Juicing 101: Tips for Juice Newbies.

This week’s post is a bit of a continuation from last week. A part two, perhaps.

At what point should you stop shelling out $6, $8, or upwards of $10 for fresh- or cold-pressed juice and start making your own? It depends.

I thought that I would be saving massive amounts of money if I bought a juicer and started making my own juice. Reality is that juicing is costly whether you’re buying it or making it. I’ve heard several complaints about the price of the juices at Green Carrot Juice Company. Come on, it’s a business! Good produce ain’t cheap. I mean, you can go for all the deals all the time, but you’re probably compromising your health at some point. I can’t trust a $3 six-inch sub, Subway. No thanks.

Sometimes, the adage is true– you get what you pay for. Juicing is expensive, but the benefits out weigh the cost (of good produce and a juicer).

So, if you’re considering buying a juicer, I have a few tips for getting started.

Why Juice at Home?

It’s fresh. And it can be slightly cheaper in the long run. During the summer months, farmer’s markets are a great option to find an abundance of fresh, affordable produce. In winter, juicing at home is on the pricier side. Someone should start a green house and supply me fresh fruit and veggies. Thanks!

I like having a juicer purely for the convenience. Before Green Carrot, the options were pretty slim in Winnipeg.

Lastly, I like having the creative control over what goes into my juice. Juice and smoothie bars don’t generally offer customizable bevys in the Starbucks sense. I like making weird combinations. Just don’t try juicing an avocado or a banana; that’s not a thing. It will also destroy your juicer. Not that I’ve tried, but the Internet told me so.

Tips on Buying a Juicer:

I’ve mentioned this a multiple times: I’m frugal. I perused the Internet a lot before deciding on my current juicer. I’ve owned two juicers in the past four-ish years. A relatively cheap ($90) Kenmore juicer that lasted almost three years and my current Breville Juice Fountain Plus. I spent around $170 with taxes on the ‘ole Breville and I’ve been extremely happy with it. It usually retails for closer to $200 before tax, but I obviously waited for a sale. Shout out to Bay Days!

I’ve also used the world’s shittiest juicer and a friend’s $350+ juicer. However, I don’t remember the brand of these. The important thing is, that as a newb, I would strongly suggest that you don’t spend a billion dollars on a juicer. The difference between a $75 juicer to a $150ish juicer is way better than going from a $150 juicer to a $300+ juicer. Shoot for something at a mid-range price.

According to my research, and partially my experience, super pricey juicers create less foam and (maybe) slightly more juice. I don’t really get the point of having less foam. I like a good fruit and veggie latte!

The last (and most important) tip: look for a juicer with more than one speed. Any single-speed juicer is probably one of the rare $75 breed that can’t juice anything harder than a lemon. Steer clear. Or just buy a cheap citrus juicer.

Quick N’ Dirty Juicing Tips:

1) (Too much) citrus peel tastes gross juiced. Remove it. No need to peel apples, though, just wash ’em.

2) Go gingerly with the ginger. A 1-2″ piece is plenty for a single serving. Also, if you’re going to juice raw garlic, go easy on that, too. A clove will suffice.

3) When juicing leafy greens, or herbs, put them with a soft fruit (or veggie) to maximize your juice extraction. Think kale + oranges, or basil + berries.

4) Don’t force produce into your juicer, especially anything of a hard variety. Beets can kale your vibe, let me tell ya!
Pro tip 4.5: for hard fruit and veggies (apples, beets, carrots, etc) make sure you have your juicer set on “high” or power level two… we’ve already been through this, no using a one-speed juicer!!

5) Clean your juicer, or at least the filter, immediately after use. This may seem annoying, but trust me, dried on fruit and veggie pulp is way more annoying.

 

Go Get Ya Caffeine Fix

The first time I heard about bulletproof coffee was when I was in Chicago this May for my friend Jayne’s wedding. My group of friends are spread across Canada and the States and the wedding was an opportunity for all eight of us to be together, in one condo!!

