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Juice Away the Germs: A Cure for the Common Cold

January 11, 2015 by Epicurean Vegan

Juice Away the Germs -- Epicurean VeganSure, it’s pretty bold of me to claim I’ve got the cure for the common cold, but hang with me a moment here; I’ve done some fieldwork to back me up. It’s been a long time since I had a cold, in fact, I can’t recall the last time I did. I have, however, gotten hit with the makings of a doozy of one—more than once—over the last year, and each time, I’ve kicked it. Here’s the thing: we completely underestimate what our bodies are capable of. When given the right tools, it can do extraordinary things. If you’re a vegan, you’re probably aware of the power of juicing and how a plant-based diet has actually cured many people’s cancer. The proof is in the pudding (so to speak) when we see the amazing results coming from The Gerson Institute. If juicing can help the body fight off cancer, why can’t it do the same for the common cold? It’s all about our immune system, right? So often, when people feel a cold coming on, they attack it with drugs. Or they succumb to it and “let it take its course.” Sure, it’s a great time to catch up on your favorite shows on Netflix and Hulu, but you also miss work and well, life. I’m way too busy to get sick. Plus, it’s the absolute pits and chances are, the rest of the household gets it too. So last week, when I felt a tickle in my throat that quickly morphed into a sore throat, I groaned. I refused to let it take hold. I kept it from progressing and three days later, it was gone for good.

Here’s my 5 go-to, works-every-time, steps I take to combat the cold:

  • Juice. Juice like you never have before. I combine kale, spinach, orange bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, apple and ginger. I throw it all in sometimes, but feel free to choose your own concoctions. And drink 3-5 big glasses throughout the day. If you don’t have a juicer, either invest in one (it’ll pay for itself with no missed work days, no doctor bills and no meds) or use a high powered blender.
  • Green Tea. Admittedly, I’m not a big green tea fan, but when I want to fight a cold, I suck it up and drink 3-4 cups of it a day until I feel better. Green tea is packed full of antioxidants vital for staving off germs and bacteria.
  • Fresh and raw fruits and vegetables. Don’t eat your normal diet. Sure, you probably eat relatively healthy, but when it comes to fighting a cold, you have to amp up your ammo. Try to stick to at least fresh fruits and veggies such as salads. You may be craving hot soup, but the heating process can dilute the nutritional power of some vegetables. Plus, broth tends to be loaded with sodium. Remember, if all goes well, you’re only going to be eating this way for a couple of days. In fact, you may be surprised how good your energy levels are. I spent the week eating leftovers of the Chopped Greek Salad over spring greens and a bit of hummus. Make a bowl of the Spectacular Superfood Salad. However you choose to prepare your fruits and veggies, just eat ’em raw, and eat ’em often.
  • Rest. We all know sleep is our bodies’ way of recharging. This is never truer than when your immune system is compromised. I’m fortunate that I work from home, but if you can’t, take your juices and veggies with you. Don’t over exert yourself and stay away from the gym. (The good thing about juicing and eating raw veggies and fruits, is you won’t gain weight.)
  • Drink warm lemon water. Or cold; your preference. I’m not the best water-drinker, but if I fill a large water bottle with warm water and a slice of lemon, I can down it no problem. It might also satisfy your craving for something hot and soothing.

So there you have it. I truly swear by these methods to combat the cold when it comes lurking. The key is keeping your immune system strong and providing your body with these essential nutrients so that it has the best chance of winning against viruses. It also doesn’t hurt to incorporate juicing into your regimen in order to keep you from even having to go to war with an impending cold in the first place.

Stay healthy!

Filed Under: Drinks/Smoothies, My Vegan Life, Raw Tagged With: common cold cures, immune boosting, Immune system, juicing, Raw food

Day 5 of Reboot, Plus More Recipes

July 22, 2011 by epicureanvegan

It’s the morning of day 5 of my Reboot and I feel great, especially since I’m even down 5 pounds! I definitely don’t feel as weak and tired as the last few days, not as hungry either. Mentally, I feel clearer and less foggy–able to concentrate longer. Last night we went and saw Harry Potter and we usually go for some popcorn . . . I know, terrible (btw, did you know (according to the latest VegNews mag) that a large movie popcorn–without butter–is 1,050 calories?!) Anyway, the boys finished a vat of popcorn before the movie even started, but I wasn’t tempted to eat any. Wow. That never happens! I’m determined to continue this reboot through Sunday and after that, I plan on making a lot of changes, such as no alcohol, little oil, little gluten, and very little processed foods. That’s the goal at least.

