Detox Ginger Bath

Ready to sweat out some toxins?

You guys, I am hooked!  I have to share the wealth with you all.  Ginger baths are ahhmazing!

A ginger bath stimulates your body to release more sweat, cleansing your body of toxins. And trust me, it works!  About five minutes into the bath, sweat will be rolling down your face! All you have to do is add 3 Tablespoons of organic ginger powder to a really hot bath (the hotter, the better) and ouala– you have yourself a hardcore detoxifier. You can also throw in some Epsom salt and essential oils if you’re feeling super snazzy.

Not only does a ginger bath detoxify your body, it also promotes blood circulation, combats colds and flus, fights skin problems, soothes aches and pains, and just makes you feel fabulous. Talk about a lot of goodness in one bath!

Side note: you may feel a bit light-headed after taking a ginger bath. Make sure you are super hydrated!

I take at least one ginger bath each week and I really do feel like a new person afterwards. You will sleep like a baby!

Happy detoxing! Has anyone else ginger-bathed it up? Let me know what you think!

So, I started a business…

Hey you guys!

I am so sorry I have been MIA… I did not forget about you guys.  I have been super busy as I have just launched a new business venture with one of my best friends.  I am super pumped to embark on this new journey of starting a cold-pressed juicing company, Kuka Juice, in Greenville, SC.  As many of you know, I have been very passionate about juicing for quite some time and am thrilled to be able to spread the wealth on health and impact lives on a whole new level. I truly believe incorporating fresh juices into our daily routines can improve all aspects of our lives.

Kuka juice is a pick-up and delivery cold-pressed juice service in the Greenville, South Carolina area.  Our cold-pressed juicing  method allows you to receive 3-5 times more nutrients than your typical fresh juice.  I would love you guys to check out the website [www.kukajuice.com].  Feel free to spread the word if you know anyone in the Greenville, SC area! I hope all of you are doing fabulous as always.

Happy juicing!

SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!

You guys, I have a little confession to make.  I really need to get this off my chest…  I am kind of addicted to taking shots right after I wake up. It has become a part of my daily routine.  I mean hey, it’s 5 o’clock somewhere right?  Before you go signing me up for the show Intervention, let me clarify.  These are alcohol-free shots…I’m talking about mega nutrient packed shots! These bad boys (or I guess I should call them ‘good guys’) will put a pep in your step, and provide you with a potent punch of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mojo.

If you are feeling run-down, a cold coming on, or just want a boost of energy, try taking one of these shots and you’ll be walking on sunshine!

Here are my 3 favorite shots:

1) Ginger-Lemon-Turmeric

• 2-inch piece of Ginger, juiced
• 1/4 Lemon, juiced
• 1-Inch turmeric juiced, or 1 tsp. ground Turmeric

–Ginger– Ginger contains potent anti-inflammatory compounds called gingerols, which diminish pain, fight cancer, and boost immune function. Historically, ginger has long been known to diminish GI distress and is also packed with antioxidants.

–Lemon– This provides a concentrated dose of Vitamin C and boosts your immune system. Lemons act as a natural diuretic and detoxifier. They also aid in combating diseases and viruses.

–Turmeric– I could rant about the health benefits of turmeric forever. In short, the main compound found in turmeric, curcumin, is known to inhibit cancer cell growth.  Other health benefits include potent anti-inflammatory, effective treatment for IBS, Rheumatoid Arthritis relief, help for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers, improves liver function, lowers cholesterol, promotes heart health, and prevents Alzheimer’s disease. Yeah.. awesome sauce!

2) Ginger-Green Apple-Cayenne

• 2-inch piece of ginger, juiced
• A big splash of green apple juice
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper

–Ginger-Listed above

–Green Apple– Rich in antioxidants, regulates blood sugar, promotes healthy teeth, and boosts energy.

–Cayenne– Increases metabolism, improves blood circulation, promotes heart health, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and fights cancer.

And last but certainly not least:

3) Wheatgrass

• Wheatgrass, juiced (enough to fill shot glass)
• I also like to add a splash of coconut water from time to time.

