Showing posts with label juicing. Show all posts

How to Eat Kale (And Like It)


Sauteed or Steamed- in coconut or olive oil, add whatever nuts, spices, herbs, veggies you like! 
Raw- salads, smoothies, soups, pesto, as a bread substitute (paleo wraps), or juice it! 
Baked- kale chips, put in baked dishes-lasagna, pasta, egg bakes, meatballs, etc. 

*Always buy organic kale; it is sprayed with lots of chemicals making it one of the Dirty Dozen. The kale should be firm with fresh, deeply colored leaves and hardy stems.

*To store, place kale in a plastic storage bag removing as much of the air from the bag as possible. Store in the refrigerator where it will keep for 5 days. The longer it is stored, the more bitter its flavor becomes. Do not wash kale before storing because exposure to water encourages spoilage. Loss of some nutrients in kale—for example, its vitamin C content—is likely to be slowed down through refrigeration. 



5 MINUTE KALE PESTO  (Serves: about 1 cup - 8 servings, 2 tablespoons each)
INGREDIENTS:  (all organic if possible) 

2 cups torn kale (no stems) and parsley, combined
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon sea salt (more to taste)
1 clove garlic
juice of one lemon
¼ to ½ cup raw almonds

DIRECTIONS: 

Pulse the kale, olive oil, salt, garlic, and lemon juice in a food processor until smooth.
Add the almonds and pulse until the almonds are ground to desired consistency.
Serve with pizza, veggies, pasta, crackers, eggs, salads, soups, sandwiches, wraps, etc.

Notes:

I ended up using about 1½ cups kale + ½ cup parsley. But I've made this many times with just about any combination of greens, whether JUST kale, kale and spinach, kale and other herbs.. it is a very flexible recipe.  If you don't want this to be vegan, just add a handful of parmesan cheese into the mix. You can also add spicy almonds instead of raw ones for variety. 




Copyright, 2018, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.



www.OptimumWellnessMN.com

Spring Body Cleaning



Juicing is a great way to cleanse your body and give your digestive system a break. It's beneficial to do a full body detox every time the seasons change. Here are my top picks to juice: 


Carrots- Beta-carotene. Great for liver, brain, eye health

Cucumber-Pancreas, liver, high in silica for glowing skin, hair, nails

Celery-Alkalizing, high in electrolytes, potassium, reduces cellulite, inflammation, tightens skin

Asparagus-High in vitamins C and D, removes heavy metals, radiation. 

Beets-Circulatory system, cleanses blood, Athletes-increases endurance

Broccoli- High in chromium-balances blood sugar and hormones

Cabbage-Source of sulfur- stomach ulcers, detox, digestive issues, joints, leaky gut

Cilantro-Heavy metal detox

Garlic-Heart health, Candida, colds/flu

Ginger-Reduces inflammation/swelling

Turmeric-Arthritis, inflammation, heart disease

Kale-Nutrient dense, alkalizes pH, detox

Lemons-Contains Quercetin, vitamin C, alkalizing, seasonal allergies

Parsley-Alkalizing, bloating, chlorophyll 



Want to learn more? Schedule a juicing consultation with me: 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com 






Copyright, 2016, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.

Liver Cleansing Cocktail

Your liver is your main detoxifying organ, and it can get bogged down from time to time depending on your diet, activity level, and environment. When an overload of toxins becomes too much for your liver to handle, toxic compounds can store within tissues and decrease your quality of health. 

If you're cleansing your liver, you need to provide your body with nutrition that is easy to digest. You don't want your body to spend its energy digesting food, but you definitely need to keep a good balance of nutrients, electrolytes, and antioxidants to provide support during the detox. Juicing is a powerful way to support the cleansing of your liver without compromising the body’s natural healing process.

Liver Cleansing Juice Cocktail




Ingredients:

3 Organic Carrots 
1 Organic Beet 
2 Organic Apples 
6 Organic Kale Leaves
½ inch of ginger root
½ organic lemon, peeled


Why These Ingredients?

Beets and Carrots

Beets and carrots are extremely high in Vitamin A. Eating these ingredients, along with other plant foods containing similar nutrients, can help stimulate and improve overall liver function.

Apples- I use green apples (Granny Smith) because they are lower in sugar.  

