Juice of the Day

Today we tried:
(enough for 1 8oz glass)

Cucumber Kale Juice

1/2 cucumber
3 kales leaves
2 carrots
1 green apple
1/2 bunch of romaine lettuce

It was tasty, would have to give it a thumbs up!

Click on the veggies below to see full benefits:

Cucumber * Kale  * Carrots *  Green Apple * Lettuce

This juice is will be enriched with iron, Vit A, B, C & K, full of the minerals Copper, Potassium, Iron, Manganese and Phosphurus. It has anti oxidants and anti inflammatory components. 

Juicers on Amazon

Two Years after Starting Juicing

Well it's been over 2 years now since I started this blog. How times flies when we're having fun huh?

Well for started, I am still juicing. I try to juice daily when energy and funds allow. I have noticed what juicing does for me, is to give me energy. When I'm having one of those days when I feel like I just want to lay there all day, then I juice, in about twenty minutes I'm up and doing dishses or taking a shower.

It doens't get rid of my Lyme symptoms or pain. I was really hoping for this since I have seen others claim juicing has been a cure for them. I am not looking anymore for a cure, just to be functional, and juicing defintly aids in my energy level.

I do have a grandaugther now. So it's really important for me to be able to hold her and play with her.

So I am doing whatever I can to get back to functional. And by the way, my little grandaughter loves to share the juice with me.

Recently in the last month I have also started eating clean. I have been eating gluten and sugar free. At first I overwhelmed myself trying to do a anti histamine diet and a anti inflammtory diet at the same time. But before long, I realized that was making it too hard, there was almost nothing on the list of "ok foods to eat" on both diets. So I mostly am trying to keep a list of foods that I react to then elimating them. I react to things like vinegar, alchohol, avocados which shows that I have a histamine intolerance.

Click Here to Learn about a Histamine Intolerance diet.

Click Here to Learn about an Anti Inflammatory Diet

So basically that sums up when I have been doing. I will check back in soon and give any updates on how this is helping.

3 Weeks

I am about 3 weeks into starting gluten free and sugar free. I have lost 5 lbs. I have had a couple days where my back pain was less, but not sure if it's related to diet or not. I have also started massage and accupuncture but only got one session in on each, so again, not sure what is helping.I am still far from being out of the woods with pain but will continue on this diet and with these alternative treatments to try to help with pain. The pain I have is in my back, neck and legs. Sometimes it's sharp stabbing nerve pain and it's sometimes a throbbing aching kind of sore muscle pain. It changes and moves but my back pain if by far the worst. 

Benefits of Pineapple

1. Antioxidant: Pineapples are a rich source of antioxidants. They fight against free radicals in the body, which will help protect you from diseases like heart disease, atherosclerosis, arthritis, and different cancers.

2. High in Vitamin C: Vit C helps boost your immune system. It enables you to fight off infections.

3. Good Source of Manganese: Manganese helps in strengthening bones and connective tissues.

4. Contains Beta-carotene: Beta Carotene aids in vision and helps prevent macular degeneration.

5. Contains Bromelain: Bromelain is a digestive enzyme which promotes digestion. It is also an anti imflammatory  enzyme and act to boost the power of Vit C.

6. Good Source of Fiber: Which aids in digestion.

Sources: 27 Benefits of Pineapple

Nutritional Breakdown of Pineapples

1 cup of fresh pineapple contain:

* 82 calories

* 0 grams of fat

* 0 grams of cholesterol

* 2 milligrams of sodium

* 22 grams of total carbohydrate 

* 16 grams of sugar

* 2.3 grams of fiber

* 1 gram of protein.
* provides 131% of your vitamin C daily needs 

* 2% of vitamin A needs

* 2% of calcium 

* 2% of iron.

Source: Medical News Today

When Eating Pineapple Isn't a Good Thing

1. For Athletes trying to build muscle: The enzyme bromelain breaks down proteins. This is bad  for any athlete or person wanting to gain or maintain muscle size and strength. Proteins are needed to help rebuild muscles after exercise. 

2. It can thin your blood. This is actually good for some people for example those with high cholesterol, or those that are ill and have to lay in bed all day. But it this can be dangerous for those who are already taking blood thinners, hemophiliacs, or have other blood clotting complications.

3. People who have Histamine Intolerance: Yes, sadly pineapple is a histamine releasing food. See list here.

Sources: 

VIP Personal Training

Michigan Allergy, Sinus & Asthma Specialists

Healthy Pineapple Recipes

This Recipe is super yummy and only has 3 ingredients. Easy to make and yummy to drink

Click Here for Recipe

Clean Eating Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken Verde

Click Here for Recipe

Sugar Free Pineapple Carrot Muffins

Click Here for Recipe

Banana, Pineapple and Coconut Smoothie

Click Here for Recipe

Click on Fruit or Veggie to See the Benefits

Alfalfa Artichoke Beets Broccoli Carrots Celery Cranberries Cucumbers Green Apples Kale Pineapple

Do you have Histamine Intolerance?

