Category: Juicing for health

Alfalfa Sprouts Benefits – A mighty plant!

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Alfalfa Sprouts Benefits – A mighty plant!


Alfalfa Sprouts Benefits – A mighty plant!

What’s the Hype about Alfalfa Sprouts? 

Sprouting is relatively new to me. How about you? Does it really do us good or is it just a new hype?

I am glad I have read (not just accumulated – hahaha) some books in the past 10 years on Green Health. The raw food world differentiates between raw and alive food. Alfalfa sprouts are alive! They were not harvested some time ago, instead, they are still growing (basically until the moment you’ll chew them). They can be grown right in your very own kitchen. How cool is that? Alfalfa is one of the highest-quality foods you can eat. The sprouts can be used in so many dishes. I especially use them to give my cooking an additional “sophisticated” touch. They are so easy to grow, don’t need much equipment, space, or attention and are ready to eat in about 5-7 days. Since I like to take care of plants, I really enjoy seeing them develop from small seeds to these one-inch delicate stems with tiny leaves. The taste is light and even the “denying-green-eaters” will like them. Maybe it’s because they don’t look so green or because they are homegrown. Or simply it’s just fun to eat the decoration. Sprouts add texture and an additional crunch to salads and wraps. Read on – my findings might surprise you.

Alfalfa plant’s benefits

Wait a minute. Do we talk about two things here? Some claim that sprouts contain 20-30 times more nutrients than adult plants. Is that so? Here is what I learned while scanning through Cleo Douglas’ “Alfalfa Herbal Directory: The Father of Foods”. More or less all these websites state the alfalfa plant is loaded with vitamins A, B, D, E and K, and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, iron, folic acid and calcium. But often the context refers actually to the grown plant and its leaves. Here is another fact you hardly will find. It contains noticeable amounts of vitamin B17 (called Amygdalin). Listing all its benefits seems almost impossible. Seriously, there are so many benefits that you would want to start to incorporate themright now! Here we go:

  • Reduces Inflammation
  • Improves digestion
  • Speeds up healing
  • Boosts immune system
  • Detoxifies the body
  • Lowers cholesterol levels
  • Controlling blood pressure
  • Flushing out toxins
  • Treating digestive problems
  • Better blood circulation
  • Strengthening the immune system
  • Controlling blood sugar
  • Increasing energy levels
  • Alkaline effect on the entire body
  • Helps bone density
  • Improves metabolic health
  • Cleans the skin
  • and more

But instead of memorizing the benefits in detail, I think of it in terms of “Will it do me any good?”. Raw foods give you energy and nourishment compared to food that has been cooked or baked to death. Everything lacking its own energy cannot give you energy. Have you ever seen a cow or a horse cooking a stew on the pasture? It’s that simple. Everything alive or raw will support your health and well-being. And that is actually all you need to know. And… how to incorporate energy foods into your daily routine.

An Aspect – no one talks about

If you are interested in health like me you surely came across the name Max Gerson (1881-1958) and his “Gerson Therapy”. In short, he was a medical doctor who found the cure for cancer through nutritional dieting. He developed a treatment regimen and later his daughter Charlotte Gerson (1922-2019) founded the Gerson Institut and wrote a book about the therapy in 2001. In the book “The Gerson Therapy – The proven nutritional program to fight cancer and other illnesses” it is stated, that alfalfa sprouts are actually forbidden to be eaten during their program. Hm? That came as a surprise to me! The reason is, sprouted alfalfa and other bean or seed sprouts are high in L-canavanine. 

L-canavanine is a common non-protein amino acid that is responsible for immune system suppression. Patients with no prior history of chronic joint pain have developed a sudden onset of arthritic symptoms upon ingesting alfalfa sprouts. Healthy monkeys even have developed lupus! If true, that is very interesting. Unfortunately, the book doesn’t conclude the source where the findings have been found. But I searched the internet and found similar or identical information. So far I haven’t had any problems… but I might not have eaten enough yet in one setting…

And then there is the warning out there that alfalfa sprouts can be contaminated with bacteria such as salmonella or e.coli. Well, I never had problems with mine growing at my home. I rinse them twice a day and rinse them thoroughly before eating. But who knows about the alfalfa sprouts in packages you can buy at the store? But I never had problems there either. Just saying… it might be best to grow them yourself.

