18

papaya is good for:
. eye & lung health
. lowering cholesterol
. reducing inflammation
. preventing heart disease
. aging/problematic/scarred skin

//\ ||| -= the slower the juicer, the better quality the juice. a slow juicer will prevent oxidization & allow juice to be stored for longer without degradation. with this juicer: the pulp is dryer, there is much less foam, & the juice is much richer.

//\ ||| -= when juicing peaches & papaya, you will get a thick nectar rather than a juice which you can dilute with some water if it's too thick for you. when juicing grapes, it is recommended to choose grapes with seeds as that is where most of the nutrition lies (see previous post).

//\ ||| -= when juicing really ripe fruits, you are likely to get some reasonably wet pulp which you can run through the juicer again to get drier pulp & thus maximum yield.

//\ ||| -= according to rawfoods, when juicing fruit, you want the fruit to be firm. if the fruit is super ripe & mushy, it's better eaten whole out of hand or blended into a smoothie. when you juice fruit, you lose the fiber & just get the flavor + the sugar thus giving you a sugar rush. although still nutritious, a green vegetable juice is much more healthy for you.

//\ ||| -= great analogy here: "our bodies are nothing more or less than a juice extractor if you really think about it. once we eat something, out one end comes the liquids & out the other end comes the solids. by breaking down the foods before you eat them, it makes it much easier for your body to assimilate & get the nutrients out of that food. you'll have more energy when juicing because you've already actually done what your body needs to do to break down the food -- it's pre-broken down for you!"

//\ ||| -= how do you like my humble microsoft paint doodles?

17

grape is good for:
. balancing blood sugar
. curing asthma & migraines
. regulating bowel movement
. antioxidant & anti-inflammatory
. blood pressure & cholesterol regulation

//\ ||| -= i'd never tried juicing grapes before, & i am now in sweet sweet love. forget those weird royal purple colored juices at the supermarket, make your own real grape juice at home! it's infinitely better tasting & better for you, i promise. the other day i made a grape/kale/apple juice & it was a m a z i n g. you can even do with just grape & kale.

//\ ||| -= although the flesh of the grape is likely the part you look most forward to eating, it barely holds even a fifth of the total antioxidant capacity present in the skin & seeds. hence the reason you always see products using 'grape seed extract' or 'grape seed oil' specifically.

//\ ||| -= i have come to the realization that: i need a new juicer. mine wastes an insane amount of precious produce, so i am in the market for a more efficient one. the drier the leftover pulp in your juicer, the better; & mine is nowhere near dry. thus, the saving begins.

16

flaxseed is good for:

. reducing cholesterol levels

. easing menopause symptoms

. helping combat cancer & diabetes

. providing fiber, lignans, & omega-3 fats

. helping ease constipation & inflammation

//\ ||| -= for the liquid portion of this, i use coconut water (if you're in a tropical place, get it fresh!) or coconut milk, but you can also use plain water or any other milk you're into. for a sweetener, i might add a little raw agave syrup or raw honey, but vanilla extract or raw cane syrup/juice are good options as well.

//\ ||| -= pre-soak the dates in liquid for as long as it takes for them to soften so they will blend properly with the other ingredients. the soaking time depends on whether your dates are already super soft or not. some you may want to soak overnight, others only a few minutes. also, you can adjust the amount of dates you use according to your personal taste.

//\ ||| -= i always keep bananas pre-chopped in my freezer specifically for smoothie-making because they cut out the need to add ice (which can water down the drink), & they also make for a lovely creamy texture.

//\ ||| -= in addition to or instead of flaxseed, you can throw in a green superfood powder, cacao, maca, malunggay, chia seeds, or the contents of your organic multivitamin capsule.

//\ ||| -= i fancied this mix up a bit. you can actually just do bananas & dates or bananas & greens or even just the greens, whatever you want really. play around, have fun with your smoothies!

15

mint is good for:

. proper digestion

. relieving congestion

. skin cleansing & disorders

. easing nausea & headaches

//\ ||| -= you only need half or a quarter of a single beetroot. all these juices i make are pretty randomly thrown together with whatever is juiceable in my kitchen at the time. play around with different combinations & proportions, & blend a variety of flavors as well as colors.

//\ ||| -= does anyone else trip out when they wander around the fresh produce section of their local grocery store? nothing produces such vibrant colors & such beautiful patterns as nature does. i'm endlessly astounded by the features presented to me in fruits, in vegetables, in jungles, in oceans, in aurorae, in nebulae. pay attention to the naturally occurring, perfect geometry that surrounds you everyday.

14

i've already said what's good about each of these ingredients, so uh..

juice is good for:

. raw energy

. amazing health

. higher vibrations

//\ ||| -= i used four apples in total for this mix, & although the color made it look like pure beet juice, it tasted more like apple (which is what i wanted).

