Perseverance Elixir - Celery, Apple, Wheatgrass, Lemon Juice

Perseverance Elixir

My local farmer's market sells wheatgrass growing in little containers so for today's juice I used celery as the base, one apple, a small handful of wheatgrass that I trimmed off and half of a lemon. This is a relatively sweet combination but packed full of nutrients espcially from the wheatgrass. This is another green juice to add to the repertoire with a focus on perseverance today. Persevere in the face of adversity, because if getting exactly what you want was so easy, everyone would be happy, successful and fulfilled. Work for your dreams and make them a reality by sticking to it and cultivating your perseverance.

Connectedness Elixir - Beets, Sweet Potato, Apple Juice

Connectedness Elxir

Today's juice was made with beets, one sweet potato and a Fuji apple, which turned out really sweet. The focus today is on connectedness and realizing that we are all interconnected.

Courage Elixir - Celery, Carrot, Pear, Kale Juice

Courage Elixir

This juice is made with celery, carrot, one pear and kale, the green super juice. The focus today (Sunday) was on being courageous and having courage in everything that I do.

Trust Elixir - Beet, Cucumber, Coconut Water and Ginger

Trust Elixir
Today's creation is the trust elixir, made with one beet, one cucumber, fresh cocunut water (difficult to break free but totally worth the effort) and a smidge of ginger. This is a very refreshing combination and the ginger adds just a bit of punch to the finshed product. Today's focus is on being trustworthy and having trust in yourself and others.

Vision Elixir - Carrot, Pear, Turmeric Root, Celery Juice

Vision Elixir

Today's juice is made from carrot, pear, turmeric root, and one celery stalk (to thin out the final product). The focus today is on vision, and not only that but in establishing clarity of vision. I have found that vision and goals are greatly enchanced if I get clear about them. Clarity in terms of who, what, where, when, how are important to establish, otherwise how can I measure the success of my vision?
According to Dr. Walker, carrot juice has ample supply of vitamin A, as well as other vitamins mentioned in my previous post, and so it is excellent for nourishing the eyes and is also good for the skin. Turmeric root has many benefits as well and has known anti-inflammatory effects. A word of CAUTION, juicing turmeric is a messy business because it readily stains. It resembles ginger root, but is milder in taste. It is an interesting taste, so try a bit at a time or it will overpower everything (I learned that the hard way). I usually peel it with gloves on, otherwise my hands and nails turn yellow. Also, less is more, if you want to try it, use a couple of one inch roots to start. As far as the juicing part is concerned, I have found that it doesn't stain as much if I add them in the middle of the jucing process. So here I started with the carrots, then I juiced all of the turmeric, then the pear, then the rest of the carrots, and finally I finished with a stalk of celery.

Source Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices by Dr. N.W. Walker.

Gratitude Elixir - Beets, Carrots, Cucumber Juice

Gratitude Elixir
This is the third in the 21 Day Juice Feast Series.

The focus is on cultivating gratitude today by being thankful for what I have. There are many benefits to cultivating gratitude, including increased well-being, cultivating positive relationships and it can also help us deal better with adversity. There is a whole field of study, called positive psychology that is dedicated to "the scientific study of the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive. The field is founded on the belief that people want to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives, to cultivate what is best within themselves, and to enhance their experiences of love, work, and play (http://www.ppc.sas.upenn.edu/.)" The great news is that gratitude is something that we can cultivate and enjoy its benefits on our health.
Speaking of health, this particular combination of carrots, beets and cucumber, according to Dr. Walker are especially helpful in cleansing our systems. Particularly, this elixir helps to cleanse the liver, kidneys, and gall bladder. MMMM...I am grateful for today's juice ;) .

Sources http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mental_Health_Letter/2011/November/in-praise-of-gratitude, Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices by Dr. N.W. Walker.

Presence Elixir - Carrot, Pear, Kale Juice

21 Day Juice Feast Day 2

Todays juice is the Presence Elixir, named so to draw focus inward, to be mindful, and mostly to be present in the moment. Allow yourself to be present today. When you're with someone, allow yourself to fully listen when they talk to you. I find that my days can be very hectic, so I try to catch myself and be present in the moment. Otherwise, I tend to miss the moments of day to day living in the hustle and bustle. Being mindful and present allows me to reconnect with myself and allows me to connect better with others.
For todays elixir I chose carrots predominantly, which according to Dr. Walker are a rich source of vitamin A, which can be quickly assimilated into the body. This wonderful juice also is full of vitamins B, C, D, E and K. Carrot juice may even be helpful in keeping up the immune system to fight off some infections, and is particularly mentioned to be helpful in nourishing the endocrine and adrenal glands. To thin out the juice I added one pear and a leaf of kale, which made the juice all the more pleasant.

Source: Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Juices by Dr. N.W. Walker.

Love Elixir - Beet, Kale, Celery Juice

21 Day Juice Feast

The first juice I have dubbed the Love Elixir, named so because of the bright red color, but also because love has to do with the heart, and the heart pumps blood. It turns out, according to Dr. Walker that beet juice (our predominant ingredient) is great for building the blood, helps maintain the solubility of calcium, and is also rich in potassium. The addition of kale (I love kale) adds a bit of green, and celery helps thin the juice out for a more pleasant taste, since beet juice by itself can be a bit overwhelming. Pictured below I have a bit of bee pollen, which can be sprinkled on top or eaten separately.