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Why Sprout?

Why we love to add sprouts to our raw food and raw juices? What are sprouts exactly? Well, there are a lot of different types, almost as many as there are edible plants. But the main reason for eating sprouts is about nutrition and digestion. When you sprout foods, you increase proteolytic enzymes that make both carbohydrates and proteins digestible.

Here are 10 simple reasons why we all need to eat more sprouts:

1. There are 100 times more enzymes in sprouts than uncooked fruits and vegetables. Enzymes are special types of proteins that act as catalysts for all your body’s functions.

2. The quality of the protein in the beans, nuts, seeds, or grains improves when it is sprouted. Proteins change during the soaking and sprouting process, improving its nutritional value.

3. The fiber content of the beans, nuts, seeds, or grains increases substantially.

4. Vitamin content increases dramatically. This is especially true of vitamins A, B-complex, C, and E. The vitamin content of some seeds, grains, beans, or nuts increases by up to 20 times the original value within only a few days of sprouting.

5. Essential fatty acid content increases during the sprouting process.

6. During sprouting, minerals bind to protein in the seed, grain, nut, or bean, making them more useable in the body. This is true of alkaline minerals like calcium, magnesium, and others than help us to balance our body chemistry for weightloss and better health.

7. Sprouts are the ultimate locally-grown food. You can grow them yourself

8. The energy contained in the seed, grain, nut, or legume is ignited through soaking and #sprouting.

9. Sprouts are alkalizing to your body. Many illnesses including cancer have been linked to excess acidity in the body.

10. Sprouts are inexpensive. People frequently use the cost of healthy foods as an excuse for not eating healthy. But, with sprouts being so cheap, there really is no excuse for not eating healthier.

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Raw Vegan Nanaimo Choclate Bar

It’s the new year and many set their news years resolution. This raw vegan treat will keep you on track while quenching that sweet tooth that likes to creep up on all of us. So grap one or even 2 if you can. It truly is a guilt free snack.

This recipe is vegan, gluten free, dairy free, raw, grain free, no-bake, chocolately and ofcourse delicious!

RAW VEGAN NANAIMO BARS
Makes 12-16 Raw Nanaimo Bars

Chocolate Crust Ingredients:
1 Cup Slivered Almonds
1/2 Cup Soaked Dates
1/2 Cup Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
1/4 Cup Cocoa Powder
Dash of Salt

Cream Ingredients:
1/4 Cup Coconut Oil
1/2 Cup Soaked Cashews
3 Tbsp Agave Nectar
1/4 Cup Coconut Cream (Pre-refridgerated – thick consistency)
1/2 Tsp Vanilla Extract

Chocolate Topping Ingredients:
1/2 Cup Soaked Cashews
1/2 Cup Cocoa Powder
1/2 Cup Coconut Oil
1/4 Cup Agave Nectar

Directions:
-Place all cream layer ingredients into your food processor and blend until completely smooth.
-Place into a bowl and set aside.
-Place all chocolate topping ingredients into your food processor and blend until completely smooth.
-Place into a bowl and set aside.
-Place crust ingredients into your food processor and blend until dough-like.
Set aside.
-Place the crust mixture into an 8×8 -silicone baking pan or a loaf pan (for thicker squares).
-Press down and even out the crust.
-With a fresh spatula top crust layer with your cream layer. Spread out evenly.
-Top cream layer with your chocolate layer (you will have extra of this layer so use as much or as little as you would like).
-Cover baking dish with saran wrap and place in the freezer for 3-4 hours.
-Remove from freezer, cut into squares and serve!

*Tip – Store Raw Nanaimo Bars in the freezer.

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The Raw Truth About Activated Charcoal

What is Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal has been used for thousands of years. Today, it’s even used in hospitals. When someone is poisoned, activated charcoal could help. It binds toxic chemicals like a sponge. Then it ushers those poisons out of the body. That got the health industry thinking: “If activated charcoal can suck up drugs and toxic chemicals, what else can it do?” As they found out, a lot! It has a ton of health-boosting benefits—but it also can be quite dangerous if consumed incorrectly.

Activated charcoal is a unique form of carbon that is oxidized at very high temperatures to give it a massive surface area and incredibly porous properties. Just 2 grams of activated charcoal has roughly the equivalent surface area of a football field.

It’s millions of microscopic pores have a strong negative charge, which attracts positively charged intestinal gases and toxins like a magnet. Because of this, activated charcoal can bind to and eliminate compounds many thousands of times its own weight.

Activated charcoal is an excellent gastrointestinal detoxifier that absorbs intestinal gas and a variety of other toxins as it passes through your system. It is also a particularly potent remedy for smelly flatulence as it binds to highly odorous compounds like hydrogen sulphide (the so-called rotten egg gas).

How to Use Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is perhaps the most powerful of all the known cures for intestinal gas and flatulence. It does have a problem though. It works too well.

If you typically drink more than one juice a day, only one should contain charcoal. Since activated charcoal can can bind to as much as 100 times its own weight, downing it in large doses can cause the detox process to become too harsh, flushing vital nutrients that are stored in fat tissues in the body. While the words “flushing” and “fat” in the same sentence are usually a good thing, in this case, it’s quite the opposite.

Timing of your charcoal cocktail is also key. Ideally, you should only sip activated charcoal and water three or four hours after your last meal. Throughout the day it’s vital to fuel the body with fruits and veggies which have the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients the body needs to stay healthy. Since activated charcoal is so absorbent, drinking it during the day or too close to a meal can interfere with the absorption of these nutrients.

Research has demonstrated that activated charcoal will pass harmlessly through your gastrointestinal tract, without being metabolized in any way. It does, however, absorb any positively charged substances it comes into contact with.

