By Guest Blogger on May 5, 2011By Brooke Melikidse
Why do so many people wait until something hardcore has happened in their lives before a change is made? We just sail along, all easy breezy, until that one fateful day when we have a holy you-know-what moment! So many of us are walking on this road of life as if we were asleep. Not really noticing the beauty or potential around us. Our to-do lists of needless errands keep us so busy. We convince ourselves that we absolutely need the newest gadget. We put forth so much effort and time to stress ourselves out, not listen to the people we love the most, and not take care of our bodies. For what, I ask? We have to buy something … anything! That urge to spend and attempt to fill our lives. Maybe you want the latest shirt or some new electronic item. You know we have all been there. We buy something only to never take the tags off it, or some house thing that goes straight to the closet. Even so, we convinced ourselves that we must have it.
What if the next time you are in your car driving down the freeway, you notice a road sign that says something to the effect of, “Take the road less traveled?” If we all took Robert Frost’s advice and just said “What the truck,” or if you have a potty mouth like me, maybe another fine word! Why don’t we? What are we waiting for? Are we afraid, or are we really too busy, or are we positively convinced we need that “new” thing that will eventually end up at the Goodwill? At what point do we make the decision to take that detour? I say do it! Do it now. Don’t wait until you don’t have a choice in the matter. The next time your body needs refueling, don’t fill it with something that will burn you out in a matter of minutes, or maybe won’t really even fill you up.
This is why I think “The Gift of Green” is the road to get on, and keep driving until you start to notice all the amazing things you have been missing. There is no better reason to take the road less traveled than simply because you deserve it! Say it: “I deserve it!” Now roll down the windows and scream it: “I deserve it!”
The Gift of Green is green juice – the ultimate fuel! Give it to yourself or, if you are an old-timer, give it to a friend or a family member! If we were all offered a cocktail that allowed us to see the world in a different way, why wouldn’t we do it? Now, I know we could have a different cocktail, maybe filled with tequila, and see our surroundings a whole lot differently; but I have a feeling we wouldn’t quite feel up for much else!
As I made the conscience choice to “Make Juice, Not War,” I stopped waging a battle on my body and soul. The wall came tumbling down little by little. At first, it was baby steps with making and drinking green juice. Then came a vegetarian meal. Shortly after that came a vegan meal. Before long, my body was detoxed and I felt awake! So now I want to shout it from the rooftops. We don’t have to do anything but love ourselves. When we really begin to care for ourselves, we begin to care even more for life and the world around us. Food tastes better and we open our eyes to all that is beautiful right in front of us.
So here is my proposal: Give someone the gift of green. Pour it in a mason jar and stick a bow on it! Send it with love and care. Show someone near you – a friend, a neighbor, your mom – how great green can be! Channel Mr. Frost and see how you can affect someone near you. Maybe that less-traveled road will soon have a bit of traffic on it. The cool thing is, with us all drunk on green juice, we will be blowing kisses instead of giving the middle finger. We will actually see the wild flowers on the side of the road. And the road we are on will take us as far as we are willing to travel!
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
- Robert Frost
Brooke Melikidse has a B.A. in psychology and is a Credentialed Elementary School Teacher. She now is described as a domestic goddess who takes care of three lovely children. True excitement for her comes when she makes a healthy vegan meal her entire family will eat!
Photo credit: molossoidea
Read More By Guest Blogger on April 25, 2011By Cherie Calbom, MS
TV hosts such as Dr. Oz have taken juicing and green smoothies to mainstream America, and the popularity of juicing has soared. It’s catching on with all sorts of people – from soccer moms to busy executives, stars and athletes. That’s because it’s a quick, easy and economical way to get healthy and stay fit. Many stars eat raw food and juice to prepare for a role or an appearance. Some athletes power up their performance with the high-energy fuel of raw juice. But for most Americans, it’s a way to energize their day and get healthier.
People who embark on a juicing-for-health program often get excited because they lose weight so easily. But after the initial thrill of the pounds melting away without a lot of effort, they usually say weight loss became secondary to all the other great health benefits they experienced.