Health benefits of Wheatgrass:

• The most notable feature of the wheatgrass is its extremely high content of chlorophyll, approximately 70%, making it a superfood which is energizing and alkalizing.
• It is a complete food and an outstanding source of vitamin C, E, K and B complex (even B12). It is also rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, cobalt, germanium,, potassium, protein, and zinc.
• Contains a wide variety of amino acids (about 17 types) as well as a plethora of enzymes
• Boosts energy and mood
• Reduces stress
• Boosts immunity
• Promotes hair health
• Purifies the blood
• Anti-aging
• Fights diseases, viruses, and cancers
• Improves skin complexion
• Regulates blood pressure

These are nutritional powerhouse shots which also have a potent flavor, just a heads up.

The added bonus of these shots: Hangover not included 🙂

Green with Envy.

Today’s green juice is Kale-Spinach-Rainbow Chard-Parsley-Green Apple!
-4 handfuls of organic spinach
-I/2 bunch organic kale
-1/2 bunch organic Swiss rainbow chard
-1/4 bunch organic parsley
-2 organic green apples

Even my cat is curious about this one…

Juice Do It!

10 Day Juice Fast- Complete!

I did it! I completed the 10 day juice cleanse on Friday. How I made it through Thanksgiving still baffles me, but I did it! The last five days of the juice fast were much easier than the beginning. I will say that there were two days that I did not drink enough juice and I noticed that my energy level was down. That being said, make sure you are drinking 5 to 6 juices a day to keep your energy at an all time high. You can read about the beginning of my fast here: 10 Day Juice Fast

Tips for transitioning off of a juice fast/cleanse:

-Continue to drink LOTS of water
-Slowly transition back into eating foods
-Start by drinking 2 or 3 juices a day with one meal being fresh, organic fruits and vegetables.
-Try to keep other foods to soups, smoothies, and salads to ease your digestive system back into motion.
-Don’t overeat. Eat smaller amounts of food throughout the day.
-Avoid dairy, meat, sugary foods, and whole grains the first week.
-Keep exercising.
-The more plant-based foods you can eat, the better!
-Keep drinking juice on a daily basis for optimal health!

I loved doing the 10 day juice cleanse! I now have more energy than I did before starting the fast. I have much better sleep patterns, waking up feeling rejuvenated and ready to go. I feel better overall and have noticed improvements in all facets of myself. I would definitely recommend a juice cleanse to anyone wanting to reboot their physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. It can enhance your life in more ways than you would imagine.

10 Day Juice Fast/Cleanse

Juice fasting.

I know, when you hear the word “fasting” negative thoughts such as starvation and impossible come to mind. But I’m talking about a JUICE fast. Juice fasting is about obtaining optimal health, boosting nutrition, detoxing, increasing energy, clearing your mind, and freeing yourself of stress and toxins. Juice fasting rejuvenates your body from the inside out. It completely detoxifies your body at the cellular and metabolic level. Think about how many times you eat during a day (I’m typically snacking every 3 hours), now imagine how much energy and time your body utilizes to digest that food. When you give your digestive tract a rest by only consuming fresh fruit and vegetable juices packed with nutrients and live enzymes, your body has massive amounts of energy to focus on detoxifying and healing itself. The body has an innate ability to heal itself, we just have to allow it to do so. For those of you that may not know, a juice fast consists of drinking only fresh fruit and vegetable juices (notably green juices) and water for a set period of time (typically lasting 3-10 days, but many people have gone much longer).

Completing a juice cleanse will provide you with a wide array of health benefits, including:
-More energy
-Toxin removal
-Increases mental clarity
-Regulates digestive system
-Aids in Weight loss
-Improves sleep patterns
-Glowing complexion/clearer skin
-Stops food addictions and cravings
-Improves immune function

I am currently on day five of a ten day juice cleanse. I embarked on a juice fast over a year ago and feel it’s time to conquer another one. I did not blog about the first one so this time I figured I could give you guys some insight into my 10 day juice fast/cleanse. For me, juice fasting is about improving my mental, physical, and spiritual state. I am so passionate about incorporating fresh fruit and vegetable juices into your life. The rewards and benefits are undeniable. I drink at least one or two per day as it is so drinking only juice for 10 days actually excites me. I know it may seem like an impossible task to not chew anything for 10 days, but trust me you can do it! It is a difficult task, but a doable one.

