A great jar of orange ...

Juice of the Week - Detox extravaganza with Daikon

Cucumbers!

Sliced, chopped or juiced, cucumbers are cool fruits! It's no wonder they're used in facials :) 

Cucumber has an impressive amount of water (about 96%) that is naturally distilled, which makes it superior to ordinary water. 

Why organic cucumbers?

Organic ones that have not been waxed to seal in moisture. Once waxed, no washing can remove the wax and you have no choice but to peel the cucumber before juicing. But the cucumber peel holds Vitamin A, so onced peeled, most of it will be lost. 

Cucumbers also contain Vitamin K, C, potassium and calcium. 

Other benefits of cucumbers? 

• Great for hair and skin

Cucumber juice promotes hair growth due to its silicon and sulfur content.  Also, it contains silica, a trace mineral which contributes to strengthening connective tissues resulting in stronger hair and nails. 

High antioxidant levels and vitamin C in these juicy green helps clean and clear our system, giving us great skin. These make it a useful ingredient for treating skin problems like eczema, psoriasis, sunburn, acne and even puffiness or swelling

• Weight loss

Cucumber juice is a natural diuretic removing excess fluids from the body. It also breaks down large fatty deposits into tiny pieces, which get flushed out in the urine.

• Good source of manganese, potassium, silicon, and chlorophyll. 
• Reduces inflammation

Its juiciness helps cleanse and wash away toxins. Toxins are often stored in fat cells and cause inflammation. Also, the nature of cucumber helps "cleanse" at joints that bring about pain. 

Sources: 

              Carey. 2012. Benefits of Cucumber Juice. Aurabelle LLC. Sourced on 30 November 2012 from, http://myjuicecleanse.com/benefits-of-juicing/benefits-of-cucumber-juice/

              Lewis. B. 2011. Cucumber Juice for Weight Loss. Sourced on 30 November 2012 from, http://www.livestrong.com/article/303776-cucumber-juice-for-weight-loss/

              Morin. T. 2011. Benefits of Juicing a Cucumber. Sourced on 30 November 2012 from, http://www.livestrong.com/article/246009-benefits-of-juicing-a-cucumber/?utm_source=popslideshow&utm_medium=a1

Celery ~ Sleek, Sexy, and Strong

Long, slender and succulent, celery is one of the most hydrating vegetables and hence very juicy-licious! Besides looking good, it is full of nutrients and goodness too! 

Celery leaves are high in vitamin A, whilst the stems are an excellent source of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and C and dense in potassium, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, sodium and essential amino acids.

It's essential oils that give it that distinct celery-smell is also known to regulate our nervous system and helps us keep calm. 

Too much water? Too little? 

       ~ Celery balances out both issues! It is used for rehydration in athletes thanks to its juicyness, natural sodium and electrolytes. Celery's sodium and potassium content also helpsremove excess fluids from the body! 

• Anti-inflammatory

Polyacetylene helps relieve inflammation in our bodies, which also helps with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout, asthma and bronchitis.

Also, luteolin (a phytonutrient in celery) also inhibits the excess production of TNF-alpha, a direct cause of inflammation. 

 

• Anti-cancer

The compound acetylenics was shown to stop the development of tumor cells ... though not yet tested on humans!

Phonolic acids in celery block the actions of hormone-like substances called prostaglandins, which encourage the growth of tumor cells.

Coumarins, another phytonutrient, aids in prevention of free-radicals from damaging cells and prevent the formation and development of the colon and stomach cancers.

                                           Powerful stuff... :) 

• Aids in digestion

Celery is a friend of our bowels and tummy! 

• Sexual boost ;) 

It is believed that celery with its balancing effects on us will help boost our sexual drive...!

                                                 And the list goes on... :p

Sources:

                Walters, S. 2008. The Incredible Powers of Celery Juice. Natural News Network. Sourced on 29 November 2012 from, http://www.naturalnews.com/024596_celery_juicing.html

                Woods, T. 2011. Health Benefits of Raw Celery Juice. Demand Media, Inc. Sourced on 29 November 2012 from, http://www.livestrong.com/article/24659-health-benefits-raw-celery-juice/

PINEAPPLES! ~ Are we there yet?