It may seem too simplistic that what you eat or drink could have a profound impact on your health. But a recent study, which evaluated surveys of 500 people on a living foods diet, showed amazing health benefits from choosing raw foods. (Freshly made juice is the supreme raw food). The study showed that more than 80 percent of the people surveyed lost weight. But that was only the beginning of their transformation. These people reported marked improvements in immunity, digestion, allergies, women’s issues, and chronic illness. They enjoyed better sleep and the need for less of it.
They also described improvement in many skin conditions such as eczema, skin eruptions, dryness, oiliness and susceptibility to sunburns. Their hair grew thicker, stronger and more lustrous, with decreased thinness, weakness, oiliness, dryness, dullness and dandruff. Nail strength improved. Body odor decreased sharply while eyesight and sense of smell improved. There was a marked increase in energy, and a significant decrease in addictions and use of medications. Results also showed a substantial decrease in allergies. And, the vast majority of respondents (87.5 percent) reported better mental, emotional, and spiritual health.1
So what’s really going on when people consume live juice that could offer such stellar benefits? When you consistently drink fresh raw juice, especially vegetable juice that includes plenty of dark leafy greens, along with eating lots of vegetables and fruit and a very healthy diet, your whole internal environment changes. Juice, which is rich in antioxidants, cleanses the body of stored wastes and toxins that interfere with the proper functioning of cells and organs. This garden-in-a-glass offers an abundance of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, phytonutrients and antioxidants – a cornucopia of nutrients that increase the mirco-electric potential of the cells. This improves the body’s use of oxygen so the muscles and both the muscles and brain are energized.
A healthy, vibrant internal environment is a key to optimum health. This means our cells, organs, and systems are able to do the jobs they are designed to do. A healthy bio-terrain also requires plenty of enzymes, which are abundant in raw juice. Further, vegetables and fruit are very alkaline, which helps to balance a diet that is often quite acidic for most Americans.
Raw juices are also replete with biophotons – those light rays of energy plants get from the sun. When we pasteurize juice (all commercial juices are pasteurized even the ones in store refrigerators) those beautiful rays of energy are destroyed. The latest research by Professor F.A. Popp and Dr. H. Niggli shows that, in addition to the chemical composition of our food, light energy (biophotons) is an important factor in food value.2
The more light a food is able to store, the more nutritious it is. Naturally grown, sun-ripened, fresh vegetables and fruit are rich in light energy. Therefore, the capacity to store biophotons is a measure of the quality of your food. Stored energy from the sun finds its way into your cells via food in the form of these minute particles of light. They energize cells by supplying fuel for the mitochondria (the energy furnaces of your cells that pump out adenosine diphosphate, the fuel that is used by cells). Practically speaking, this means you feel more energized and your metabolism revs up.
Often, people who can’t lose weight because of toxins, find that fat just melts away on this diet, which includes two glasses of vegetable juice a day along with a low-carb diet that is rich in living foods. One reason juice facilitates weight loss is because it’s concentrated with nutrients. Along comes the antioxidant-rich juice that binds up toxins and carries them out of the body. Then, the body can let go of fat cells that were storing toxins to protect delicate tissues and organs.
People often report that when they change their diet to include plenty of live juices, their body undergoes a transformation similar to a caterpillar becoming a butterfly. They start feeling better, lighter, and more energized as time goes on. Sleep improves. Energy kicks up a notch, and mood improves. The mind becomes more alert and creative, while disorganizing brain fog fades away because all the nutrients in fresh juice help the mind and body revive.
In the process, overall health improves. Ailments and chronic diseases begin to heal for many people. Then, a person’s whole life changes because they have the energy to accomplish their goals.
Cherie Calbom earned a Master of Science degree in whole foods nutrition from Bastyr University. She is author of the best-selling book, “The Juice Lady’s Turbo Diet,” along with seventeen additional books including “Juicing, Fasting, and Detoxing for Life.” She has appeared on scores of TV shows including CNN and Fox National News.
Sources
1 Raw Food Diet Study http://www.iowasource.com/food/lenkastudy_0806.html Accessed April 22, 2011.
2 McDonald’s and Biophoton Deficiency http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/ciencia/ciencia_industryweapons78.htm Accessed April 22, 2011.
