Weekend Tip - Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Here is a good reminder for us all as we go into the "Cinco de Mayo" weekend holiday!

More than likely sodium will play a HUGE part in your weekend.  A little salt on those fresh corn chips... a salt-rimmed margarita... braised meets and salsa... YUM!  So, instead of cutting out all the fun, how about these simple tips to help you manage your way through this savory weekend!

Start each weekend day with...

1. 2-3 large glasses of room temperature water with a 1/4 of a squeezed lemon and a pinch of Himalayan sea salt (I know... combat salt with salt?  But it works!).
2. 1 large glass of fresh juice: 80% greens/10% sweet vegetables/10% fruit.  Not the tastiest of the ratios but it will set you up for a MUCH better day.
3. A banana.

Before you indulge...

1. 1 large glass of water with fresh, muddled mint and a pinch of cayenne pepper.
2. 1 serving/1 c of a complex grain (quinoa, brown rice, sprouted grain, spelt...).  I like a toasted piece of sprouted grain toast drizzled with a little bit of honey!
3. 1 green apple.

End each weekend day with...

1. 1 large glass of room temperature water with a 1/4 of a squeezed lemon and a pinch of Himalayan sea salt.
2. A 4 oz shot of juice (weat grass or straight, dark greens: spinach, kale...etc).  

This won't CURE the damage completely but it will help with...

1. Reducing bloating
2. Minimal water weight gain
3. Flushing the system of immediate toxins
4. Regulating hunger
5. Regulating blood sugar levels
6. Reducing cravings
7. Increased energy and awareness
8. Hydration
9. Reduce hangover symptoms
10. And much more!

Have a fun and safe weekend my Juice-mates!

Food for Your Mood!

No joke... I am looking out over 6 INCHES of fresh snow right now... May 2nd... Not cool, Spring!

With Mother Nature playing with my emotions, I am in dyer need of some mood-boosting meals today.  Something that will put a smile on my face and remind me that "Everything's gonna be alright," thanks Mr. Marley for the mantra.

Here are some foods and a couple recipes to help boost your mood... even if you don't have a sea of white snow plaguing you today, stimulation of the brain and "feel good" hormones is good for anyone... anytime!

Foods for your mood:

• Apricots: high in L-tryptophan which helps release serotonin into the system, reducing stress and anxiety
• Bananas: high in Vitamin B6, Potassium and L-tryptophan which fights fatigue, irritability, stress and anxiety
• Asparagus: high in the B Vitamins and minerals which increases energy and fights depression and anxiety
• Avocados: high in monounsaturated fats which lifts mood
• Sweet Potatoes: high in Vitamin B6, C, Iron and Potassium which again fights fatigue, irritability and helps the immune system
• Walnuts: a natural brain food to help cognitive functioning and mood
• Cinnamon: helps regulate blood sugar and digestion which means less mood swings and more even feelings of contentment
• Brown Rice: regulates blood sugar, increases alertness and is naturally nigh in magnesium which combats stress

Try these recipes today to help lift your mood to someplace happy and sunny!

Yummy Mood Juice

3 apricots pitted

5 large spears of asparagus
1 sweet potato
Pinch of cinnamon atop the cup of juice

Moody Brown Rice
Cooked brown rice (with cilantro, garlic and a little sea salt)
Roasted sweat potatoes
Toasted walnuts
Sliced avocado
Cherry tomatoes
Steamed asparagus
Cilantro - chopped
Green onion - chopped
*Toss together with a little lemon, olive oil and sea salt

Coffee vs. Juice in the Morning

Oooh the smell of a good dark roast brewing in my kitchen... there is nothing better.  I am a coffee-a-holic to say the least and I love walking into a Caribou, refilling my "to-go" mug and breathing in the aromas of my first cup of the day.

Needless to say... that mug of coffee is doing the exact opposite of what I want it to do... Wake me up!

We all know that coffee has caffeine in it.  What you might not know is the affect coffee has on your body vs. what natural fruits, vegetables and juices can do!

