Food & Nutrition: 'Raw food, and how to keep our skin holistically healthy through what we put into our bodies'

Food & Nutrition: 'Raw food, and how to keep our skin holistically healthy through what we put into our bodies' 

'High on Health' Blog , January 6, 2011

There's nothing quite like juicing when it comes to supporting natural body detoxification. For more, read below for great insights from a raw and vegan chef specializing in nutrition research and counseling and get a great juice recipe full of health benefits which can be used while doing The South Beach Detox.

Lately I’ve been inspired back to juicing again after usually starting my day off with a smoothie of some kind (usually a green one). I’ve always known the benefits of juicing, but it has basically come down to a convenience factor until now. Cleaning the blender has been much easier than the juicer! Juicing can be a great way to boost your health by injecting an amazing amount of nutrients into your body that you may have otherwise not been able to sit down and gnaw on. For example, who really is going to sit down to a plate of 2 carrots, some cabbage, half a beet and an apple. You might, but you’ll be waiting a while to get through it all.

Also for ingredients such as carrots, the juice is way more beneficial than the vegetable itself, as the process of eating the carrot forces your digestion to do more work by separating the juice from the fibre and this is where most of the nutrients are lost. Drinking the juice ensures more of the nutrients are bioavailable at a cellular level. Here’s one juice recipe I’ve been enjoying quite a bit of late and the ingredients benefits:

Jammin’ Juice (Fresh Juice for Body Detoxification)

Ingredients (serves 2):

1/8 green cabbage
1/8 red cabbage
2 stalks of celery (include green leaves if available)
1/2 beetroot
1 green apple
1 carrot
1 whole lemon
1 inch ginger

Place all ingredients one at a time in your juicer. I always like to save the celery till last as the strings can end up clogging up the screen (I use a champion masticating juicer). Also try and alternate softer ingredients like cabbage leaves, with the firmer vegetables like carrots or beetroot as they will assist moving the softer veggies along. I always blend the finished product with some ice cubes briefly as I love my juice cold and it also helps to mix the foam through the juice.

Drinking your juice as close to making it is always preferable, as it begins oxidising as soon as it is made therefore diminishing the nutrient and enzyme content. However if you are short of time, you can always juice up to 3 days ahead of time, as long as you store the juice with absolutely no air in the container and glass containers are best. You can fill the juice right up to the top of a jar, cover with cling film then screw on the lid.

Also, try to drink your juice on an empty stomach first thing in the morning, and do not consume any solids for at least an hour afterwards and even try and wait until you start to get hungry. This is because your body will utilise the juice much better without the added work of digestion.

Health benefits of the ingredients

Celery

Strong diuretic. Assists arthritis and rheumatism patients. Also beneficial for liver and gall bladder health issues, and will ease constipation. Can alleviate menstrual problems in women.

Beetroot

high in calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron which makes it beneficial for those suffering from anaemia. Can reduce blood pressure within in hour of consuming in a healthy individual and is high in Vit B.

Apple

can delay onset of dementia or Alzheimer's disease, It also helps prevent liver and kidney disease, formation of uric acid and chronic colitis. Great detoxifier.

Carrot

Even though carrots contain approximately 16% sugar, they have been proven to have less blood spiking effect than white potatoes or bread. Carrot juice is exactly what the body needs for blood alkalising (disease can only survive in an acidic body). An amazing ingredient for clear skin: prevents dry skin, treats psoriasis and other skin conditions. Other healths issues carrot juice assists with - cancer, eyesight, production and quality of breast milk in nursing mothers, high cholesterol & water retention.

Lemon

used in skin care it is a natural antiseptic and will rejuvenate the skin, and can even remove blackheads. Known as a detoxifier, lemon acts as a blood purifier and body cleanser. Will treat heartburn, throat infections, nausea, and can even rid the body of parasites. Rich source of Vit C & B.

Ginger

Blood purifier, great for regulating blood circulation, reduce nausea, useful for patients with gall stones, heartburn relief, cold and flu prevention and management, menstrual cramp relief.

Tips for Detox: What Should You Know About How To Detox Your Body

Raw Foods Can Help You Detox Your Body

There is a mostly quiet but getting louder group of individuals who are big proponents of eating raw.  This mostly sounds like what it says, but maybe a little clarification will help.  Raw foodists believe that there are specific enzymes, vitamins and other nutrient rich content in our foods that are simply lost or destroyed when cooked.  There is some evidence that supports these claims.  Also, to be sure, foods that are rich in these ingredients and fiber will go a long way towards helping you cleanse your colon and assist you in your body detox.  To be clear, raw food pertains to vegetables and fruits, grains, and other non-animal products.  A purist raw foodie will be vegetarian and many will be vegan.

Raw foods are not only limited to salads.

Vegan refers a diet that is free from all animal products.  Many of the foods that we have available in the U.S. have animal by-products or are actual animal products themselves.  For example, no vegan would eat an obvious meat choice like chicken or pork.  Likewise, they will not eat eggs or fish either.  For that matter, strict vegans do not eat cheese, milk, or any other product that requires an animal to produce directly or indirectly.  Gelatin, for example is an animal by-product and is found in certain mints and other desert items.  A vegan would not eat these items.  This type of diet is definitely hard to maintain in our culture of fast and convenient.  However, it is also this pace of life and diet that is leading to say much of the accumulation of toxins in our bodies.  So, a good place to learn how to detox might just be in a vegan’s home.

So, vegans and raw food purists have a lot in common.  For a moment, let’s discuss the specific benefits of eating raw foods as part of your detox diet.  There can be a lot to manage when you first get into detoxing your body programs.  You can make your life much simpler by picking some type of process and just sticking with it.  Now, for most raw foodists, this is not some fad or temporary diet.  They eat this way for all food at each meal.  You may find that this approach speaks to you as well.  First, begin your detox process by eating organic raw fruits and vegetables.  Not only will they provide much needed vitamins and nutrients, but the added fiber will help clean your colon.  Additionally, if you supplement with certain herbs or other health products, make sure you are going with the organic remedies – again, same reason as eating raw.  Drinking pure water in very adequate amounts is also a critical aspect to your detox.

Specifically, when you are eating raw foods, you will be getting the most active and alive aspects of the foods into your system.  With a lifetime of toxic accumulation, this is one of the best things you can do.  Your colon and other body tissues are constantly interacting with other microorganisms and such to keep you healthy.  When the accumulation of toxins and waste products builds up to a critical level, your body vitality and function will suffer.  The cells and tissues of your body will not be getting the ideal nourishment even from the foods you put into your body.  Once you are cleansed, then you can begin to rebuild your intestinal health and vibrant well-being again.