Juice of the Day: Celery for Energy Juice

We could all use a little lift of energy, especially first thing in the morning! If you are a fan of celery, you are going to love this juice. It’s loaded with ingredients full of energy and immune-boosting nutrients like beta-carotene, vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and biotin. Celery contains compounds that may protect us from inflammation and high blood pressure. It has also been shown that eating celery can help reduce fluid retention. Tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, which helps prevent prostate cancer.

Celery for Energy Juice

• 3 stalks of celery
• 3 tomatoes
• 1 carrot
• 1/2 lemon
• Dash of cayenne pepper

Add all ingredients, except cayenne pepper, to your juicer machine and juice until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and stir in the pepper. Serve and enjoy!

Smoothie of the Day: Throat-Soothing Honey Banana Smoothie with Honey

Got a sore throat? Feeling a bit under the weather? Try out this delicious and nutritious smoothie! It is full of immune-boosting vitamin E and manganese. It’s also a good source of vitamin A, B6, C, and zinc. Honey has antimicrobial properties which is why it is the perfect food for soothing a sore throat. It can also kill certain bacteria that may be causing the infection. The almonds and flax seed oil give this smoothie a nice boost of “good fats” to help your heart, skin, hair, and brain stay healthy. The banana us a good source of potassium and dietary fiber. Give this smoothie a try today!

Throat-Soothing Honey Banana Smoothie with Honey

• 1 C almond milk (or rice milk)
• 1 C raw almonds, not skinned
• 1/3 C honey
• 1 Tbsp flax oil
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 banana

Add all ingredients to your blender and process until smooth. Serve in a tall glass. Enjoy!

Smoothie of the Day: Omega Apple Pie Smoothie

When I first tried this smoothie, the first thing thought that came to me was, “this tastes like comfort food!” It has a delicious but simple flavor that reminded me of the apple pies my grandmother would make. This smoothie is full of nutrients including immune-boosting vitamin C, bone-building calcium, digestion-friendly fiber, and heart-healthy potassium. The chia seeds give this smoothie a big boost of omega-3 fatty acids and protein. I’ve also added flaxseed oil to this recipe for more “good fats”  to promote healthy hair, skin and nails. Give this smoothie a try today!

Omega Apple Pie Smoothie

• 3 organic apples (I leave the skins on, but it’s up to you if you want to peel it off)
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 C almond milk
• 1 Tbsp. chia seeds
• 1 Tbsp. flaxseed oil

Add all ingredients to your blender and process until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and serve. Enjoy!

Juice of the Day: Easy Apple Beet Juice

If you love beets, you will really enjoy this juice! It requires only three ingredients and it is delicious and nutritious. Did you know that beets are a great food for your heart? The heart-healthy nutrients found in beets include folate, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin C. Red beets contain a phytonutrient called betacyanin, which provides extra nutrition not found in yellow or rainbow-colored beets. Apples are a great source of antioxidants to keep your immune system strong and celery is high in potassium and calcium which makes it a good food for promoting healthy bones. Give this juice a try today!

Easy Apple Beet Juice

• 2-3 beets
• 1 apple
• 3 sticks of celery

Add all ingredients to your juicer machine and process until smoothie. Pour into a glass and serve. Enjoy!

Juice of the Day: Ginger Orange Juice

It doesn’t get any better than this yummy juice! With only two ingredients, you can quickly be on your way to drinking a delicious and nutritious beverage in a matter of minutes. The ginger gives this traditional juice a nice little kick. Ginger has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and may be useful in a nutritional program for arthritis and fibromyalgia. It has been suggested that gingerol (found in ginger) may inhibit the growth of human colorectal cancer cells. Oranges are an excellent source of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps to maintain the health of cells by protecting them from damage caused by free radicals. For the best results, make sure you are using a quality juicer, like the Kuvings Silent Juicer. I recommend this brand because it’s slow extraction method of juicing keeps all of the nutrients intact. It’s the healthiest way to juice!Give this juice a try today!

Ginger Orange Juice

• 3 or 4 oranges
• 1/2 inch of fresh ginger root

Add ingredients to your juicer machine and process until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and serve. Enjoy!

Smoothie of the Day: Pineapple Kiwi Smoothie

Enjoy the tastes of summer with this nutritious and delicious smoothie! It’s a great way to get a healthy boost of energy without having to reach for caffeine. This smoothie is full of nutrients like folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin E, and calcium. It’s also a good source of magnesium and potassium. The flesh of a pineapple has been shown to aid in digestion and help reduce the risk of blood clots. Pineapple is also a great source of vitamin C and ferulic acid which helps prevent cancer. Lemons have antifungal and antiseptic qualities which helps to kill germs in the body. This is one of the reasons lemons are traditionally used to soothe sore throats. Give this smoothie a try today!

