3.31.2014

How to Juice Wheat Grass and the many Health Benefits

Wheat Grass!

Wheat Grass is nothing shy of AMAZING!  It is so good for you and easy to juice.  I have been juicing wheat grass for over 7 years now and am devoted to giving my body this super shot of nutrition.  Some may get turned off of wheat grass by the process but it is worth it. Wheatgrass is packed with nutriton, one shot contains: chlorophyllamino acidsmineralsvitamins, and enzymes.

Once you do it you will not be able to stop.  I am not the only one that loves it in my house, when my cat hears me getting out the juicer he runs into the kitchen to get a few blades for himself.  I simply cut a few blades, hold it near his mouth, and he does the rest!  It is very nutritional for cats too!



There are many options to juice wheat grass but I prefer a cast iron hand cranked juicer. Do a google search and you can see where to get one.  Mine is so burly that it has been making wheat grass juice for me for 7 years!  


 The amount of juice in the picture above will produce 2 full shots of wheat grass.

1. Cut the grass with scissors down to the end of the green.  
2. Take 1/4 of the grass and put in juicer and crank.
3. Capture the juice and enjoy!

Tips:
  • I sometimes follow with a half a lemon or a small orange to extract all of the grass, it also gives it a citrus sweet taste for those that have trouble with the taste.
  • After the blades of grass come out put them back through the juicer to extract even more. Every drop counts!

If you do not have a juicer you can also just chew it!  Yes, you can juice wheatgrass in your mouth and it is very good for your gums and teeth.  Simply cut a handful of blades, put it in your mouth, and start chewing - yes, just like cows and horses do ALL DAY long and stay so strong and healthy.  You can chew for a few minutes until the blades of grass are dry. 

I notice one days that I have wheatgrass  for breakfast I have more energy than I usually do and do not get hungry.  It truly is a superfood and everyone should try it!!

More health benefits:
from HippocratesInst.org   http://hippocratesinst.org/wheatgrass/benefits-of-wheatgrass
Some of the superior qualities of wheatgrass and the juice that can be extracted from its blades include the following:
  • Increases red blood-cell count and lowers blood pressure. It cleanses the blood, organs and gastrointestinal tract of debris. Wheatgrass also stimulates metabolism and the body’s enzyme systems by enriching the blood. It also aids in reducing blood pressure by dilating the blood pathways throughout the body.
  • Stimulates the thyroid gland, correcting obesity, indigestion, and a host of other complaints.
  • Restores alkalinity to the blood. The juice’s abundance of alkaline minerals helps reduce over-acidity in the blood. It can be used to relieve many internal pains, and has been used successfully to treat peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, constipation, diarrhea, and other complaints of the gastrointestinal tract.
  • Is a powerful detoxifier, and liver and blood protector. The enzymes and amino acids found in wheatgrass can protect us from carcinogens like no other food or medicine. It strengthens our cells, detoxifies the liver and bloodstream, and chemically neutralizes environmental pollutants.
  • Fights tumors and neutralizes toxins. Recent studies show that wheatgrass juice has a powerful ability to fight tumors without the usual toxicity of drugs that also inhibit cell-destroying agents. The many active compounds found in grass juice cleanse the blood and neutralize and digest toxins in our cells.
  • Contains beneficial enzymes. Whether you have a cut finger you want to heal or you desire to lose five pounds…enzymes must do the actual work. The life and abilities of the enzymes found naturally in our bodies can be extended if we help them from the outside by adding exogenous enzymes, like the ones found in wheatgrass juice. Don’t cook it. We can only get the benefits of the many enzymes found in grass by eating it uncooked. Cooking destroys 100 percent of the enzymes in food.
  • Has remarkable similarity to our own blood. The second important nutritional aspect of chlorophyll is its remarkable similarity to hemoglobin, the compound that carries oxygen in the blood. Dr. Yoshihide Hagiwara, president of the Hagiwara Institute of Health in Japan, is a leading advocate for the use of grass as food and medicine. He reasons that since chlorophyll is soluble in fat particles, and fat particles are absorbed directly into the blood via the lymphatic system, that chlorophyll can also be absorbed in this way. In other words, when the “blood” of plants is absorbed in humans it is transformed into human blood, which transports nutrients to every cell of the body.
  • When used as a rectal implant, reverses damage from inside the lower bowel. An implant is a small amount of juice held in the lower bowel for about 20 minutes. In the case of illness, wheatgrass implants stimulate a rapid cleansing of the lower bowel and draw out accumulations of debris.
  • Externally applied to the skin can help eliminate itching almost immediately.
  • Will soothe sunburned skin and act as a disinfectant. Rubbed into the scalp before a shampoo, it will help mend damaged hair and alleviate itchy, scaly, scalp conditions.
  • Is soothing and healing for cuts, burns, scrapes, rashes, poison ivy, athlete’s foot, insect bites, boils, sores, open ulcers, tumors, and so on. Use as a poultice and replace every two to four hours.
  • Works as a sleep aide. Merely place a tray of living wheatgrass near the head of your bed. It will enhance the oxygen in the air and generate healthful negative ions to help you sleep more soundly.
  • Enhances your bath. Add some to your bath water and settle in for a nice, long soak.
  • Sweetens the breath and firms up and tightens gums. Just gargle with the juice.
  • Neutralizes toxic substances like cadmium, nicotine, strontium, mercury, and polyvinyl chloride.
  • Offers the benefits of a liquid oxygen transfusion since the juice contains liquid oxygen. Oxygen is vital to many body processes: it stimulates digestion (the oxidation of food), promotes clearer thinking (the brain utilizes 25% of the body’s oxygen supply), and protects the blood against anaerobic bacteria. Cancer cells cannot exist in the presence of oxygen.
  • Turns gray hair to its natural color again and greatly increases energy levels when consumed daily.
  • Is a beauty treatment that slows down the aging process when the juice is consumed. Wheatgrass will cleanse your blood and help rejuvenate aging cells, slowing the aging process way down, making you feel more alive right away. It will help tighten loose and sagging skin.
  • Lessens the effects of radiation. One enzyme found in wheatgrass, SOD, lessens the effects of radiation and acts as an anti-inflammatory compound that may prevent cellular damage following heart attacks or exposure to irritants.
  • Restores fertility and promotes youthfulness.
  • Can double your red blood cell count just by soaking in it. Renowned nutritionist Dr. Bernard Jensen found that no other blood builders are superior to green juices and wheatgrass. In his book “Health Magic Through Chlorophyll” he mentions several cases where he was able to double the red blood cell count in a matter of days merely by having patients soak in a chlorophyll-water bath. Blood building results occur even more rapidly when patients drink green juices and wheatgrass regularly.

