DIY Carrot Juice

With the Big game coming up this weekend and perhaps lots of alcohol being consumed, I 

thought it would be appropriate to share one of my favorite detox drinks.....CARROT JUICE

               Watch the video below to see just how simple, quick and easy juicing is!

Why carrot juice?  Besides actually being tasty,

this creamy, sweet juice has so many benefits;

one, because of it's amount of Vitamin A, it has

been shown to greatly increase the overall health

of the liver, as well as detoxify it.

In addition to Vitamin A, this beverage is loaded

with rich anti-oxidants, beta carotene, vitamins

B, B6, E, K, biotin, calcium, potassium,

magnesium, besides these vitamins it also

contains flavonoids, phytoncides, and enzymes

as well as organic acids, monosaccharides and

disaccharides, starch and ash.


Bottom line, this incredible juice has many benefits:

• helps low vision
• skin problems
• healthy tooth enamel
• growth and development of bones
• lowers stomach acidity
• cleansing the liver
• slows aging
• reduces cancer risk
• cleanses cells of toxins and impurities
• aids in ridding dermatitis/eczema
• protects cardiovascular system
• promotes a sense of joy, due to it carrying a substance related to endorphins
• prevents degenerative processes in the cells
• anti-inflammatory
• anti-cancerous

Word of caution, this juice contains a high concentration of 

natural sugars, so it should be avoided by

people with diabetes, it also has a mild laxative effect, so avoid if one has diarrhea.  Because it 

creates a heavy load on the pancreas, do not consume during exacerbations of diseases of the 

pancreas and intestines.  As with anything drink it in moderation.  Too much vitamin A within your 

liver can lead to toxicity!

When making this juice of course it's best to drink soon after juicing in 

order to retain the benefits of the vitamins.   I make a batch, keep in in 

airtight containers and drink as soon as I can.  I store in small recycled 

bottles for easy packing in my lunch...

How to DIY....

The most important tool needed is a juicer.  Because blenders don't extract the juice from a hard root 

like this, it's vital to use a juicer.  

I've been juicing for years and my old "Juice Tiger" finally gave out!  After some research, I settled 

on the Breville Juice Fountain Plus.  Juicer's can be pricy, but you can find a suitable juicer for about 

$100-$200.  

Now if that is still too pricy, do what I did, find someone who also would like to benefit 

from juicing and split the cost. This keeps at least two of you committed to juicing on a regular basis. 

Share the purchasing of the fruits and veggies, as depending on how much you're juicing, you may

be making frequent visits to the grocery store.

I purchase my carrots at Costco, they carry a 10lb bag for $4.50. 

Doing It Yourself can be very cost efficient as purchasing already

made juice can be expensive and they are not as effective as the

fresh juice you'll consume when you DIY.

I generally use carrots, apple and celery when 

making my "carrot" juice.  It's so quick and 

easy, once you get it down.  No peeling 

necessary, just wash, cut the end of the celery 

stalk off, leave the leaves, and cut the apples to

fit the juicer's opening, if needed, otherwise it's 

fine to leave them whole with sides and skin on.  

There is some controversy on whether the carrot 

stems are toxic, I don't believe that to be the 

case, especially Costco's version, there's really 

no stem on these to even be concerned about.

Let's break this down a cup of carrot juice contains:

94 calories

0.4 grams of fat

21.9 grams of carbohydrates

9.2 grams of sugar

1.9 grams of fiber

This is a great way to meet your daily nutritional needs as aid in your
weight loss goals!

Read more at: http://myhealthbynature.com/carrot-juice-benefits-side-effects/
Copyright © MyHealthByNature.com

DIY Basic tips to burn fat and build muscle

DIY Basic tips to burn fat and build muscle:

It's very important to consume High Protein 1-1.5g per lb of body weight

Good Protein sources:

• Fish (tuna, salmon, halibut, snapper, perch, flounder/sole, cod, tilapia)
• Eggs (especially whites)
• Turkey/Chicken (breast, leg)
• Greek Yogurt (FAGE 0% FAT is a great choice)
• Pork Chops
• Cheese (non fat Mozzarella, low-fat swiss cheese, low fat cottage cheese, parmesan, romano)
• Tofu
• Beans (kidney, white, lima, fava, black)
• Nuts & Seeds ( pumpkin, squash, watermelon, peanuts & almonds, flaxseed, pistachio)
• Veggies (sun-dried tomatoes, sprouts, peas, portabella mushrooms, spinach)

Keep in mind your body burns in order of : 

   1. Carbs

2. Fats

     3. Protein

So that bowl of cereal prior to your workout will burn first, but the egg you had for breakfast will make the body burn through the fat storage prior to burning the protein.

