Benefits of Lemon

I had forgotten about the great benefits of lemon until someone reminded me this week and I found this great article, for me, balancing my pH level is very important, but so is everything else on this list:

1. Boosts your immune system
Lemons are high in Vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C is great for fighting colds and potassium stimulates brain and nerve function and helps control blood pressure.
2. Balances pH
Lemons are an incredibly alkaline food, believe it or not. Yes, they are acidic on their own, but inside our bodies they're alkaline (the citric acid does not create acidity in the body once metabolized). As you wellness warriors know, an alkaline body is really the key to good health.
3. Helps with weight loss
Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. It also has been shown that people who maintain a more alkaline diet lose weight faster. And, my experience is that when I start the day off right, it's easier to make the best choices for myself the rest of the day.
4. Aids digestion
The warm water serves to stimulate the gastrointestinal tract and peristalsis—the waves of muscle contractions within the intestinal walls that keep things moving. Lemons and limes are also high in minerals and vitamins and help loosen ama, or toxins, in the digestive tract.
5. Acts as a gentle, natural diuretic
Lemon juice helps flush out unwanted materials because lemons increase the rate of urination in the body. Toxins are, therefore, released at a faster rate which helps keep your urinary tract healthy.
6. Clears skin
The vitamin C helps decrease wrinkles and blemishes. Lemon water purges toxins from the blood which helps keep skin clear as well.
7. Hydrates the lymph system
This cup of goodness helps start the day on a hydrated note, which helps prevent dehydration (obviously) and adrenal fatigue. When your body is dehydrated, or deeply dehydrated (adrenal fatigue) it can't perform all of it's proper functions, which leads to toxic buildup, stress, constipation, and the list goes on. Your adrenals happen to be two small glands that sit on top of your kidneys, and along with your thyroid, create energy. They also secrete important hormones, including aldosterone. Aldosterone is a hormone secreted by your adrenals that regulates water levels and the concentration of minerals, like sodium, in your body, helping you stay hydrated. Your adrenals are also responsible for regulating your stress response. So, the bottom line is that you really don't want to mess with a deep state of dehydration!
Read more;
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-4769/Why-You-Should-Drink-Warm-Water-Lemon.html

Juicing Recipes

Here are some great juicing recipes from my favorite guy, Drew Canole:

Everyone knows my love for green juices, but you should know that sometimes I indulge in green smoothies.

Kale Smoothie

For more green juice recipes, click here <—
Juicing is great. You get instant absorptions of all the amazing nutrients, vitamins and essential minerals that your body needs. Most people think that you lose all the fiber when you juice but that’s not necessarily true.
What you gain from juicing is unbelievable. When you juice the fiber that is stripped off is called insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber is helpful in keeping you “regular.” Some soluble fiber like pectin is still intact when you juice fresh vegetables and fruits. Soluble fiber is my favorite kind of fiber It helps  your body get rid of excess cholesterol thus lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.
Check out the benefits of juicing versus blending, here <—
Here are my three favorite green smoothies
1. Blend: 4 leaves of kale, handful of ice, 1 cup of coconut milk (unsweetened), 1 teaspoon of Matcha tea and enjoy.
Check out the benefits of matcha tea here <—

Berries and Kale Smoothie

2. Blend: handful of blueberries, handful of blackberries, handful of strawberries, 1 cup of coconut milk (unsweetened), 6 leaves of kale, handful of ice
Check out the benefits of kale here <—
3. Blend: 1 tablespoon of spirulina, 1 cup of almond milk, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, 2 leaves of swiss chard, 1/2 apple