Coffee - One small cup in all it's supposed glory!

• 1 small cup has over 150 mg of caffeine (image what a grande has!)
• Stimulates the central nervous system by mimicking stress (fight or flight responses) within the body.  
• Produces Cortosol which increases belly fat production
• Taxing on adrenals, tissues and major organs
• Dehydrates and leaches vitamins and minerals from the body
• It takes 3 cups of water to replenish the body from 1 cup of coffee
• Increases signs of aging
• Lowers energy
• Increases bloating
• Imbalanced blood sugar
• Carb cravings
• Mood swings

No wonder coffee causes you to crash just hours after consumption!

Fresh Juice or Fresh Fruits/Vegetables - One cup in all its actual glory!

• Released slowly through the body for sustained energy
• 1 cup of juice has as much energy as up to 3 cups of coffee!
• Detoxes
• Contains natural sugars
• Increases cell health and regeneration
• Contains nutrients and minerals that coffee does not
• Hydrates the body
• Regulates blood sugar
• Powerful life enzymes
• "Blood building" capabilities
• Slow release of natural sugars/energy
• Best of all... NO CRASHES!

So next time you reach for something to "wake you up" in the morning, reach for a piece of fruit or make a glass of juice!  You will be amazed at the difference in the kind of energy you will feel. 

Try this as a morning wake-up alternative!

Green Tea Morning Cooler

• 1/2 cup fresh brewed green tea - chilled
• 2 green apples
• 1 bunch spinach
• 1/2 lemon
• 1/2 cucumber
• Small bunch of mint

It's a High Energy Day!

It's a high energy day today!  It's time to take that energy and run with it... make something fantastic happen today.  Call a friend and get outside.  Corral your little ones and grill out.

Today is a day to open your heart... open your spirit and soak up the light and love that this day has to offer. We are all in need of this, so take advantage and allow this energy to renew!

Focus on the things that bring happiness and joy and allow the other things to fall away.  If they need to come back for future attention... the will.

Happy Friday and happy weekend!
Shannon Rose and the JUL Juice Team

Juice for Those Dang Sinuses!

If you are located in the mid-west, you understand that spring is late this year!  I'm looking out my office window noting a foot of snow still in some areas of the parking lot...ugh!

With that said, my sinuses are not appreciating the prolonged cold weather.  The constant drops below 30 degrees F and then up again to 50+ degrees F in the daytime are causing pain, congestion and even a slight sore throat.

Not to get into the gory details, but a little background on Sinusitis - the inflammation of the paranasal sinuses  - there are three basic causes:

1. Infection
2. Allergies
3. Virus

Sinusitis can last up to 12+ weeks depending upon the stage/type!

1. Acute: 10 days - 4 weeks
2. Subacute - 4 - 12 weeks
3. Chronic - 12+weeks

Basic symptoms include congestion, headaches, sore throats, fatigue, stomach aches and more.  Sinusitis may not send you to bed for a week but it certainly hinders your quality of life and ability to function within that life.  As we speak my computer screen is turning fuzzy... Must keep typing...

You don't have to keep suffering for 4, 12 even 20 weeks!  It's time to speed your recovery until summer can return and burn away this crud.

What do I recommend?  My mother's magic solution!

1. Juice! (3-5 times per day while starting/showing symptoms)
• Spicy Ginger Juice
• 1 peeled orange
• 1/2 lemon
• 2 green apples
• 1 in ginger (or more if you can stand it!)
• 1 pinch of cayenne powder on top of the glass of juice (again... more if you can stand it!)
• 2 c spinach
2. Tinctures/Supplements (3 times per day while starting/showing symptoms plus 2-3 days after)
• Echinacea - immune booster
• Golden Seal - anti-viral/anti-bacterial
• Nettles - targets sinuses
• Quercetin - targets sinuses
• Vitamin C - immune booster
• Nose spray with grapefruit seed extract - targets sinuses/inflammation

My mom never steered me wrong... and so I pass along to you!

Sinusitis + Juice * Supplements = Feeling HEAPS better!

