Juicing

I have Challenged my Raw Food Group Raw Passion to a 1 week juice fast and I will be starting tomorrow March 1, 2009. I have fasted several times before but this is new to all of them. To encourage them I will be posting my favorite recipes here.

This is a great way to jump start your Raw Food Journey! You know when it is time to clear out the clutter in your closets but do you know when its time to clean out your body? Juicing is designed to mop up pollutants, chemicals, dietary waste, and even unwanted pounds—which can actually do you some good. Do this to feel better about yourself and your life.

Some of you have been asking where I buy my food, so I'm going to give you a run down of where I go.

When I shop I usually go to several different stores. I start with Sams because they have Organic spinach and carrots in bigger sizes at a lower price. You can get most of your organic fruit here plus your Walnuts, Almonds, Pecans, and Pinenuts. However, I have since found an online store in Texas where you can get these nuts at a better price. Check with me later.

Kroger has remodeled their store to make room for a bigger and better Organic section, which is great for us! Check the paper to see what is on special and make sure you have a Kroger card. You really do save money with one.

Drug Emporium is where I buy my staples, they also have fresh veges and fruit but they are a little pricey. This is where you get the: Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, Shoyu, Nut Butters, spices, and agave.

Super 1, where I can find unusual veges and Aloe Vera leaves.

Asian Stores are next, I pick up Green Seaweed here like Wakame, kelp and Raw Nori and Sesame Oil. There are 3 stores, one on Shreveport-Barksdale across from Super 1, and 2 on Airline before you get to Patricia. Then on my way back home I may stop at Walmart.

Some of the food I get are:

• Kale
• spinach
• romaine lettuce
• green leaf lettuce
• collards, parsley
• alfalfa sprouts
• vegetables
• beets
• turnips
• cabbage
• cucumbers
• zucchini
• tomatoes
• carrots
• green pepper
• celery
• organic apples
• oranges
• kiwi
• pineapple
• grapes
• pears
• blueberries
• lemon
• limes

If you can't get organic get the freshest greens and wash them real good in Raw Apple Cider Vinegar in water in the sink.

Ever Greening

Once I started on a Raw Food Journey I found that the better I felt the more I wanted to keep the Toxins from EVER invading my body or life again. So I started eliminating ALL the TOXINS from my home. You would be surprised at how easy it is. I have found that once you go Raw you want to carry this into every part of your life. There are toxins everywhere! What do you brush your teeth with, or what is in that shampoo or conditioner? What do you clean your dishes with, or wash your clothes, or dust your furniture with? If your not using Green products then you are putting those toxins right back in your body.

My head used to itch all the time, it drove me nuts! I changed shampoo several times a month, nothing helped. Then I started looking at the ingredients in all the shampoos that I was using and found the same substance was in each one; Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. After a little research I found it could cause all sorts of problems. But what is REALLY interesting is they use this in EVERYTHING from food to toxic chemicals nothing is safe. Once I stopped using commercial shampoos the itching went away. I now use homemade shampoo soaps.

My husband loves bleach! Not only in the washing machine for his whites but in the cabinets and refrigerator he says the bleach gets rid of bacteria. I have explained to him that there are safer methods but he still believes the only way to truly clean is to use bleach. My body is so sensitive now that I have to leave the house when he uses it. There are loads of products out there to whiten clothes and get rid of bacteria and mold than using toxic bleach! You can make your own.


Bleach Substitute:

Measure out equal parts of Hydrogen Peroxide and water put in clean container, shake to mix. Make sure you label the bottle correctly and keep out of reach of children.

For the cabinets you can use Hydrogen Peroxide and White Vinegar. To use this, put Hydrogen Peroxide in one bottle and White Vinegar in the other and spray each one separately. This does the trick! I use Vinegar in the rinse tray for my dishwasher very effective for getting those spots off the glasses. To clean mirrors and windows put 3 tbs. vinegar per 1 qt. water in a spray bottle.

Baking soda can be used for a number of things and since this is a natural substance you know that it is safe. To clean my sinks and bathroom I use a paste of baking soda and Green dishwashing liquid and a little water.


When buying your commercial detergent, it is better to use a biodegradable, less toxic, phosphate free brand. If you put 1/2 cup of baking soda in the washing machine before you wash clothes you won't have to use so much commercial detergent. Also putting baking soda in the rinse cycle will soften the water.

I use baking soda to clean my teeth. To whiten my teeth I use lemon juice and baking soda, this may take longer but at least I know that there is no bleach in it. Use it to clean your oven, make a paste with just water and use it as a scrub. Sprinkle baking soda in the toilet bowl and then use toilet brush to clean with.

If you would prefer to buy your Green products, there are several online stores like: http://www.greenhome.com/products/kitchen/, http://www.thegreenguide.com/, http://www.seventhgeneration.com/.

Also locally stores like Sams, Walmart, Kroger, Super1 are stocking more and more Green products. Some Home Depot and Lowe's have Green items also.

What is a Name?

When I chose the name for my blog I wanted something that depicted how I was feeling. The Webster dictionary describes presence as "a noteworthy quality of poise and effectiveness or something(as a spirit) felt or believed to be present".

