How to: Home Made Organic Strawberry Lemonade

Natural Cures Not Medicine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturalcuresnotmedicine

Image: laylita.com

Ingredients:
1 ¼ lb strawberries, washed & cut in halves, about 4 cups
2 lemons, washed and quartered (use limes to make strawberry limeade)
~ raw honey to taste, adjust based on your preference and sweetness of strawberries
6 cups of water
Ice
Garnishes: Strawberry slices, lemon slices and/or fresh herbs

Instructions:
Blend the strawberries, lemons and honey with 2 cups of water
Strain the strawberry lemon mix, add the additional 4 cups of water through the strainer
Taste and add additional honey if needed
Serve cold over ice and garnished with strawberry slices, lemon slices and herbs



Source: Raw For Beauty

10 Fruits You Should Be Adding To Your Smoothies Today!

Natural Cures Not Medicine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturalcuresnotmedicine

Smoothies are a great way to increase your consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables. Over the past 10 years of perfecting smoothies, I have found that certain fruits work better in smoothies than others, and that including high-antioxidant rich fruits into your smoothie will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Read on to find out 10 different fruits that you should definitely start adding to your smoothies TODAY!

Cherries

Cherries are a popular summer fruit and should be eaten while they are in season. They are very high in antioxidants called anthocyanins, which help lower your risk of developing heart disease and cancer. They also help promote healthy skin and brain cells. Cherries are also great anti-inflammatory fruits, and have been shown to act just as effectively as the painkiller ibuprofen. Make sure you choose deep, dark, red cherries (not light coloured – those are un-ripe), and be sure to pit the cherries before you blend.

Bananas

Bananas are an amazing power food! They help individuals overcome depression because of their high levels of tryptophan (which is converted into serotonin in the brain; the happy-mood brain neurotransmitter). They protect against muscle cramps during workouts and counteract calcium loss during urination and build strong bones. They also improve your mood and reduce PMS symptoms and help individuals lose weight via their fat-metabolizing resistant starch. Make sure to include ripe, spotty bananas in your smoothies as these are the kind that will help you gain these awesome benefits!

Berries

Berries are one of the best foods to include in your smoothies, especially because they are the fruits with the highest levels of antioxidants. Berries help lower your risk of certain cancers, and improve memory function and urinary tract health, as well as promote healthy aging. Berries are also very high in fiber which helps to maintain a healthy GI tract, lower blood cholesterol and reduce heart disease. Another compound in berries called “ellagic acid” is a potent anti-carcinogen, which has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. I would recommend putting around 1-2 cups of berries per smoothie (make sure you buy organic berries! Conventional berries are one of the highest sprayed fruits out there!)

Peaches & Nectarines

Peaches and nectarines are both very high in beta carotene which is essential for eye health (helps improve vision health by increasing circulation of blood in the eyes, and other body parts). Vitamin C content in these two fruits are also wonderful for skin care and reducing dark circles under the eyes and fine lines and wrinkles. Peaches and nectarines are great toxin cleansers as well, and their high fiber and potassium content reduces kidney related diseases and reduces risk of developing ulcers. Add 1 or 2 peaches or nectarines to your next smoothie – be sure to remove the pit!

Mangos

Antioxidant compounds in mango have been found to protect against a variety of cancers like colon, break, leukemia, and prostate. Mangos are high in fiber, pectin, and vitamin C too, which helps lower serum cholesterol levels and helps clear the skin. Adding a cup or two of mango to your smoothie will ensure your body benefits from the mango’s amazing properties.

Pineapple

Who doesn’t love pineapple? Make sure you choose ripe pineapple (the green leaves on top start to turn brown when it is just about ready), otherwise, you will have battery-acid mouth for the rest of the day! Did you know that pineapples are incredibly high in vitamin C, so they help boost the immune system and keep our gums healthy. Pineapples are also high in manganese, which is a trace mineral needed by your body to help build bones and connective tissues. They also lower your risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and the bromelain in pineapple helps alleviate inflammatory-related diseases like arthritis!

Oranges

Oranges are a definite power food! They literally dissolve the mucus in your body and get rid of nasty blockages that may be causing a variety of underlying bodily issues. Oranges are rich in limonoids which help fight a number of cancers including skin, lung, breast, stomach and colon. They also help reduce the risk of kidney stones and help lower cholesterol because of the high content of soluble fiber. Not only that, but this fruit is very high in potassium, an electrolyte mineral required for proper heart and nerve function. Last but not least, we all know the orange is high in vitamin C, which keeps our immune system strong and healthy! Juice a couple oranges for your next smoothie instead of buying pasturized orange juice which is very low in bioavailable nutrients.