13

apple is good for:

. dental health

. anti-lung cancer

. controlling weight

. lowering asthma risk

. blood sugar regulation

//\ ||| -= unfortunately my juicer is not one of those crazy, super-efficient, $500 juicers & yields less juice from the same amount of produce, but in the end it gives me what i need so i can't complain. the issue here is that i have to use so much produce just to make a single glass of juice. & in this recipe, i actually ended up having to throw in four more carrots -- all the more reason to shop strictly at farmer's markets which are much fresher & much cheaper than your regular supermarket.

//\ ||| -= i used a baby sized beetroot in this recipe, & combined with the carrots & apple i finally discovered the perfect ratio of ingredients for a deliciously sweet beetroot juice! previously i'd used way too much beetroot which made for an almost unbearably overpowering flavor & had my stomach feeling not-so-amazing after consuming. apparently you're always supposed to juice beetroot with ample amounts of other veggies anyway.

//\ ||| -= some consider this ABC (apple, beetroot, carrot) juice the "miracle juice" as, with regular intake, it can prevent bad cells forming in your body as well as restrain the growth of ones that already exist, thus it is ideal for those wishing to fight cancers & other diseases.

12

cayenne pepper is good for:

. heart health

. neutralizing acidity

. migraines & allergies

. digestion & circulation

. powerful anti-inflammatory

. sore throat, phlegm, coughs

//\ ||| -= cayenne pepper is a great ingredient to add to your juices for both its detoxification benefits & its incredible kick of flavor. this juice is simple & spicy, yet extremely cleansing. add dashes of pepper with a light hand, keeping your heat (in)tolerance in mind.

11

bell pepper is good for:

. eyesight

. weight-loss

. antioxidant

. anti-inflammatory

. cancer & stroke prevention

//\ ||| -= oranges often receive the spotlight when it comes to vitamin c, but bell peppers are actually known to provide more, & the red kind double the amount than the green! other fruits & veggies that are great sources of vitamin c include: guava, lychee, parsley, kiwi, broccoli, brussel sprouts, papaya, strawberries, & pineapple.

10

lemon is good for:

. eczema

. body detox

. dental hygiene

. acne & anxiety

. fever, colds, & flu

. infection & cancer prevention

//\ ||| -= remove all peels, but keep as much of the white piths intact as possible as they've the greatest amount of bioflavonoids & vitamin c in the whole fruit. funny how the parts of citrus fruits we normally throw away actually have the most nutritional value!

//\ ||| -= this is a fairly strong juice, so you may or may not wish to dilute it with filtered water. & i put a bit of parsley in the mix as well, for good measure.

9

sprouted tofu is good for:

. energy

. bone health

. nutrient absorption

. lowering cholesterol levels

. protein, calcium, iron, omega-3 fats

. antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer

//\ ||| -= sprouted foods are living & continue to grow & gain nutrients after they've been harvested, unlike regular foods that begin to lose their nutrients once picked. in all sprouted foods, nutrients are increased; in sprouted nuts & seeds specifically, fat content is decreased. from what i've gathered so far, you can find grains, beans, nuts, cereal, rice, bread, pasta, & tortillas in sprouted form. as a rule: the more whole, the more uncooked, the more sprouted a food is, the more energy it will provide.

//\ ||| -= i'm one of those people that always craves a balance of sweet & savory when it comes to meals. i prepared a tofu scramble with sweet potato home fries for breakfast this morning which satisfied that criteria kinda perfectly.

//\ ||| -= the original recipe called for a mix of both regular potatoes & sweet potatoes, but i only had the latter so that's what i used. sweet mini peppers replaced red bell peppers in my version because that's all my kitchen provided. if you're into spice, you can add a seeded, chopped jalapeño in the mix as well. always customize recipes to suit your own diet, tastes, allergies, & grocery supply.

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 onion, diced

1 green bell pepper, seeded & diced

1/2 red bell pepper, seeded & diced

1 pack sprouted tofu, drained of water

herbs & spices to taste

(chili powder, paprika, cumin, turmeric, coriander, thyme, cayenne, himalayan salt, pepper)

. heat olive oil in pan.

. cook onion & peppers about 5 minutes until soft.

. crumble tofu with hands & add to pan.

. add herbs & spices & sauté about 5 minutes.

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, diced

1/2 red bell pepper, seeded & diced

4 potatoes, peeled & chopped

1 sweet potato, peeled & chopped

herbs & spices to taste

(oregano, thyme, himalayan salt, pepper)

. heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in pan.

. cook onion & peppers about 5 minutes until soft.

. add remaining olive oil, potatoes, herbs & spices.

. lower heat, stir often, cook about 25 minutes until browned.