High in pectin, apples hold the nutrients necessary for the body to cleanse and release toxins from the digestive tract. This makes it easier for the liver to handle the toxic load during the cleansing process.

Kale

One of our most powerful allies in cleansing the liver, leafy greens such as kale can be eaten raw, cooked, or juiced. Extremely high in plant chlorophylls, greens suck up environmental toxins from the bloodstream. It has the ability to neutralize toxic metals, chemicals, and pesticides.

Ginger Root -I'm allergic to ginger so I leave this out of my recipes but it has amazing health benefits! 

Ginger has also been historically used for flatulence, constipation, bloating, and other digestive complaints. Researchers have found ginger to be effective for stress-related ulcers.

Lemons

Citrus fruits, such as lemons, contain very high amounts of vitamin C, which aids the body in converting toxic materials into substances that can be absorbed by water. Drinking freshly-squeezed lemon or lime juice in the morning helps stimulate the liver.


CLICK HERE for more Juicing Recipes! 


Source: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/


Copyright, 2015, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutritionist and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.


Super Charged Glowing Bee

Last week I discovered a gem in my neighborhood! Green Bee Juicery! I purchased my own juicer and have been juicing for a year and a half now and it's safe to say I'm an addict!  I joined Green Bee Juicery's monthly juice box membership and will be picking up 4 jars of juice each week! They are even accommodating my food allergies. I also love that they are local and the juice is incredibly fresh! Perfect for an on-the-go person like myself who does not have a lot of time to juice every day. 





Three Reasons Why Juicing Is a Phenomenal Health Habit


*Juicing helps you absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. This is important because most of us have impaired digestion as a result of making less-than-optimal food choices over many years. This limits your body's ability to absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. Juicing will help to "pre-digest" them for you, so you will receive most of the nutrition, rather than having it go down the toilet.

*Juicing allows you to consume a healthier amount of vegetables in an efficient manner. Virtually every health authority recommends that we get six to eight servings of vegetables and fruits per day and very few of us actually get that. Juicing is an easy way to virtually guarantee that you will reach your daily target for vegetables.

*You can add a wider variety of vegetables in your diet. Many people eat the same vegetable salads or side dishes every day. This violates the principle of regular food rotation and increases your chance of developing an allergy to a certain food.

    Plus, it limits the number of different phyto-chemicals in your diet, as each vegetable will offer unique benefits. With juicing, you can juice a wide variety of vegetables that you may not normally enjoy eating whole.

Additionally, juicing can help:
  • Promote weight loss. In one study, adults who drank at least eight ounces of vegetable juice as part of a diet lost four pounds over 12 weeks, while those who followed the same diet but did not drink the juice lost only one pound. The vegetable juice drinkers also significantly increased their intake of vitamin C and potassium, while decreasing their overall carbohydrate intake.
  • Boost your immune system by supercharging it with concentrated phyto-chemicals. Raw juice also contains bio-photonic light energy, which can help revitalize your body. 
  • Increase your energy. When your body has an abundance of the nutrients it needs, and your pH is optimally balanced, you feel energized. Since it can be utilized by your body immediately, those who juice report feeling the "kick" of energy almost instantly. 
  • Support your brain health. People who drank juices (fruit and vegetable) more than three times per week, compared to less than once a week, were 76 percent less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease, according to the Kame Project.
 

I offer juicing consultations if you would like to learn more! I can come into your home and show you the ropes and even teach you how to use your own juicer if you have one! Please CONTACT ME for more information or to schedule. 


www.mercola.com


Copyright, 2014, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.


www.optimumwellnessmn.com


Special Announcement: Clean Eating Community



Clean Eating Community

This is a group for busy professionals, students, stay-at-home moms, or anyone who is interested in health, wellness, clean eating, weight loss, living well, cooking and meal planning.

If any of these are challenges or pain points for you, I encourage you to join for resources, support and recipes on eating clean (for you and your family), maneuvering restaurants in the Minneapolis area, becoming a happier you AND losing unwanted weight just by cleaning up your diet. This group is for you if you are passionate about health and wellness and living a life you love living. Great way to make new health-conscious friends too! 