Papaya

Papaya is a great fruit for improving skin health and fighting against acne and skin infections. It is very rich in fiber which helps lower cholesterol levels and contains enzymes which prevent the oxidation of cholesterol (in turn, helping to prevent heart attacks). The enzymes in papaya are also wonderful for relieving constipation and diarrhea, and helps to cure infections of the colon. The seeds are great for ridding the body of intestinal worms too! Put 1-2 cups of ripe papaya in your next smoothie!

Grapes 

Grapes contain resveratrol which helps assist with weight loss by 1) reducing the cells’ ability to store fat; and 2) causing the fat to disintegrate 246% higher than normal! Resveratrol also improves blood vessel dilation, allowing blood to flow more easily through blood vessels. Grapes also protect the brain, thanks to resveratrol which cleans up brain-damaging plaques and free radicals (both of which are linked to Alzheimer’s disease). I sometimes like making an all-grape smoothie, with 1-2lbs of grapes in a blender, pulse blended for 30 seconds and you are good to go!

Kiwi

Finally, the kiwi is a great fruit to add to your smoothies! They contain a protein-dissolving enzyme which helps digest meals more efficiently and have high levels of potassium which helps manage our blood pressure. Kiwis have been found to protect the cell DNA from oxidative damage (something that leads to many cancers), and the high vitamin C content boosts your immunity. The fiber on kiwis are great for removing toxins from your intestinal tract too! Putting a couple ripe kiwis in your smoothie will allow you to reap these awesome benefits!

Source: Live Love Fruit

Other articles you may enjoy: 

Red fruits and vegetables

3 Day Juice Cleanse & Recipes

Fruit Layered Ice Pops

Healthy Summer Drinks To Quench Your Thirst

Natural Cures Not Medicine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturalcuresnotmedicine

When the temperatures and humidity start to climb during the summer months, we naturally seem to feel thirstier. It is very important to give our bodies plenty of fluids and nutrients, especially during this time of year. The trick is to choose quality, nutritional drinks that don’t subject us to harmful substances and/or pack on empty calories. We’ll discuss some ideas for healthy drink alternatives, but first let’s lay a few ground rules about what not to take into our bodies.

Soda pop is the “all-American” drink to reach for, at least that’s what the mainstream media and advertisers want us to believe. My advice is to take carbonated soft drinks off your grocery list and leave them off permanently. Unless, of course, you want to gain weight, weaken your bones, wreak havoc with your digestive system, and expose every organ in your body to toxic chemicals. Oh, and as a side note, pop doesn’t quench your thirst well; it only makes you thirstier.

A second general guideline is to avoid the over use of caffeinated beverages and alcohol. Both of these are poisonous to your system, and they also lead to dehydration, a bad thing anytime, but especially during the dog days of summer.

Okay, so we know what not to drink. What are some good things that we should drink?

Dress-Up Your Water

Pure, filtered water is hands down the best way to quench your thirst. The body — both on a cellular and systematic level – is composed of over 70% water. We need lots of it in order for us to operate the way we’ve been designed. The health benefits of drinking plenty of water are numerous (weight loss, strong immune system, younger-looking skin, better nutrient-absorption and toxin elimination, etc.). There is no better beverage than water when you are thirsty. I know some of you may be bored with plain old water, although your body will develop an increased desire for it if you drink it consistently. Here are a few healthy tips about making water a little more tasty and palatable.

• Try a teaspoon or so of organic apple cider vinegar (ACV) in a glass of water. It gives it a bit of a bite taste-wise, but beyond that ACV provides a ton of healthy benefits such as boosting your digestive and immune systems, reducing acidic imbalance in the body (a major contributor to disease), and combating free radical damage.
• Fresh fruit-infused water is not only flavorful but also healthy. This has its roots in Spanish cuisine and is known as aguas frescas.  Adding fruit and/or vegetables and herbs will make the water more interesting, and expose you to the vitamins and minerals of the fruit without excessive amounts of sugar.
• A simple twist of lemon or lime also adds flavor, or you may want to grab a few mint leaves (preferably from your own garden) and spice up your water in this fashion. Bruising the leaves helps to release the flavor.

Chilled Herbal Teas

There are so many varieties to choose from, that you are sure to find a flavor that tickles your fancy. Most are caffeine-free, and provide minerals, antioxidants, and other useful nutrients and benefits. Just be sure to stay away from simple sugar which is high in calories and terrible for your overall wellness, and of course you should avoid toxic artificial sweeteners.

Stevia or Xylitol are good choices for a natural sweetener. If you like a bolder taste, try using organic blackstrap molasses in your tea. It has a rich, strong flavor, so go easy on it. However, molasses is also a great source of minerals such as calcium and iron, and is actually a whole food-based sweetener that nutritionally builds up the body unlike simple sugar which tears it down.