Alfalfa Sprouts Benefits anyone? What has Dr. Norman Walker to say?

In my post “Why is juicing healthy for you?” I already talked about Dr. Norman W. Walker and why I always stick with him and follow his advice. I was curious to see what he had found out back in the day. In his book (reprinted annually since 1936 and revised in 1978) “Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices – What’s missing in your body?” he has only good things to say. But he mainly refers to the alfalfa plant with roots reaching down 30-100 feet (1-3m) into the soil. He also states when you are unable to obtain fresh alfalfa leaves you can sprout the seeds and eat them (not juice them). They are very beneficial as well… but obviously not as nutritious as the leaves. Alfalfa is also known as Lucerne Grass or Purple Medic.

He points out this plant has immense value in having the right balance of minerals (trace elements obtained from the deep) for the proper function of the various organs in the body by juicing only its leaves! Those minerals are calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, chlorine, sodium, potassium and silicon.

Conclusion

Having the sprouts handy for brightening up your daily dishes, go ahead with sprouting. Considering Dr. Norman Walker’s description I would say get your hands on alfalfa leaves and juice them for optimum health.

 

 

 

Why is juicing healthy for you?

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Why is juicing healthy for you?

Person grabs a glass of carrot juice

We all know by now (at least I know) that we’ve been misled by science, governments, schools, big pharma, the press, all media and everybody else. And the reason behind is all political! And this is sad too. The so-called SAD (Standard American Diet) tastes great (no doubt), but doesn’t nearly provide the essential nutrients we need to prevent disease. It’s so sad people don’t know this simple truth. An apple here and there will not do it!!! That’s why juicing is a great (in my belief the only) option. Why is juicing healthy for you? Because you cannot eat enough to make up for the huge deficiency of nutrients your diet is lacking… you have to drink them!

SAD is sad.

SAD (Standard American Diet) is such an appropriate abbreviation… isn’t it sad we start with a hearty breakfast (e.g. eggs, toast and sausages), continue with a soup or cooked dish for lunch… just to sit together for the same cooked variations with the family for dinner and dessert? To be honest, yes, I mainly eat in the same way. I skip breakfast but I do eat cooked foods throughout the day. That is what I know since childhood and that is what I have been accustomed to. If everyone around you eats cooked food… well, what else can you do? Don’t despair! There is something you can do to level up your intake of nutrients!

What are essential nutrients?

Vitamins ~ Minerals ~ Proteins ~ Fats ~ Carbohydrates ~ Water

Person holds a shovel with soil
Picture of a glass with green juice and decorated with slices of kiwi
Almonds laying separate on table and on two spoons
A pictures of a wonderful splash of water

Essential nutrients are what our body needs daily for optimum health. In short, these components will boost your immune system, strengthen your teeth, bones and muscles, maintain healthy skin, hair and nails, form antibodies, hormones and other essential substances, make your brain and nervous system function better, aid in better digestion and provide your body with more energy! WOW! – A deficiency will cause ill health! And that is all we need to know. We don’t have to get lost in details. 

Picture of Dr. Norman Walker

A PIONEER you need to know

Have you heard of Dr. Normen Wardhaugh Walker (1886-1985) yet? After becoming very sick as a young man, he discovered fresh fruit and vegetable juices in order to cure himself, which proved successful, and he dedicated his whole life to it. Dr. Norman Walker believed all cooked or baked goods were “dead” and unhealthy. He also believed that juicing raw fruits and vegetables was the only way to live a vibrant healthy life. Solid foods require hours of digestion, whereas pulp-free juices go directly into your bloodstream, the nutrients soaking in within 15 minutes of consumption

In his lifetime of 99 years, he wrote many books about his profound research of the etiology of diseases. As far as I understand, he was a (chemical) scientist who researched (extracted) every fresh fruit and vegetable for its unique composition and tested its curative properties throughout his lifetime. To do so, he worked with medical doctors and created various juice formulas as a panacea for almost every human sickness. He was aware, the Standard American Diet (SAD) causes the colon to be filled with toxins that strain the immune system. For instance, he said, already pimples can be an indication of the presence of toxemia. He estimated 80% of all disease begins in the colon and that ailments were a consequence of waste matter in the body. In 1910, he founded the Norwalk Laboratory of Nutritional Chemistry and Scientific Research in New York City. His formulas work and he was extraordinarily successful. He is considered one of the first pioneers of juicing.