The juice I made for the first few days:

Here’s some insight into my fast thus far:

Day 1:

Today I was super stoked about starting the fast so it was easier than I thought. I have a cold press juicer and made enough juices to last me for the first three days which made it super convenient for me to grab a juice when I needed one. I’m drinking at least five- 16 oz. juices a day. Days 1-3 are typically the worst and hardest days of the fast. If you can get through those, the following days should get easier as your body welcomes the fast. I walked outside for an hour today. Mild exercise is okay, but anything too strenuous would be an overload. Walking outdoors is my  tranquil, spiritual, “me” time which I love and need. It allows me to reflect on things, clear my head, and focus on what is important. Overall, today was a great first day of fasting!

Day 2:

My energy level was a bit low today. I had a few headaches today, which is normal. Fatigue, irritability, insomnia, hunger pangs, and headaches are common in the first few days as the detoxification process begins and your body weans itself off food cravings and addictions. I craved food a few times throughout the day but drank tons of water anytime this occurred which helped! I did get a burst of energy late at night. Overall, I’d say today was a bit rough but not too horrible.

Day 3:

Today was much like day 2, still craved food a few times and had a headache at one point. My energy level seems to be higher today than it was yesterday. I have found that I have highs and lows when it comes to my energy level. Sometimes I feel run down and then there are times I will get random spurts of energy where I feel like Wonder Woman! I also felt a bit achy today.

Day 4:

I didn’t really think about food at all today. I almost have the mentality of being “too good” for food which helps in this process haha. I went for a walk in the morning and at night and found my energy level was quite high today. The fast has definitely become much easier today. I feel like I’m on top of the world and am excited about completing the ten days (crazy, right?!)

Day 5:

The past two days I have woken up at 5am on the dot without an alarm aka my sleep patterns are starting to regulate themselves and I sleep like a baby at night. My skin is clearing up and I feel super light and full of energy. Added bonus, I’m down five pounds. I have noticed an increase in mental clarity as well. I’d say the hardest part thus far is the cold weather. I allow myself a hot non-caffeinated herbal tea from time to time (which is allowed on a fast) to warm me up. I am pumped to see where the next five days take me and feel so much better than I did before starting this fast. Don’t let me fool you though, it does take mad willpower to stick to this. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it.

Tips for Fasting/Cleansing:

-Drink at least 5 juices per day
-Drink TONS of water to help flush out toxins
-Experiment with juice recipes and find ones that you love. Creating a variety of tasty ones will make it much more appealing to drink.
-Don’t over exert yourself, especially the first few days when your energy level is low
-Know that symptoms of fatigue, irritability, headache, joint aches, hunger pangs, food cravings, and insomnia are normal during the first several days and should not be an excuse to give up.
-Drink non-caffeinated herbal teas from time to time to add some heat to your week
-Devote some time to yourself, whether it be through meditation, walking, prayer, etc.
-The first 3 days are rough…don’t let them get you down.
-Avoid watching TV- food commercials are torturous and hey, who needs TV anyways?!
-Get a juice fasting partner- It’s so much easier to complete with someone who is in the same boat as you and that provides encouragement.
-Make enough juices to last you several days for added convenience.
-If you need some juice recipes, I have lots on my blog!

I’ll keep you guys updated on my 10 day fast. I am most worried about Thanksgiving, Yes I will be that crazy girl juicing on Thanksgiving. I didn’t think that one through, but I know I can do it! If you have any questions about juice fasting, please feel free to ask!

**If you live in the Greenville, SC area and would like to order a cold-pressed juice cleanse, check out www.kukajuice.com

Have any of you completed a juice fast? What are your thoughts or experiences with juice fasting?