This is a good thing when it comes to toxins, as most are positively charged and are drawn to activated charcoal. Once bound to it, they are eliminated when you go to the toilet and can do no further damage in your body.

Unfortunately, beneficial substances like medications, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients are also often positively charged. So now your asking “but wait my juice bar mixes charcoal with so many other ingredients so am I not absorbing those nutrients from the drink?” Answer NOPE.

This means that activated charcoal should not be taken anywhere near or with any food, prescription medicine, supplements and well away from any kind of food. So activated charcoal in water is all you need, mixing it with anything else is useless since all those nutrients will pass your body and not be absorbed, so your flushing your money down the toilet.

Charcoal can’t tell the difference between toxins, meds, vitamins and minerals. If there is something you have been prescribed by a doctor that is keeping you healthy and safe, do not under any circumstance drink charcoal.

Activated charcoal should be taken at least 2 hours before eating with a big glass of water. To be safe, make that 2 hours before taking any medications or supplements to be sure it doesn’t interfere with them.

For maximum effectiveness, activated charcoal also needs to be taken well after eating. 3 hours would be a minimum, with 4 hours recommended for a large meal. And always always drink a litre of water with it and after it so constipation does not occur.

Also be aware, if you do start taking activated charcoal in high doses, it will likely turn your stools grey or even black. This is harmless so don’t be concerned by it. In fact, it can be a helpful indicator of just how long food takes to travel through your digestive tract. Also taking activated charcoal wrong and too often will cause constipation and many ailements since it is stripping your body of all nutrients. so please take at maximum 2 times a week.

If a night of alcohol drinking leaves you feeling dead to the world, charcoal may help take you out of your misery but it’s not a craze that should be used as a hangover cure. Due to its strong cleansing properties, activated charcoal can help remove toxins from the liver and bloodstream after a long night of drinking. Keep in mind, however, that charcoal will not absorb any of the alcohol left in your system, so it won’t be of much assistance if you’re still feeling a bit tipsy the morning after your night out.

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Green Juice Power…Let’s Get Juicing

This amazing juice is packed with chlorophyll, antioxidants, minerals and nutrient dense greens! The celery helps to infuse the body with magnesium and calcium to help soothe the nervous system and prepare the body for rest. Parsley and cucumber boost our immune system by flooding our body with nutrient dense chlorophyll, while ginger aids in digestive fire, helping to alleviate any stomach or intestinal issues.

Parsley is one of the best blood purifiers, and helps control blood cholesterol levels, constipation, gum and tooth issues and protects the body from harmful free radicals. Cucumber is a great natural diuretic and helps regulate body temperature and aids in cell hydration, waste removal and dissolves kidney stones. Celery is a natural appetite suppressant and has a calming effect on the nervous system. It is beneficial for respiratory conditions like bronchitis and asthma and can even help lower blood pressure up to 14% in hypertensive patients.

Ingredients:
– 1 cucumber
– 2 limes (peel removed if non-organic)
– 2 cups spinach
– 1 bunch parsley
– 3 green apples
– 5 stalks celery
– 3-4 inches fresh ginger root

Juice the above ingredients in a juicer and enjoy!

Go ahead and get juicing!

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Let’s Talk Juicing and Juice feasting cleanse

There are a number of benefits to doing a juice feasting cleanse and regular juicing. One of the main reasons this should be your new “habit” are the high concentration of antioxidants, vitamins , minerals, liver enzymes and phytonutrients that the body gets in one shot.

About 90% of the nutrients in fruits and vegetables are found in their juices. Since it is a liquid, the body is able to absorb all of the nutrients much more quickly than actually eating the veggies and fruits. Plus, you’d have to eat quite a few veggies and fruits daily just to get a fraction of the nutrients you get from drinking on glass. It also makes a fast and easy snack that helps to quench that sweet tooth, and fill you up. It really helps with cravings and is quite filling.

One of the main things you will experience after juicing for awhile is the change in your palate, your Taste buds do change. Foods that aren’t organic or natural taste like processed junk just doesn’t taste right anymore. The artificial sweeteners used they use have a nasty aftertaste.

With natural raw organic juice, the sugar is fructose, a natural sugar your body can easily break down because it sees it as glucose. Glucose is a sugar that the body uses for energy, and everything we eat gets converted into this sugar. Fructose is a very similar molecule to glucose in its chemical makeup, so the body has less work to do. It also doesn’t have the acidic aftertaste caused by artificial sweeteners like saccharin.

Most of the foods we eat daily are riddled with preservatives, chemicals (like insecticides) and other toxins that can wreak havoc on our bodies. All of these chemicals and toxins create free radicals in our blood stream. Free radicals are responsible for the aging process, autoimmune diseases, and even cardiovascular disease.They cause cells to break down and die and slow the healing process considerably.

Antioxidants, phytonutrients and live enzymes are the antidote so to speak. Fruits and vegetables are full of nutrients as vitamin E , vitamin C , magnesium, calcium, and many more among others. In raw organic juice form, these nutrients go straight into the blood stream and neutralize these free radicals preventing cell damage and death.

The fact that the body doesn’t have to work very hard to digest juice, allows the energy saved from the digestion process to be used for other essential activities like building muscle or clearing out toxins already in adipose tissue (fat cells).

Many people also notice that they have quite a bit more energy after they start juicing. I’m one of those people. My energy levels drastically increased after about the third day of juicing. Of course, the same effect when happen you consume more raw foods or go vegan. Animal products, specifically the animal protein casein, are very difficult to break down, taking up to 72 hours to digest, and they also create an acidic state in the body known as metabolic acidosis. This causes the body to strip calcium from the bones to neutralize the acidic state. This can cause osteoarthritis and osteoporosis.