3.23.2014

Vegan Sloppy Joes - Quick and Easy Recipe

Vegan Sloppy Joes - Quick Easy Recipe

Tempeh to the rescue again!  We use tempeh as our meat replacement over all other alternatives.  Tempeh is  easy to work with - simply dice it into tiny cubes and simmer it with your favorite veggies, oils, and spices.  We have made taco "meat", churizo, and now these Sloppy Joes.  The recipe below takes little ingredients,  quick to make, and low cost at the store! You can add many other ingredients if you like - let's just keep it easy!

Shopping List / Ingredients:
  • Organic Tempeh
  • Organic Ketchup
  • Organic Mustard
  • Organic Brown Sugar
  • Organic Green Pepper
  • Organic Sweet Onion
  • Sea Salt
  • Cracked Black Pepper
  • Hamburger Buns
  • Salt & Pepper Chips

1. Dice Tempeh into tiny cubes.  Cut lengthwise and then widthwise into thin strips, then crumble with a fork.
2. Dice green pepper and onions - to equal 1 cup each.
3. Heat pan with favorite oil and put tempeh and veggies in to sizzle for 5 minutes.
4. Add 1/2 cup organic ketchup, 1 teaspoon organic mustard, add 1/8 cup organic brown sugar (more or less), 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper, sea salt to taste.
5. Simmer on lower heat for 5 - 10  minutes.



3.20.2014

Borscht Soup - Delicious and Vegan



Borscht Soup - Delicious AND Healthy

It is still off and on cold outside and a warm bowl of Borscht Soup would be a perfect way to welcome in a chilly Spring night. There are so many great things about this soup!
  • Healthy
  • Inexpensive
  • Feeds you for days
  • Vegan Friendly
  • Delicious
  • Great for Weightloss
A little history first . . .
There are a few opinions out there as to where this soup originated.  It can be traced to Ancient Rome, then in the 15th and 16th century to Russia and Ukraine.  



Health Benefits:

  • Beets are off the charts healthy - the soup is based in beet stock and has chopped beets, as many as you like.  
  • Cabbage is also a superfood and cancer fighter. The sinigrin in cabbage can be converted into allyl-isothiocyanate, or AITC. This isothiocyanate compound has shown cancer preventive properties with respect to bladder cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer.
  • Garlic and onions are antimicrobials - great for cold and flu days!
  • This soup is very low calorie and fills you up with nutrients.




There is no ONE way to do Borscht.  Classic Borscht  includes: beetroot, cabbage, potato, onion, carrot, tomatoes, garlic, herbs, and spices. We followed this recipe, due to her very detailed instructions (we also cubed our beets):



We also paired this with a sourdough baguette for dipping from Macrina Bakery http://www.macrinabakery.com/ here in Seattle. 

ENJOY!