into your system.  Juicing removes the need for your body to digest and process and therefore saves it's energy for you and your baby.  This "hit" of minerals and vitamins effect you at a molecular level, thus changing your body from the inside out.  

This will not only provide impeccable care to you and your baby, it will set you up for greater weight loss success once you are done breastfeeding!  

Some techniques to note while juicing while breastfeeding:

1. Incorporate teas into your regimen or mix with fresh juice
2. Add herbal tinctures into the mix
3. Use organic produce as toxins can negatively affect your growing baby
4. You should be drinking at least one large glass of water to every serving of juice on top of your normal hydration routine
5. Stay away from heavy stimulants like black tea and coffee (a little dark chocolate is OK!)

Here are some herbs to consider in either tea or tincture form:

• Lemon balm
• Nettle
• Red raspberry leaf
• Rose hips
• Ginger

Two great juices to reduce bloating is:

• 2 oranges (peeled)
• Handful of kale leaves
• 1/2 cup spinach
• 3 stalks celery
• Note: you can add lemon, ginger or apple to taste

OR...

• 3 carrots
• 3 stalks celery
• 30 cherries (pitted)
• 8 oz of red raspberry leaf or nettle tea
• Note: you can add lemon, ginger or apple to taste

Ingredients to help increase energy!

• GREENS!  Any green you can stomach, anything leafy!
• Lemon
• Ginger
• Apple

How much should you drink?

Drink as much as you want as long as juicing is not replacing meals.  Pay attention to your body... it will tell you when to speed-up or slow-down.  If juicing just doesn't feel right all together, quit and try again at a later stage.  There is no right or wrong way... but you do need to listen to your body as it will know best for you and your baby!

Be active - Be healthy - Juice!

My First Day

For the first three days of my initial fast, I felt as if I was having an out of body experience.  As if I was on the outside looking in, watching this 'juicing thing' happen to me.

Day #1:

I felt anxious and scared, actually.  The idea of not eating anything solid created an unrealistic sense of scarcity within me.  I remember periodically reaching for my 'snack drawer' at work, not even comprehending what I was doing... as if it was a normal as breathing.  I would have the wrapper off of a granola bar before I realized my actions.  Quickly I threw it in the garbage before I had time to smell it's chocolaty goodness.

Noon rolled around and I felt as though my stomach was going to literally implode.  I had drank four glasses of water and 3 glasses of juice.  Logically speaking, I had enough calories built up in body for at least a week, plus I had consumed enough calories to support myself for days with the juice I had just drank.  There was no grounded fear for what I was feeling.  I kept reminding myself that the mind is powerful and that I am literally breaking a habit... my food routine.

Mid-afternoon snack time, or as others might call it, 3:00 pm, rolled around and there was nothing I wanted more than one, salty corn chip.  Even a small nibble of one of the corners would do.  I tried all the techniques, drinking more water, drinking more juice and going for a walk.  Nothing could take my mind off of salt.

I noted that my body was going through the flavors.  First sugar cravings, then salt cravings... the next was fat.  I wanted meat... bacon actually.  I felt nauseous and my head felt fuzzy.  I almost felt as though I had drank a huge glass of wine without the fun part of actually drinking it!

What got me through?  It was actually going back to my sports days when I would train my body for athletic performance.  I learned early on that you can work through difficult physical exercises with the goal that 'it will get easier.'  

I kept that in mind and began to think of ways for me to cheat without actually cheating.  Time to trick the mind!  So, I decided that during my lunch hour every day, I would go into town and 'buy lunch.'  This included the trip to one of my favorite cafés, waiting in line, and physically purchasing and selecting a really yummy cup of tea.  I would go through the process of steeping the tea and then my sister and I would explore walking paths in the area.  We would seek out a new one every day.

This technique worked!  I had something to look forward to and a 'yummy surprise' that helped get me through the latter half of my day.

By the end of Day #1, I was completely exhausted.  How was I going to make it through six days?

Why do I Juice?

So, now that we're getting things started, I thought I'd let you all know the why behind Juice Up Life.

A year ago, my brother recommended a documentary to me, Fat Sick and Nearly Dead.  He claimed that this documentary changed the way he thought about his body and his life.  Though I am a health nut at heart, I was still skeptical of the thought that juice alone can heal, maintain and nourish a body.  In a society where meat, milk and grains are the stable of our existence... not to mention white foods (sugar, flour and other processed foods), I had a hard time buying the concept.

Needless to say, I gave in and watched the documentary.  It was an impressive video and being a knowledge hound, I soaked up the statistics and references like a sponge.  I took the information, processed and researched until late hours of the night.  If you were looking for me the weekend I watched this, you could find me on my iPhone, curled up in a blanket, holding the screen to my face and reading... reading... reading.

