Thursday, April 18, 2013

Produce That Speed UP Your Metabolism


In one of my groups we were talking about what produce for juicing that we should eat and juice, that would speed up our sludgy metabolism. After doing some research and asking a couple of my doctors I have come up with the following list. It is not gospel by far but simple a suggestion from what I have told, experienced and heard. Remember never add anything to your diet without checking with your own doctors first.

 

 

Foods That Speed Up Your Metabolism

Hot Peppers-Jalapeno, habanero, cayenne and other forms of spicy peppers directly boost metabolism and circulation. In fact, eating hot peppers not only speeds up your metabolism, it also reduces cravings. This is related to its capsaicin content, a compound that stimulates the body’s pain receptors, temporarily increasing blood circulation and metabolic rate. If you have ever experienced a bout of intense sweating after eating a particularly hot tamale, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. In fact, studies have shown that eating hot peppers can boost the metabolism by up to 25%, with the spike lasting for up to 3 hours.

Broccoli -High in calcium (a known weight-reducer), broccoli is also extraordinarily high in vitamins C, K and A. One serving of broccoli will also provide you with plenty of foliate and dietary fiber, plus a variety of antioxidants. Broccoli is also one of the best detox  foods you can add to your diet.

Apples and Pears- Studies show that these two fruits help boost metabolism and speed up weight loss. Research performed by the State University of Rio de Janeiro found that women eating three small apples or pears daily lost more weight than women who did not. Organic apples are one of the most widely available organic fruits and pears aren’t too hard to find either, great news!


Citrus Fruits-Fruits like grapefruit have been shown to help us burn fat and keep our metabolism high. This could be related to the fruits’ high amount of vitamin C, a helpful and healthful component that reduces insulin spikes.

Produce High in Calcium Like Leafy Greens- A study done at the University of Tennessee found that people who consumed 1,200-1,300 milligrams of calcium a day lost almost double the amount of weight as those who were not getting enough calcium in their diet. To help boost your metabolism, eat plenty of foods high in calcium. Some examples are spinach and kale. Getting our calcium from dark, green, leafy vegetables is a an excellent health choice. Spinach ranks very high in calcium, with 56mg of calcium per cup. A 100g serving of collards packs a 145 mg calcium punch. One cup of steamed bok choy has around 158 mg of the mineral. Kale ranks in with 139mg of calcium and the spicy mustard green has 103mg of calcium per 100g serving. You can also get your calcium from that wonderful tasting round sunny orange. One cup of freshly-squeezed organic orange juice offers approximately 72 mg of calcium. Not to mention plenty of vitamin C, which will significantly improve the amount of calcium your body absorbs. Besides vitamin C and calcium, oranges are also a great source of potassium, vitamin A and beta carotene.

 Foods High in Omega-3′s-Eating foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids is a great way to boost your metabolism. These acids reduce the production of a hormone called leptin, a natural chemical that lowers your metabolism. (When you are not 100% juicing eat a handful of walnuts, add flax seeds or beans to your diet.)

Other foods that will speed up your body’s Metabolism are grapes, prunes, plums and berries. If you juice these are great fruits to add into your green juice drinks to sweeten up the taste.


Monday, April 15, 2013

Which Produce Do You Need to Eat or Juice Organic

As many of you know a little over a year ago I watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead by Joe Cross and started on my journey of a new physical life. I juice many of my meals and even at times go months on end with only juice and water as my daily food. I have often wondered if I can afford it should I be using all Organic produce in my meals. I set about doing some reading and studying on this subject and have come to the conclusion for myself, there are some items I must juice and eat organic....others I am fine non organic as long as I know they are not GMO ( food derived from genetically modified organisms.)

Dirty Dozen Plus (Produce you need to eat Organic)
Apples Celery, Sweet Bell Peppers, Peaches, Strawberries, Nectarines (imported), Grapes, Spinach, Lettuce, Cucumbers, Blueberries (domestic), Potatoes, Greens/ Kale, Green Beans

Clean 15 (lowest in pesticides)
Onions, Sweet Corn (note: Many corns are produced from GMO seeds and not marked at store so if you are worried about GMO buy Organic Sweet Corn),
Pineapples, avocado, cabbage, sweet pea, asparagus, mangoes, egg plants, kiwi, cantaloupes (domestic), sweet potatoes, grapefruits, watermelons and mushrooms.

I know last summer, a study was released that said there was little nutritional difference in Organic and non Organic but one has to remember that there are folks behind these studies. Also it is not simply the nutrition and vitamins that are driving us to eat organic but also no drugs, chemicals and pesticides. I personally find that I can tell the difference in Organic and No Organic produce (yes we did a blind taste several times).

To help cut down on the high cost of Organic try to shop at your local farmer's market or search online for an Organic Farmer in the area. Many of these farmers WILL SELL DIRECTLY to us little folks. It never hurts to ask...all they can say is No. Most will actually say YES as they want to get their produce into the hands of everyone.

Til Tomorrow
Stay Healthy and Juice On!