A juice feasting cleanses, or even just drinking it several times a day, and limiting your intake of animal products (or removing animal products all together) will allow the body to reverse this acidic state and start replenishing its calcium stores.

The juice feasting really jumpstarts the process of cleansing the body. It also helps you burn away all those fat stores. Many people do the it for three, five, or seven days. Some people go much longer, up to 60 days in some cases. These longer juice feasting cleanses are called reboots and they allow the body to burn fat, cleanse toxins and repair previous damage. Of course, you should always talk to your doctor before starting but any doctor with a nutrition background will tell you it wouldn’t be a problem and “you’re getting plenty of nutrients.”

The first three to 5 days are the hardest. You feel sluggish, and horrible. But this is the body “resetting.” Many suffer headaches and withdrawal from caffeine and sugar for the first few days or week it varies on the person.
But as the time goes on, all this changes. You’ll have a spring in your step, and you won’t feel loaded down by excess fat, salt and other toxins. You won’t have constipation; in fact you’ll be quite regular because of all the fiber.

This help to lower the risk of colon cancer, diabetes and many other diseases. Acidity and inflammation are the r
oot causes of all diseases. Feasting your cells with nutrients reduces inflammation and balances your pH.

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What is a Detox? Ten Reasons To do A Juice Feasting Cleanse

Why Cleanse?
Why do people do a juice cleanse?
Doesn’t your body detox itself its a waste of money to do a juice cleanse?
Juice cleanses screw up your body?
What toxins does the juice cleanse remove, why cant these companies that sell juice cleanses tell you the name of the toxins that are being removed?

I am sure you have heard all these questions and even you yourself have wondered what is the point of a juice cleanse. I am here to tell you its not a hoax, its not a waste of money, and its not useless.

So yes your body does detox itself daily. Or I should say your body is supposed to be detoxing itself daily. Your body works like a well oiled clock. Every few hours in the day a different organ in your body is attempting to detox itself. Have you ever wondered why when you wake up in the morning one of the first things that happen is you go poop. That is because your intestines detox between the hours of 3 and 6am. Problem is our eating habits and lifestyles have changed dramatically. We consume lots of dairy, meat, processed and nutrient deficient foods. We don’t sleep enough, we don’t exercise and get our bodies moving.

The body becomes overloaded with toxins due to various internal and external forces such as unhealthy foods, stress, sleeping habits and harmful environments.

It’s important to flush these toxins out of the body regularly to make sure that the body’s systems are running properly.

Common signs of excess toxins in the body are fatigue, excessive weight gain, skin reactions (rashes and acne), constipation, and bad breath to name a few.

There are two main sources of toxins that affect the body on a daily basis:

Environmental Toxins: These are toxins outside of the body. They include things like pesticides, carbon monoxide, the perfume or cologne you wear, your cleaning products and other chemicals people come in contact with on a daily basis.

Metabolic Toxins: These are toxins on the inside of the body. This can happen through a variety of mechanisms, but the main thought here is something that has been eaten and absorbed into the cells through digestion. The dairy and meat you eat have growth hormones given to the chickens, cows and etc, they also contain antibiotics. Something to keep in mind is that 85 percent of the antibiotics in the world are used on the foods you eat. There is also the fluoride that is added to your water, linked to dementia and Alzheimer. We have all heard about GMOs cant forget those, not to mention preservatives like salt, MSG, and all those long complicated names that you see written on the ingredient lists of foods. We can write a novel about the toxins that are inside your body at this moment just from the foods you have eaten.

What is a detox? You can detox in a variety of ways, but the main purpose is simple – to get the toxins out of the body, best way is by doing a juice cleanse. WHY? A juice feasting cleanse gives your digestion a break by flooding your system with nutrients it needs to reset, reboot and heal. A raw juice is be absorbed by your digestive system within 15 minutes, compared to other foods you eat that can take anywhere from 24 to 36 hours. Anytime you eat your body can use up to 80 percent of its energy on digestion, and that is not good. Hence why you might feel tired after eating complex foods like meat, dairy and processed. When your body is using 80 percent of its energy trying to digest the food you just ate, other organs that are meant to be detoxing are not.

Other ways to detox after your cleanse are through dieting, exercise, inhaling fresh air, and consuming more water, fruits, and vegetables. Juicing can have dramatic effects on your overall health and how you feel.

10 Reasons to do a Tailored Juice feasting cleanse and Detoxify the Body

1. Youthful energy

Remember the vibrant, non-stop energy you had in your youth? Detox programs can help to get some of it back. One of best benefits from detoxification of the body is increased energy levels.

Cutting out harmful chemicals like sugars, hydrogenated oils, fatty foods, and dangerous energy drinks while replacing them with water, vegetables, and fresh fruits, can cause a dramatic spike in the body’s natural energy levels.

Things you will notice in your day-to-day life:

Wake up and feel energized to start the day
Experience less midday energy crashes
Have a greater desire for new experiences instead of time on the couch

2. Improves mental clarity

There is a direct connection between cognitive and digestive health. Once you improve your overall health, you will notice the mind becoming clearer. Foods labeled as inflammatory not only affect your organs and gut, but the brain as well. Most people overlook the important fact that inflammation from foods happens in the brain as well as the body.

Once you clear your plate of sugar and fatty foods, you will notice clearer thinking and an improved mood as a result of the detoxification process.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Less brain fog, especially midday
Better focus and attention to detail on daily tasks

3. Strengthens the immune system

If you feel like you’re constantly catching a cold or the flu, juicing and juice cleanses will help. When the body detoxes, it is freed up from the toxin burden on major organs and can operate like it was designed to.