A huge secret

Here is the one secret I learned from his books. Pulp-free juices do not contain pulp, right? And that’s why juicing is healthy for you! Dr. Norman Walker claims that he has seen under the microscope, impurities like toxic elements from fertilizers, insecticides, or any environmental pollutants will stay in the pulp! What? If that is true… this is so groundbreaking… I wish I could find someone who will verify it once again. In other words, wow, juicing instead of eating will prevent you from ingesting chemicals. Really?

One true story

While I was picking up my son from his day home an elderly woman (day mom’s relative) walked to the door and seemed to be in agony. She explained she has arthritis in her ankles and it is very hard for her to walk. I told her about my findings of a man who spent his lifetime researching and developing formulas of nature’s fresh produce for the cure of ailments. She agreed to try it out. We arranged that she pays for the organic farm produce, but I will be juicing for her. It didn’t take much time before she felt better (less than two weeks). She felt so good that she immediately bought a juicer for herself. Below are the formulas from Dr. N. Walker’s book “Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices” regarding arthritis. In his book, he explains that arthritis is caused by the “inorganic calcium deposits in the cartilage of the joints as a result of eating concentrated carbohydrates in excess”. Please note (very important) quantities of those juices need to be taken in the exact amount for best results. The formulas typed in bold are the most effective. Try it out!

– 16oz (473ml) Grapefruit Juice

– 10oz (296ml) Carrot and 6oz (177ml) Spinach Juice, not mixed

– 16oz (473ml) Celery Juice

– 9oz (266ml) Carrot and 7oz (207ml) Celery Juice, not mixed 

– 10oz (296ml) Carrot, 3oz (89ml) Beet and 3oz (89ml) Cucumber Juice, not mixed

 

Let’s juice!

When I learned of Dr. Norman Walker in 2012 I instantly bought all of his books and started juicing. If I wouldn’t have read and heard about Dr. Norman Walker, I am sure I wouldn’t have been as healthy as I am today. Juicing gives you so much! Mental clarity, better digestion, stamina and overall better health. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Juicing fresh organic fruit and vegetables equals more nutrients and therefore better health! That is as simple as it sounds. I went back to university (being 25 years older than my peers) while being a single mom of two! Every day (for two years) I had one juice in my lunch bag. Could I have done it without the knowledge of the benefits of juices? I seriously don’t think so.

My advice

Over the years, I had many juicers. I started with an old one from a garage sale. It worked, and I started experimenting to see if this new lifestyle might stick to me. There is no need to start with an expensive model but with a cheap one neither. Juicing is pretty labour-intensive and costly. Therefore you want the most juice out of it. Cheaper juicers don’t have enough power to extract enough juice, and the pulp stays too moist. A trick is here to take a “mylk” bag and squeeze the rest out of it. It might stain the cloth. But that’s okay.

3 water bottles with lemonade in a wooden box

Pomegranate Juice Benefits – Boost Your Immune System!

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The picture shows a glas of pommegrante juice with some fruits on a pick laying on top

Don’t give up before you have started!

I hear you! Yes… it is laborious and tedious! Yes… no doubt you need a good distraction while fiddling with the fruit to get its seeds out. I always plan ahead… watching something nice on TV or Netflix. In my last session, I de-seeded 5 pomegranates in under one hour! If I can do it… so can you. Yes, it seems like a lot of work, but once you get the hang out of it… it’s like with anything else… practice makes it easier. Please consider the pomegranate juice benefits and its amazing taste before making any decision.

History

Pomegranate is a Middle Eastern fruit that has been used for thousands of years as medicine. It was first discovered in Persia as far back as 4,000 BC. Today, people from around the world love the fruit for its high nutrient and antioxidant content.