At “family” breakfast we sat around the kitchen table and my friend Scott brought up bulletproof coffee, or as I referred to it, “butter coffee.” My first thought was, of course my Vancouverite friend would be into this weird butter coffee stuff.

Within the last couple of months I’ve been inundated with bulletproof coffee. It seems to be the newest health trend. I’ve also read a fair share of blog posts bashing bulletproof coffee and its apparently not-so-amazing benefits.

So, I decided I might as well give it a shot and see for myself what all the hype (and hate) is about.

Benefits of bulletproofing your coffee:

• Mental clarity and focus without the usually caffeine-fix crash
• A bounty of energy
• Weight loss via ketosis (a metabolic state that is trigged by lack of carbs that burns fat)*
• Helps fight cravings.

And there are some other benefits, too, but these are the biggest/most common perks of trading your everyday breakfast for this butter-coffee stuff.

*I’m personally not interested in bulletproof coffee for the third benefit listed. I’ve done my research on the ketosis diet and I’m not a huge fan of the concept. Well, I’m not a diet supporter at all; it’s all about making lifestyle changes. Also, I’m not agreeing that these are all proven benefits.

Anyways…

I trolled through all corners of the Internet looking for recipes for this miraculous coffee bevy. To be honest, I did pick and choose a bit between the recipes I found. Bulletproof coffee is basically three things– coffee, butter, and oil. The key to making legit bulletproof coffee is to use special coffee beans that are free of mycotoxins (essentially fungi and mold), butter made from grass-fed, organic cow’s milk, and MTC (medium-chain triglyceride) oil. I used coconut oil as my MTC oil because I’m not willing to shell out money for the fancy stuff that is marketed exclusively for making this bevy. Another confession, I didn’t use fancy coffee beans. So shoot me!

At the upper end of the butter scale, you can put 6-8 Tbsp of grass-fed butter in your bulletproof blend. Does anyone else think that sounds a little, uh, crazy? I opted for a starter’s variation. Maybe I’ll work my way up the butter scale, one day.

Here’s what I used:
1 Tbsp unsalted grass-fed butter
1 Tsp coconut oil
1 Cup coffee

Directions:
1) Pour freshly brewed coffee into a blender.
2) Add in butter and coconut oil.
3) Blend until it’s a light caramel colour.

It should also have a layer of buttery-coconutty froth on top.

My verdict:
I’m currently on day three of (possibly) seven of bulletproofing my morning bevy, but I have a pretty solid opinion formed already. Some sources told me I should give it at least 10 days because I might not notice any benefits before that.

I don’t know if I can make it to day 10.

I’ll give bulletproof coffee a few pros, but I think there are definitely some inherent cons, for me at least.

Pros:
• It tastes pretty decent.
• Zero caffeine crash (I don’t usually notice this after my morning coffee though)
• I did notice I had more energy than I do when I drink regular coffee with almond milk.
• It was moderately filling. Maybe this was a psychological thing, though.
• I felt more alert, albeit for short time, first thing in the morning.

Cons:
• I’ve missed the sensation of sinking my teeth into actual breakfast food.
• On day two, I did get a bit hangry by lunch time…
• I don’t think it’s helping to keep things moving/flowing in my system.
• Greasy teeth. Enough said.

I don’t think this is a health fad I’ll be continuing in the long term. I like eating, not drinking, my breakfast. But in desperate situations, I would recommend trying bulletproof coffee over guzzling an energy drink. Don’t get me started on energy drinks, though. That’s a whole other blog post.

Have you tried bulletproof coffee? Let me know your thoughts, DM on Instagram @thelifeof_lucky, or send me an email– breanne.thelifeoflucky@gmail.com

Hey, Meghan Trainor: It’s Not All About the Bass.

“Yeah it’s pretty clear I ain’t no size two,” sings Meghan Trainor in “All About the Bass.”

I had two thoughts the first time I listened to this song:

1) This is so catchy; it’s going to be stuck in my brain forever.

2) Viva la booty!

As someone with a very juicy backside I thought, finally some due credit to my butt! 

