Showing posts with label Michael Pollen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Michael Pollen. Show all posts

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Juice Analysis, Organic Produce, and Inspiration


I've been a little worried about my juicing habits lately because my urge to juice was dwindling. Even this morning (after two days without juice) I was questioning whether I could keep this up. After doing a full yoga practice, it was back. I went downstairs and juiced away! The picture to the left is what I started with.

I was curious about which nutrients I was benefiting from in this juice, so here the analysis I came up with, using The Complete Book of Juicing by Michael T. Murray. I listed the key benefits of each vegetable, fruit, and root.
Celery:
  • Potasium
  • Sodium (electrolyte replacer)
  • Coumarins (increases activity of certain white blood cells, tone vascular system, lower blood pressure)
Carrot:
  • Highest vegetable source of provitamin A carotenes
Cucumber:
  • Skin contains Silica (strengthens connective tissues, i.e. muscles, tendons, and ligaments)
Ginger:
  • Excellent Carminative (promotes elimination of intestinal gases)
  • Anti-inflammatory
Lemon:
  • Rich in Vitamin C and Potassium
  • Contains Limonine (promising anti-cancer properties)
Apple:
  • Pectin (improves the intestinal muscle's ability to push waste through the gastrointestinal tract)
  • Ellagic, chlorogenic, and caffeic acids (anutrients with significant anticancer properties)
And here is the result of those veggies and fruits plowing through my Breville juicer:

I am going crazy trying to figure out where to buy produce and which produce to buy. Until yesterday I thought that any produce bought at Whole Foods was organic. Not true! Anything marked "Conventional" is not organic. Bummer.

Also, I wonder about the integrity of companies like Nature's Promise. Nature's Promise is easy to find at the cheaper, chain grocery stores in Baltimore: Giant and Super Fresh, but how great are these fruits and vegetables really?

I am excited that Kris Carr has brought up the idea of a book club in her blog. I am interested in reading, Michael's Pollen's book, In the Defense of Food and it would be nice to share the experience with her community.

I am working on a fiction novel at the moment, but my interest in writing a creative non-fiction novel is increasing as I become more inspired by my pursuits in alternative health and wellness. Also, I feel inspired each day by information coming from blogs and books that I am drawn to make a contribution as well. Its like the idea is at the tip of my tongue, but it hasn't come to fruition yet. I am going to have faith that it will come in its own time and I just have to keep on this path. With that thought in mind, I should get back to other writing projects. Peace and love:)