We will meet monthly in the community room at Lunds in Northeast Minneapolis to discuss various aspects of clean eating. Each month will be a theme, such as: Sauces, Eating Out, Dinners, Breakfast On The Go, Snacks, Quick Lunches, Smoothies, Juicing, Entertaining, Sweeteners, etc. All members are asked to bring a recipe "as clean as they can get it" to the meeting.  I will gather them all and make edits if they need to be "cleaned up more" and will email them out to all attendees that month) so you can collect CLEAN EATING RECIPES all year long. As well as gain tips and tricks for eating well at home and on-the-go and getting the support needed to stay on track!

Our first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 30th at 7:00 PM This meeting will be an opportunity to network and get to know each other! I will also be talking about the basics of clean eating. 

Investment is $10 each meeting. I will have a specific food item to sample at each meeting related to the topic of the month! This group is open to anyone, anywhere, even if you do not live in the Twin Cities area. You can still have access to all the recipes each month if you submit recipes!  (Please contact me if you are interested in this option)

CLICK HERE to reserve your spot. 


Scheduled Summer Meetings:

Wednesday, July 30th 7:00 PM  (Topic: Clean Eating 101) 

Wednesday, August 20th 7:00 PM (Topic: Breakfast) 





Copyright, 2014, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.





The 3:00 PM Wall-Increase Energy

Commonly Asked Question: I have low energy and feel fatigued all the time, what would help?  


B-Vitamins- These are the vitamins that get depleted first when stressed. 

B-Vitamin rich foods: spinach, parsley, broccoli, beets, turnips, mustard greens, asparagus, romaine lettuce, lentils, bell peppers, turnip greens, almonds, brussel sprouts, oranges, eggs, fish, sunflower seeds, beans. 



Vitamin D3- have you ever gotten yours checked? Simple blood test you can ask for at the doctor's office. Most people are on the low end especially if they do not supplement! (I offer Vitamin D testing as a service. Please contact me for more information)




Juice-Cleanses body and gives your digestive system a break! Nutrients get absorbed right away giving you a burst of energy. 








Greens Powder-helps alkalize the body. Usually contains wheat grass, alfalfa, spirulina, chlorella, barley grass, spinach, broccoli. 


Exercise-Get your blood and body moving! Interval Training is one of the best types of workouts to do. Other names for interval training: Tabata, BURST, HIIT, Crossfit, Kosama etc. 

Green/Herbal Teas-Green tea contains natural caffeine and contains the amino acid, L-theanine, which increases alertness. With L-theanine working to increase mental energy and caffeine also working to increase energy, the result is a steady, clear state of increased energy without the jittery side-effects.

English Breakfast Teas-use as an alternative to coffee in the mornings! 

Eat every 3-4 hours stabilizes blood sugar levels. Your energy will be even kill all day long if you eat protein, a veggie, and a healthy fat every time you eat! Ditch the sugars! 

Drink more water-you are probably dehydrated if you are not drinking half your bodyweight in ounces of water each day! 

Take a technology break-computers, cell phones, and electronic devices zap our energy! Try going on a camping trip or turning off your phone and computer at night. Read a book! (preferably a real physical book and not one on a Kindle or Nook) 




Take a walk- great for getting fresh air and taking a mental break! Nature is very therapeutic and grounding! 


*Please contact me if you would like more personalized recommendations based on your body or to set up a wellness consultation. 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com 




Copyright, 2014, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.




Spring Detoxing and Cleansing


Springtime- I think of flowers blooming, green grass, Easter egg hunts, and exercising outdoors! It's been a really LONG winter here in northwest Iowa with the extremely low temperatures. Being cooped up all winter leads to sluggishness, fatigue, and weight gain. With the seasons changing now is a great time to not only Spring clean your house but do a body cleansing as well!! 

Here are 9 ways you can rid your body of toxic build up! 


1. Clean Eating

Ditch these clogging foods and your skin, gut, and brain will thank you! 
Dairy Products
Acidic to body; contain antibiotic residues and growth hormones; causes mucus build-up and acne.
Gluten/Wheat/Sugar
Processed carbohydrate foods like white breads, white pastas, sugary drinks and candies all demand extra effort from your liver to keep your blood sugar levels stable as well as to remove the toxic substances these foods contain. Eating a processed carbohydrate rich diet will mean your liver is working over time.

Anything with Additives/Preservatives/Colorings in a Box or Can

These foods are highly processed, made in factories, contain chemicals that our bodies cannot break down. They cause weight gain, diabetes, cancer, diseases, and other health issues.  It is "dead" food without living enzymes.
CLICK HERE for more information on clean eating and RECIPES! 