No.. we're not going to Hawaii (yet)... though we can IMAGINE that we are when you get a little taste of this tropical fruit in our juices ~ full of the sensations of beach, sun, and sand... mmmmm... 

Right! back to the greatness of this yellow bundle of spikey joy! 

It's loaded with... 

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin B1 
• Manganese 
• Copper
• Magnesium
• Potassium
• Beta-carotene 
• Folic acid 

anddd..

• Relatively smaller amounts of vitamin B2, B3, B5 and B6. :) 

The sunny story doesn't end here! Pineapples also contain the proteolytic enzyme bromelain, which has many goodnesses of its own.

~ Aids digestion - since it has the ability to help the body balance and neutralize fluids and to stimulate hormonal secretions that aid digestion in the pancreas. It also helps in the breakdown of protein (which causes ingestion in some cases). 

~ Anti-inflammatory agent that reduces the immune response that causes swelling. 

Last but not least in our list, is that pineapple juice is a natural diuretic, cleaning our bodies of toxins and helping to lower blood pressure. Also, it helps in preventing weight gain. 

     

          There's much more than what meets the eye to this sunny, sweet&sour wrap of spikes! :) 

Sources: 

            Cranston. G. 2012. Pineapple Juice Benefits. Healthguidance.org. Sourced on 30 November 2012 from, http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/15648/1/Pineapple-Juice-Benefits.html

            Green. R. 2012. Benefits of Pineapple Juice. Juicing and Raw Foods. Sourced on 1 December 2012 from, http://www.juicingandrawfoods.com/benefits-of-pineapple-juice.html

            Morin. T. 2011. Benefits of Drinking Pineapple Juice. Demand Media, Inc. Sourced on 30 November 2012 from, http://www.livestrong.com/article/254521-benefits-of-drinking-pineapple-juice/

Juice of the Week

Another jarful of goodness!! This week's juice is a massive booster of micronutrients :) Enjoy!

Juice Jar & The Pilates Studio

Juice in a van!

We had a lovely trip to places around South Australia during the Christmas break and made sure we had our juicer handy! Luckily we managed to pick up organic produce from Melbourne and in Adelaide to make satisfying & delicious juices :)

Here are some pictures of Mr.Oscar and us on our trip...

Before a good shake :p

Carrots! ~ No wonder bunnies love them :)

 What nutrients does a carrot have? 

        Calcium, phosphorous, iron, sodium, potassium, vitamin B complex, vitamin A... each has their own benefits for our bodies! 

                                                         

1) Vitamin A & Beta-Carotene

Carrots hold a high vitamin A and beta-carotene content which helps, 

~ Strengthen the eyes.

~ Keeps healthy mucous membranes that line all the cavities of the body.

~ Promotes growth of bones and teeth, the maintenance of healthy body tissues.

~ Maintains normal glandular functions.

Vitamin A toxicity is possible with vitamin supplements and fish oils, but you cannot overdose on vitamin A with carrots while enjoying their extra large amounts of this vitamin.

2) Cleanses and restores the liver    

     

3) Great for skin and complexion 

The detoxifying nature of carrots help removes toxins that clog up our systems and hence helps our skin radiate and maintain clear. 

4) Anti-aging

High antioxidant levels in carrots will provide us with ageless beauty and exuberance!!! 

nom..nom..nom..sip..sip... :) 

Sources:

            Fassa, P. 2011. Discover the health benefits of juicing carrots. Natural News, sourced on 28 November 2012 from, http://www.naturalnews.com/034511_carrots_juicing_health_benefits.html

            Lust. J.B. 1992. The Wonders of Carrot Juice. Living and Raw Foods. sourced on 28 November 2012 from, http://www.living-foods.com/articles/carrotjuice.html

2013 ~ Happy New Juicing Year!

Happy New Year to all :) May 2013 be a year of great health, fulfilment and growth! 

We are also back to juicing! 

 A GREEN START!
I assure you it's yummy :)