Fruitilicious!

It is not new that fruits provide many health benefits to us. They are packed with vitamins, anti-oxidants, fiber, and natural sugars that can do amazing things to our bodies. However, juices have become more popular, and you can mix so many different fruits together! Juices or smoothies can provide a real boost and it is the perfect way to start your day.

During some of my reading, I discovered a few juice/smoothie recipes and the benefits of it:

JUICES:

If you are not a morning person, drink this and it will sure wake you up!

1 large orange, 1/2 grapefruit,  1 lime, add some sparkling mineral water and ice cubes

Stress away with this juice!

4 celery sticks, 1/2 cup of arugula, 1/2 cup of watrecress, 1 apple, 1/2 small avocado and add some ice cubes to it

Help digestion and boost your immune system!

2 oranges, 1/2 lemon, 1/2 inch fresh root ginger, 1 carrot, 2 beets, 2 cups of spinach, 3 celery sticks

Remove unwanted toxins from your body and lower your blood cholesterol!

1 peach, 3 apricots, 2 apples, and ice cubes

Detox and re-energize your body!

1/2 lemon, 5 oz of pineapples, 4 celery sticks, springs of mint, and ice cubes

Cleanse your digestive system and clear your skin!

2 ripe pears, 3 kiwifruit, 1/2 lime, and ice cubes

Get rid of a cold!

8 oz of carrots, 2 oz of radishes, 1 large apple, and ice cubes

Boost your energy and iron levels!

3/4 cup of strawberries, 1 small ripe mango, 1 and half cups of orange juice

SMOOTHIES:

Bedtime and can’t sleep? Try this!

2/3 cups of frozen strawberries, 3/4 cups of soy milk, 2 kiwifruit, 1/4 cup slivered almonds, and ice cubes

The “pick me up” smoothie!

1 papaya, 1 banana, 1 orange, 1 and half cups of apple juice, and ice cubes

Recuperate faster from an illness!

1 small ripe avocado, 1 small ripe banana, 1 cup of skim milk, pieces of pineapple, and ice cubes

Time to rehydrate!

5 oz of watermelon, 1 kiwifruit, 1/2 cup of passion fruit juice

Strong bones and teeth!

1 ripe mango, 10 oz of galia or honeydew melon, 3/4 cup of orange juice, and ice cubes

Get rid of sinus problems!

1 and half cups of black currants, 1/2 cup of apple juice, 1 and half cup of plain yogurt, and 2 tablespoons of honey

Protect yourself from heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels!

4 oz of galia or honeydew melon, 1/2 cup of almond milk

The breakfast replacement!

2/3 cups of strawberries, 1 and half tablespoon of smooth peanut butter, 3 tablespoons of whey protein, 2/3 cups of water, and ice cubes

Whether you decide to start your day with a juice or a smoothie, start your day the right way by adding fruits and vegetables to your diet. The benefits are amazing and it will not only satisfy that sugar craving, but also help you maintain your body strong and heathy!

You can find many more delicious recipes on this book I found at Barnes & Noble called “Smoothies & Juices” by Hamlyn, 2008 Edition.

 

 

 

 

Bloated No More!

Today, I had lunch with a very good friend of mine at one of our local restaurants in Austin, TX. I picked this place, Magnolias Café, because it has one of my favorite dishes called “Love Veggies”. He ordered something similar but I think my dish was much better…shhhh don’t tell.

The “Love Veggies” is a steamy platter of broccoli, mushrooms, spinach, yellow squash, zucchini, onion, and bell pepper sautéed with fresh garlic and Serrano. It is served on brown rice and topped with jack cheese. It is cheap, healthy, and delicious, so I totally recommend it to anyone who lives or visits Austin, TX.

Let me explain why this dish has become one of my favorite ones: It helps reduce bloating because it includes anti-inflammatory vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, bell peppers and garlic! It is a good idea to write down everything you eat, and make note of foods that make you feel sick, bloated, or give you reflux. However, if you’ve ever felt bloated, it might be due to simple changes in your diet.