Read more:

http://fitlife.tv/3-green-smoothies/

Foods to Avoid to stay healthy

This is the diet plan I am following, although, it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle. With God's help first, diet and excercise I'm hoping to beat my Cancer. I also juice veggies everyday. This is from Dr. McDougall's Program;

http://www.drmcdougall.com/free_4d.html

	Foods Not Allowed
	The following is a list of the foods that are not allowed on my diet, with ideas for possible substitutions. Don't Eat: Possible substitutes: Cow's Milk (for cereal or cooking) Lowfat soy milk, rice milk, fruit juice, water, use extra when cooking hot cereal or pour over cold cereal Cow's Milk (as beverage) None; drink water, juice, herb tea, or cereal beverages Butter None Cheese None; after 12 days you may substitute soy- and nut-based cheeses Cottage cheese None; after 12 days you may substitute crumbled tofu Yogurt None Sour cream None Ice cream Pure fruit sorbet, frozen juice bars; after 12 days you may substitute Lite Tofutti Eggs (in cooking) Ener-G Egg Replacer Eggs (for eating) None Meat, poultry, fish Starchy vegetables, whole grains, pastas, and beans; after 12 days you may substitute tofu "meat" recipes Mayonnaise Tofu mayonnaise Vegetable oils (for pans) None; use Teflon, Silverstone, or silicone-coated (Baker's Secret) pot and pans Vegetable oils (in recipes) None; omit oil or replace with water, mashed banana, or applesauce for moisture White rice (refined) Whole grain (brown) rice or other whole grains White flour (refined) Whole grain flours Refined and sugar-coated cereals Any acceptable hot or cold cereal Coconut None Chocolate Carob powder Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, and black teas Non-caffeinated herb tea, cereal beverages, hot water with lemon Colas and un-colas Mineral water or seltzer (flavored or plain)

Juice Fast

I love juicing and it is a big part of my fight against cancer, please take the time to read this article by Drew Canole, it's great:

Like everything in life, if you put in more you will get more out. If you prepare well for a fast then you should feel the benefits.

The ability to succeed at a goal such as weight loss often starts in your head. Undergoing a mental makeover enables you to break your bad habits. The key to transforming your body is transfoming your mind. Before you start you juice fast journey prep your mind with these simple strategies.

1.  Goal Setting

Write down your goals. Why do you want to go on a juice fast? Do you just want a healthier lifestyle? Do you want to lose weight? Knowing why you’re doing something and listing the benefits of completing your goal motivates you to work harder to achieve your goal.

Goal Setting

Getting excited about the real rewards of weight loss or any other goal builds stamina and motivation to sticking to your juice plan and exercise routine.

2. Make a plan

Once you’ve set your goals and listed why you want to go the Alpha Reset, write out your plan. Plan ahead by listing all the fruits and vegetables you need from the grocery store. After you buy your fruits and vegetables, wash them and make prep bags.  (If you don’t want to put your veggies in a plastic bag then you can just put it into glass tuber ware or wrap it around a paper towel).
Prep bags should include all the necessary ingredients needed for a particular juice recipe.

FitLife.tv – Prep bags and save time!

3. Join Juicing Vegetables Fanpage

Invite friends and family to join you in your juice fast. Accountability is a key in any goal. Join the Juicing Vegetables fan page for support and free recipes. Also if you start a juice fast and you don’t make it all the way through the days, don’t blame yourself or put yourself down. Often times, the guilt of making a mistake is worse than the mistake itself. Remember that you are strong and continue on.

4. Cut down/Eliminate Alcohol and Smoking

If you are addicted to, or have a high intake of stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, sugar and nicotine it helps to ease yourself off these gradually before starting a juice fast. Please remember that as well as not eating during the fast you will be expected to stop smoking, and drinking alcohol and caffeine. For one week prior to your juice fast try to eat as light and raw as possible. Incorporate raw vegetables and fresh vegetable juice into your daily consumption as well.

Ingredients of Cigarettes

5. Prepare your body in advance

One week before you begin your fast you should try to:

CUT DOWN OR ELIMINATE

-  Alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, drugs, sugar, salt, artificial sweeteners and microwave foods
(If you are on medications always check with your physician before starting any new routine)
- Meat, fried or processed food, dairy products
-  Gluten (oats, barley, rye, wheat) – bread, pasta, pies, cakes and pastries

INCREASE

- Intake of raw foods in your diet – salads and sprouted foods
- Every morning start your day with warm water and lemon juice, it’s great for you. Check out the benefits here <—
- Spring water and hydrating fluids such as herbal teas and fresh fruit and vegetable juices
For more information how on to make drinking water fun and exciting click here <—
-  Leafy green vegetables, quinoa, and vegetable soups
For more information on alkalizing juice recipes click here <—