Growing Is Forever

Stop. Breathe. Reset.
Then carry on.

A film by Jesse Rosten – twitter.com/JesseRosten
Words by Kallie Markle – twitter.com/lightningvsbug
Music – “Window” The Album Leaf

Urban Remedy Super Green Cleanse Review: Day 3 (Symptoms, Perks and Results)

After 11 hours of sleep last night, I woke up ready to go for day three. I’m definitely weaker today, and tired  to some degree, but gaining mental clarity.

For those not familiar with juice cleanses, many will agree that day two is the hardest. You’re body has gone without food long enough to switch into the mode of getting rid of all those toxins. So say hello to these symptoms:

• acute acne expelling toxins through the skin
• brain fog from fewer calories, or withdrawal from sugar and caffeine
• cravings!
• decline of energy/fatigue due to your body adjusting to less calories
• headaches/body aches 
• mood swings

I promise, if you’re body is reacting normally to a cleanse, these will pass in a day or two. Just try to relax and keep yourself busy! Pretty soon you’ll be feeling these wonderful perks:

• mental clarity
• greater, refined energy
• increased energy
• bright eyes and skin
• decreased appetite
• deep healing of and past injuries
• intense cleansing of organs

My overall review of this cleanse? I loved having the six different juices each day, although by day three, I was definitely done consuming liquid green! If you see my day one review of the cleanse, I was obviously distraught with the way I was feeling physically and mentally beforehand. The quality of the juices was top notch – one of my favorite programs and I definitely recommend trying Urban Remedy. I would love to try one of their meal kits in the future. Three days later, I feel 95% better. No more bloating or fatigue. I feel much happier and back on track. I will be kicking off my clean raw eating again slowly, incorporating fruit and vegetable solids in-between smoothies and soups. Remember, it took three days to get here, so you can’t just jump back to your old habits! By reflecting on the progress made, you will make much better decisions upon leaving the cleanse in order to maximize benefits.

Urban Remedy Super Green Cleanse Review: Day 2 (Ingredients & Benefits)

Day two has arrived. Waking up before my alarm is a constant perk when juicing. I also go to bed much earlier (due mostly to boredom and lack of energy once the buzz of the last juice wears off). Many of the side effects of juicing slowly kick in day two, which I discuss here.

Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients and benefits of each juice on the Super Green Cleanse:

1. Dynamo

Ingredients: Cucumber, Parsley, Celery, Spinach, Kale and Dandelion Greens

Key Benefits: supports liver, boosts immunity, purifies blood and cleanses cells. This juice has 3 lbs of veggies packed into the 16-oz. bottle!

2. Refresh

Ingredients: Lemons, Chlorophyll, Ionized Water and Stevia

Key Benefits: oxygenates blood, freshens breath, alkalizes body, boosts iron levels

3. Clear

Ingredients: Burdock Root, Celery, Cucumber, Spinach and Parsley

Key Benefits: brightens skin, energizes, boosts immunity, cleanses cells

4. Soothe

Ingredients: Cucumber, Celery, Spinach, Apple, Ginger, Parsley and Lemon

Key Benefits: promotes digestion, purifies blood, supports kidneys, cleanses cells

5. Ensalada

Ingredients: Cucumber, Celery, Spinach, Kale, Carrot, Jewel Yam and Lettuce

Key Benefits: purifies blood, brightens skin, promotes digestion and aides liver health.

6. Glow

Ingredients: Cucumber, Parsley, Spinach, Lemon, Celery, E3Live Algae

Key Benefits: energizes, boosts immunity, oxygenates blood and helps your skin glow

 

Urban Remedy Super Green Cleanse Review: Day 1 (Taste)

I juice. A lot. I put up with the eye rolls and cynical comments when I walk by with a bottle full of green liquid. I’ve been told my eating habits are too healthy that they make people sick.

But it’s all worth it. Why? Because it makes me feel good. No, GREAT! I have IBS (another term for doctor’s don’t know what the heck is wrong with me) and I suffer from waves of terrible discomfort and fatigue. Juicing is the only way for me that resets my GI tract to cut the misery. After my birthday month of overeating, indulgence (non-clean eating) and binge drinking (how can you say no to free birthday shots?), my body was slammed back to reality. My symptoms have never been as prolonged and vicious as what I’ve been experiencing. Even after two weeks of clean eating and many calls to my mom crying in pain from abdominal distension, I knew it was time to push the reset button.

I was tempted to try a new juice cleanse from Urban Remedy, a California-based company founded by a certified Chinese nutritionist. There are three levels to try. Being an experienced juicer, I skipped straight to the Super Green cleanse. Each day I will provide a review of my overall status along with coverage on:

1. taste
2. ingredients, benefits of each juice
3. symptoms, side effects and results

I also bought a day of the Purify cleanse to review as well. I hope you find this helpful and give juicing a try.

Day One: Taste Breakdown

#1. Dynamo: 10 a.m.

After starting the day with two cups of tea and some lemon water, my body was craving some nutrients. With the first drops of green goodness on my taste buds, I actually felt a rush of nutrients spread like wildfire around my body. It’s not sweet like other green juices I’ve tried (the only fruit is lemon), rather it was earthy like a blended up salad. Easy to slurp down in 20 minutes and provided me with long lasting energy well into the late morning.

#2. Refresh: 12 p.m.