All good juice cleanses will provide a healthy amount of vitamin C, which has been conclusively shown to improve the immune system and protect against diseases. Also you will be getting all the nutrients, phytonutrients and minerals your immune system needs to fight anything that comes its way.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Get the common cold less often than co-workers and friends
Recovering faster from illnesses when they happen

4. Aids in weight loss

It’s easy to see how cutting out processed foods, dairy, meat, sugars and fatty foods from the diet will impact weight quickly. Toxins affect the body’s natural ability to burn fat and lead to weight gain. When foods are not digesting properly, losing weight will be more difficult. Juicing gives your digestive system a vacation. The juice you drink will be absorbed by your digestive system within 15 minutes, where the food you normally eat can spend 24 to 36 hours in your digestive system.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Yoga pants will fit better
Juice cleanses do help you loose fat cells
Gradual steady weight loss over time

5. Slows the aging process

By reducing the amount of toxins and free radical damage done to the body, you will notice benefits in both the short-term and the long-term. Free radicals are incomplete electrons that are devastating to your health and aging processes, but when you eats more vegetables and fresh fruits, they will combat these free radicals with powerful antioxidants.

The antioxidants will keep the body looking younger and healthier while slowing the aging process.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Less wrinkles on your forehead and around the eyes
Less bags under the eyes when you wake up

6. Clearer skin

Environmental and diet-based toxins can have very visible results on the largest organ in the body – the skin. Detoxifying the body can help with acne, will strengthen nails and hair, and will help provide a natural healthy glow. As toxins leave the body though the skin (your biggest eliminative organ), a slight increase in acne or even patchiness to the skin is common.

Don’t worry though, it will clear up after a few days and when it does, you will be left with healthy, vibrant skin that you will love.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Improved skin color and overall complexion
Nails and hair will grow a little faster than normal
Acne will become a rare occurrence, if ever

7. Helps curb sugar and carb cravings

It is a fact that sugar and carbohydrates are biologically addictive. Sugar has even been reported to be 8 times more addictive than cocaine. There’s a reason why it’s so hard to give it up, and thankfully a sugar detox can help with this. There really is no better way to kick these craving than to cut it out for awhile. The problem is that this can induce headaches and sluggish feelings that come with withdrawal.

That is why replacing the process sugars and bad carbs with healthy organic cold pressed raw juice is important. Yes the Fruit does have sugar but those sugars come with enzymes that help break them down and make them healthy do your body.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Cravings for fruits and vegetables
Bad feelings if you consume sugars and bad carbs again

8. Improves digestive health

When detoxing, the body is getting rid of the excess waste stored in the gut and fat cells. The primary way this happens is through the increase in fiber that comes with the raw juice. Yes you heard us say it, Raw juices do have fiber, its all about the machine you use when you juice those fruits and vegetables. The fiber helps cleanse the colon and drag out any of the toxins that get built up over time. It also improves the functionality of the liver and kidneys that are responsible for processing the foods that you eat.

In this way, the body will be able to better absorb the vitamins and nutrients from your food.

Things you will notice in your day to day life:

Becoming regular
More instant energy from food

9. Establishes healthy habits

Doing a juice cleanse for 10 days and longer will make a huge impact on your life, and will help you make healthy choices and decisions for the days following. The key to making clean eating and being healthy work for you is establishing lifelong habits that you can stick with. That is why detox programs should be the first stepping stone to living a healthier life.

When you cleanse the body and replace the old foods with healthier food choices, you can train yourself into making your health a priority in your life.

Things you will notice in your day-to-day life:

Thinking about how a specific food is going to impact long-term goals
Waking up and thinking about healthy decisions first thing in the morning

10. Restores balance to the body’s systems

The body is a complex group of intertwining systems that work together in order to achieve optimal health. The nervous system, digestive system, and hormonal system are trying their best to keep you healthy and reproduce your genes. That is what the body is made for!

Detoxing and getting rid of these harmful toxins will bring balance back to your overall system and make you feel like you’re in a brand new body!

Things you will notice in your day to day life

Becoming happier with yourself
Improved mood and outlook on day-to-day living

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Superfood Hot Chocolate

Not only are we using raw cacao powder not to be confused with cocoa powder which is processed. We also added ginger, cinnamon, turmeric and coconut oil, which are all immune boosting and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Which makes this hot chocolate a superfood. Drink up and enjoy. But first let’s talk about the health benefits of these raw and plant based ingredients.

Cacao: Contains high amounts of magnesium and high levels of flavonoids, an antioxidant responsible for decreasing inflammation and ridding the body of free-radicals. If possible, buy raw cacao powder instead processed cocoa powder. Cocoa powder is heated to high temperatures, which destroys some of its healing qualities.

Ginger: A reliever to GI upset, but also a potent anti-inflammatory. Gingerols, a substance found in ginger is responsible for decreasing pain and inflammation in people suffering from osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Cinnamon: Similar to ginger, cinnamon has anti-inflammatory and antioxidants properties. Some studies even suggest that cinnamon helps with insulin resistance.

Turmeric: A very potent anti-inflammatory agent due to curcurmin, the compound that gives turmeric its bright yellow color. In addition to decreasing inflammation and pain in those suffering from arthritis, turmeric protects cells from oxidative stress.

Coconut Oil: Contains lauric acid, which may fight off bacteria, fungus and viruses. Also, a good source of medium chain triglycerides that contain anti-aging properties.

Ingredients:

2 cups of milk of your choice (hemp, soy, almond, etc.)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons cacao powder (or cocoa powder if you don’t have cacao!)
2-3 tablespoons maple syrup (adjust according to your taste)
2 tablespoons coconut oil
pinch sea salt

Instructions:

-Warm all ingredients in a saucepan over low heat, whisking occasionally.
-Transfer to a blender and pulse until frothy.
-Top with coconut, soy or rice whip for fun!