Foods that will make you feel bloated and cause inflammation in the belly area include fried, salty, and spicy foods, gassy vegetables such as baked beans, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, lentils, and lima beans. Carbonated and high acid drinks can cause inflammation because of the carbon dioxide and can also be the cause of acid reflux. If your body can’t digest lactose or milk sugar, it will make you feel bloated. Starches can also be the cause of inflammation so try to reduce or eliminate those from your daily diet. Starches include potatoes, pasta, and wheat.

On the other hand, there are some foods that will help you fight that inflammation and bloated feeling. These foods include salmon, tuna, sardines, whole grains, brown rice, dark leafy greens such as kale, broccoli, and spinach, almonds, soy, low-fat dairy, tomatoes, beets, ginger and turmeric, garlic and onions, berries, and cherries.

So if you want to beat bloating and feel better, remember to take it easy on the carbonated drinks, watch out for sugary foods, limit your sodium, slow down on the gassy vegetables and beans, and drink more water!

References:

Ottermann, Birgit. (2013, June). “10 Foods that Cause Bloating”. Retrieved from: http://www.health24.com/Lifestyle/Woman/Your-life/10-foods-that-cause-bloating-20120721

Cleanse vs Detox

I often hear people say “I am on a cleanse diet”, or “I need a detox”, but do they really know the difference? Some people might actually know the difference, some might think they know, and some have absolutely no idea or see it as a weight loss solution.

So which one is better for you? Well, it depends on the purpose.

Cleanse:

Cleansing the body from the inside out involves getting rid of waste, toxins and germs that are bad, unwanted, or unnatural to our bodies. A cleanse is short in duration and is usually considered a good plan for those who feel they need a jump start to overcome feelings of sluggishness, fatigue, grogginess and overall “yuckiness”. A cleanse includes “cleaning up” your diet, modifying your lifestyle habits to include rest and exercise, and using herbal supplements to remove toxins more efficiently.

Currently, my friend and I are on a 3-day cleanse program. This includes eliminating triggers foods that can cause allergies, digestive distress, and just make you feel tired. We also added an herbal tea from Yogi to help remove the toxins from our bodies.

Detox:

A detox program is a bit different. The purpose of a detox program is to encourage an overall healthier lifestyle and is longer in duration. Detoxification is the act of cleansing, repairing and rebuilding specific detoxification organs. The main detoxification organs include the skin, liver, kidneys, and colon. They are responsible for filtering and converting toxic substances into less harmful materials and safely removing them from the body. It is recommended to do a detox at least once or twice a year. If you have skin problems such as acne, eczema and rosacea, food and environment allergies, constant headaches and constipation, you might want to consider a detox to help help clean, repair, and rebuild those organs.

Please note that a cleanse or detox is NOT a solution for weight loss, but it can help start a new program since both cleanse and detox give you a break from your bad habits.

Women’s health magazine provides a list of 16 detoxing cleanse foods that can help you eliminate bad toxins from your body, get a jump start on a new fitness program, and lose some of those extra pounds that are making you feel tired. Check it out!

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/nutrition/16-detoxing-cleanse-foods

 

Food allergies and your body..

Food allergies are very serious ailments. A food allergy is an adverse food reaction by the body’s immune system. There are many different foods that can cause your body to react in an adverse way. The most common food allergens include dairy, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, and fish.

When your body reacts to the allergens it can cause itching, rash, and hives. Your body will start to swell, especially around the face and throat area. More signs and symptoms of food allergies include respiratory difficulty, congestion, breathlessness, stomach pain, queasiness, vomiting, diarrhea, vertigo and fainting.

It’s important to know how to deal with your food allergies and knowing how to survive if the allergen is ingested. Inform others of your allergy; there are bracelets and necklaces available that state your allergy. Make sure to carry an auto-injector device with epinephrine (adrenaline) in case of an attack. If an attack happens, seek medical help immediately.

Food allergies can also cause other symptoms like GERD or acid reflux and headaches. I got tested for food allergies, and I realized I have a high allergic reaction to peanuts, strawberries and blueberries. These three items were the cause of my acid reflux problem I had for many years. A very close friend of mine had many stomach issues, and she found out after the allergy test that she was allergic to gluten and was diagnosed with celiac disease. 

It is very important to get a food allergy test done because it can save your life! Ask your doctor for a food allergy test if you believe you have or had an allergic reaction before.