Nutritional facts

Pomegranate juice contains more than 100 phytochemicals, and it’s high of antioxidants and polyphenols. Please see my article on these components for a better understanding. Antioxidants help to remove free radicals, protect cells from damage, and reduce inflammation throughout the body. Not any other fruit juice out there contains as much high levels of antioxidants as pomegranate juice. It’s one of the most heart-healthy juices out there. Main nutritional components:

Pomegranate Juice and Fruit

    • Antioxidants (anti-inflammatory)
    • Phytochemicals
    • Polyphenols (vibrant red hue, protects against oxidative stress, reduces bad cholesterol)
    • Flavonols
    • B Vitamins (to synthesize and help repair DNA)
    • Vitamin C (35% of daily requirement)
    • Vitamin E (helps with hair growth)
    • Vitamin K (helps with red blood cell formation)
    • Thiamine
    • Riboflavin
    • Niacin
    • Folate (25% of the daily requirement, helps with red blood cell formation)
    • Potassium
    • Calcium
    • Magnesium
    • Iron
    • Phosphorus
    • Zinc

Pomegranate juice benefits the skin, the hair, and everything else ;-)). The benefits are enormous, from maintaining blood sugar and blood pressure, strengthening the bones, improving digestion to slowing down the aging process… it’s a miraculous fruit… and a wonderful drink that keeps your stomach and liver healthy.

Side Effects

Always please double-check if you have allergies or if you take medicines that may interfere with pomegranate juice. This juice is high in sugar and may increase the blood sugar level in a diabetic patient. Even though, studies have shown… daily consumption of a moderate amount does not increase the blood sugar level any more than other fruits.

Extracting the kernels

As stated above, juicing pomegranate is not as easy as any other fruit. First, you have to make your way to free the juicy kernels! This is not for everyone… but common… it’s so rewarding! Making your own juice without additives and pesticides, but the full benefits? This cannot be topped! Here are three ways to get to them quickly:

open cut pomegranate

  1. Under the water
    1. Cut off the top (the part with the stem), cut the fruit in 4 sections
    2. Place section into a bowl of water and roll the seeds out of the membrane
  2. The tapping method
    1. Slice it in the middle, hold the opening over a bowl
    2. Tap the hell out of it (the Martha Stewart method)
  3. My take on it
    1. Cut the top off, slice the sides (but not deep), use your hands (with gloves on) to separate the sections
    2. Gently pull out the seeds over a bowl Watch TV or YouTube!

Bottom Line

Juice doesn’t have to be green or full of spinach to be healthy! Out there are so many alternatives. Please take away one key point in understanding what makes a juice a healthy juice. It has to be fresh and purely organic. Avoid most prepacked juices which, contrary to the conventional belief, are not healthy. Mostly, they are heated (to prolong shelf life while destroying all vitamins, and yes, they still contain vitamins… artificial vitamins, which were added after the heating process) and contain all sorts of chemicals which were sprayed and added while being cultivated and prepared for sale. If you must buy, look for some cold-pressed juices in health stores instead… or ask them to freshly prepare juice and take it home to freeze. Enjoy!

Person holds an open cut pomegranate in his hand over a blue bowl

Chickweed Benefits – A Miracle Herb To Know!

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A photo of a patch of chickweed

Why is it called chickweed?

Because it was used as feed for chickens.

Since I was little, I could tell this plant apart from other so called weeds, and I knew that budgies and other cage-birds love it too! Especially the tiny pretty flowers, the small delicate leaves, and later in the season, the seeds. How come animals instinctively know about the chickweed benefits? They must somehow know what to eat and what not? I wish we would know that too. But instead… we follow our taste buts (e.g. fried food) instead of eating what is healthy…. so we need to discover it now. Read on.