Do you have Histamine Intolerance?

Do you have bad reactions when you drink alcohol? What about when you eat avocados, pineapple, lunch meat? If you get a headache, stuffy nose, itching, hives, racing heart after eating certain foods, you may have a histamine intolerance.

According to Mind, Body, Green:

Histamine is a chemical involved in your immune system, proper digestion, and your central nervous system. It is a neurotransmitter,  It is also a component of stomach acid. When eating something you are sensitive or allergic to, histamine will cause your blood vessels to dilate, so that your white blood cells can quickly find and attack what is causing the reaction. When histamine builds up in your system you will start showing symptoms such as headaches, feeling flushed, feeling itchy and getting hives. This is part of the body’s natural immune response, but if you have histamine intolerance,  you might not break down histamine properly leading to a build up of  histamine which runs through your bloodstream and may affect your gut, lungs, skin, brain, and cardiovascular system. This can lead  to a wide range of problems often making it difficult to diagnose.

Cause of High Histamine Levels

Allergies Bacterial overgrowth 

(SIBO) Click Here to Read what SIBO is. 

Leaky gut GI bleeding 

Fermented alcohol like wine, champagne, and beer 

Diamine Oxidase (DAO) deficiency 

Histamine-rich foods 

Source: Mind, Body, Green

How does Histamine get Broken Down?

Histamine in the central nervous system is broken down primarily by histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT), while histamine in the digestive tract is broken down primarily by diamine oxidase (DAO).  If you’re deficient in DAO, you likely have symptoms of histamine intolerance.
DAO-Blocking Foods:

Alcohol Click (Here to Read Why)
Energy drinks
Black tea
Mate tea
Green tea

Source: 
Mind, Body, Green

What Can I Eat?

freshly cooked meat, poultry (frozen or fresh) freshly caught fish eggs gluten-free grains: rice, quinoa pure peanut butter fresh fruits: mango, pear, watermelon, apple, kiwi, cantaloupe, grapes fresh vegetables (except ones listed above) coconut milk, rice milk, hemp milk, almond milk olive oil, coconut oil leafy herbs herbal teas (accept green tea)

How do I break down histamine?

Once formed, histamine is either stored or broken down by an enzyme. Histamine in the central nervous system is broken down primarily by histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT), while histamine in the digestive tract is broken down primarily by diamine oxidase (DAO).

Causes of Low DAO

Gluten intolerance
Leaky gut SIBO (Click Here to Read what SIBO is.)
 DAO-blocking foods (See List Above)
Genetic mutations
 Inflammation from Crohn’s,
ulcerative colitis
inflammatory bowel disease.

Medications can also cause low DAO

 Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, aspirin) 

Antidepressants (Cymbalta, Effexor, Prozac, Zoloft) 

Immune modulators (Humira, Enbrel, Plaquenil) 

Antiarrhythmics (propanolol, metaprolol, 

Cardizem, Norvasc) 

Antihistamines (Allegra, Zyrtec, Benadryl) 

Histamine (H2) blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid, Zantac) 

Although histamine blockers, a class of acid-reducing drugs, seem like they would help prevent histamine intolerance, these medications can actually deplete DAO levels in your body.

  Source: Mind, Body, Green

Articles on Histamine Intolerance and DAO

Introducing DAO-The World's Only Enzyme Supplement for Dietary Histamine and Food Intolerance

Everything You Need to Know about Histamine Intolerance and DAOS

You can supplement with DAO. To see some DAO  supplement products click on products below.

Products for Histamine Intolerance

 

Benefits of Cucumbers

Cucumbers contain the vitamins and minerals: Vitamin K, molybdenum, pantothenic acid, copper, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, phosphorus, magnesium, biotin, and vitamin B1 and silica.

Cucumber Facts

* Cucumbers are 95% water. They aid in rehydrating the body. 

* You can use the skin of cucumbers as an anti inflammatory the same way you would use Aloe Vera.

* Cucumber are known to contain lariciresinol, pinoresinol, and secoisolariciresinol. These are lignans, which have been proven to reduce the risk of several cancers, including breast cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and prostate cancer.

* Cucumbers contain sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish many essential nutrients, reducing your hangover.

* High fiber and low calories make cucumbers great for diet!

* Cucumber is a good source of silica, which is known to help promote joint health by strengthening the connective tissues. 

* Cucumbers are rich in vitamin A, B1, B6, C & D, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, and Potassium. 