I’ve always struggled accepting my pear-shaped body. No matter how much weight I lost, I was always unsatisfied with my curvy lower body. I felt disproportional. And of course, I felt like my backside made me look fat.

And the most depressing thing is that no matter how much weight I shed, I never felt better about my pre-determined body shape.

I’ve been at so many different sizes/weights over the last decade. I got stuck in the trap of  thinking that loosing just another 5 pounds would make me feel happier and more confident. I felt the most miserable at my lowest weight. My weight has never been indicative of my happiness, as it shouldn’t be.

Compared to most messages in pop music, at first listen, I was happy that someone was preaching about self-love. Love yo bodies, ladies!… But I wasn’t so quick to drink the Kool-Aid.

A friend of mine pointed out one especially problematic lyric in Trainor’s song:

I’m bringing booty back
Go ahead and tell them skinny bitches that
No I’m just playing. I know you think you’re fat
But I’m here to tell ya
Every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top

First of all, yes Trainor sings “every inch of you is perfect,” but my problem is with labelling women as “skinny bitches.” I find this pretty derogatory. Isn’t the song supposed to be about accepting every body type? I’m confused. How can you call women skinny bitches and think that the song is promoting acceptance and loving your body at any shape or size?  Some people are naturally slender/slim/thin, or “skinny.” They don’t diet or have an eating disorder.

And secondly, the assumption that “skinny bitches” think they’re fat…. Yes, body dysmorphia is a real thing. It’s a terrifying disorder. But what about naturally slender women, and men, who think they’re too scrawny/lanky/thin? This is what a friend pointed out to me. She felt insecure throughout high school because she didn’t have an ass or boobs. She felt un-womanly, unattractive.

So, Meghan Trainer, I know you probably had good intentions. In my opinion, ya kinda missed the mark.

Body positivity, to me, doesn’t mean making assumptions and generalizations about how people think or feel about their body. And it’s definitely not calling people skinny bitches. That is not a thing.

I don’t know what it does… but it’s healthy, right?

Does anyone else eat certain foods because they’ve heard they’re healthy? Please tell me I’m not the only one. I feel like I’m constantly being inundated with the latest super foods, cure-all foods. Off the top of my head I can think of a few…

Kale

Quinoa

Pomegranates

…And the list goes on. A few days ago as I was downing a shot of raw apple cider vinegar, I asked myself – why am I doing this? Because apple cider vinegar is really healthy for you, duh. I’d heard from various sources that the bacteria cultures in it are good for your digestive system. Thus, I’ve been taking cider shots ever since. I’ve gotten pretty good at them; I hardly even cringe after.

Just as a side note, I like to take my  shot of apple cider vinegar straight up, rather than mixing it with water. Mixing it with water definitely burns a lot less though.

I decided it was about time I research the actual health benefits and claims of apple cider vinegar. Allow me to share a few with you. I can’t promise that these are all legit claims proven by science. In fact, I’m not going to even provide you with the science behind these claims. I’ll just speak to my own experience. And like anything else, I suggest trying them out for yourself.

• Alleviates stomach troubles / Prevents indigestion
This is the main reason I got on the apple cider vinegar bandwagon. I have some stomach issues which seem to have calmed down lately, but it could also be cutting down on dairy that has helped as well…

• Soothes sore throats
Supposedly, it cures hiccups too. I can’t remember the last time I’ve had ’em, so someone else should test this out and keep me posted. As for soothing sore throats, it hasn’t helped me out in the past week. Still battling a sore throat.

• Makes dandruff disappear (topical application)
Mix a few tablespoons with about a cup of water and spritz on scalp. I’m not a huge fan of this idea, but my dry scalp might enjoy it.

• Boosts energy
I’ve scientifically proven this one. Well, I think. I’ll sometimes drink a teaspoon or two pre-workout. Just beware of taking it on an empty stomach… it’ll feel pretty weird if you’re not used to it.