Another suggestion is to make fruit-infused herbal teas. Make this the same was as the fruit-infused water except substitute herbal tea for the water.  Be creative with the different types of teas and fruits that you put together.  There are endless possibilities in making a very healthy drink.

Healthy Smoothies

I love smoothies because you can literally add an unlimited number of healthy choices to these delicious drinks. Using a blender or food processor, you can whip up tasty and nutritious beverages including:

• Fresh organic fruits such as berries, mango, peaches, cherries.
• Organic cottage cheese and/or yogurt.
• Whole foods such as freshly ground flax seeds or nuts.
• Green veggies such as spinach, kale, avocado.
• Natural, organic protein powder such as hemp seed or pea protein.
• Potassium-rich foods such as organic bananas, apricots, oranges, or raisins are particularly helpful if you are highly-active in the heat (great for preventing dehydration and muscle cramping).
• Milk substitutes such as hemp seed milk, rice milk or almond milk (soy-free or make your own).

For an extra cool treat, try preparing your favorite smoothie and using it as a healthful alternative to ice cream.  This is very easy to do if you have a Vita-Mix or comparable blender. One word of caution though: Depending on your choice of ingredients, smoothies can be quite high in calories. Enjoy in moderation to avoid unwanted weight gain.

Source: Oasis Advanced Wellness

3 Day Juice Cleanse & Recipes

Natural Cures Not Medicine on Facebook: www.facebook.com/naturalcuresnotmedicine

Okay, ready? Let’s go.

I usually juice for about 5-6 days. 2 years ago when I first started, it was a 3 day cleanse. Which really means 9 days… because there is a 3 day pre cleanse and 3 day post cleanse schedule that I follow. That means, in the 3 days leading up to the cleanse, I cut out basically everything except fruits and veggies. I eat lots of loaded salads with different veggies, drink boat loads of tea, and obscene amounts of water to prepare myself.

So once I’ve got the 3 days of pre-cleansing under my belt, it’s time to hop into the juicing stage. Let’s talk equipment. I have the Breville Slow Juicer. It’s amazing. I’m obsessed and I like the “slow” juicers because you actually extract more fiber and nutrients from the fruits and veggies which gives you more pulp and gives you a bit of a thicker juice and all that jazz.

So during my 3, 4, 5, or 6 days of “juicing” I drink about 6 glasses of juice a day and 6 glasses of water. I make 3 kinds of juice and for lack of better names, I call them by color:

Green Juice

Red Juice

Orange Juice

I usually have 3 large glasses of green juice, 2 orange juices and 1 red juice. And then there is the strawberry almond milk I have at the end of they day.

So here’s what a day would look like for me:
7:00 am wake up – drink some white ginger tea

8:00 am – Green Juice #1

10:00 Orange Juice #1

12:00 Green Juice #2

2:00 Red Juice #1

4:00 Green Juice #2

6:00 Orange Juice #2

8:00 Almond Milk and some more white ginger tea

And that’s about it. Then it’s off to bed where my dreams are usually filled with food. Just kidding, kinda, not really. It’s hard when I live in the food world not to dream about food!!

Post juice cleanse I slowly work my body back onto normal food. I eat lots of raw veggies to start and then slowly work in fruits, quinoa, farro etc. I usually try to stay off of meat for a few more days because that’s just how I roll. And I can promise you when you work your way around to having a burger post juice cleanse – it’s going to be the most delicious thing in the whole wide world. Omg. Seriously.

If you’re new to juicing, I’d say start with a 3 day cleanse. They aren’t easy – and you want to make sure you aren’t going crazy all the time! So I vote for starting on the shorter side and seeing how your body reacts. And for sure, don’t skip the pre and post cleanse – I’ve done it before and it’s not pretty. Your body basically kicks you in the stomach. Trust me.

Day 1 is always the hardest for me because I am “head” hungry. Which basically means I think I’m hungry… but really I’m not. I’m just bored and want to eat. Truth is, I’m packing my body with so many micro nutrients, it has plenty to run on. I just start day dreaming about grilled cheese sandwiches and then I go crazy. So if you’re juicing, you should probably stay off the food section of Pinterest. By day 2 I feel like a million bucks. I sleep better at night, wake up in the morning ready to go. (I literally jump out of bed and Thomas thinks I’m a crazy person) Okay and this might sound weird, but you actually see things more clearly. Not figuratively… I mean literally. Things are sharp and crisp and you’re just ready to take on the day!

So… you might be wondering why I juice? Well, I love it. I do it about every 2-3 months as a way to re-set my body and let it rest. And have you guys ever seen that movie, Fat Sick and Nearly Dead? It’s kinda life changing. I’d highly recommend it if you’re into this kinda thing. It’s super inspiring.