Enjoy!

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Our Super Tomatoe Basil Soup

Looks tasty, right?! I actually like to call this Superfood Soup because the health benefits of this soup are HUGE!! First, it is completely raw, meaning it has not been cooked. Thus preserving the enzymes.

“Enzymes are substances that make life possible. They are needed for every chemical reaction that takes place in the human body. No mineral, vitamin, or horomone can do any work without enzymes. Our bodies, all organs, tissues, and cells are run by metabolic enzymes.” – Dr. Howell, Enzyme Nutrition

Second, it is bursting with lycopene (from the tomatoes), an antioxidant highly effective in scavenging cancer causing free radicals. The lycopene in tomato fights against cancer and has been shown to be particularly effective in fighting prostate cancer, cervical cancer, cancer of the stomach and rectum as well as pharynx and oesophageal cancers. It also protects against breast cancer and cancer of mouth according to studies published by Harvard School of Public Health. Tomatoes are also excellent in supporting the health of the eyes, skin, urinary tract and supports healthy cholesterol and blood pressure.

Third, we’ve got celery which is rich in vitamin C, helps to lower cholesterol, prevent cancer, reduce high blood pressure, and promote overall health. Because of it’s high calcium content, celery can help calm the nerves. Celery is also good for people suffering from arthritis, rheumatism and gout since its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce swelling and pain around the joints.

Fourth, the Mighty Avocado! The monosaturated fats in avocados not only help in reducing LDL cholesterol but are also good for the heart, skin, eyes, weight control, anti-aging, digestion, and regulating blood sugar. Did you know avocados contain 30% more potassium than banana? The high potassium content helps in regulating blood pressure and prevents circulatory diseases. Avocados have numerous phytonutrients which not only prevent prostate cancer and breast cancer but also can help repair damaged cells. Avocados are also a powerhouse of vitamin E which protects our skin from free radicals.

With all those incredible health benefits who wouldn’t want to try this soup?! It’s delicious, PACKED with AMAZING nutrition.

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Matcha Pistachio Energy Balls

Health benefits of matcha:

-High in antioxidants. Antioxidants are the magical nutrients and enzymes responsible for fighting against the negative effects of UV radiation, giving us younger-looking skin, and preventing a number of life-threatening maladies. Antioxidants are something that all health-conscious individuals seek from such foods as raw fruits, green veggies, and (let’s not forget) dark chocolate. The first amazing benefit of Matcha Green Tea is that just one bowl provides over 5 times as many antioxidants as any other food – the highest rated by the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) method.

-Is packed with the powerful antioxidant EGCg. Out of all the antioxidants, EGCg is the most widely recognized for its cancer fighting properties. Scientists have found that Matcha Green Tea contains over 100 times more EGCg than any other tea on the market.

-Boosts metabolism and burns calories. Matcha increases metabolism and helps the body burn fat about four times faster than average.

-Detoxifies effectively and naturally. Matcha is also a powerful detoxifier capable of naturally removing heavy metals and chemical toxins from the body. Very high levels of chlorophyll in matcha.

-Calms the mind and relaxes the body. L-Theanine (amino acid found in matcha) promotes the production of alpha waves in the brain which induces relaxation without the inherent drowsiness caused by other “downers.”

-Is rich in fiber, chlorophyll and vitamins

-Enhances mood and aids in concentration. Another side-effect of L-Theanine is the production of dopamine and serotonin. These two chemicals serve to enhance mood, improve memory, and promote better concentration – something that can benefit everyone!

-Provides vitamin C, selenium, chromium, zinc and magnesium

-Prevents disease

-Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar. Matcha lower levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol while at the same time displaying higher levels of HDL (good) cholesterol.

-Fortifies the immune system

Matcha is an easy and simple way to add powerful health benefits to your everyday diet.

Matcha Pistachio Energy Balls
These energy bites Made from matcha green tea are delicious. They are refined sugar free and the perfect sweet, healthy snack. One or two will satisfy your hunger and sweet tooth. They are the perfect treat.

INGREDIENTS

¾ cup raw cashews

¼ cup raw pistachios, shelled

Medjool dates, pitted

¼ cup shredded coconut, unsweetened

2 tsp matcha powder

1 tbsp coconut oil

¼ pistachios, chopped (for rolling)

INSTRUCTIONS

Place all the ingredients (except the last ¼ cup pistachios) into a food processor. Process for one minute or until finely chopped and blended.

Using a cookie scoop, scoop out balls of mixture. Roll between your hands to create evenly sized balls.

When all balls have been rolled, roll them again through the chopped pistachios and press firmly into the balls.

Refrigerate for 15 minutes then enjoy.

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Ten Reasons To Eat Banana Daily

img_9903Bananas are one of the most widely eaten fruits in the planet. They are dense in potassium and pectin, a form of fiber, and are also an excellent way to get vitamins C and B6 as well as magnesium. Bananas are packed with antioxidants, which give protection against free radicals. They have several benefits for weight loss, heart health and digestion, and contain many essential nutrients. Besides being extremely nutritious, they are also a convenient snack to bring around.

1. Boost your mood

The next time you feel low, try eating a couple of bananas to boost your mood. The banana contains tryptophan, which the body uses to make niacin and serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for produce healthy sleep and a happy, stable mood. Not only this, but bananas also contain Vitamin B-6 and fiber.

2. For High Blood Pressure

Suffering from High blood pressure? Eating bananas will help you controlling it as they are a rich source of potassium. They are low in sodium but high in potassium, making them a great food for your blood pressure and heart health! Harvard Medical School has good advice on it.