Nutritional facts and history of chickweed

Already centuries ago, chickweed was used in culinary dishes and had many remedy uses, such as reducing inflammation, fighting germs, and to rejuvenate the whole body! Wild common chickweed (I don’t think you can’t buy it anywhere yet) is one of nature’s super foods for overall health and especially for purifying the blood and lymphatic system (removes harmful substances). The way I consume it is in blended drinks (smoothies)… but I don’t use too much (only a handful) since it otherwise may act as a natural laxative (oops). Applied topically it will sooth rashes and itchy skin.

  • Blood and lymph cleanser
  • Supports digestion
  • Skin-soothing qualities

Chickweed is very nutritious! It’s packed with everything our body is longing for. Like wheatgrass, it has it all! It’s high in diverse plant compounds (e.g. phytosterols, tocopherols, triterpene saponins, flavonoids), minerals, vitamins and other nutrients, including calcium, copper, iron, niacin, selenium, GLA (gamma-linolenic acid), thiamine as well as vitamin A, D, B complex, C, rutin (a bioflavinoid), potassium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, sodium, silica and beta-carotene.

That is quite a lot for such a diminutive plant! In comparison, with spinach and other leafy greens, chickweed holds up extremely well.

How to identify chickweed

Chickweed (Stellaria media) is an annual herb that grows in pairs low to the ground up to 8inches (20cm) tall and 1ft (30cm) wide. Its stems often lie along the ground. It grows in moist soils with partial sunlight in lawns, pastures, and cultivated fields. It is also found everywhere from coastal cliffs to gardens, farmyards to roadside verges. “Stellaria” comes from the Latin word stella, “star” and “media” is Latin for “medium”… referring to the flower and size of the plant. Look closely, it has such pretty but tiny white star-shaped flowers! It’s been found in North America and Europe often blooming throughout many months from February to December. Like so many other plants, chickweed is self-pollinating. The seeds survive the cold and reseed themselves every year.

What to do with chickweed?

A glass full of juice with chickweed in the background

Consume it! It’s free! A fresh pressed juice is probably the most beneficial way to consume this wild edible.

As I have mentioned above, I am putting a handful of chickweed to my banana plus a “choice of fruit” into my blender. Unfortunately, the earthy taste is pretty overwhelming… what might be due to the stems I put in. So please, take the leaves and the flowers but not the stem! Another option is to put it into your green salad or simply juice them whole. But remember to dilute it with other green leafy vegetables, e.g. with cucumbers or celery.

Is it dangerous?

No! It is said in very large quantities, this seemingly innocent plant is somewhat toxic, but symptoms are not well documented. Due to its high amount of saponins, some people may experience an upset stomach. Do you know there are different kinds of chickweed out there? They are actually pretty easy to distinguish once you know. Some variations are said to be really toxic for horses… and cows… who would have thought? Despite being registered as being toxic in excessive quantities, chickweed is not banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Nevertheless, it is always important to know what to consume. Identifying wild plants is sometimes tricky (like mushrooms) and you need to do some research beforehand. Just note, chickweed is known to grow by some poisonous varieties.

Enjoy the chickweed benefits

Whatever plant is in its natural state (not cultivated in any way) has much greater concentrated nutritional components over cultivated or hybridized vegetables and fruits. So go out and shop in “nature’s produce section”! Picture that… all those free plants possess a vigorous and hardy nature…. they don’t require the care of us humans to thrive. They have quite resilient qualities… we only shall benefit from it, don’t you think? Foraging for wild foods is fun and gets us outside with the whole family. And the best… I hope we never will be in the need of it… it’s a great emergency survival food…

 

 

Dandelion Greens Health Benefits – A Fabulous Wild Plant!

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A bunch of Dandelion Greens

Why dandelion greens?

Have you ever put up a fight with your dandelion in your front yard? They are pretty stubborn. As if they would tell you… don’t kill me… eat me instead! But had you listen? There is so much to learn about this marvelous crop. Most greens we can buy at the super market are cultured for a very long time. Their properties have changed and under the microscope they don’t contain as many nutrients anymore. Wild plants in the contrary, not alternated by mankind still have everything the nature has to offer (as long as you harvest them at the right place). Dandelions greens health benefits will astound you and you will wonder why you haven’t incorporated them in your weekly health routine long ago.

