The Power of Juicing for a Healthy, Happy Life

Juicing has to be one of the most exciting elements I have added into mine and my children's lives.
I had always heard amazing benefits of juicing and its ability to heal our bodies...but I only ever had the odd juice.

Then one day in a moment that felt like synchronicity during a period of stress an ill health I happened across Joe Cross's documentary, Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead  and the whole world went quiet as I watched. Not something that happens very often when you have 2 kids and one is a young, toddler!
I was just totally captivated and inspired by it.

It was living, filmed proof off the power of juicing for a healthy, happy life.

 

Not just beautiful, juices are life energy in a glass.

Juicing is this incredible way we can give our bodies amazing healing and heath boosting nutrition in a way our bodies can access incredibly fast with little effort.

What are some of the benefits if juicing?

• Weight loss.
• Increased Energy.
• Immune boosting. Our immune system is our own personal army and defence system, anything we can do to support it and protect it is .
• Drastically increases your intake of fresh fruits and vegetables easily which is always a great thing!
• Liver Cleansing and Support. Your liver is such an important part of your body. Your liver cleans your blood and removes harmful and dangerous toxins from your body, you need it in a really great healthy state. The sad thing is they say it is actually quite common for a large proportion of us all to have fatty deposits and livers not in the best state, and this is not a good thing at all. Plus giving your liver a detox improves general wellbeing and even improves your skin in so many ways and helps skin conditions like acne.
• Lusher hair. Due to all the nutrients it is said that juicing can improve hair growth and condition. 
• Digestion. Due to the fact that juicing gives your body a large amount of nutrients while your digestive system has to do little work this is amazing for resting your digestive system and allowing it to heal and look after itself, which is so beneficial for everyone and especially anyone with an autoimmune disease, bowel or digestive issues. 
• Cancer fighting abilities. Due to the extreme amount of antioxidants juicing is said to help prevent and fight cancer, so it is enormous benefit to everyone. There is amazing research out there on this field alone.
• Cold and flu fighting. Due to all the nutrients in a powerful raw easy to access formula juicing is an incredible way to help your body and immune system fight off all sorts of colds, flu's and bugs.

If you have kids juices are a fantastic and easy, fun way to get a big does of vegetables into the kids!!

This Christmas and with the new, fresh year coming up upon us I think one of the best investments we can make for our family and our own health is actually fresh homemade juices using something like the Vitality 4 Lifes Juicers. I use my juicer so often it s honestly one of the best investments I ever made in my home and for my health too.
 I also make small juices in glass bottles for the kids to take to school sometimes and I just love the feeling of giving them a juice with their breakfast in the school morning, or after school on the way to sports or dance knowing what a powerful does of nutrients their bodies are getting.

Plus if your keen to get Summer beach body ready then juicing is your new friend! It can help you drop dress sizes, reduce bloating and clear up skin so you can GLOW this Summer!

We have a few favourite juice recipes but this beautiful, rich Healthy, Happy Life juice is a current favourite!

A Healthy, Happy Life Juice

 

Ingredients

2 cups chopped watermelon

1 large beetroot

1 &1/2 cups fresh green kale

1/2 large cucumber

1/2 cup baby spinach greens

1 red apple

1 green apple

4 long stalks celery

 

Method

• I juice the beetroot, watermelon and red apple together.
• Then I juice the kale, spinach, cucumber, green apple and celery.
• In serving glasses I pour some of the red juice then top with some of the green and while it ends up dark you get this lovely swirling effect of the two colours on top, which adds to decorative effect - not essential you can absolutely just juice it all together of course!

Toddler Tips

• I purposely left the ginger out of this one as my kids often find ginger in a juice just too much, sometimes you can hide it but it is nice to have some juice recipes that are ginger free for them too.
• I highly recommend letting the kids make the juices with you!! Kids love putting the fruits and veggies in and turning them to liquid and this fun element means they are going to be excited about trying them
• If kids, especially older kids are new to juicing, you will want to start with extra fruit in there like apples and then slowly reduce the fruit and increase the veggies over time.

Notes

• For an extra anti inflammatory effect you can add a little fresh turmeric.
• Make yourself a large batch and keep one in the fridge for an afternoon pick me up.

 

This is a sponsored post with a fantastic company called Vitality4Life, "Vital ingredients for a healthy home and environment." Check them out for juicers, dehydrators and more!

 

 

To help you bring the power of juicing for a healthy, happy life into your life we are giving you the chance to WIN $50!!

 

To enter simply:
Simply comment below what kinds of fruits and/or vegetables you like to juice and the most creative answer selected wins the prize!

NOTE: you must leave a comment to be eligible.
This competition is in now way linked, endorsed by or affiliated with Facebook.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e39c8dfc3/"

Recipe, styling and photography (c)rebeccamugridge2014
This is a sponsored blog post with Vitality4life.
Information on this blog is general interest only and based upon the authors own experiences and should never be taken as medical advise or replace the expert opinion of your doctor or medical professional.