2. Juice Fast
Juicing is a way to get a mega-dose of vitamins and nutrients into your body with maximum absorption! Try doing one for 3-5 days if you are new to juicing to give your digestive system a rest! Here is one recipe I enjoy. 

Deep Green Liver Detox Juice: 
  • 1/2 cucumber
  • 2 cups kale
  • 1 lime
  • 1 cup swiss chard
  • 1/2 lemon
Run all ingredients through a juicer and drink! 


More of my top picks to juice: http://jackieamart.blogspot.com/2016/03/spring-body-cleaning.html?m=1

Sweating is the body’s safe and natural way to heal & stay healthy. Infrared sauna benefits the body by heating it directly causing a rise in core temperature resulting in a deep, detoxifying sweat at the cellular level, where toxins reside. 



4. Dry Skin Brushing




Dry skin brushing on a daily basis can provide numerous benefits, such as improved circulation, stimulating lymph drainage, stimulating hormones, and firming the skin.


  • Stimulates the lymphatic system, which also helps to eliminate toxins from the body.
  • Helps your skin to breathe by removing dead skin cells, and opening clogged pores
  • By increasing the circulation to the skin, you are encouraging your body to discharge metabolic waste.


5. Liver Cleansing- Foods/ Herbs:

Consume More of These Foods
  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Lemons
  • Limes
  • Dark Leafy Greens
  • Sulphur rich foods like onions and garlic
  • Cruciferous veggies like broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower
Herbs (Be sure to consult with an educated professional before using.) 
Burdock Root: Burdock root is an extremely bitter root that is a powerful blood purifier. This will help to support your liver in its blood filtering work.
Dandelion Root: Dandelion root works to support the cleansing of the liver. I like to drink dandelion root tea! 

Milk Thistle: Milk thistle can work to cleanse and repair the liver tissues. This is most likely the most common of the liver supporting herbs. It comes in tincture, tea, and capsule forms. 

6. Total Body Cleanse
Some people like to use a product to assist with cleansing. Here is the one I use and recommend from Garden of Life. It's gentle and effective! Please contact me if you would like to order one! 


7. Herbal Detox Body Wraps
You can use these in the comfort of your own home! 
The Herbal Detox Body Wrap is a non-woven cloth wrap that has been infused with a powerful, botanically-based formula to deliver you maximum tightening, toning, and firming results when applied to the skin. It continuously hydrates for firmer, smoother, more youthful-looking skin and reduces the appearance of cellulite and skin slackening. 

It is natural and it aids the body in releasing toxins, tightening and toning the body and emulsifying fat so that you lose inches in a 45 minute application. This inch loss can be from 1-6 inches in 45 minutes. Also helps with stretch marks, cellulite, pain, and inflammation. $30 for 1 Wrap (Retail Price).



8. Ion Detox Foot Bath
This is a service I offer in my office. The ion foot bath is a powerful way to experience a cellular detoxification. It generates a stream of positive and negative ions (charged atoms) which attract and attach themselves to oppositely charged toxic particles. Through osmosis these toxins are drawn out of the body through the pores of your feet to cleanse and detoxify the body. It increase energy (both physically and mental energy), vitality, stamina, and weight loss at the same time it is used to purge (ionic detoxifications) the body of toxins, chemicals, radiation, pollution, synthetics, and other foreign material trapped in the body that have clogged up the systems of elimination.



9. Drink More WATER!

Most people are not consuming enough. Rule is to drink half your bodyweight in ounces of filtered water a day minimum! Water cleanses toxins from the body, regulates body temperature, is needed for digestion and more. Use stainless steel or a glass water bottle instead of drinking out of plastic bottles! 


Please CONTACT ME to schedule your detox session or wellness consultation!










Copyright, 2014, Jackie Mart. For further information about this blog, or Optimum Wellness LLC, contact Jackie Mart at 712.790.5883 or Jackie@OptimumWellnessMN.com. As a holistic nutrition and lifestyle coach, I will support you in taking steps to a healthier and happier you. My goal is to help you create an art of balance in your life. You will also learn how important balance between primary foods (relationships, physical activity, sleep, career and spirituality) and secondary foods (organic food and whole food) is.

www.optimumwellnessmn.com