Since I have been on this journey of enlightenment, spiritual awakening, and freedom from debilitating diseases I have found myself feeling in the moment or in the Presence, the here and now. Every emotion or feeling has come to the surface and I am ALIVE.

This is what Raw Food has done for me, before I lived in Darkness now I've come to the Light! Its brought me closer to God, nature, family, friends, it has brought me to the PRESENT.

Gwen's Green Juices & Smoothies

Spinach Blast!

1 bunch of spinach
3 Kale leaves
1/2 cucumber
1/2 organic green pepper
1/2 lemon

Put all ingredients through juicer. Drink and enjoy!


Veggie Delight

3 leaves of Kale
1 turnip
2 Tomarillo
1 clove garlic
1/2 cucumber
1/2 lemon

Put greens in with juicy vegetables. Pour into glass and drink up!



Extreme Cleansing

2 carrots
1 beet
1 inch ginger root

Juice carrots & beet with ginger. What a punch!


Green Machine

1 bunch of spinach
2 slices of pineapple
handful of alfalfa sprouts

Juice and Drink!


Power Punch

3 leaves of Kale
1 organic green pepper
1 peeled lime
4 leaves of Romaine
handful of parsley
1/2 cucumber
3 collard leaves

Juice greens with green pepper,lime and cucumbers. Mix and enjoy!


Eye Opener

4 Carrots
2 Turnip Leaves
handful of parsley

Juice greens with carrots!


Juicy Juice

3 leaves of Kale
1 small organic green apple
10-15 grapes
handful of parsley

Juice grapes and greens together then add green apple. Very sweet!


Green Boost

8 Turnip Leaves
6 Kale Leaves
4 carrots
1 beet
1 green apple
handful of parsley
1 inch ginger root

Juice greens with carrots,apple,ginger and beet.


Smoothies

Everyone needs to eat more greens, but most Americans do not get enough. And we all know how hard it is to get your kids to eat the green yucky stuff! Just the taste alone will turn up a nose. This is a sure fire way to add more greens to your diet without the yucky taste!


Spinach Smoothie

1 cup Rejuvelac or filtered water
handful of Spinach
1/2-1 cup blueberries (to your taste)
1 banana

Blend Spinach first with Rejuvelac then add blueberries. After well blended add banana.


Kale Bomb

3-4 leaves of Kale
1 cup of Rejuvelac or filtered water
2-3 rings of fresh pineapple
1 banana

Blend Kale and Rejuvelac until well blended, add pineapple. Last add the banana until smooth. Drink up!

Tip: Kale and turnip greens are bitter so make sure you add your sweetest fruits to the smoothie.


Real Green Smoothie

1 cup of filtered water
1 cup of Rejuvelac (or filtered water)
3-4 leaves of kale
handful of mung beans sprouts
handful of alfalfa sprouts
2 organic celery stalks
1/4 clove of garlic
1 tsp basil
1/2 lime
1/2 large avocado (or 1 small)

To liquid add Kale leaves and blend well. Next add your sprouts and then celery, garlic and basil. Juice lime and add to the mixture. Blend in the avocado until smooth and creamy.


Cleansing Greens

3-4 leaves of Kale
2 cups of liquid(rejuvelac/filtered water)
handful of sprouts(your choice)
1 inch Aloe Vera leaf gel
handful cilantro
1 tsp basil
1 garlic clove
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 avocado

Blend kale with sprouts in liquid. Add cilantro and Aloe Vera, then add basil,garlic and lemon juice. Blend in avocado until smooth.

Tip: Cut off green part of Aloe Vera leaf to get to gel. Scrape gel and add to smoothie.

Information about Aloe Vera leaves www.globalherbalsupplies.com/herb_information/aloe_vera


Keep it Coming Smoothie

handful of spinach
1 cup of filtered water
splash of rejuvelac
1 endive
1/4 organic red bell pepper
1 tsp dried dill
1/2 lemon juiced
1/2 avocado

Blend spinach with liquid add endive. Mix in red bell pepper,dill and juiced lemon. Add avocado at end for a really smooth taste!


One day in December it was really cold, that day I could not stay warm. So I decided I would make a warm smoothie. I had already infused some peppermint tea so I used this and added other ingredients and boy was this ever tasty and warming!

Warm Peppermint Smoothie

1 cup of warm infused peppermint tea
1/4 cup Rejuvelac or Kombucha
2 tsp Spirulina
handful of spinach
3 Kale leaves only
2 bananas

Blend leaves from kale and Spirulina with liquid. Add spinach and blend really well. Add the 2 bananas until smooth and creamy. This is very tasty!


Blue Smoothie

1 3/4 Rejuvelac
1/4 filtered water
handful of spinach
alfalfa sprouts
1/2 cup blueberries(or more if needed)
2 bananas

Blend well. Drink and enjoy!

Green Punch

2 cups of Rejuvelac
1 cup filtered water
handful of spinach
2-3 leaves of Kale
2 collard leaves
1/2 inch ginger root
1/2 lemon or lime,juiced
1/2 avocado

Add greens to liquid and blend well. Next mix in ginger and lemon. Cream in avocado for a great taste!

Before and After Pictures