Lambsquarters Juice

Lambsquarters, also known a goosefoot is a common edible weed that is found everywhere vegetation grows. It is packed with nutrients and best of all you can harvest it for free. You must use caution when harvesting lambsquarters. Harvest only in areas that are free from vehicular pollution and uncontaminated soil. Although lawns are a great place to pick lambsquarters, make certain that the grass hasn't been sprayed with weed killers. You can also find lambsquarters in stores that specialize in organic produce.

2 cups of lambsquarters

1/4 cup radish sprouts

1 celery stalk

1/2 small cucumber

1/2 beet root

Wash the ingredients thoroughly and process through a single auger or twin gear masticating juicer.

Getting Your Amino Acids From Fresh Juices

Although all fresh juices contain amino acids, the juices made using lots of sprouts and leafy greens contain the highest concentration of essential amino acids. Essential amino acids cannot be synthesized by the body and therefore must be supplied by our diet. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and more than 50 percent of the dry weight of our body consist of protein. Together with enzymes, amino acids are responsible for cellular respiration (cell renewal) and other diverse functions such as: the creations of hormones to build muscles, blood and organs.

There are nine essential amino acids which the body can synthesize only  from the foods that we eat. If our diets lack these nine nutrients, then our body will not be able to renew the cells properly and deficiencies will arise. Symptoms of deficiencies may manifest itself as nervousness, dizziness and exhaustion. Amino acids are involved in thousands of body functions and systems. Some of the important functions are: the proper digestion and assimilations of foods for energy, cellular respiration, immunity from disease and illness, rapid healing of wounds and proper liver function.

The diverse amount of essential amino acids that are found in fresh juices and whole natural foods will help to boost our immune system, contribute to mental clarity and overall vital health. By eating a diet rich in whole unrefined foods including vegetables and staying away from refined foods, you will be sure to get your full compliment of essential amino acids.

Here is a list of the nine essential amino acids that are found in fresh juices:

• Lysine
• Leucine
• Tryptophan
• Phenylalaline
• Threonine
• Valine
•  Methionine (minor amount in vegetable and fruit juices)
• Isoleucine
• Histidine

Benefits of Chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is found in abundance in leafy greens such as: lettuce, kale, collards, chard, alfalfa, cabbage, buckwheat greens, turnip greens, spinach, cabbage, sunflower greens, parsley, celery, cucumbers, scallions, watermelon rind, and green peppers. Fresh juices are a great way of getting chlorophyll into your diet, and these are just a few of the chlorophyll-packed green vegetables that can be added to different juice combinations.

In studies, chlorophyll appears to help the body resist the growth of tumors, especially in the lungs. It does this by stimulating the adrenal gland and cleaning the nodes, enriching the blood and unblocking clogged arteries. For example, the lowly parsley is one of the most nutritious foods we can eat. Parsley juice is packed with chlorophyll which serves to metabolize oxygen in our bloodstream thereby purifying it.

Wheatgrass is another excellent source of chlorophyll. The chlorophyll molecule is surprisingly similar to hemoglobin, which is the substance that carries oxygen in the blood. In her studies, Anne Wigmore of the Hippocrates Health Institute found that wheatgrass juice actually duplicates the molecular structure of hemoglobin. Wheatgrass juice helps our body build healthy blood cells, while it cleanses and rejuvenates our body.

As an internal cleanser and healer fresh chlorophyll juice should be high on your list. Green juices have been proven to be an antiseptic, cell rejuvenator and stimulator. So, do your body a multitude of good by starting your day with a glass of fresh nutritious chlorophyll juice. Twenty-five percent of the drink should be green juice and the other seventy-five percent can be carrot, cucumber, celery or apple (or any other non-green juice).  Green juices by themselves can be bitter and some people cannot tolerate the taste.  Although, wheatgrass, by itself,  is sweet and pleasant tasting.

Mix it up by looking for other nutritious chlorophyll rich vegetables and invest in a good juice extractor like the Omega 8006 juicer which can extract juice from a variety of vegetables including the difficult leafy greens and wheatgrass.