Healthified Sweet Potato Casserole

Every Thanksgiving my mom makes this sweet potato casserole that is to die for, but unfortunately it’s loaded with butter and brown sugar. So, of course I had to set out on a mission to “healthify” the recipe. The results were amazing! This recipe is gluten free and has NO refined sugar and NO butter. This is great for Fall and especially fabulous for Thanksgiving (May want to double recipe for large parties)

Ingredients:
-3 Large organic sweet potatoes aka yams
-1/4 cup local honey
-2 tsp. vanilla
-1 T cinnamon
-1 1/2 t. Nutmeg
Topping: 3/4 cup chopped pecans, 1 Tbs cinnamon, 1 Tbs honey

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Pierce each sweet potato with a fork and bake for about 50 minutes on a baking sheet.
-Place peeled sweet potatoes in a large bowl. Add 1/4 cup honey, 2 tsp. vanilla, 1 tablespoon cinnamon, and 1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg to bowl. Mix with electric mixer until smooth. Spread into square baking dish.
-For the topping: Add 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 tablespoon cinnamon to the crushed pecans. Mix together and then spread across sweet potato layer.
-Bake at 375 for about 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned.

This recipe is delicious while not tasting overly sweet. Hope you enjoy!

Green Juice!

Today’s green juice recipe is Kale-Spinach-Apple-Cucumber-Lemon!
-4 large handfuls organic spinach
-1 bunch organic kale
-1/2 organic cucumber
-1/2 organic lemon
Keep on juicing!

Broccoli-Cranberry Coleslaw

Like many, I am not a fan of typical coleslaw.  All of that mayonnaise is not appetizing to me.  But this recipe is easy, refreshing, and delicious.

 

What you need:

• 1 package Shredded Broccoli (You can find this in the salad section-I’ve found it at Publix and The Fresh Market)
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup Brianna’s Poppy seed Dressing (I found this at The Fresh Market)

-All you have to do is mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and serve.  I have yet to find someone who doesn’t love this recipe. I know you will love it! Happy Friday!

7 Reasons to Eat and Love Pumpkin!

Pumpkins: they are not just for carving anymore! One of my favorite things about Fall is pumpkins.  I love decorating them, but eating them ranks pretty high on my list of fall musts. This is the time of year where you see pumpkin flavored things everywhere.  Let me give you some reasons why you should be eating this vibrant fruit.

1. High Fiber-Low Cal.  One cup of pumpkin has 5 grams of fiber and only 30 calories!  Thus, eating pumpkin will work wonders for your digestion while making you feel full faster. Studies also link diets high in dietary fiber to increased weight loss.
2. Disease Fighting.  It’s rich orange color tells you that pumpkin is high in carotenoids.  Carotenoids are known to protect you from cancers, heart disease, lower your cholesterol, and even diminish signs of aging.
3. Electrolytes.  Pumpkin actually contains more potassium than a banana  (560 mg compared to 420 mg). So, snacking on some pumpkin after a workout can be a great electrolyte booster!
4. Vision Improver. Pumpkin contains large amounts of Vitamin A and Zeaxanthin which enhance your eye health. One serving of pumpkin will provide you with twice your daily needs for vitamin A.
5. Mood Booster.  Pumpkin seeds contain high amounts of tryptophan, the amino acid necessary for serotonin production.  Thus, snacking on pumpkin seeds will keep you happy for the holidays.
6. Immunity.  The large amounts of carotenoids, zinc, and vitamin C found in pumpkin will improve your immune system and reduce your chances of getting sick.
7. Detox.   Pumpkins are natural diuretics, which aid in flushing out toxins from the body, keeping you feeling refreshed and snazzy.

Fun Fact of the day: Pumpkins were once used for removing freckles and curing snake bites. Hmm….

Try avoiding pumpkin sweets.  Pureed pumpkin can be added to almost any of your favorite recipes.  Try roasting pumpkin with some of your favorite vegetables, Add pumpkin cubes to soups and chili,  Toss pumpkin seeds into your salads, or even try pumpkin juice and smoothies!

Fights diseases, aids in weight loss, and boosts mood? No wonder that pumpkin has a huge grin on its face!