Strawberry Pineapple Cucumber

Today’s smoothie ingredients (serves 2):

• 1 cup water
• 1 orange, peeled
• 1.5 cups spinach (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup strawberries
• 1 cup cucumber, chopped
• 1 cup pineapple

Benefits:

• Orange: fiber, potassium, vitamin C and choline found in oranges all support heart health.
• Strawberries: an excellent source of vitamin C
• Cucumber: has the power to freshen your breath
• Pineapple:  contains 75 percent of your daily-recommended value of manganese, an essential mineral that helps develop strong bones and connective tissue
• Spinach: has a compound called oxalic acid, which blocks the absorption of calcium and iron. No worries thought – combining spinach with vitamin C foods like oranges and strawberries will make sure you’re getting all the nutrients you’re slurping down

Nutritional information for both servings:

Calories: 307

Carbs: 73

Fat:0

Protein: 6

Sodium: 36

Sugar: 50

Orange Banana Kale

Seriously, this is candy. It takes exactly like a creamsicle, but is made of only the best-for-you ingredients. Make this simple smoothie NOW!

Today’s smoothie ingredients (serves 2):

• 1 cup almond milk
• 3 oranges
• 2 cups kale
• 1 banana

Benefits:

• Almond Milk: it’s so low glycemic index, your body will use the little amount of carbs it has as energy so the sugars aren’t stored as fat.
• Orange: since they’re full of soluble fiber, this fruit is helpful in lowering cholesterol.
• Kale: is among the most nutrient dense foods in existence.
• Banana: protects against those pesky muscle cramps during workouts and nighttime leg cramps.

Nutritional information for both servings:

Calories: 418

Carbs: 96

Fat:5

Protein: 10

Sodium: 243

Sugar: 50

Kale Lemon Apple

 

 Today’s juice ingredients:

• 6 kale leaves
• 2 romaine leaves
• 1 cucumber (half if very long)
• 1 granny smith
• 1 lemon

  

Benefits:

• Kale: this leafy green cruciferous vegetable that is chock-full of essential vitamins A, C and K as well as minerals like copper, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus. 
• Romaine: got protein? Romaine lettuce is 17% protein with 7.7 grams per head.
• Cucumber: made up of 95% water, this is a great subtle addition to your juice to keep you hydrated
• Granny Smith Apple: making your own apple juice that is cloudy with pulp may increase your protection against heart disease.
• Lemon: the acid from the lemon juice acts as an antibacterial force  inside your stomach.

200 calories

Morning Must: Apple Cider Vinegar & Lemon Elixir

“You have great skin.”

Last weekend when I was able to leave snowy Boston to enjoy a relaxing spa weekend with my grandmother and sister I received this compliment from the esthetician, one that is never addressed to me.

In fact, I received this not just from the professional giving me a heavenly facial, but from my friends, my brutally honest family and even a handful of coworkers. Was my face really looking that great?

If you’re like me, you’re skin never finds the balance between too oily or too dry and always sports a constellation of pimples. One month ago, I added this elixir to my morning routine and all my skin problems faded away. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg; my entire body has never felt so good. I have more energy, better digestion and I even notice little things like no morning breath! Hey, celebrate the little victories in life right?

Ingredients

• 1-2 cups water at room temperature
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
• Drops of stevia for taste
• Optional: if you have fresh herbs lying around, toss in some mint or basil to aid in digestion or inflammation support

Benefits

• Water: Drinking water first thing in the morning is the best thing you could add to your morning routine. While you sleep, your body slowly becomes dehydrated. A tall glass of H20 wakes you up, boosts your metabolism and flushes out toxins. Drinking at room temp. ensures the lemon enzymes can do their job.
• Lemon: While seemingly acidic, this fruit has astringent qualities and is extremely alkalizing. It fuels your body with vitamin C, which helps with iron absorption which will help with your energy levels later throughout the day. Lemons are also detoxifying, which will help give you that glow I was talking about!
• Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV): This stuff is magical, no joke. It contains acetic acid, which is a potent antimicrobial and kills bacteria and will deep clean your insides. ACV even has the power to help those with diabetes control blood sugar levels. While acidic, adding just a bit to those alkalizing lemons will clean you from inside-out with your radiant hair and skin as proof.

Chocolate Coconut Ginger

This recipe is brought to you in part by Dr. Junger’s 3-Day Liquid Cleanse. This shake is not only high in HDL fats, but extremely low in sugar! With a pump of protein included, you’ll make it will to lunch without any hunger or fatigue.

Today’s smoothie ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened chocolate almond milk
• 1-inch piece of ginger peeled and minced
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp cardamom
• 1 tbsp raw cacao or unsweetened carob powder
• 1 tbsp almond butter
• Stevia to taste

Benefits:

• Almond Milk: a lactose free option that helps maintain strong bones and teeth while avoiding any antibiotics or hormones in production.
• Ginger: contains chromium, magnesium and zinc which can help to improve blood flow, as well as help prevent chills, fever, and excessive sweat.
• Coconut Oil: the medium chain triglycerides in coconut oil have been shown to increase 24 hour energy expenditure by as much as 5%, potentially leading to significant weight loss over the long term.
• Cardamom: related to ginger, it can be used in much the same way to counteract digestive problems such as nausea, acidity, bloating, gas, heartburn, loss of appetite, constipation and more.
• Carob: fights against osteoporosis, due to its richness in phosphorus and calcium.
• Almond Butter: containing calcium and copper to help out brain cell communication and keep your nervous system functional, while calcium also aids in muscle function and keeps your skeleton strong.

Nutritional information:

Calories: 341

Carbs: 31

Fat: 830

Protein: 7

Sodium: 192

Sugar: 9

Almond Honeydew Lime

Today’s smoothie ingredients:

• 3/4 cup almond milk
• 3 cups of honeydew melon
• 2 teaspoons maqui berry powder
• 1 tablespoon flaxseed
• 1 tablespoon juice of a lime
• 3 ice cubes

Benefits:

• Almond Milk: lower in calories, almond milk is jam packed with vitamin E, magnesium manganese and monounsaturated fats.
• Honeydew Melon: one cup of honeydew provides 34% of your recommended intake of vitamin C, so with this smoothie, you’re pretty much set.
• Maqui Berry Powder: one of the most antioxidant-rich foods with an abundance of anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Flaxseed: contain both soluble and insoluble fiber which keeps your digestive system smooth sailing.
• Lime: gives relief from congestion and nausea, eases constipation and prevents heart disease

Nutritional information:

Calories: 397

Carbs: 81

Fat: 8

Protein: 7

Sodium: 262

Sugar: 57

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.