Review: Are you drinking the right water?

Drinking the right kind of water is one of your best natural protections against all kinds of diseases. If the body’s cells become dehydrated, they shrivel up, making it easy for viruses and diseases to attack.

Water is a vital component of all bodily fluids, tissues, cells, lymph, blood and hormones and the mucous membranes need plenty of water to keep them soft and free from friction on their delicate surfaces.

Drinking the right kind of water is one of your best natural protections against all kinds of diseases. If the body’s cells become dehydrated, they shrivel up, making it easy for viruses and diseases to attack, often leading to disease and an untimely and premature death.

Experts also suggest that juice cleansing (or “juice fasting”)—consuming nothing but juice for a three- to five-day period–can be a fantastic way to jump-start a weight-loss regimen, detoxify your body, and instill healthier eating habits. And after the cleansing, adding juice to your regular diet can be vital in maintaining your purified digestive system. Here are some delicious, healthy recipes for both cleansing and maintenance:

CLEAN IT OUT

(Note: It is highly recommended that you follow an established juice cleansing schedule, which will include specific pre- and post-cleansing dietary guidelines.)

(For each recipe, combine ingredients in a juicer or blender, then mix for 45-60 seconds. Yield is one tall glass.)

Going Green (breakfast):

5 spinach leaves, chopped

3 kale leaves (remove stems), chopped

½ cucumber

1 cup romaine lettuce

2 sticks celery

1 apple (remove seeds), halved

1 lemon (remove rind)

1 piece fresh ginger

Seeing Red (lunch):

3 large carrots

1 apple (remove core/seeds), halved

2 red beets, quartered

1 orange (remove rind)

5 spinach leaves, chopped

1 piece fresh ginger

Orange Power (dinner):

1 cucumber

1 beet, sliced

1 large carrot

1 tomato, quartered

½ apple (remove core/seeds)

4 kale leaves, chopped

½ lime, peeled

½ lemon, peeled

(Reminder: numerous juice cleansing plans can be found both in print and online. The benefits of a cleansing are practically infinite, but the process can be demanding, so if you plan one, be sure to follow the guidelines.)

This ONE Stretch Heals All Injuries!

MAINTAIN AND SUSTAIN

Once you’ve detoxified your body with a cleanse, try these recipes to maintain your health:

Vitamin Fest (high in vitamins A, B, C, and E):

2 apples (remove cores), halved

2 pears (remove cores), cubed

½ cup cherries (stems/pits removed)

Super “Salad” (ultra-low-carb):

1 tomato (remove core)

½ habanero pepper (remove seeds)

1 cup white cabbage

½ cucumber

4 kale leaves, chopped

1 lemon (juice only, squeezed into mixture)

1 dash cayenne pepper (optional)

½ cup filtered water

Peachy Keen (dessert-style recipe)

2 peaches

1 apple

½ sweet potato

1 dash nutmeg

2 dashes cinnamon

(Yields two servings—so share!)