Alfalfa Sprout Juice Recipe

This is a delicious and refreshing juice which promotes weight loss. You can drink this juice twice a day on an empty stomach to help suppress your appetite. If possible, use organic produce for this recipe.

1 bunch of alfalfa sprouts

1 bunch of kale

1/2 cucumber

2 celery stalks

1 apple

The Omega VRT350HD is an example of an appropriate juicer for this recipe. Wash the ingredients and process through the juicer then enjoy.

Getting Your Enzymes From Juices

Enzymes are proteins which serve a vital function in every living thing, which includes food in its raw uncooked state.  It is the enzymatic reaction that cause fruits to ripen and display their bright vibrant colours. When we eat foods in their raw uncooked state, we use their enzymes to do the work of breaking the food down so that it can be absorbed by the body's intestines thereby taking the strain off our metabolism.  Because enzymes are extremely susceptible to heat, when foods are cooked all of the beneficial enzymes are destroyed.

When transitioning to a healthier lifestyle, consider making approximately 25 percent of your diet consist of  raw foods such as: organic fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, sprouts, leafy greens and fresh juices. During the warmer months, take advantage of the plentiful available fresh local produce and incorporate exercise into your daily routine to speed up your metabolism and improve your digestion. Following a vigorous exercise routine, replenish your cells with a glass of fresh fruit juice (orange is best).

Enzymes function as the bodies labour force as they constantly build and rebuild the body. For optimum health, consider making enzyme rich fresh juices and raw uncooked foods a part of your daily diet.

Juicing to Lose Weight

If your goal is to lose weight then incorporating fruit and vegetable juice into your daily lifestyle will help tremendously toward achieving your aim.  When you include fresh juice into your daily diet you will begin to notice that you have more energy, feel better, your skin will have a healthy glow and the pounds will begin to dissolve away.  To effectively lose the unwanted pounds, there has to be a complete lifestyle change that includes a healthy diet and exercise. You will need to start with a good multi-purpose juicer and fresh produce.

Before eating breakfast, drink a glass of vegetable juice (on an empty stomach) to alkalize your system. A half hour later, you can eat a healthy, wholesome breakfast which consists of fruits and whole grains.  By mid-morning you may feel like a snack, this will be a good time to have a glass of fruit juice as a pick me up.  Drink a glass of vegetable juice a half before or after lunch and dinner. By incorporating fresh fruit and vegetable juice in your diet you will nourish your cells and your craving for sweets will go away. To supply the bulk that your body needs for proper digestion, you will need to eat a fiber rich diet which consists of fresh vegetable salads, legumes, whole grains and a variety of fresh fruits. As your system becomes accustomed to these nourishing foods, you will naturally develop a preference for them.  You will have no desire for junk food and it will be easy for you to reach your desired weight.  Once you have reached your goal, continue juicing and your healthy eating pattern.  Remember, this is your new healthy lifestyle and a temporary diet.

By supplying your body with the necessary nutrients, you will feel more alive and full energy. You will not want to resume your unhealthy eating habits.

Buy Local Produce

When juicing, choose organically grown fruits and vegetables.  A good way to ensure that you are getting organically grown or pesticide free products is to shop for local or regional grown produce. Locally grown vegetables, fruits and greens are ripen to maturity in the ground.  This means that these produce contain the maximum amount of nutrients.  Furthermore, they do not have to travel far to get your local grocery store or market ensuring that they will till be at their peak nutritionally.  On the other hand, commercially grown produce are picked well before they are ripened, otherwise they would rot before they arrive at the local grocery store and market.  By the time these unripened, low nutrition produce reach their destination (our local grocery store or market) they are weeks old and still not naturally ripe.  To further compound the problem, these produce have been treated with fungicides, coolants, and chemicals which are meant to retard spoilage and enhance their appearance.

So, when shopping at your local market of grocery store look for organic, local or regional grown produce. If you are not sure, then ask a worker.  There is a good chance that if the produce is local, it will be organic and labeled as such.