Yesterday, I had a class at the NCW and then worked in the studio for the afternoon, so I needed to come prepared. With salty snacks and soda in the fridge just ten feet from me, I had to arm myself with good food. I made a salad, packed some jicama, yellow bell peppers, and mushrooms and dipped them in dressing. The dressing recipes are from the JointheReboot site. Having both dressings changes things up—it’s great so that you don’t get sick of one.

Ginger-Honey (Agave)-Soy Dressing  and  Agave-Mustard Dressing

Ginger-Agave-Soy Dressing

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tbsp. Minced Fresh Ginger
2 Tbsp. Minced Fresh Garlic
2 Tbsp. Raw Honey (I used agave)
4 Tbsp. Nama Shoyu or Tamari
4 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Combine all ingredients in a shaker.

Mustard-Agave Dressing

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup Cider Vinegar
2 Tbsp. Rice Vinegar
1 Tbsp. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp. Agave Nectar
1 Tbsp. Honey (I used agave)
1 Tbsp. Dijon Mustard
1/4 Tbsp. Sea or Celtic salt
1/8 Tbsp. coarsely Ground Black Pepper

Combine all ingredients in a shaker.

For dinner, I made sweet potato “fries” also from the Reboot site. They were delicious!

Baked Sweet Potato Fries -- Epicurean Vegan

INGREDIENTS:

1 large sweet potato, peeled, cut into sticks or crescents
1 tsp olive oil
A couple pinches of sea salt
A couple pinches of black pepper
A couple pinches of cumin

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425. Combine the sweet potatoes with the rest of the ingredients and coat well.

Layer onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or foil. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

I also made lettuce wraps:

Vegan Lettuce Wraps -- Epicurean Vegan

INGREDIENTS:

1 can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
5-6 mushrooms, diced
1 avocado, diced
1/2 a large tomato, diced
2 Tbs diced green chilies
3 scallions, sliced
Large lettuce leaves
Ginger-Agave-Soy Dressing
Optional: fresh mint, basil, or cilantro

Combine all the veggies and top the lettuce leaves with a couple of spoonfuls of them. Drizzle with the Ginger dressing. So good!

So this morning . . . I find that fruit smoothies are the easiest way to start the day. I blended up a mango, 1/2 a cup of fresh cherries (I removed the pits first) and about a cup of water. Awesome.

So, I’ll keep going and continue to try different recipes. I’ll keep you posted on my progress—thanks for traveling along with me!

Filed Under: Dressings/Condiments, My Vegan Life, Sides Tagged With: cherries, detox, juicing, mango, Reboot Your Life, smoothies, Sweet potatoes

Got a Juicer! Contest Time!!

May 6, 2011 by epicureanvegan

Ain’t she purdy? The Husband surprised me for my birthday by giving me this gorgeous juicer. I had been wanting one for a while so I can get the most of my love of fruits and veggies. Maybe I’m just feeling overly excited, but I think it’s time for a contest. 🙂 Considering I’m new to the juicing world, leave a comment with your favorite juicer recipe and/or juicing tip by 12 p.m. EST Sunday, May 8th. I’ll randomly pick a winner on Monday to receive a $25 Amazon gift card!

I can’t wait to start juicing and I’m looking forward to your recipes and tips!! Good luck!

Filed Under: My Vegan Life Tagged With: Amazon gift card, contest. giveaway, juicer, juicing

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The Epicurean Vegan is devoted to those wanting to eat healthy, save animals, and reduce their carbon footprint. My decision to go vegan started out as a quest to get healthier, but the more I learned about veganism, the more I realized how damaging the meat and dairy industries are to the environment and, of course, the animals. And it is for these reasons, that I would never go back to eating or wearing animal products. Ever.
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