Nutritional facts and history of dandelion greens

What is the difference between dandelion greens and dandelion leaves? Nothing! It’s the same! In this article, I will mainly refer to the greens even though the whole plant can be eaten (stems, leaves (greens), roots and flowers). The leaves are very rich in vitamin K (good for the blood and the bones) and vitamin A (good for the eye and the immune system)… to name a few benefits… but please read on…

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is well-known for its healing properties since ancient times. Not so much in our days, so it seems. North Americans rather consider it a weed which needs eradication. Maybe so because it isn’t native? Among many other herbal medicine plants, early European settlers must have valued them so much they brought them over (hahaha, maybe as early as on the Mayflower). Nowadays, they bloom everywhere but in Antarctica. Dandelion greens, roots and flowers are beneficial for cleaning the liver, to boost the immune system and to lower cholesterol levels. ‘Taraxacum officinale’ comes from the Greek and means ‘bitter herb’. The name dandelion comes from the French “dents de lion” (teeth of the lion) due to the shape of the leaf.

  • Cleanses the liver
  • Boosts the immune system
  • Reduces inflammation in the body

Dandelions leaves are a super food with more beta-carotene than carrots! The leaves are high in vitamin A which is critical for maintaining healthy eyesight. They compete with kale and collards for their rich vitamins and minerals, also beat out spinach in terms of protein, vitamins A, C, K, Omega 6, iron, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium. Their taste is similar to collard greens but with a more bitter flavor. In general, dandelion’s healing properties center primarily around the digestive organs and by encouraging the production of stomach juices. Dandelion greens are also a rich source of chlorophyll which helps to purify the blood.

When is the best time to harvest?

Dandelion greens are one of the first signs of spring and show up as soon as the snow melts. If you are going to use them raw (like me)… hurry to harvest as many as you can early in the season (take a scissor with you). The window for the young, tender and mild leaves of the plant are short. They are not as bitter as the more mature leaves later in the year. But bitter is good. Harvest them young, when they look alive and vital… long before the flowers appear and the plant goes to seed. If you are going to harvest them later… you still can cook them… which will destroy all bitterness (and unfortunately all vitamins too). If you have kids, take them with you! They love to harvest with you! My boy (9) did it even on his own to surprise me. So cute! Interestingly, when you wait until late fall and for some hard frosts… the leaves will lose all bitterness.

Never harvest dandelions near roadways, where they soak up fumes, or from any location where chemical sprays (weed killers) may be used. The roots are at its best when the plant is blooming and all the energy is still stored.

Not keen in picking weed…. nowadays well stocked health stores or the farmers market carry dandelion greens year round. These dandelions are primarily grown in green houses sowed throughout the year so that the leaves never become too bitter. Look for leaves in dark green color, without blemish, not wilted, and not enormous.

What to do with dandelion greens?

child blows dandelion

I juice them with whatever I have on hand. It could be with apple, celery, cilantro, cucumber, dill, lemon, turmeric, ginger, and any other dark leafy greens on hand. Another way is to add fresh or frozen dandelion to a smoothie. Having them mixed in a green salad is also a great way. Always wash them fully immersed in water. An added dash of vinegar will help to get rid of any bugs. When in season, make sure to collect enough to freeze them in small portions for the long winter (that’s what we have here in Canada). And here is another fun idea… use the stem as a biodegradable straw!

The other option is to cook them and use them in various dishes. The internet is full of recipes. They are really nice in stews. One tasty recipe is to sauté some garlic in olive oil, add the chopped green leaves, and finish off with some soy sauce. After about 10 min in the pan, add some fresh lemon juice and enjoy.

Enjoy the dandelion greens health benefits!

Dandelions are a perfect health plant with so many benefits while being a so called “free weed”! Go for it! See it as another way to get rid of it on your lawn. Hahahah. Eat or freeze it! A tip… while letting them soak for a night in water, I feel that this helps to get rid of the bitterness a bit more. You need to watch out for the amount you are putting into your smoothie. Kids might be turned off by its bitter taste very quickly. Camouflage the flavour with bananas, blueberries, or pine apple. For a healthier life… you have to do what you need to do!

A field of dandelion