Cycling carbs is vital...it keeps your body guessing, metabolism up and your body concentrating on the fat storage.  Cycle by going low carb for a few days then moderate amount for a day or two, then finish the week off with high-carbs.  Keep in mind that cutting carbs, cuts your metabolism and testosterone in men!

Good Carbs:

• Brown rice
• Wild rice
• Sweet potatoes
• Whole wheat bread       
• Whole wheat pasta
• Beans (garbanzo, white, kidney, black)
• Fruits (berries, acai, melons, kiwi, tropical, grapes, stone fruits)
• Non starchy vegetables (dark leafy greens, onions, peas, mushrooms, peppers etc)
• Condiments (unsweetened mustard, mayo, vinegar, sriracha, soy sauce)
• Sweetener – Natural Agave nectar (Not HONEY)
• Nuts/Seeds (almonds, walnuts, pecans, brazil nuts, pine nuts, sesame seeds flaxseed, etc)

It's OKAY to consume “Good” Fats in moderation:

• Avocado
• Nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, peanuts)
• Seeds (sunflower seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin)
• Plant based oils (olive oil, grape seed oil, flax seed oil  
• Natural peanut butter
• Cold water fish – Omega-3 fats (sardines, salmon, mackerel, trout, tuna, halibut, black cod)

In order to burn the most fat calories, time your meals... so if you workout in the morning, work out prior to breakfast.  Good news...it's good to have coffee (as black as possible) prior, as it helps stimulate the nervous system, raises metabolism and increases Epinephrine (source of adrenaline rush).  1 oz of dark chocolate can have the same effect!

If your workout is in the afternoon or evening, make sure your pre-workout meal is 2-3 hours prior and it is comprised of quality calories (protein, complex carbs & essential fats).  Just keep in mind your trying to enter the workout with your body in fasting mode, you'll burn more fat on an empty stomach.

Make sure that your pre and post-workout meals are low glycemic.  This will help you burn more calories from fat and keep your energy level from crashing.

Lastly, vary your workout, always warm up, stretch and cool down.  

Strength train/cross train/stretch/vary the weight.

DIY Acai Bowl

Newly introduced to me by a close friend, is the wonderful Acai bowl. This is one of the bowls available at the ever popular Nektar Juice Bar.
How can something so great, be that tasty and healthy and why am I just now finding out about this?

Of course I immediately needed to figure out how to make this delectable treat at home.

First task was to find Acai, pronounced [ag-sag-ee] ....What is it and where do I find it?

Acai is a berry from a palm tree most commonly found in the Amazon rain forests. It is a fruit, highly loaded with antioxidants touted as a healing, immune-stimulating, energy-boosting exotic fruit that may be able to assist in the prevention of diseases associated with oxidative damage, besides a plentitude of other health benefits.
Here are some of the benefits I found from an article written by Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

• Heart Health
• Resistant to Harmful Organisms
• Aids in Weight Loss
• Promotes Skin Health
• Helps with Digestive Ups
• Reduces 'Respiratory distress irritation
• Improved Cellular Health
• May Help Fight Cancer
• Anti-Aging Effects
• Energy Boost
• Improves Mental Function

Acai comes in many forms; however the best for making the Acai Bowl is to use it in it's frozen form.

I was so excited to find this at my local Costco. They actually carry a package of 10 individually frozen pockets of Acai pulp made by Sambazon for under $12.00.

When making the Acai bowl, you want to make sure to use as many frozen ingredients as possible.

The consistency of the bowl is important, too much liquid and you will have a smoothie, which is also a great alternative; however, if you are looking to be able to use a spoon, keep everything as cold as possible.

Combine everything in the blender, I use the Acai, other frozen fruits as well as bananas that I have previously peeled and put in the freezer, add only enough liquid, such as the Almond milk, to get things moving. You will need to use a spatula to move it around until it gets going. Add only enough liquid as needed to get the right texture. 

Now spoon this mixture into your waiting bowl 

...and top with blueberries, honey or agave, Low fat Granola, (I use Bob's Red Mill as it's lower in fat than most granola), banana, flax seed, coconut shreds, nuts, use your imagination, just keep it healthy!

There you have it, an easy...

DIY Acai bowl!