Turmeric, Garlic & Ginger Yoghurt Prawn Spaghetti. Gluten Free

Smashing ingredients in a mortar and pestle, releasing their intense smells and flavour is one of my favourite kitchen experiences. My beautiful Thai friend Peta brought this into my life when my oldest was just a tiny little thing. It is so different to just chopping or mincing them up.
It is like passion added to the flavours; with this very earthy and intimate hands on experience with your food and its ingredients.

Unlocking the flavours in an earthy, beautiful way

If you don't yet have a mortar and pestle I highly recommend you get one, or at least put it on your Christmas wish list! You can pick them anywhere from $12 through to $200 + and tiny to large so there is one for every budget and kitchen out there!

In this recipe it brings excitement to the kitchen right away as everyone comes wondering what the great smell is! Plus using fresh organic turmeric has so many amazing health benefits as the curcumin in it is one of the most powerful natural anti-inflammatories out there.
Of huge benefit to anyone with inflammation of any kind like arthritis, uveitis, ulcerative colitis, multiple sclerosis, Ankylosing Spondylitis and general back and joint pain in the body it is also said to help prevent Alzheimer's as scientists believe it breaks down plaque in the brain and areas where they eat a lot of turmeric like India have the lowest rates of Alzheimer's in the world.
And the best bit is, you don't have to eat crazy amounts of it, they say even one meal a weel with fresh turmeric in it is beneficial!

Now if you are one of my Sunshine Coast readers I can tell you if you don't grow your own you can buy fresh turmeric from Erbackers, Jeffers Market and often at weekend markets.
Also look out for it where you live at Asian or Indian deli's and grocer stores, wholefood markets, health food shops, fresh fruit and vegetable shops, sometimes even the big supermarkets will have it.

The powerful benefits of the turmeric combined with the garlic and ginger too makes this is a fantastic dish which is why I was excited to team these ingredients with the new Barilla gluten free pasta range when they sent me out a gorgeous parcel to try. as gluten can be inflammatory for many people this gluten free spaghetti (that truly was not gluggy like some out there can be) is a perfect partnering and the result is just lovely.

This recipe is simple, fragrant and delicious.

It is also easy to make vegetarian, one of my kids ate it that way. I simply made a smaller batch in a separate pan with extra veggies and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

 

Turmeric, Garlic & Ginger Yoghurt Prawn Spaghetti

 

Ingredients

• 1/2 kilo green prawns
  (I was given a big batch of super fresh, local ones from my neighbour as he is a fisherman- I know right?! Cool neighbour!) Try to find Australian ones if you can and don't be afraid to ask about them and where they are from and if the place supports ethical fishing practises.
• Fresh Turmeric. I used a piece about 2 cm long and 1/2 a cm wide. Wash, peel.
• Fresh Ginger. If applicable look for local! Washed, peeled.
• 6-7 cloves of Australian garlic. (Or at least a non bleached kind)
• 1 red onion, sliced
• 2 carrots, peeled and sliced longways.
• 2 zucchini's peeled and sliced longways.
• 1 large red capsicum. sliced in long strips.
• 1/2 lemon
• 1 teaspoon cardamom (or use freshly ground)
• 1/2 a kilo of natural yoghurt. I like to use Jalna or Maleny Dairies brands
• 1 & 1/2 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
• 1/2 bunch fresh coriander
• Pink Himalayan salt to taste (optional) 
• olive oil

 

Method

• Prepare your prawns. I also devein mine and left about 1/3 with their tails on for decorative effect.
• In a mortar and pestle smash your turmeric, ginger and garlic until it is pulp like. Take the time to slow down and enjoy this process. Make it a moment in the kitchen. Be present. Enjoy the smell sensations and you hands on with your gorgeous ingredients. If you drink, this is a lovely time to sip a nice glass of wine.
• Cook the Barilla gluten free spaghetti according to packet instructions. I served mine el dente.
•  
• In a deep pan gently fry the onion in some olive oil on a medium low heat until wilted.
• Add in the turmeric smash, stirring well for a minute or so.
• Toss in the carrots, zucchini and capsicum, stir through for another 2 - 3 minutes.
• Add prawns, yoghurt and cardamom and cook for around 4 minutes or until prawns are cooked.
• Squeeze over lemon right at the end and season with a little salt if desired.
• 
• Arrange spaghetti on plates.

• Top with a layer of spinach and coriander leaves.
• Pour over some of the prawn mixture and drizzle with extra sauce from the pan.
• Top with a little fresh coriander.
• Serve and enjoy!

Notes

• The gluten free spaghetti used here is available from woolworths.
• This works just as beautiful vegetarian, increase the veggies and leave the prawns out. 
• For those who do not like coriander this works perfectly without it as well, though I would recommend some fresh parsley in its place.

Toddler Tips

• I leave a few strands of spaghetti long for fun but also chop a fair bit into easier eating sizes.
  My kids did not find this too spicy at all, but you could always serve kids portions with a dollop of a lovely creamy natural yoghurt on top as well.

 

Recipe, styling and photography (c) Rebeccamugridge2014
Follow my beautiful food with Bek pictures on Instagram

***Note: I was gifted a gluten free hamper by Barilla.