Yummy Cucumber Recipes

Click Here for 
Cucumber Salad by Garden Grazer

Click Here for
Cucumber Chips by Frugal Mom

Slice Cucumbers thinly and spread your favorite Hummus and roll em up!

Click Here for
Refreshing Watermelon and Cucumber Salad byThe Healthie Foodie

Click Here For
Cucumber  & Pear Smoothie by Best of This Life

Click Here For
Yummy Cilantro and Cucumber Salad by The Food Charlatan

How to Grow Cucumbers by Organic Gardening

Organic Cucumber: Gardening and Seed Saving Info

Click on food to decide what you would like to juice.

Alfalfa Artichoke Beets Broccoli Carrots Celery Cranberries Cucumbers Green Apples Kale Pineapple

Benefits of Kale

Kale Contains:

Vitamins: A, C & K

Minerals: Copper, Potassium, Iron, Manganese and Phosphurus

High in Iron: Iron is essential for the formation of hemoglobin and enzymes, transporting oxygen to various parts of the body, cell growth, proper liver function and more.

High in Vitamin K:  Vitamin K  helps protect against various cancers. It is also necessary for bodily functions such as normal bone health and blood clotting. Vitamin K has ben shown to help people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

High inantioxidants: Kale contains carotenoids and flavonoids help protect against various cancers.

Anti-inflammatory: One cup of kale is filled with 10% of the RDA of omega-3 fatty acids, which help, fight against arthritis, asthma and autoimmune disorders.

Cardiovascular support: Kale can help lower cholesterol levels.

High in Vitamin A: Vitamin A is great for your vision, your skin as well as helping to preventing different cancers.

High in Vitamin C: This is very helpful in boosting your immune system.

High in calcium: Calcium aids in preventing bone loss, preventing osteoporosis and maintaining a healthy metabolism.  

Detox food: Kale is filled with fiber and sulfur, both great for detoxifying your body and keeping your liver healthy.

Sources:
Mind Body Green: Top Ten Health Benefits of Eating Kale
The Truth about Kale

Click on food to decide what you would like to juice.

Alfalfa Artichoke Beets Broccoli Carrots Celery Cranberries Cucumbers Green Apples Kale Pineapple

Benefits of Celery

Celery Contains:

 Vitamins: C, K, A, B6 and Folate

Minerals: Potassium, Manganese, Calcium, Magenesium, Sodium

More on the Benefits of Celery

Celery is an anti inflammatory:  Eating celery can aid in reducing inflammation in conditions such as arthritis and asthma.

Anti Anxiety: The minerals in celery, such as magnesium and calcium, and the essential oil in it, soothe the nervous system.

Creates an Alkaline Balance: Which is necessary for good health as disease lives in acidic environments.

Aids in Digestion: Celery has a high water content, this combined with the insoluble fiber that celery has, makes it a great tool for easy passage of stool.

Contains “good” salts: The salt in celery is organic, natural and essential for your health.

Good for Vision: One large stalk of celery can deliver up to 10 percent of your daily need for Vitamin A, a group of nutrients that protects the eyes and prevents age-related degeneration of vision.

Reduces “bad” cholesterol: Celery contains butylphthalide. It is what gives celery its flavor and scent. The pthalides stimulate the secretion of bile juices, which works to reduce cholesterol levels.

Lowers blood pressure: An active compound called phthalides in celery has been proven to boost circulatory health. Raw, whole celery reduces high blood pressure.

Boosts your sex life: There are two pheromones in celery–androstenone and androstenol– both of which boost your arousal levels. They are released when you chew on a celery stalk.

Cancer Fighter: Celery contains a flavonoid, called luteolin, which inhibits the growth of cancer cells, especially in the pancreas and likely breast cancer.

Bladder Infections:  Celery seeds help in the elimination of uric acid because it is commonly used for its diuretic properties. This means it is good for people with bladder disorders, kidney problems, cystitis, and other similar conditions. Celery seeds can also assist in preventing urinary tract infections in women.

Immune System Booster: Celery is rich in vitamin C. Vit C boosts the strength of the immune system.

Sources: 
11 Healthy Benefits in Just One Celery Stalk
Organic Facts

Click on food to decide what you would like to juice.

Alfalfa    Artichoke  Broccoli   Carrots  Celery  Cranberries   Cucumbers  Green Apples  Kale  Pineapple

Benefits of Strawberries

To read more about the benefits of strawberries check out these articles:

Nutritional Benefits of the Strawberry

What's New and Beneficial about Strawberries

Click on food to decide what you would like to juice.

Alfalfa    Artichoke  Broccoli   Carrots  Celery  Cranberries   Cucumbers  Green Apples  Kale  Pineapple

The Benefits of an Artichoke

Artichoke Facts

* Clinical trials show that eating artichokes helps treat chronic digestive complaints including stomach aches,  flatulence, and irritable bowel.