My brother asked that each of us family members go with him on a 6 day juice cleanse to reboot the system.  I figured, anyone can do this for 6 days.  What is the worst that will happen...nothing?

He invested in a juicer for my household and that Monday, I went to work with four jars of homemade juice.  I still remember the looks I got when I unscrewed the first jar and chugged it right before going into a presentation I had with my team.  My team knows my views on health, but even this was out there for me.

Little did I know that morning would change my life forever.  My journey is to be continued...

I have come to the conclusion that juicing has come into my life for a distinct purpose.  The past six months have had such a profound impact that I can't help but share this experience.  Through my story, I can only hope that you will come to know the health, joy and vitality that has flourished in my life.

A Lemon's Zesty Benefits

The lemon, such a simple, bright and beautiful fruit.  Just the visual of a lemon brings thoughts of summertime, warmth and sunshine.  The nostrils perk up and our salivary glands start to anticipate the sour tang of its goodness.

Lemon is another staple in our juice programs.  Not just because it makes us all feel 'happy,' but this miraculous fruit adds a nutrient rich punch with just drops of its juice.

In ancient times the lemon was thought to protect individuals against sickness and infection.  Both drinking the juice and using the juice as a topical treatment was a regular practice in fighting off some of the basic diseases that plagued our planet at that time.

These same testimonials reign true to this day!  We are just now able to scientifically prove out the claims this bundle of sunshine brings.  To start:

• It has both antibacterial and antiviral properties... very rare to find both in one source.  
• It is an immune boosting fruit.
• It promotes weight loss through its digestive aid and liver cleansing properties.
• It is an alkaline food and contrary to popular belief it neutralizes the acidic affects within the body.  Thus reducing inflammation and reducing most pain caused by inflammation.

Besides flavor, this zesty fruit packs a nutrient punch as well!  A few of these nutrients are:

• Citric Acid
• Calcium
• Magnesium
• Vitamin C
• Bioflavonoids
• Pectin
• Limonene

As if this fruit couldn't do anything more... it comes through to help with:

• Aroma therapy to lift the mood, reduce anxiety and energize the body, mind and spirit!
• A general skin tonic that can help heal almost anything from acne and bug bites to Eczema and other rashes.

This bright, juicy 'power fruit' is a must-have when juicing.  It not only helps to brighten up the flavor of our juice, it has many very important jobs to perform.  Joy and health through juice... is there a better way to accomplish that?  We think not!

Greens - Greens - Greens!

Green... it's not just a color anymore.  It's a way of life.  

People are living, breathing and being Green.  If you look at a green lifestyle, individuals are working to align their lives with nature.  Embracing the aspects of nature that enhance and support our world.  Individuals are choosing to be more Eco-conscious when it comes to the buying of products, utilizing of certain brands and in general, within their everyday practices.  Entire companies, families and communities are Going Green!

Green is not just in how we live, though.  Greens have become the building blocks for our most successful juicing programs.  Greens are now recognized as super-foods in their own right, taking on a shape and personality all their own.  Think about it... a food group that detoxifies, promotes digestive and organ health, cleanses, increases blood health and supports the nervous system.  Talk about powerful!

What are these magical greens I speak of?

They are the dark green, rich and sometimes leafy vegetables, grasses and algae found throughout the globe.  A short list of my top pics are below.  But mind you, there are many, many, many more to be found and had!

• Kale
• Chards
• Asparagus
• Cabbage
• Celery
• Spinach
• Parsley
• Cucumber
• Broccoli
• Okra
• Spirulina
• Wheat grass
• Herbs (mint, basil, sage, rosemary...) 
• And so many more!

So what happens when you juice these greens?

When you juice, you are basically injecting the nutrients directly into the digestive system.  Juicing allows for seamless and easy absorption of the nutrients that are sometimes overshadowed by other foods and the 'ruffage' that goes along with them.  I'm all for 'ruffage,' trust me!  Whole foods and healthy, alive produce is an important part of my diet.  Juicing, though, brings things to a whole new level.  It is a core way of life (for me anyways) that allows these nutrients to hit the system at a micro-level. 

The power of these greens comes through in the nutrients they bring to the table:

• Magnesium
• Vitamins A, C, K, B6
• Folic Acid
• Copper
• Potassium
• Calcium
• Chlorophyll
• Phytonutrients
• And the list goes on!

Moral of the story... GREENS - GREENS - GREENS!  They are the building block of our program and philosophy   We can't wait to share more!