3. Constipation. Promotes Regularity

Treat irregular bowel irritation and constipation problem by adding bananas to your everyday diet. They are the excellent source of fiber and minerals and help in improving the digestion.

Just one banana a day can help in keeping you regular. A typical 6-inch banana contains around 2.5 grams of total fiber, half of which are insoluble.

When insoluble fiber passes through the digestive tract, it helps push out waste and ensures that bowel movements are easy to pass.

Keeping your bowels healthy by consuming a minimum of 14 grams fiber per 1,000 calories consumed is recommended by the Colorady State University Extension. So for a standard 1,800-calorie diet, consumption of at least 25 grams of total fiber is recommended.

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4. For High Energy

Have you seen athletes, your favorite tennis players gobbling bananas before and during play? It’s because bananas are the best source of energy. They contain 3 types of sugar– Glucose, fructose, and sucrose! The first two gives a burst of energy quickly, whereas, the sucrose absorbs slowly and provide constant energy.

5. Get Help in Restless Leg Syndrome

If RLS giving you or someone you know restless leg syndrome– It’s time to eat bananas. Potassium rich food helps in RLS and bananas are a rich source of it.

6. Bananas for Weight Loss

Bananas are relatively low in calories, containing just under 90, but it is also quite filling and nutritious. Due to their rich fiber content, consumption of more fruits and vegetables has been associated with weight loss as well as a lower body weight.

It is also such an ideal snack due to the convenience at which you can eat them.

A popular myth on the Internet is that bananas improve mood because of their serotonin content. Logically, it makes sense that the dopamine found in bananas was believed to have a positive effect on mood and disposition, but since it does not cross the blood-brain barrier, it simply functions as an antioxidant.

7. Bananas are Good for Heart

Take a high fiber diet that is rich in potassium and low in sodium and it’ll help you in maintaining blood pressure, prevent stroke and heart attack. Bananas contain all that. Also, they are a great source of potassium, and Vitamin B6 and it’s proven that B vitamins help break down homocysteine, an amino acid that at high levels is related to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

8. Bananas support cardiovascular health

Potassium, an essential mineral for cardiovascular health and blood pressure control, is abundant in bananas, making it an ideal dietary source. Potassium-rich diets can help decrease blood pressure, and individuals who consume lots of potassium may lower their risk of developing heart disease.
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9. Bananas Enhance Immunity and Combat Cancerous Cell Changes

In an experiment that looked into different ripe fruit such as persimmon, pear, pineapple, watermelon, apple, grape and banana and their effects on immunity on the body, results showed that banana increased showed the best results in increasing the number of white blood cells and producing Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), which is an anti-cancer substance.

TNF is a cytokine, or a substance secreted by cells of the ummune system which helps in fighting abnormal tumor cells. In another study, fuctose-binding lectin was isolated from Del Monte bananas which inhibited the proliferation of leukemia cells and hepatoma cells. It is possible that the lectin isolated from banana in this particular study can be developed into a useful antitumor agent, among other things.

10. Bananas Contain Nutrients That Control Blood Sugar Levels

Bananas are contain fiber known as pectin. Young bananas have resistant starch, which functions akin to soluble fiber and evades digestion. Resistant starch and pectin may control blood sugar levels after meal consumption, and lessen cravings by delaying gastric emptying. Bananas also figure moderately on the glycemic index. The glycemix index is a measure of how swiftly foods raise blood sugar levels (0-100). Bananas therefore should not trigger spikes in blood sugar levels in normal individuals.

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Quote Of The Day

yoga1

Eckhart Tolle believes we create and maintain problems because they give us a sense of identity. Perhaps this explains why we often hold onto our pain far beyond its ability to serve us.
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We replay past mistakes over and over again in our head, allowing feelings of shame and regret to shape our actions in the present. We cling to frustration and worry about the future, as if the act of fixation somehow gives us power. We hold stress in our minds and bodies, potentially creating serious health issues, and accept that state of tension as the norm.
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There will never be a time when life is simple. There will always be time to practice accepting that. Every moment is a chance to let go and feel peaceful. .

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WHY REBOUND? Health Benefits of Jumping

rebounder-testimonials_03Remember when we were kids and we’d jump on the bed? Maybe if our parents had known the vast amount of benefits that come from that jumping up and down motion, they wouldn’t have yelled at us to stop!

Let’s talk about the adult version of jumping on the bed, it’s called rebounding. Rebounding is just a fancy title for, ‘’mini trampoline.’’ You can rebound anywhere from 5 minutes to as long as your heart desires.
Why rebound?

The most commonly known benefit of rebounding is the stimulation of your lymphatic system. Your lymphatic system is like your body’s internal filtration system. It’s job is to filter your blood and dispose of acidic and toxic waste.

Without it our cells, tissue and organs would become overloaded with toxins. A sluggish or unhealthy lymph system could lead to a weakened immune system, chronic fatigue, aches and pains, bloating, cellulite, your body collecting fat deposits, poor digestion, fibromyalgia and so much dang more.

Rebounding for just 5-15 minutes a day can increases the circulation of your lymphatic system by 15-30 times!

Aside from really rockin’ your lymphatic system, rebounding has plenty of other neat benefits:

Zero-impact exercise that won’t stress your joints
Strengthens abdominal muscles
Enhances digestion and elimination ( pooping is essential to good health!)
Helps burn calories
Helps decrease your resting heart rate
Circulates oxygen to tissues and muscles in the body
Helps promote relaxation
Improves quality of sleep
Increases blood flow in the veins of your circulatory system
Normalizes your blood pressure
May help combat depression
Stimulates your metabolism
Promotes muscle tone
Increases the production of red blood cells.
Lowers elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels

All of that just from jumping on a trampoline for a few minutes a day? Hell yeah!
How to rebound

1. Step on your mini-trampoline

2. Jump up and down

3. Repeat daily

Now go rebound. You’ll do something amazing for your health, and, rebounding is quite joyful. Something about just jumping up and down is fun and freeing. It really helps release the inner child in you and who knows, that happy inner child may provide you with some much-needed perspective.

