Our Newsletter JUICING FOR HEALTH
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November 15, 2010 on 12:06 am
Children seem remarkably resilient and can survive on an amazingly junk food diet, but processed food contains less vitamins and minerals and these are necessary not just for health and growth, but as a foundation for health in later life. The easiest way to access vitamins and minerals directly is through fruit and vegetables, but children often reject these, finding green vegetables unpalatable, and preferring sweetened desserts to raw fruit. It’s amazing how kids can be convinced that foods will only taste good if covered in breadcrumbs, wrapped in a bun, smothered with sugar or at the very least sealed in a packet. Children need to consume the right foods and perhaps more importantly, get into the right habits, so as parents how can we persuade them? Good nutrition is a complex issue, not least because there is so much variation between one person and another. Tests have shown that two apparently identical individuals living similar lifestyles can have very different amounts of vitamins and minerals in their blood. We all know that vitamins are essential, but did you know that minerals, in tiny quantities are also vital to the operation of our bodies, and that no matter how many drugs we consume, without minerals we cannot function properly? The minerals we need in large quantities are: But there are even more which are vital to the body in extremely tiny amounts. They act as catalysts in many of the chemical reactions in our bodies, and without them we would die very quickly. Zinc is an example. Nutritionists believe we need around 8-11 mg per day to stay healthy, a tiny amount by any standards, but vital as zinc is essential in the operation of over 100 enzymes. Zinc is used by the metabolism, and the immune system. It is also important for proper growth, and a serious deficiency can result in growth problems.
Here’s a recipe. Take one cup of Greek yogurt Blend them all together with your Vita Mix Blender and taste. If it’s too tart, add just enough honey. If you’re just starting with smoothies make them with ice cream in place of the yogurt and milk and present it to your children as a treat. If you have to over sweeten to begin with, don’t worry. You can reduce the sweetening slowly over time. Who should have healthy smoothies? The simple answer is everyone. Using zinc again as an example, recent surveys have shown that 35-45% of adults over 60 have diets which are deficient in zinc, resulting in loss of taste and smell as well as lethargy and loss of appetite. Whatever your age, vitamins and minerals are essential to your health, so get out your blender or juicer and start experimenting. It may be healthy, but it’s also fun. ![]()
October 5, 2010 on 6:53 pm
The production of stomach acid and enzymes declines with age. A very important result of this is that the body is less able to absorb vitamins and minerals from food. It becomes more and important to take in adequate quantities of essential nutrients and to do so in a form which is easy to digest. The essential ant-oxidant vitamins, A, C and E are all found in quantity in raw fruits and (in the case of vitamin E) seeds, but they are, typically, rapidly destroyed by heat, making fresh juice an ideal way to add these vital substances to your diet. Carrot juice, for example, is an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C, citrus juices and tomato juice are an excellent source of bioflavonoids and the humble watermelon makes an ideal all round health filled cocktail. The flesh is full of beta carotene (precursor to Vitamin A) and Vitamin C while the seeds contain vitamin E as well as the essential minerals zinc and selenium. Watermelon also contains the amino acid lycopene which has been extensively studied in humans and found to protect against a large and growing list of cancers. Watermelon also has a high water content and is low in calories (compared to other fruits) making it an excellent candidate for regular consumption, both whole and in juice form. Watermelon makes a wonderful salad mixed with red onion and a little salt and if you’ve opted for a vita mix blender, rather than a l equip juicer, watermelon pureed with some cantaloupe, kiwi fruit and a tiny dash of lime makes a wonderful fresh summer soup. Watermelon also contains several of the B vitamins plus both magnesium and potassium. ![]()
March 20, 2010 on 9:14 pm
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