Pineapple Kiwi Smoothie

• 1 C chunks of pineapple (fresh is best)
• 1 C plain rice, almond, or coconut milk
• 1/2 tsp natural vanilla essence
• 1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice
• 2 kiwi fruits

Add all ingredients to your blender and process until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and serve. Enjoy!

Time for Tea – Gotta get some Green Tea!

Many of you know that I am a self professed tea-a-holic! I drink tea every day instead of coffee, soda, and sugary fruit drinks. Not only do I love drinking tea because it tastes delicious, but I love tea for it’s amazing variety of health benefits. Green tea (loaded with free-radical fighting antioxidants) is one of my favorites because you can enjoy it during any time of the day. It has such a basic yet earthy flavor which makes it perfect to enjoy with your breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. Have you ever tried iced green tea with a fish and vegetable dish? Or hot green tea over a plate of your favorite sushi? It’s delish!

                      I love tea so much that I partnered up with my favorite tea company, Stash Tea! I have always loved a big cup of Classic Green Tea from Stash Tea every morning with my bowl of Greek yogurt and berries. I also love their Moroccan Mint Green Tea for a fresh and energizing cup of tea…yum! You can check out all of Stash’s fabulous green teas on their website stashtea.com or at your local grocery store.  Green tea has caffeine in it which helps me wake up quickly but it never gives me the jitters like a cup of coffee would. I like to add a small spoonful of organic coconut oil to my green tea because this not only gives it a “tropical” twist but it’s a great way to get good fats in your diet. When I feel like I’m getting sick with a sore throat, I will add a tablespoon of honey to my green tea. Honey not only will naturally sweeten your tea but it has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties to help you get well soon. Did you know that you can add green tea to smoothies? I like to add 1 C brewed green tea (chilled) with 1 mango, 1 banana, and a handful of raspberries. Yum! Are you more of a traditional tea drinker and like your tea served hot? The best way to enjoy your green tea is to let it brew for 1 to 3 minutes in water that is 170 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit.

Smoothie of the Day: Greens, Tomatoes and Cucumber Smoothie

Some people just can’t get enough of tomatoes! They love their texture, taste, and beautiful color. Tomatoes are rich in nutrients including vitamin C, A, K, potassium, dietary fiber, and B vitamins. Tomatoes are an excellent source of lycopene, which helps prevent prostate cancer. The spinach in this smoothie contains over 13 different flavonoid phytonutrients that function as powerful antioxidants. Give it a try today!

Greens, Tomatoes, Cucumber Smoothie

• 4 fresh tomatoes, diced with skins on
• 1/2 long cucumber, diced into little chunks
• 1 C fresh baby spinach leaves
• 4 broccoli spears
• 1 C all-natural, organic tomato juice

Add all ingredients to your blender and process until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and serve. Enjoy!

Smoothie of the Day: Banana Cacao Orange Smoothie

Do you have a picky eater in your family? Do you have a major sweet tooth? This is the smoothie for you! It tastes more like a milkshake than a healthy beverage, which makes it the perfect alternative to a sweet dessert or a sugary soda. This smoothie is loaded with nutrients that promote optimal health. The bananas give this smoothie a nice boost of B vitamins and potassium. The orange is an excellent source of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that helps to maintain the health of cells by protecting them from damage caused by free radicals. I’ve added raw cacao powder from Navitas Naturals to this smoothie for a sweeter taste and a great dose of flavanols, magnesium, antioxidants, and dietary fiber. You can also include a pinch of cinnamon to taste if you wish. Give this smoothie a try today!

Banana Cacao Orange Smoothie

• 1 orange
• 1 banana
• 1 C vanilla almond milk (I recently tried the new Almond Milk from So Delicious and it tastes fabulous with this recipe)
• 1 Tbsp. ground flax seed (try Forti-flaxfrom Barlean’s Organic Oils)
• 1 Tbsp raw cacao powder
• A pinch of cinnamon

Peel the orange and banana. Add all ingredients to your blender and process until smooth. Pour into a tall glass and serve. Enjoy!

Margaux’s Minute: Drinking Green Tea

“Many of you know that I am a HUGE tea fanatic. I drink some every morning and even right before bed. Green tea is one of my favorite kinds of tea because it tastes amazing and is full of healthy properties. For example, green tea has been shown to help protect against cancer, lower cholesterol levels, and promote longevity. It has also been show to help with cardiovascular disease and infections. I am very, very picky when it comes to my tea. I only drink organic and loose-leaf, using a strainer a friend gave me years ago. Try getting in the habit of having a cup of green tea every day – and add a squirt of lemon to your cup for a powerful boost of free-radical fighting vitamin C as well. Have a happy and healthy day!” xoxo – Margaux