New Years Resolution Juice Recipe

Juicing.

It's my favorite way to get a quick jolt of nutrients to my system. It also makes me feel 100x better about my day no matter how terrible the weather was or how rude people on the Tube were.

Plus one of my New Years Resolutions (like everyone else in the world) is to make healthier choices and to maximize my health.

Buuuuuuuuuuut (also like everyone else in the world) I may have indulged a bit too heavily over the holidays. January 1st may have been the worst hangover I've ever had. Whoopsie!

I'm going to rationalize my Ke$ha-esque behavior with the fact that I'm young and this is the time to live it up am I right?!

Of course one cannot sustain a healthy lifestyle living like Ke$ha every night, regardless of how much I love her.

So here's a recipe for my New Years Resolution Juice! It is a delicious and super nutritious health elixir that I will be making myself at least 3x a week to keep this body running smooth and happy.

Ingredients:

1-2 apples
3-5 celery stalks (tons of phytonutrients)
1-2 carrots
1 fresh beet (liver cleanser)
1 whole cucumber (lots of water and anti-inflammatory)
knob of fresh ginger (cuts the green taste)

Particularly with juicing be sure to buy all your produce ORGANIC. Especially when you are juicing things with their skins intact you don't want any nasty pesticides getting into your pristine juice.

If organic produce is not available to you, make sure you wash everything thoroughly in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water.

Now power up the juicer and press press press!

Voila!

Be sure to drink right away before your juice has a chance to start oxidizing. If you make a big batch to store for later use be sure to use airtight containers and pop in the fridge right away.

This recipe is chock-full of vitamins B-6, C, over 200% DV of A, Calcium, Magnesium, and a butt-load of antioxidants and phytonutrients all working hard to keep your body functioning at prime levels!

So no matter how hard you partied this holiday season, give yourself the gift of a clean start to a new year. <3 xoxo

Oil-Pulling And Why I LOVE It!

So by now I'm sure you've heard of the new trendy detox technique: oil-pulling.

What is it exactly?

Oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice that involves swishing a tablespoon of oil for 20 minutes, on an empty stomach, in order to improve oral and overall health.

Basically, the act of swishing the oil is thought to draw out toxins and remove harmful bacteria that collects in your mouth.

Benefits include:

• Whiter teeth
• Fresher breath
• Strengthens teeth and gums
• Cures headaches
• General detoxifcation
• Overall improved oral health
• It is also said to be helpful for people with depression and insomnia

I am obsessed. I mean come on, what's not to love right?!

Okay okay, most people who try it say that the hardest parts are getting used to the texture of the oil and swishing for the FULL 20 minutes. But from my personal experience, it's TOTES worth it. And here's why I think so:

1. My teeth were noticeably whiter within a few days!!! I've tried all the toothpastes and whitening trays and I have to say this was just as effective if not MORE so. PLUS it's totally natural without any yucky chemicals.
2. My gums have been slowly receding for a couple of years now, but since I have started oil-pulling they have actually grown back a considerable amount! And I hadn't changed anything else in my daily routine so it MUST have been the magic of oil-pulling.
3. It clears any grogginess I have in the morning. If I ever wake up feeling less than bright-eyed, I make sure to oil-pull because as soon as I'm done I feel focused and ready to go!
4. Less breakouts. Now I can't know for sure if I can give oil-pulling full credit for this one, but I have noticed fewer breakouts around my chin. Which typically is a sign of hormonal imbalance. So perhaps the reduction of toxins has helped balance my insides! Regardless, it equals less zits which equals a happy Andy!
5. It's like a built-in lip balm! I always manage to get oil on my lips as I do my 20 minutes which acts like a lovely natural lip balm! Which means less lip balm throughout the day! Bonus!

So there's my personal testimony. I've been oil-pulling for about 4 months now and all I can say is that I am addicted. I have not experienced any negative reactions or side-effects and I must say that when I miss a day I can really feel the difference! You should definitely give it a try! 

Here's a how-to guide for all you newbies. ;)

1. Choose your oil. I use an organic and raw coconut oil. It's cost-efficient, the taste is pleasant, plus it has anti-bacterial properties! An added bonus to the detox you're about to embark on. You could alternatively use just about any oil you'd like such as olive, hemp, or pumpkin. Just make sure it's organic! 
2. In the morning* when you wake up, rinse your mouth out and drink a glass of water. Now take 1 tablespoon of oil and begin to gently swish it around, making sure the oil gets to all parts of the mouth. Set your timer.
3. After 20 minutes is up, spit the oil out into the trash. (Don't spit into the sink as the oil could harden and clog up your drains! No bueno.) 
4. Rinse your mouth out with water and go about your morning!

*If you choose to do your oil-pulling at a different time of day just make sure that you have not had food within the last 2 hours!

There you have it! Easy-peasy! 

Now if you're like me, you probably don't have 20 extra minutes every morning. I fit this into my schedule by plucking my eyebrows, shaving, picking out an outfit, checking e-mail, or by making my breakfast while I swish. That way I am still being productive while I reap the benefits of this wonderful practice.

What oils do you use for your oil-pulling practice? And what benefits have you experienced? I would love to hear all your success stories in the comments below! :)