I wasn’t even hungry for this juice and while it is recommended to consume at noon, I held off until 12:45 p.m. Before trying the juice, I was TERRIFIED. I mean come on, it’s the color of highly chlorinated water. And I recently had a traumatic experience involving spirulina, so the mention of Chlorophyll sent instant shivers down my spine. But lesson, folks: don’t judge a book by it’s cover (or a juice by it’s color). The juice tastes exactly like a lemonade, which feels funny with it’s green tint. All you taste are the lemons, I promise!

 #3. Clean: 2 p.m.

Again, I had to start late on drinking this (3:30 p.m.) due to the surge of energy from the last two juices. I’m drinking at least 1-2 cups of tea and water between each round, which keeps me full and alert as well. The taste here was again, not sweet and you can definitely pick up on the celery and parsley. I also got a hint of something bitter, which I assumed was the burdock root. After researching, I’ve learned this root has intense healing/cleansing capabilities. It is a blood purifier that contains diuretic principles. And helps treat skin problems (acne, eczema).  And looks like this.

#4. Soothe: 4 p.m.

FINALLY! Directly upon opening this bottle I knew I had hit the jackpot. A few years ago, I hated ginger, but after realizing their ability to take a green juice from meh to woah, I fell in love. Plus the combination in this green juice was one of the best combinations I’ve ever tasted (apple, ginger, lemon, parsley). I tried to savor this for as long as possible.

#5. Ensalada: 6 p.m.

As you begin to wonder how many more green drinks you have to get through, this bright, orange beverage comes as a refreshing surprise. It tastes green, but thanks to the yam and carrot, there is a hint of sweetness that balances perfectly with the potent flavor of kale and celery. I also am biased towards anything with carrots.

#6. Glow: 8 p.m.

Oh. Oh no. Last juice of the day and by far my least favorite. The combination is nothing to look forward to and the E3 Live (algae) leaves you with a less than enjoyable taste in your mouth. Regardless, I’m so tired that I don’t seem to have any trouble gulping it down to get to bed.

Feed Your Hair

Ever since I went vegan, I found my hair to have a luscious sheen that radiates strength and beauty. I truly believe that the way your hair looks naturally is a clear sign of your diet and health. Healthy hair equals healthy body, which of course equates to happiness!

Below are essential nutrients your hair needs to shine bright like a diamond.

1. Iron and Zinc: You want sexy, long hair? These nutrients help hair follicles to grow. You can find these in dark leafy greens, such as swiss chard and spinach, or in lentils or nuts like almonds. The key to getting your iron in as a vegan is to consume with a vitamin C-rich food like an orange to boost absorption.
2. Vitamin D: Often associated with the sun, this vitamin may help activate hair growth. Since few foods contain it naturally, there’s always the option to go outside on a nice, sunny day as an excuse to soak up the ray’s nutrients. Or stay inside and serve up some mushrooms instead.
3. Protein: Vegans are constantly faced with the question of how to consume enough protein in order to promote optimal body functions and cell growth/repair. So it’s not surprising protein makes your hair strong too! Legumes and beans are an obvious route to go with, but protein is also found in dark leafy greens like kale, broccoli and spinach. Also boost your intake by adding avocado to your diet.
4. Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Omega 3 seems to go hand in hand with fish. For those who don’t dine on these swimmers, make sure you’re adding flaxseed, chia seeds and hemp seeds to your diet. Blended in a smoothie or topped in your oatmeal or salad is an easy way to keep hair hydrated and shiny.
5. Biotin: Ever hear about how pregnant women attain such long, lustrous hair? Because they have to uptake their biotin, subsequently, their hair gets some great perks as well. Swiss chard is the top producer of biotin, followed by carrots, berries (strawberries and raspberries) and nuts (almonds and walnuts).

 

Happy National PB and J Day!!! Peanut Butter and Jelly Braided Bread with Caramelized Bananas

April 2nd should be a national holiday. Not only does it signify your grandiose survival of April Fool’s Day, but it is the most delicious day in the world: peanut butter and jelly day.

So don’t hate me. This recipe isn’t healthy. But darn it – we are talking about PB here! And it will be perhaps the most scrumdiddlyumptious (and beautiful) dessert you’ve ever made.

Ingredients

• pizza dough (gluten free)
• your favorite peanut putter (I used Trader Joe’s unsalted creamy)
• your favorite organic jam/jelly (I used strawberry)
• 2 bananas
• vegan butter (Earth Balance)
• raw sugar (any granulated sugar for your convenience)
• coconut oil

Preparation

• Grease a cookie sheet with coconut oil while you set the oven to 350 degrees
• Roll out your pizza dough to a fill out as much of the cookie sheet as possible
• Cover with a damp towel for 20 minutes and let dough sit for 20 minutes
• While letting dough set, take a frying pan and set on medium heat with a dab of coconut oil to coat the pan
• Chop both bananas into slices and coat in granulated sugar
• Place sugar-coated banana slices in frying pan and wait 4-5 minutes until they begin to caramelize (but watch that they don’t burn)
• Flip them over when ready and let the slices sit for another 1-2 minutes
• Place bananas off to the side and continue with the bread
• Spread peanut butter first, followed by the jelly, down the center of the dough
• Remove from pan, place slices throughout the innards of the dough
• On each long side, cut 1 inch wide strips about 2-1/2-inches into center. Starting at one end, fold alternating strips at an angle across the filling. Pinch ends when finished to lock in the PB & J goods
• Coat top in a [generous] layer of melted vegan butter and sprinkle sugar (I used vanilla sugar) on top
• Bake for 20 minutes, or until crust appears to be cooked and crispy. (Or in other words: play some candy crush, try to beat level 264, lose track of time, and all your lives, remember you’re baking, remove from oven)
• Let the bread cool (hard to do) and serve!