Photo credit: bitt
Read More By Gabrielle Bernstein on November 16, 2010
Juice has gotten trendier with each passing year, and for good reason. When I found myself choosing green juice over my morning coffee I knew I was hooked. One juice in particular has recently captured my attention: a new brand called Liquid Pump, a creation of The Pump Energy Food, a New York City staple. Liquid Pump is not your grocery store’s juice. It’s made fresh every morning at The Pump, it’s non-pasteurized, and it doesn’t contain any preservatives, artificial flavors or colors, or refined sugars. The simple, raw ingredients speak for themselves: simplicity is delicious. Liquid Pump is cold-pressed, allowing it to retain the nutrients of the produce—much like old-fashioned hand-squeezing methods. My favorite is the Green Magic Drink, which is made from cold-pressed OJ, pineapple, basil and avocado.
I’ve become so hooked that I find myself hopping in my Ford Edge to pick up a few days’ worth of juice at one time. I’ve learned that drinking Liquid Pump for breakfast and lunch gives me more energy. This is what many of my Rha foodie friends refer to as eating light to heavy. Rather than eating my largest meal at lunchtime, I’ve taken to the Rha approach. The light-to-heavy method actually is super effective because I’m not digesting a huge meal in the middle of the day. I’ll have my Liquid Pump for breakfast and lunch, and by 3 p.m. I’ll have a hearty salad followed by some protein and veggies for dinner later on. In addition, the Liquid Pump is perfect for eating healthily on-the-go—it redefines the notion of convenience food. Grab a bottle and you’ve just given your body more than a day’s worth of vital nutrients.
You can check out more of my blogs here!
Photo Credit: Untitled Blue
Read More By Kris Carr on October 1, 2010
Hi juicy friends!
This week I am honored to have a super special guest, my hubby Brian. He’s the Master of the House, the Pharaoh of Breville, the Vitamix Whisperer and he’s here to give you some special tips and tricks. Hope you enjoy and have a brilliant weekend tootsies….
Peace & family kitchen time,
Kris
PS. We forgot to mention that we use purified water or coconut water or even almond milk to blend our smoothies. Lately we’ve been enjoying some almond butter in place of avocado in our blender disco. Oh my, it’s good. xo!
Read More By Kris Carr on August 11, 2010
Hi Spiritual Marathon Runner!
This week’s Love List is all about the simple things that help me make a shitty day (canSer check-ups) a little easier. I bet lots of you know exactly what I mean. On Friday, I’ll be vlogging about the best tool I’ve found to cope with the fear. Until then I hope you enjoy my list! Share your tips/tricks if you’re moved to do so…
1. The flowers that Brian picked and placed in the car for our very long drive. Just when I thought he wasn’t romantic – bam!
2. Sports bras with no metal so I don’t have to strip down to nothing and wear a gown. Plus, ya ever notice how cold the CAT scan room is? Headlights galore!
3. Trash magazines. Who the heck can focus on a highbrow novel while sitting in the waiting room at the canSer hut? Not moi! Bring it J-Lo. Hola Snooki.
4. A nice hotel with a King size bed and really expensive movies. We make scan night in Boston date night – a fancy dinner and a room with style help take the edge off (bathtub included…ahhh Epsom salt and lavender).
5. Red Super Girl underwear with stars. Um, need I say more? I think not.
6. Bringing an extra green juice for after my scan. The shit they pump into me sucks, but the greens I pump into me when they’re done help move the garbage out.
7. My amazing oncologist who continues to help me cope with living with canSer. Seven years later, he’s still suggesting that I do nothing (meaning no conventional treatment). Many oncologists would have pushed drugs by now. No thanks. Make juice not war baby!
8. The fabulous (and more than likely gay) tech who suggested I take a few Ativan and listen to Streisand if I ever find myself in need of an MRI (they take longer). What a wonderful way to kill the time!
9. The post scan vacation Brian and I took with the whole Fassett clan in Cape Cod! My nieces and nephews ROCK.
Off for a run…
LOVE u…
Peace and nuclear medicine,
Kris
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