Juicing Momma, Juicing Poppa... Juicing Kiddo?

I recently was asked, "Juicing has changed my life!  Can I give the same juice to my kids?"

ABSOLUTELY!  (... keep reading)

Note this first, you are an adult... they are children... you have very different bodies, growing patterns, nutrient needs, digestive tracts, chemistry... and the list goes on.  So keep the tips below in mind while introducing a safe and effective juice plan for both you and your children.

For all of you juicing parents out there, I commend you!  It is not an easy feat to keep yourself fit and healthy while pulling double-shifts as a parent.  So often we tend to put our child's health above our own until we begin to disappear from our own "nutritional radar."

The truth of the matter is that it is so much more difficult to take care of your child when you are in physical distress or diminished health.  Being "out-of-shape," overweight (unhealthy), lethargic and full of toxins prevents you from not only being a fully effective parent but being a good example to your children.  I've even noticed that when I'm not at optimum health, I tend to be more of a passive parent, leaning on television, toys and inside activities to entertain my child.

Doing things together, Parent and Child, is why we had kids in the first place... right?!  Or at least it's why I love being a parent.  There is nothing as captivating as watching a child discover a new talent or a new element... it leaves me speechless every time.

So... getting back to the question at hand (sorry, I digress...), "Can I give the same juice to my kids?"

The answer is still, YES!  Below are some tips to take into consideration:

1. Make sure the portion in small enough to be utilized as a "supplement" to their diet and NOT a "replacement" for other foods.
2. Help expand their taste buds!  Little by little, introduce different flavors into the mix.  You will be surprised by how much children will LOVE all kinds of juice... even the "green-stuff!"
3. Morning and lunch is a great time for juice.  This helps ignite the brain and system for maximum activity and attention throughout the day.  
4. Nighttime tea is a great way to "wind down" at the end of the day.  You yourself should have a glass yourself.  Watch the both of you melt into a couch, sip your tea and read a chapter of Percy the Pig!  My daughter has become accustomed to tea with a few drops of Stevia in her bottle before bed.  This keeps her system clean and able to repair overnight vs. heavy drinks before bed.
5. Note allergies and sensitivities. 
6. Stay organic... those little bodies can only take so much of the concentrated toxins.  Keep it good, local and clean.  Your child's body will thank you for it!
7. Don't force it... let them enjoy and like it.  Good experiences early will ensure they like it moving forward.

Here are some combos to try with your kids... feel free to make a pitcher the night before and have these as a fun breakfast or "take to school/work" drink!

• Pineapple - Carrot
• Cucumber - Apple
• Broccoli - Pineapple
• Spinach - Apple

Happy Momma, Poppa, Kiddo juicing!

Ouch! The Dreaded Hangover!

So... you decided to have one more glass of wine?  Your buddies coerced you into that dreaded shot of Jägermeister.  Or maybe you decided to have a movie night gone "too many beers."  Either way, you've now woken up the next morning with a... HANGOVER!

It hurts my head just typing the word!

Hangovers can range in severity with a combination of any of the following symptoms:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• High body temperatures
• Excessive sweating
• Headaches
• Muscle and body aches
• Fatigue
• Moodiness
• Dizziness
• Elevated heart-rate
• Dehydration
• And more...

What causes these horrific symptoms?  Impurities introduced during the fermentation process.

And what can you do about it? Juice it out!  That's right, get yourself out of bed and make yourself a gigantic glass of juice!

Ingredients that aid in recovery:

• Bitter gourd - Detox
• Watercress - Detox
• Grapefruit - Detox
• Carrot - Cleanse digestion
• Green apple - Cleanse digestion
• Green vegetables (spinach particularly) - Cleanse digestion
• Beets - Cleanse liver and blood

Next time you've had a little too much fun the night before... try a combo of the above and get drinking... Juice that is!

Feel Good Juice

2 carrots

1 beet

1 stalks celery

1 green apple

1 bunch watercress

Pinch of sea salt

*Follow with 2 HUGE glasses of water