Alright. Ready for some recipes… I am going to give you recipes for all 4 of the liquids I drink during the cleanse. And each recipe is enough for 1 glass.

GREEN JUICE
Ingredients
3 leaves kale, stem removed, roughly chopped
1 handful spinach leaves, roughly chopped
1 cup chopped romaine lettuce
1 bunch parsley, roughly chopped
1/2 English cucumber
2 sticks celery, roughly chopped
1 apple, halved and seeds removed
1 inch piece fresh ginger
1 lemon, rind removed
Instructions

Place everything into a juicer and juice!


RED JUICE
Ingredients
1 apple, quartered
2 red beets, quartered
3 large carrots
1 orange, rind removed
1 (1-inch) piece of ginger
1 handful spinach
Instructions

Place everything into a juicer and juice!

ORANGE JUICE
Ingredients
9 carrots
1 orange, rind removed
1 apple, quartered
1 slice pineapple, skin removed
1/2 of a lemon
1 inch turmeric root
Instructions

Place everything into a juicer and juice!

STRAWBERRY ALMOND MILK
Ingredients

1/2 cup raw, unsalted almonds
2 cups water
1/2 tablespoon Agave Nectar
1/2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 vanilla bean, seeds removed
3 strawberries, tops removed
Instructions

Soak the almonds in some water for at least 2 hours
Drain the almonds and combine them with 2 cups of water, agave nectar, cinnamon, vanilla bean and strawberries in a high powered blender and blend for about 2 minutes until smooth.

Source: Dave Sommers, WhatsGabyCooking

Related Articles: 

Is Your Body Toxic? (Foods That Detox)
http://www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/2013/06/is-your-body-toxic-foods-that-detox.html

How to grow wheat berries for juicing

http://www.naturalcuresnotmedicine.com/2013/03/how-to-grow-wheat-berries-for-juicing.html

Foods you must buy organic

Some foods are grown in a way that exposes them to more toxic chemicals than others and some foods are notorious for being exceptionally filthy when you get them at the grocery store.  Here is a list of produce you should make sure you buy organic to avoid the toxins.  They may look healthy, but unless they are organic, they are contaminated:

Kale:  Though a super food, kale is usually heavily contaminated with pesticides.

Lettuce:  More than 50 different pesticides have been found on lettuce.

Potatoes :  More than 35 pesticides have been detected in tests conducted by the USDA.

Grapes:  Imported grapes can have over 30 chemical pesticides and raisins have high pesticide residue tests as well.

Spinach:  Has tested positive for a whopping 50 different chemical pesticides.  Frozen spinach usually has about the same amount.

Strawberries:  A regular on the dirty dozen list, unfortunately these delicious berries have been shown to have over 60 different pesticides on them though frozen strawberries have less.

Apples:  Over 40 chemicals have been found on apples.  Apple sauce and apple juice also contained pesticide residue.

Peaches:  We all love peaches, but not the 60 plus pesticides found on them.  Canned peaches have much less but it is best to go organic. 

Celery:  Tests on this crunchy enjoyable veggie turned up over 60 chemicals. 

Nectarines:  Overall, 33 different pesticides have been found on these, though domestic grown nectarines tend to be less contaminated then imported fruits.

Bell peppers:  Nearly 50 chemicals on these and every color variety of sweet bell peppers are contaminated.

Blueberries:  Pushing over 50 varieties of chemical residues, these berries should be bought from the organic section. 

Other great posts by Natural Cures Not Medicine:

Natures Most Potent Allergy Blockers

Natural Detox and Immune Boosting Tonic

7 foods loaded with antioxidants!

6 Natural Pain Killers

Alkaline blood vs acidic blood

Natural Cures Not Medicine!

7 more antioxidant foods!

Here are some more antioxidant food choices.

Artichokes

Granny Smith apples

Prunes

Strawberries

Red delicious apples

Blackberries 

Raspberries 

<=== See previous 7

See next 6 ===>

Health bonuses of eating strawberries

Strawberries are loved the world around and are included in many desserts, salads, frozen treats, and smoothies.  But, how many people actually know the numerous health benefits from eating the tasty natural treat?

Helps lower cholesterol

Enhances cognitive function

Promotes prenatal health

Protects eyes

Fights cancer cells

Helps with bone health

Helps reduce oxidative damage

Boosts the immune system

Has anti aging properties

Reduces cellular inflammation

Protects against cataracts

The next time you make a smoothie or bowl of oatmeal, make sure you don't leave this fruit out!

More info on strawberry health effects https://www.facebook.com/OasisAdvancedWellness

6 Reasons To Avoid Milk

Uses of Garlic

5 Natural Anti Depressants