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What is HPP ?

What is HPP?
Google says: “High Pressure Processing (HPP)
is an FDA approved method of treating foods and juices. They claim that by doing HPP you reduce or eliminate harmful bacteria and extend the shelf life. Because HPP is a non-thermal pasteurization process, it does not materially affect the food itself thereby preserving freshness, taste, and consistency. HPP usually extends the shelf life of raw foods from a few days to 45-90 days. This makes the food stable and easier to transport, hold, store, and sell.”
hpp
The above quote is what you would read if you google HPP. We have been talking about HPP since we started back in early 2012, Educating consumers that these juices are not raw like they claim. There are no laws in place right now that forces juice cleanse companies to tell the truth that they are using HPP. .
HPP is just another way where something that is healthy and amazing for you is taken and turned into garbage. Raw juice does not last 45 days or 60 days. And you can not preserve the live enzymes and nutrients for that long that’s why if you taste a juice that is HPP it will taste different and watery compared to a raw juice made from raw ingredients and in its raw state.
Also yes you are killing the bad pathogens they may occurr in the juice when it expires in its natural state in 5 to 7 days, but at that same time you are killing all the good bacteria as well. Your body needs both those bacterias, the bad builds up your immunity and the good bacteria is amazing for your gut. Conclusion: HPP is only about profit, its about prolong the shelf life of the juice to make it easier for companies and it has nothing nothing at all to do with your health.
The sterile alternative to actual RAW juice is not what you should use when doing a juice cleanse. Point of a juice is feast your cells on all the live enzymes and raw nutrients and the amazing gut flora. All these are destroyed when you HPP. Live enzymes die withing 5 days of a raw juice and they CANT be prolonged. The only thing HPP is prolonging is companies making money of you drinking sugar water. Because once those live enzymes are dead than that juice becomes all sugar. One of live enzymes million job is to break down that sugar and if they are no longer there than all that is left is sugar.

Remember there is no law right now in Canada or even the USA that makes companies tell the truth. So here clues to look for.

So how do you know if a juice that is claiming to be raw is actually HPP?

1- you can not HPP glass bottles. The high pressure process can only be done on juice in plastic bottles. So if juice is in plastic it’s 99.9 percent HPP.
2- Its sold at big chains like whole foods, planet organic, drug stores, loblaws, Rabba, sobeys, Metro, Walmart, and Costco. It’s all about big stores making profit. No big grocery chain is going to carry a juice that will be expired in 5 days, so a shelf life of 45 to 90 days is perfect for them and perfect for the juice company as well since nothing will go in the garbage.
3- Companies that hpp their juice will never tell you the day it was juiced and bottled and if they are not sold in stores they don’t have to tell you expiry date either. In the grocery stores Its the law for them to put expiry date. Check the expiry date and remember a RAW juice does not and can not last more than 5 to 7 days. If it does its no longer raw and has been processed.
4- Look at the bottle itself. HPP is very watery because the fiber is lost with the hpp process. Look for the separation that happens in the juice. If a juice claims it has 8 different leafy greens and apple in it, 45 percent of the bottle should be separated between the water and the fiber. If I confused you I apologize. Raw juice separates when it sits there, its a natural state and it tells you how much fiber is in the juice. I know many think that raw juice does not have fiber, they are wrong.

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Top 5 Popular Children’s Snacks Made with Cancer Causing Petroleum Products

gummyThe snack foods that are marketed for children can have anything from cancer causing artificial coloring to the unbelievable, petroleum products! ! Petroleum is the same ingredient that is used to make up oil and gas. Commonly used food dyes, such as Yellow 5, and Red 40 are made from petroleum and pose serious health problems. The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has stated that ingestion is typically under the “concern threshold.”

Those health problems can include hyperactivity in children, cancer (in animal studies), and allergic reactions. Artificial food coloring has been linked to bed-wetting, ear infections, headaches, hypersensitivity, obesity, asthma,diabetes,eczema, mood swings, hyperactivity, sleep disturbances, increased risky behavior, ADD/ADHD, chromosomal damage, hives, and possibly hypoglycemia.

In fact, these substances are so toxic that the British government and European Union have ended the use of dyes throughout Europe.

1. Pop tarts

These toaster pastries were first introduced in 1964. The Frosted Strawberry flavor has corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, dextrose and sugar within the first 6 ingredients! These are all forms of harmful sugar. The other alarming ingredients are TBHQ which comes from petroleum and is related to butane, partially hydrogenated soybean oil that causes cellular dysfunction, and cancer causing artificial colors.

2. Fruit snacks

These come in so many “fruit” flavors and characters they maybe hard to resist, until you realize they are made mostly is artificial additives and colors. Red 3 is a commonly used food coloring, also known as E127 or Erythrosine, a petroleum product.

3. M&M’s

They are fun colorful chocolate candies that melt in your mouth and not in your hands… These colors are artificial and are harmful when ingested. The colors utilized are, Blue #2: Is a petroleum based product that increases hyperactivity in children, increases brain tumors in lab rats and other abnormal cell development. Blue #1: Produces malignant tumors. Red #40: Damages DNA. Yellow #6: Can cause cancer and Yellow #5: All of these artificial colors are made from petroleum and can cause, in addition, allergic reactions, hyperactivity, and cancer.