~ thank you to: the candle cafe cookbook for the original recipe ~

8

kale is good for:

. asthma & arthritis

. powerful antioxidant

. detox, diet, & digestion

. preventing & combating cancer

//\ ||| -= red pepper flakes or chili powder or no spice whatsoever can be used. the lemon & garlic is optional. & i highly recommend replacing whichever salt you currently have at home with himalayan pink salt. it nourishes, detoxes, balances, & relaxes with 84 inherent minerals & elements - throw away your table salt!

//\ ||| -= this is my attempt at healthy junkfood:

1 bunch of kale

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon lemon juice

himalayan salt & spice to taste

2 tablespoons parmesan

. preheat oven to 350 degrees.

. carve out kale stems & cut leaves into 2 inch pieces.

. toss with all ingredients except parmesan.

. grease or line a baking tray.

. arrange kale in a single layer.

. bake for 10 minutes, toss, then bake for another 5-10 minutes.

. take out of oven & let sit for 2 minutes.

. transfer to bowl & toss with parmesan.

7

prunes are good for:
. diabetes
. iron absorption
. bowel cleansing
. antioxidant superfood
. boosting bone density
. preventing memory loss & alzheimer's

//\ ||| -= you can substitute prunes for whichever dried fruit you wish, or you can leave them out altogether if you so prefer. a different kind of chocolate can be used as well, but dark chocolate is by far the best for you. chopped nuts can be added, & honey can be replaced by a teaspoon of vanilla. banana-wise: the spottier, the sweeter, the better.

//\ ||| -= i've decided to occasionally post solid foods every now & then. & all things, solid or antisolid, will always be kept on the healthier side.

//\ ||| -= i was craving sweets like a mad lady this one evening but there were no ready-made ones in sight. at the time, my kitchen was also conveniently butterless, flourless, eggless, & sugarless, so cookies, cake, & cupcakes were sadly not an option. thinking i was sh*t outta luck, i thankfully stumbled across this super simple recipe that didn't require any of those usual baking essentials:

3 ripe bananas
2 cups oats
1/2 - 1 cup chopped dried fruit
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup chocolate &/or chopped nuts
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla or honey

. mash bananas in bowl with fork until smooth.
. stir in remaining ingredients.
. preheat oven to 350 degrees.
. let mixture sit on counter for 15 minutes.
. grease or line a baking tray.
. drop mixture by spoonfuls & mold into desired shape.
. bake for 20 minutes.

~ thank you to: pantrychef for the original recipe ~

6

carrot is good for:
. anti-aging
. dental health
. vision & skin
. body cleansing
. powerful antiseptic
. cancer & stroke prevention

//\ ||| -= i used a whole granny smith apple, an entire cucumber, & five smallish carrots in all.

//\ ||| -= apparently it's best to juice more vegetables than fruits as the sugar content can get pretty crazy if you use mostly or all fruits. i may or may not follow this advice, but i'm just sayin'.

//\ ||| -= this is my first time making a 'green drink,' & it's my favorite thus far which is pretty convenient considering the superior amount of goodness in it compared to the others. looking at the ingredients, it doesn't seem like it would be that appetizing a concoction, but it is in fact perfectly sweet much thanks to the apples & carrots.

5

banana is good for:

. anemia

. energy

. mosquito bites

. mood enhancing

. normalizing bowels

. heartburn & morning sickness

. heart, nerve, kidney, & bone health

//\ ||| -= i threw in a handful of each fruit (the strawberries were fresh, but the bananas i already had in the freezer pre-chopped for smoothie-making), a couple heaped spoons of plain non-fat yogurt with a sprinkling of cinnamon, a generous amount of honey (only cos i'd been sneezing all day, you can easily make do with half that amount), & a nice pour of soymilk to silken it a bit otherwise it's mad thick. you may wish to throw in a few ice cubes as well for an even cooler & slushier smoothie.

//\ ||| -= the past two days my ill-stocked kitchen rendered me delusional & slightly desperate, resorting to bread crusts & canned garbanzo beans for nourishment. good news though: my fridge & countertop are overflowing with fruits & veggies once more, so i will be juicing & documenting regularly again!

+ my little ramble on organic products: ///ORGANIC///

4

grapefruit is good for:
. antiseptic
. weight loss
. detoxing the liver
. arthritis prevention
. reducing cholesterol levels
. cancer & stroke risk reduction

//\ ||| -= i really could've done with just one of those three bits of beetroot. crazy strong.

//\ ||| -= when juicing citrus fruits, be sure to peel them completely beforehand otherwise you'll end up with some bitter-ass juice. however, the peel is actually very good for you &, to lessen waste, can be made into candy, marmalade, tea, or a face scrub!

//\ ||| -= sorry for using the same ol' ingredients, if you read my main squeeze you'd know i'm in a cast & crutches at the moment, so it's been a challenge having to depend on others to get my groceries lately! will change up the mixes soon, i promise.