Juicing fresh fruit and vegetables works by providing the body with a vast array of living, vital nutrients in a form that it can easily assimilate. Juice bars are an increasingly common phenomenon in the high street, but anyone can gain the benefits of fresh fruit and vegetable juice at home with a domestic juicer and some fresh ingredients. Produce is washed and prepared to fit into the feeding chamber of your chosen juicer and fed through the machine where it undergoes some kind of pureeing and separation process, depending on the type of juicer.

There is no need to peel most produce before juicing it with a fruit and vegetable juicer providing it is washed. Oranges are the exception, where the peel contains bitter oils; people generally use a citrus juicer for these, which only necessitates halving the oranges before juicing. The juicer then separates the juice from the fibres of the produce you are juicing and dispenses it into a jug. Apart from the fact that juice is delicious, the main reason for juicing is to obtain a supply of raw nutrients from the produce we are juicing. The moment heat is applied to food we start to destroy the enzymes, vitamins and minerals it contains. By taking raw juices we are ensuring the body gets a good supply of these easily digested nutrients in the form the body is best able to deal with.

There is simply no comparison between the nutritional value of fresh raw produce and that of cooked and processed food. Juicing helps to cleanse the body of toxins and assists in its processes of repair and regeneration. Some therapies for serious illness have juicing as part of their regime because of the curative powers of proper nutrition. Raw fresh juice is an abundant source of antioxidants and enzymes which assist in the elimination of free radicals and enable the bodies metabolic processes at a cellular level.

A good website with amazing recipes and plans can you find here.

GOOD LUCK!!!

I have found that in times of stress, one of the effective and important things, which can actually help us through the hard times, is a good physical exertion to raise the feel good hormones such as Endorphines and Adrenaline, and get rid of stress hormones. But our natural reaction seems to be to take out he things out of our day, which feels superfluou and time consuming. Many times that is our time we spend on health. It is a mix between sacrificing that time, thus ourselves to the other more “important” cause at hand, despite that the stressor might be something we don’t have any control over anyway.

Endless studies have confirmed the fact that the right amount of exercise relieves stress, boosts the immune system, and I would like to add a few important factors which are less high lighted but great reasons to always find that time every day to just Move. The actual time you take for yourself can have a meditative effect. Focusing on just your physical exertion and breath, gives you space and time to disconnect from your worries for that moment. Its a Golden Moment given to yourself by yourself. Also in a time of feeling out of control, the planned workout can give you a sense of ability to influence your environment, and thus help you take a beak from the helpless feeling. My favorite factor which I use it for more often than not is the cathartic outlet factor. I like to let the steam out so to speak. The time we give ourselves to take care of our bodies, is actually and act of Self Love and is important from a coping skill building perspective.

One big part of that specific stress workout can be the way that you breathe. Yoga teaches us that nose breathing is proven to actually calm down the nervous system, and combined with a workout, you will experience several benefits, just by moving and breathing!!

Try this 30 minute stress workout I recommend, where all elements are involved: high and low heart rate intervals, stability and mobility exercises with a focus on Nose!

Breathing:

In 5 minute intervals, mix the following.

1.Plie squat arms reaching over head, move to standing gazing upwards this time, and bringing arms down along side the body.

2.Dance, jumps, skip, hop, jumps rope, step up and down on a pavement or do Jumping Jacks.

3. Do a sequence of Sunsalute, Upwards Facing Dog/Downwards Facing Dog slowly

4. Dance, Jumps, Run, Hop, Skip etc

5. Quick sequence of abwork: Standing Twists, On the Ball if available, or laying on the  floor.

6. Laying down stretches on the floor or if you have a Foam Roller available, use the  last 5 minutes to roll out  legs and back muscles.

Live Loud!

I love to squat and I love the way it forms and shape my thighs and gluteus! Squats are a hot topic right now and its amazing to do them. Everyday I see squats performed incorrectly and would like to take the opportunity to  direct you to Precision Nutrition’s “All About the Squat“.

Get it Right and Get it Tight!

Live Love!

…your Form, Level of Health, Energy, Recovery and Performance!!

I am teaming up with KLEAN LA! For many of my clients who are local, and have the means, I like to recommend a food delivery service. It actually helps teach portion control and eye measuring your food. My friend Kiki Heinzer is the owner and Chef at her own Fitness Foods Delivery Service.

Find it here and Klean LA will soon be in the SHOP on my NEW website as well!!!

For those that don’t live in LA or just need a less expensive or different approach check out Precision Nutrition also in my SHOP!

Remember DIET is the thing MOST RESPONSIBLE of your Form, Level of Health, Energy, Recovery and Performance!!