Tomato Juice

Raw tomato juice is a good source of lycopene, which is known for its cancer preventing properties. It also stimulates blood circulation and helps lower blood pressure. Lycopene is fat-soluble, so adding a few drops of oil olive oil will help you to better absorb the nutrients.
Tomatoes also contain potassium, an essential mineral macronutrient & vitamin C an immune system booster, calcium and phosphorus.

Tomatoes are at their best when they are fully ripe (deep red). Avoid hot house varieties as they are generally picked before they turn red.They are essentially an alkaline. Their alkaline nature increases the alkalinity of the blood and decreases the urine and neutralises the acid compounds of the body such as phosphates urea and ammonia. Tomato juice is therefore, highly beneficial in the treatment of acidosis and other disease associated with too much acid in the system.

* A note on Diabetes: Because of its low carbohydrate contents, tomato juice is thought to be very good food for diabetic patients and for those who want to reduce their body weight. It is said to be very effective in controlling the percentage of sugar in the urine of diabetic patients.

Tomato Juice is thought to help with...
Bladder Problems, Gout, Liver complaints, Weight Loss, Gall Bladder problems, Kidneys, Skin,
Bleeding Gums, Constipation, Lack of Appetite, Blood Shot Eyes and Hypertension.


* Note: there is a big difference between raw and cooked tomatoes. Cooked tomatoes produce oxalic acid, similar to spinach, and as such can leech the body of essential minerals such as calcium.

Interesting Points:

• Traditionally, Chinese herbalists suggest tomatoes are to be eaten first thing in the morning to relieve hypertension and bloodshot eyes.
• Raw tomato juice improves the appetite and digestion. Drinking tomato juice mixed with spinach juice will activate liver and help relieve and prevent constipation.
• To decrease hangover severity, the cocktail of tomato juice (100ml), cucumber juice (100ml), spinach juice (10ml) and olive oil (1 tbsp) should be taken before going to sleep.
• If you have gallbladder diseases tomato juice is should be avoided but, it is non toxic to most and can be enjoyed in large quantities.
• A glassful of fresh tomato juice mixed with honey, a pinch of powdered cardamom seeds, taken after swallowing three peeled cloves of garlic every night before going to bed, is considered highly beneficial in the treatment of tuberculosis and other lung infections.

A+ for Carrot Juice the golden root.

Since the easter bunny is arriving soon - a posting on his favourite food.

Carrots…
No other vegetable contains as much beta carotene as a carrot. The liver turns beta carotene into vitamin a - our liver will store vitamin a until it is needed by the body.
Carrots are also good source of - Calcium, Sodium, Vitamin C, Phosphorus, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Potassium, B Vitamins and Vitamin K.

One 8-oz. glass of carrot juice contains 20,000 mg. of vitamin A. *Toxicity can occur when vitamin A is taken in supplement form or in fish oil, but is completely safe in the vegetable form - if you over do it with carrot juice however your skin may temporarily turn an orangey colour!

Deficiency in vitamin A can lead to a wide variety of ailments.
Bladder, kidney, mouth, tonsil, sinus, tongue, ear canal, eyes, tear ducts, dry skin, on and on...

Carrot Juice is traditionally used to treat:
Acne, Asthma, Cancer, Eye Problems, Liver Issues, Ulcers, Arthritis, Bladder Problems, Cataracts, Hay Fever, Skin Problems, Weight Loss, Strengthening Bones and Teeth, and possibly helping the thyroid gland to function properly.

Carrot juice will assist your liver in cleaning out fat and other toxins if you drink it on a regular basis (a glass a day should do). Also, drinking raw carrot juice can be helpful for lowering the symptoms of stresses and normalizing the function of your digestive system.

Points of Interest...

• Adding bit of olive oil to the carrot juice improves absorption on beta carotene by the body.
• Drinking carrot juice is extremely beneficial for pregnant women and young children.
• Since carrot juice has good amounts of natural sugar, the majority of children like drinking it.
• If you drink carrot juice too soon before bedtime you may have to get up mid night to use the washroom due to the fact carrots encourage unrination
• Carrots are a natural blast of high energy. The sugars are released more quickly than from white sugar but without the harmful effects. Try instead of a cup of coffee in the am.
• Carrots were first grown for medicinal purposes, not for food.

Beets - Bad Blogger

Life has taken over for the past few months. I apologize for my absence. One reason I haven't had much to say lately is that my eating habits have moved more into a traditional vegan diet over the winter months. Lots of rice/beans and cooked veggies. I've been trying to decide if I will add my cooked dishes to this blog which so far has been mainly focused on raw foods and juicing ... Pondering. In the mean time I wanted to post a little something about juicing & Beets.

Beets… Are chock full of Calcium, Sodium, Vitamin A, Sulfur, Vitamin B6, Iron, Potassium and oxalic acid... It isn't a good idea to drink beet juice straight up it should be mixed with other veg - Pure beet juice can increase your heart rate, cause chills or a fever, give you hives and even temporarily paralyze your vocal chords! Yikes - this has never happened to me and I drink Beet juice on a semi regular basis - but be sensible don't juice and down 4 or 5 whole beets at a time. 1/2 a small beet mixed with other veg and an apple is plenty for one day's serving. Why? Because both the beet bulb and greens are powerful body cleansers - particularly of the blood and kidneys.

Beets (including beet greens) should be avoided by those who suffer from or are at risk for kidney stones, gout, or rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis and those whose stomach is easily irritated because of the high amount of oxalic acid in them. You should also avoid combining beets with other vegetables that are high in calcium, such as broccoli. Oxalic acid combines with calcium to create an indigestible compound. You should avoid eating calcium rich food immediately after eating or juicing beets or any food high in oxalic acid. This includes foods like tofu.

H1N1 & Vitamin D3

If you've been doing any research at all about H1N1 you may have run across a lot of information about the importance of D3. If you decide not to get the vaccine (or even if you do) you may want to make sure you supplement with D3 - not D2 or D. D3 is usually found in liquid form - Ddrops are a good brand. I thought since flu season is upon us the follow is worth a repost....

Here are some tips from ehow (http://www.ehow.com/how_5280919_naturally-prevent-hn-swine-flu.html)

1. Take 1,000 IU of Vitamin D3 per day until the flu season starts. Vitamin D3 is absorbed by the body better than D or D2. Vitamin D helps with the body' s immune system.

2. Step 2

   When the flu season starts, take 5,000 IU of vitamin D3. This is the dosage needed to prevent the flu.

3. Step 3

   When the flu season is over, go back to 1,000 IU of vitamin D3. Vitamin D3 is fat soluble and should not be taken at large doses forever. !,000IU is safe.

4. Step 4

   When taking vitamin D, take calcium. I recommend Floridix calcium. It is predigested by enzymes for better absorption. Be sure your multiple vitamin and mineral has magnesium. 500 mg is the recommended dosage. You need magnesium to absorb the calcium.

5. Step 5

   Use a saline nasal spray a couple of times a day. Start asap. The solution creates an environment in the nasal passages that prevent bacteria and viruses from multiplying.

6. Step 6

   And as always, wash your hands before touching food or your face.