4. Cheetos.

Those orange, cheesy snacks. The artificial color that creates the “cheese” color is made from Yellow 6, which we know is derived from petroleum. As is the “cheese” flavoring, including, methyl benzoate and ethyl methylphenidate.

5. Teddy grams

They have been around since 1988 and are available in 5 different flavors. These tiny bears are a great size for even small fingers but they are laced with the dreaded TBHQ. TBHQ can be toxic and also cause nausea, vomiting, ringing in the ear, delirium and collapse. It is shown to cause stomach cancer in lab rats, fragment DNA and cause damage to humane lung and umbilical cells. In children it can cause anxiety, restlessness, and intensify the symptoms of ADHD.

There are many quick and easy healthy snacks to grab and go. Organic fruit, pre portioned bags of organic carrots and celery and when I have a few minutes I make a large batch of granola bars with chia and flax seeds. These bars freeze well, can be made with fruit or nuts, are filling and nutritious.

sources

http://www.cspinet.org/new/201310161.html

http://blog.aarp.org/2013/06/25/8-foods-we-eat-that-other-countries-ban/

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Cruciferous Vegetables and Health Benefits

yes1Let’s talk cruciferous vegetables and why we love them and use them daily here at Raw Juice Guru, these are some of the cruciferous vegetables:

ARUGULA
-Cancer-fighting properties from phytochemicals
-Vitamins A, B-6, C, K, thiamin, riboflavin and niacin, which help with everything from bone formation, neurological health + detoxification
-Metabolism-controlling minerals such as copper and iron

BOK CHOY
-Omega-3s for brain function and anti-inflammatory properties
-High levels of vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin known for bone health and lowering inflammation
-Zinc, which helps to regulate hormones
Antioxidant support from vitamins A and C and flavonoids

BROCCOLI
-fiber content for digestive support + cholesterol-lowering benefits
-Anti-inflammatory, pro-detox + antioxidant benefits for cancer-fighting
-B complex vitamins linked to cardiovascular health

BRUSSELS SPROUTS
-Fiber content contributes to digestive support + cholesterol-lowering benefits
-High in detoxifying + cancer-fighting glucosinolates phytonutrients
-Elements in sprouts linked to improved DNA stability

CAULIFLOWER
-Detoxifying phytonutrients + antioxidant benefits from vitamin C + manganese, lower chronic stress + risk of cancer
-Excellent source of anti-inflammatory vitamin K
-High fiber content for digestive support

COLLARD GREENS
-Best of the cruciferous for cholesterol-lowering benefits by binding bile in digestive track, making it easier to exit the body
-Cancer-fighting glucosinolates support detox + anti-inflammatory systems

KALE
– b vitamin folate is key for brain development
-fiber + protein content manage hunger + satiate
-Lutein + zeaxanthin, nutrients protect against macular degeneration

MUSTARD GREENS
-High-fiber for gut health
-Vitamin K for bone development + limiting neuronal brain damage
-Indoles inhibit cancer-cell growth

RADISHES
-This detoxifying diuretic increases urine production
-High levels of vitamin C and anthocyanins may inhibit cancer-cell growth
– B + C vitamins, zinc, phosphorus + high water content benefit the skin health + appearance

TURNIPS
– B vitamins help promote healthy liver, skin, eyes + hair
-Calcium for bone, muscle + nervous system health
-Indoles inhibit cancer-cell growth

list

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Grap Your Raw Juice

What Can Organic Slow pressed Raw Juice do for you:

– Boost the number of fruits and vegetables you consume daily
– Break the cycle of unhealthy eating and crave healthy foods
-Lose weight
-Manage a healthy weight
– Lower the risk of life-threatening diseases
– Promote longevity
– Decrease aches and pains in joints and muscles
– Boost your immune system
– Release stored toxins
– Increase energy levels
-Promote beautiful and healthy skin, nails and hair
– Ease digestion by accessing digestive enzymes locked away in whole produce

Stop by 3324 Dundas street west, Toronto
For your organic slow pressed raw juice, or order for delivery on www.rawjuiceguru.com
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Nature Is The Answer

12079275_839975769442904_3709165707332905173_nOn a daily basis, we inhale, ingest, and absorb more toxins than out body can naturally eliminate. Detoxification involves multiple organs such as our kidneys, lungs, skin and gastrointestinal tract. Our liver is the recycling center for our whole body, its essential and vital that its working at top speed. A juice cleanse helps our body do what its meant to do on a daily basis.

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How do You start Our Cleanse

juice1How does our cleanse work?
How are we different ?

First decision is how many days you want to do. A good beginning is 3 to 5 days. The longer you cleanse the deeper your body will dig in to remove toxins, sludge and balance your ph.

Once you order you will receive a questionnaire from us thru email. This consists of 40 questions. They are detailed and will help the nutritionists design the cleanse for you.

What do we mean by designing. We don’t have just have 20 juices we have over 900 kinds. We are not all the same, there is no one size fits all cleanse with us.

The nutritionist analyze your questionnaire and put together the juices that will your body.
Your juices will change daily.
You will get daily delivery in glass bottles.

Your juices will be different than other cleansers. With over 900 plus kinds of raw juices the nutritionist main objective is to give you the best blends for your health and lifestyle.

Enjoy your juices and keep us updated on how you feel. Your cleanse can be altered daily if your detox symptoms are severe.

Every night before you go to bed you will leave the empty glass bottles and cooler outside your door. Our driver will exchange the coolers daily. We deliver between 2am and 8am everyday.

If you live outside our free delivery zones we would deliver 2 to 4 days at a time to you. Make sure to ask us about delivery costs to your area.

1800 831 9028
Www.rawjuiceguru.com
Info@rawjuiceguru.com