• Helps cut down night time leg cramps
This is an actual problem for me. It doesn’t happen too frequently, but when it does it’s SUPER annoying. It would be nice to not wake up at 4 a.m. and have to walk around my room until my leg cramp subsides. I think this usually happens when I’m dehydrated, like after hot yoga or an intense workout. Maybe I should just choose h20 over apple cider vinegar…

• Whitens teeth / tackles bad breath
Not sure about either of these claims. Still also not sure about the benefits of oil pulling either. I’m such a skeptic.

• Helps control blood sugar
This is a good thing, especially for me. My body likes to surprise me with low blood sugar levels sometimes.

• Helps your body detox / balance body’s pH
Ugh, detox. This word annoys me almost as much as the word diet. Detoxing is such a hyped up phenomena… juice detox, Master Cleanse, etc. If you eat healthy, wholesome foods and exercise moderately, I don’t really see the need to detox. But that’s just me.

Stay tuned for part dos of this post next week.

Oil Pulling: The Secret to Optimal Health?

I don’t have any secrets to divulge, but I do want to talk about something that’s been buzzing on social media lately – oil pulling. I know what you’re thinking, oil pulling? Yeah. That’s exactly what I thought when I first saw this term pop up on the Merrymakersister’s Instagram. Well, I mostly thought “Ew. Gross, wtf is that!” Scroll.

But I couldn’t avoid it much longer; the term kept popping up everywhere. I finally gave into reading about the process of oil pulling after my friend, Nik, sent me a link. I had been whining that my teeth are too sensitive to whiten with at-home kits, and that the unseasonably cold wind was making it even more painful. Oh, vanity.

I had initially decided to try the process as a means of making my not-so-pearly whites, whiter. Wearing bizarre shades of lipstick really makes them stand out, ok. As I read about the process, turns out it has many health benefits.

Oil pulling is an Ayurvedic practice that dates as far back as 5,000 years ago in India. Swishing oil daily in one’s mouth is said to remove toxins and bacteria that cause infections, headaches, skin problems, and discoloured teeth. Oh, and it’s supposed to give you more energy too.

I’m all for a more holistic approach to health, but I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical. The only way I could put my skepticism to rest was to try oil pulling for myself.

One week. Seven days. I made the commitment to try the process every morning for an entire week. I’m now on day eight, not on purpose though. This morning I woke up feeling drowsy, and the last thing I wanted to do was swish around a tablespoon of coconut oil in my mouth. But, I had to finish my week. After I had finished, I realized it was day eight. Crap.

I guess you’re wondering exactly what the process of oil pulling entails… here’s the how-to in a nutshell.

• Use only organic coconut, olive, or sesame oil… coconut is the least offensive, in my opinion. ( 1 tsp to 1 tbsp)
• You must swish the oil around in your mouth for 15-20 minutes.
• You must swish the oil first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
• Do not swallow any of it! It’s filled with germs, toxins!
• Discard the oil into a plastic bag, or garbage can not the sink or toilet. It’ll mess up your plumbing.

The final verdict:

My teeth looked whiter after day 2. They’d probably look even whiter if I stopped drinking caffeinated beverages. I did notice a surge in my energy levels every morning, but I’ve also been on a green smoothie kick and drinking lots of Mate this week. I noticed that my usual  headaches from staring at screens all day were subdued. I was also surprised by the overall amount of energy I had this week, despite running on very little sleep.

I have to be honest though, swishing around oil in my mouth for TWENTY minutes was annoying at times. A lot of people have said they enjoy the process because it gives them “me” time, but I don’t have that much time to sit around in the morning. Every morning I would wake up, stumble to the kitchen, grab the jar of coconut oil and shove some in my mouth. I would then carry on my normal morning routine – shower, put on make up, do some planks, and get dressed. It was the most annoying while I did my make up. The only positive aspect of that situation was that I couldn’t open my mouth while I applied mascara, and avoided making the classic “ugly mascara face.” So, I guess that’s a positive.

Am I going to keep oil pulling? Maybe. We’ll see how I feel about it tomorrow morning.