Millions of us suffer during this season from the cold and bitter winter, which can create challenges when it comes to enjoying our fresh juices. Jay and I realize that when it gets cold, millions of us find it more appealing to eat a hot meal like pizza than it is by eating a raw salad and a liter or so of fresh juices.
We have good news for you!
You don't have to grab for those hot, devitalizing meals and suffer from lethargy and digestive issues, as well as losing your motivation to keep your body moving during these colder months, any longer.
Our biggest challenge during the wintertime is that we want to eat hot foods, which is quite normal, but unfortunately, we usually always overeat or eat too many cooked foods. Eventually we grab other comfort foods as well: the pastries, cakes, cookies, and coffees.
This is primarily why we pack on many unnecessary pounds!
We urge you to try to mitigate this mistake by eating fewer cooked foods and more whole food salads for your afternoon or evening meal. One of our secrets is to drink one liter of fresh vegetable juice with all your cooked meals. This will enhance your body's ability to digest the heavier foods and deliver more energy to you so that you can get to the gym or otherwise continue to stay active during these darker and colder times of the year.
Most all dieticians and doctors will tell you to never drink liquids with your meals, but this is different! All fresh juices are rich in enzymes, which is the missing link in foods that are heated over 118 degrees. By drinking fresh juices with cooked meals, it automatically enhances digestion because these juices are rich in enzymes that will help you digest heavier meals completely devoid of enzymes.
Here's our three secrets that will help you!
Secret #1:
Always try to drink 24 to 32 ounces of fresh veggie juices with your meals. (See recipe below.) Do not make fresh fruit juices and eat cooked foods. Vegetable juices are the best way to use this technique.
Secret #2:
Cut your cooked food intake in half and add a large salad to your meal.
Secret #3:
There are certain spices we can add into our juices that will warm up our stomach as soon as we consume them—they help with good digestion as well.
Fresh Herbs:
- Fresh basil
- Tarragon
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Chervil
- Mint
Roots, Peppers & Citrus:
- Fresh jalapeno or other hot peppers
- Fresh turmeric
- Fresh garlic
- Onion; red, white, or green (scallions)
- Lime and/or lemon
- Fresh ginger root
- Fresh horseradish root
Soaked Spices: (must be soaked at least 10 hours before using)*
- Cinnamon stick
- Cardamom seeds
- Allspice
- Anise seeds
- Mustard seeds
You can actually soak these ingredients in purified water overnight. In the morning, process through your slow juicer, but in very small pieces or in small batches. Depending on what kind of juicer you have, this is feasible. The Champion can do it, and other horizontal masticating juicers can do it, but remember: you must alternate between the spices and other foods you are juicing. We have used it on the PGP frequently, which is not a problem, and you can also use these soaked spices on some vertical slow Juicers such as the Slowstar, Whole Slow Juicer, and the new Omega slow juicer.
*Most ALL CENTRIFUGAL JUICERS cannot use this technique, so please do not try it.
We recommend you pick one from each section and add your favorite vegetables or fruits as the base for your juice tonic.
Warm it Up Tonic!
In your juicer: (for 2 people, organic only please)
Ingredients:
- 10 carrots
- 8 ribs celery
- 1 red bell pepper (use approx. 15 seeds from the inside)
- 1/2 inch (soaked for 10 hours beforehand) cinnamon stick
- 1/2 inch fresh ginger root
- 3 cups (packed) parsley or cilantro
- 2 apples (not recommended for diabetics*)
*Substitute the apples for 1 large cucumber
Directions:
Note: Do not blend this tonic in your blender. It's specifically designed for digestion, and because you're eating food with it, you'll be getting enough fiber.
This is spicy and delicious! It's very high in beta-carotene (pro-vitamin A), so this will be excellent for your eyes and immune system as well as good to clean out bad bacteria/pathogens in your gut. It’s highly alkalizing as well. If you don't want it too spicy, cut down on the seeds from the pepper.
You'll notice a big difference once you incorporate these techniques, and your body will love you for it once we reach spring!
