Foodies Over 50

Pass the JUICE, Harry - and I Don’t Mean Tequila 

By Terri Wilson Godfrey

THE FRESHER THE BETTER!

We see a variety of books, programs and info-mercials these days about juicing and what it does for our health. Good things!  No, really, GREAT things!  Food heals.

There are expensive juicers. I have a fabulous, expensive machine that took a hefty amount of dollars out of my pocketbook a few years ago and it now sits on the shelf collecting thoughts and dust.  I could have had a facial, a massage and 10 pedicures for the price of that baby. It has a multitude of parts to take apart, scrub clean and reassemble. 

It is too much work and it separates the pulp from the juice instead of making the “whole” food available for consumption and enjoyment.  That whole food is what feeds the body, brain, genes and energy.   Instead of taking a vitamin pill we can ingest liquid vitamins with an immediate energy boost for the day.  We are truly feeding our cells.  Those over-50 cells will thank you, be healthier every day, and pay you back into old age.

Smaller, more powerful and efficient juicers have come on the market in recent years. They save time, are simple to use and wash, PLUS the cost is reasonable.  My current juicer of choice is a Nutri-Bullet which pulverizes the foods down to a liquid.  The cost is now well under $100 and if you have a coupon, even better.

Juicing allows us to feed our bodies with nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc. that taking vitamins can’t provide. Nature is infinitely smarter in the natural way it provides nutrients to our bodies in actual foods (vitamins are a man-made product. As an aside here I once read an article about how the portable potty companies when washing down their portable toilets found tons of undigested vitamin pills in the waste. What a “waste” of money. I found that vitamin pills either gave me a headache or caused heart palpitations.) Without too many details I will say that juicing has helped to improve my thyroid function so I’m taking much less medication and I’m on no heart medication after A-fib and cardiac ablation surgery. That’s in conjunction with living a basic Paleo lifestyle for more than 15 years.

Juicing is easy.  Use what you have on hand or shop for the flavor and color rainbow. Go organic if you can afford it.  Wash the fruits and veggies. The darker the color of the vegetable or fruit the better it is for you. Human bodies need chlorophyll for health and vitality.  It can be as simple as a carrot, an apple, a few leaves of dark lettuce or as robust and full bodied as you can make it. Even if you can only juice a couple times a week, then do that.  You will notice a difference in your energy, vitality, skin, hair, nails, brain power, sleep patterns and stamina. Here are some frequent recipes that I use. Vary your own amounts according to what you desire.  Make a cocktail that pleases YOU. If you must keep your blood sugar in check, keep to low glycemic fruits, less fruit, more vegetables, eliminate sweeteners or use a dash of stevia. Don’t be afraid to use herbs or spices, lemon, lime, tabasco. Add a variety of nuts for added nutrition.  Make it fresh and interesting!

1. Fresh strawberries, almond milk or water, ice cubes, peeled orange, arugula, dash of honey, agave or stevia.
2. Fresh blueberries, watercress, ice cubes, cashew milk or water, fresh mint, red lettuce leaves, cinnamon and raw honey.  
3. Peeled grapefruit, peeled orange, carrots, any kind of greens, cucumber, water, ice cubes and chopped candied ginger.
4. Fresh pineapple, unsweetened coconut milk, banana, handful of mint, agave, raw honey or stevia (if desired).  Your own Pina colada packed with nutrients!
5. Fresh tomato, green pepper, greens, sweet potato, celery, mushrooms, green onions, water, ice cubes.   Mama’s own V-8.    Add tabasco for a hot one!

For simplicity and make ahead prep, take an hour, put the ingredients for one whole juice smoothie into a freezer bag.  Make 14 bags, toss into the freezer. When needed put the bag contents and your chosen liquid into the juicer and whirl it! Five minutes gives you cell food and energy for the day.

Have fun! Get creative! Keep it simple! Don’t give up.

DISCLAIMER: Juicing has not turned me into Christie Brinkley or Cindy Crawford and no one has called to offer a TV contract but I like to imagine that I could be a work in progress. In old age one can dream. Humor me.