Juicing

[Honeywith4bees]

I talked to my yoga instructor last night about new ways to fend off the upcoming Seasonal Affective Depressive Disorder that is starting to kick in already . . .

She mentioned how awesome juicing is for combating this type of thing, and then this morning I see Weena talking about juicing as well so I have taken this as a sign to do further investigation.

For those of you who juice:

I have a predominance of vata (an aryuvedic term) and generally don't do well in the colder months with raw, or cold food so I need to keep my juicing to a moderate amount. Any other vata types who use juicing to their benefit?

I just read a Mercola article where he advocates not juicing fruit or root vegetables at all (with the exception of a few not very sweet fruits). He also recommends adding all kinds of things to your juice like chlorella, cod liver oil and protein powders. Do you add things like that as well?

And whats really the difference between making a smoothie and juicing? (I already own a blender, do I really have to go out an buy a juicer too! Yes, I am whining here . . . )

Thanks in advance for your opinions/advice

[Lifeisamazing]

I thought this thread was going to be about steroids.

[RomanHD]

Originally Posted by Lifeisamazing

I thought this thread was going to be about steroids.

Ditto. Although someone with a nick Honeywith4bees doesn't sound like the kind of person looking to take up AAS

[Honeywith4bees]

Originally Posted by Lifeisamazing

I thought this thread was going to be about steroids.

Originally Posted by RomanHD

Ditto. Although someone with a nick Honeywith4bees doesn't sound like the kind of person looking to take up AAS

Hmmm . . . maybe I need to change the title??

[Lifeisamazing]

Originally Posted by RomanHD

Ditto. Although someone with a nick Honeywith4bees doesn't sound like the kind of person looking to take up AAS

No, it makes it even more likely.

[stanmrak]

To treat SAD, take vitamin D supplements or use a "safe" tanning bed. Vitamin D deficiency is a leading cause of SAD (and the flu). Your body can't produce vitamin D from sunlight for about 6 months out of the year in most parts of the world, except near the equator.

I make a smoothie every day using almond milk, spinach, cilantro, basil, parsley, chlorella, spirulina, cinnamon, cloves, turmeric, hemp protein powder or raw eggs, coconut oil, and a frozen banana and a few grapes to sweeten it up. It's easy to experiment with your favorite fruits and vegetables and change the taste.

How to Make a Smoothie the Healthy Way

The argument for juicing is that your body assimilates the nutrients very quickly and efficiently. Just watch the amount of sweet ingredients you use. Too much sugar, even from something like carrots, can be detrimental.
Juicing or smoothing - I'd recommend either one for everyone. The main disadvantage I see to juicing is having to have a fresh supply of organic produce available all the time. If you don't use organic, you'll be consuming a lot of harmful chemicals with all the nutrients. And it gets expensive.

I freeze my greens so I always have some on hand, although using chlorella and spirulina can substitute very well for fresh greens. These foods are always free of pesticides and chemical residues.

[agsags]

You can get a 50$ intense blue-light from Target. It helped me on a gloomy days. I think the best way to counteract lack of sun is by re-introducing it directly rather than playing with food.

[Weena]

Originally Posted by Honeywith4bees

For those of you who juice:

I have a predominance of vata (an aryuvedic term) and generally don't do well in the colder months with raw, or cold food so I need to keep my juicing to a moderate amount. Any other vata types who use juicing to their benefit?

I'd have to read about this before i can answer...

Originally Posted by Honeywith4bees

He also recommends adding all kinds of things to your juice like chlorella, cod liver oil and protein powders. Do you add things like that as well?

If i add stuff it'll be spirulina powder... I am yet to try some with flaxseed oil in it and other goodies. What I like about the spirulina is that it has iron etc, so given I'm vegetarian it's probably a good way to get some. What I don't like though is the taste (kinda fishy...it depends what type of juice you mix it in...in a carrot-apple one it's okay).

Originally Posted by Honeywith4bees

And whats really the difference between making a smoothie and juicing? (I already own a blender, do I really have to go out an buy a juicer too! Yes, I am whining here . . . )

Thanks in advance for your opinions/advice

Juice is mainly fruits and vegs. Smoothie often have milk/soy milk/yoghurt/crushed ice in them so they are thicker and are definitely made in blenders, not juicers.

[Honeywith4bees]

Originally Posted by stanmrak

To treat SAD, take vitamin D supplements or use a "safe" tanning bed. Vitamin D deficiency is a leading cause of SAD (and the flu). Your body can't produce vitamin D from sunlight for about 6 months out of the year in most parts of the world, except near the equator.

Thanks for your reply!
I do have vitamin D deficiency that I take a supplement for. My body does not seem to absorb the vitamin well though and just this Spring I had skin cancer! so although I do love feeling the sun on my skin, I would probably stay away from a tanning bed.

Originally Posted by stanmrak

The argument for juicing is that your body assimilates the nutrients very quickly and efficiently. Just watch the amount of sweet ingredients you use. Too much sugar, even from something like carrots, can be detrimental.
Juicing or smoothing - I'd recommend either one for everyone. The main disadvantage I see to juicing is having to have a fresh supply of organic produce available all the time. If you don't use organic, you'll be consuming a lot of harmful chemicals with all the nutrients. And it gets expensive.

Yes, this was the reason my Yoga instructor gave for juicing rather than making smoothies. How long have you been juicing and did you every have energy issues before that time that you feel like have been healed from juicing?

Originally Posted by agsags

You can get a 50$ intense blue-light from Target. It helped me on a gloomy days. I think the best way to counteract lack of sun is by re-introducing it directly rather than playing with food.

I have a very good Light Therapy light already that I have been using for a few years now. While I wont say that it doesn't help at all, it hasn't eliminated the problem for me. Thanks for the suggestion though!

Originally Posted by Weena

If i add stuff it'll be spirulina powder... I am yet to try some with flaxseed oil in it and other goodies. What I like about the spirulina is that it has iron etc, so given I'm vegetarian it's probably a good way to get some. What I don't like though is the taste (kinda fishy...it depends what type of juice you mix it in...in a carrot-apple one it's okay).

I bought celery, spinach and kiwi fruit last night but then I didn't have the time to blend it up this morning before work. I think for now I am just going to use my blender and see what happens from there. If I follow through on the smoothies, I'll invest in a juicer.

Thanks!

[ginkgo]

Is there a lack of juice when it is not summer or a lack of sunlight? On this site. Harvard Medical School is saying that sunlight is almost a cure-all. What doesn't it help?

[Honeywith4bees]

You're right Ginko.

Screw the juicer, I'm going to the Bahamas!!!