* They are useful in treating specific liver/gallbladder conditions with elevated blood fat values by promoting bile flow in the body, increasing fat digestion and protecting the intestinal mucosa.

* They have been proven to be a safe, non-toxic, natural way to prevent and treat high cholesterol.

* Artichokes have been shown to lower LDL (bad cholesterol) and increase HDL (good cholesterol).

* Artichokes are high in antioxidants, making them a good aid in the battle against cancer, aging, heart disease.

* Artichokes are packed with vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients.

* Artichokes contains Quercetin which is an anti-carcinogen flavonoid that works as an antioxidant to protect against cancer and heart disease.

* Artichokes contain Rutin a flavonoid which encourages cardiovascular health, helps prevent cell proliferation associated with cancer, and has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergenic properties.

* Artichokes contain Anthocyanins which are powerful antioxidants. They are associated with a lower risk of certain cancers, urinary tract health, memory function and healthy aging.

* Artichokes contain Gallic Acid which is a potent antioxidant. It has been shown to inhibit cell proliferation in prostate cancer cells.

* Artichokes contain Luteolin and Cynarin which are polyphenol antioxidants that may lower cholesterol levels. Cyanarin may help in regeneration of liver tissue.

* Artichokes contain Caffeic Acid and Chlorogenic Acid which are anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-LDL (bad cholesterol) and antiviral properties.

* Artichokes contain Silymarin which is a powerful antioxidant that might aid the liver in regenerative tissue growth.

Bottom Line: Eat an artichoke today!

Here are some Recipes

Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Potato and Artichoke Casserole

Click Here for Recipe

Kale Artichoke Dip

Get Recipe Here

Summertime Frittata Recipe with Artichoke, Tomato & Basil
Get Recipe Here

Parmesan Stuffed Artichokes
Cllick Here for Recipe

Light Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Click Here for Recipe

Spinach Artichoke Hummus
Click Here to get Recipe

Roman Style Artichokes
Click Here for Recipe

Quinoa Vegetable Paella
Click Here for Recipe

Click on food to decide what you would like to juice.

Alfalfa Artichoke Beets Broccoli Carrots Celery Cranberries Cucumbers Green Apples Kale Pineapple

The Dirty Dozen and the Clean Fifteen

Do you ever wonder what the most pesticide laden fruits and veggie actually are? Do you think you are eating healthily just because you added some fruits and veggies into your diet. Well, check out this chart first and make sure what you are eating is not poisoning you.

These suggestions were taken from: Environmental Working Group

These were the foods recommended to have the least pesticides after testing by the EWG but I would be careful still. Check our your local sources for food, are they coming from organic farmers? The EWG listed sweet corn on their "Clean" list but after research I have found that a lot of corn is GMO.

Read More About the Safetly of Corn

So to be safe buy organically as much as you can. Not eveyrthing you need will always be available in the organic section, so make sure to wash yor fruits and veggies good.

Here are some environmentally friendly products below. 

Corn Healthy or Dangerous?

There is nothing like a corn on the grill on a hot summer day, right? It has always been a favorite of most Americans. So when I started hearing about corn not being good for you and about it being genetically engineered, I just felt sad. Why do these companies like Monsato have to mess with mother nature? Why? I was really hoping that I would look further into it, and it would just be fear mongering among the online healthy eating extremists. But sadly not, I posted below what I found. 

Facts About Corn

* In 2012 large quantities of GMO sweet corn appeared on grocery store shelves and roadside produce stands. 

* In 2011, Monsanto announced plans to grow genetically modified sweet corn on 250,000 acres, roughly accounting for 40 percent of the sweet corn market, to be used for frozen and canned corn products, and is also available fresh across the country.

* GMO sweet corn is genetically engineered to be herbicide resistant (Roundup Ready) and to produce its own insecticide (Bt Toxin)

* Biotech is now taking over the sweet corn market.

* Evidence gathered from fields in two Illinois counties suggests that pest problems are mounting as the rootworms grow ever more resistant to efforts to fight them. Read More Here

* You can download this letter and send it to your local farmer.  Download a letter template for farmers

* Download this letter to send to your local retail stores near you. 

 Download the retailer flyer (PDF)

And if that didn't convince you, maybe this will.

A picture released by the Committee for Research and Independent Information on Genetic Engineering (CRIIGEN) shows a combination image featuring rats with tumors after they were fed a diet of genetically modified (GM) maize produced by US chemical giant Monsanto. Picture: CRIIGENSource: Supplied
Read More in This Article

What exactly does GMO mean?

Photo Source: Seedsnow.com. Please Check out this website to find out why GMO is so bad.