The Core Diet Blog

Project Juice: Day 19

This morning I am participating in a workout/lecture (I'm lecturing in between intervals of circuit training) so I think that juicing before this event may be helpful. I like the superfood properties of the kale and the tomato addition really adds some substance. The two of these together seem like they may stand on their own quite well, but something is telling me to add some kind of heat. Perhaps cliché with the tomato, but I pull out the forgotten horseradish root. Somehow I will work the juicer into an adult beverage, but alas, another blog topic. Not knowing much about horseradish, I had purchased some while in the root section picking up my ginger and ginseng. Now, I am quite pleased that I did. Properties of horseradish root include strong antibiotic, expectorant, bronchodilatator, antibacterial, coronary vasodilatator. However, systemically horseradish raises blood pressure associated with its heat characteristic. The immune system is stimulated, and oh yes! it has anti-inflammatory properties in addition to being antiparasitic, antianemic, antiscorbutic (prevents scurvy by preservation of vitamin C) and is a diuretic. It can stimulate the appetite. Also it is known that horseradish has aphrodisiacal properties. Seriously! Where has this been hiding and why does this not get more press! Horseradish, I love you.

• Kale - 1 cup
• Tomatao - 2 medium
• Horseradish root - 1"

The horseradish from yesterday has made a solid impression on me. I have recently been getting that burst of energy post juice, and I really love it! Like back in the olden days when coffee was around… So, I have decided to work off the horseradish today. I don't want to immediately default to the tomato, so I peer into the basket of juicables. Something that goes with heat, hmm. I'm wondering how the antiscorbutic property applies when in direct combination with citrus. I think this will be optimal. When I go off to do my research, I find more wonderful things about horseradish.

Horseradish contains good amount of dietary fiber (however, lost in the juicer).

•The root contains a variety of phytochemicals,allyl isothiocyanate, 3-butenyl isothiocyanate, 2-propenylglucosinlate (sinigrin), 2-pentyl isothiocyanate,andphenylethyl isothiocyanate.These compounds have anti-oxidant as well as de-toxification functions. Detox? Bonus!

•Gastric stimulant - helps digestion, stimulates salivary secretions and digestive enzyme secretions.

•Horseradish containsvitamin-C! A two-fer,

•The root contains sodium, potassium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, and magnesium. Iron is an important co-factor for cytochrome-oxidase enzymes during cellular metabolism, and is absorbed more readily in the stomach in the presence of vitamin C. The root has small amounts of essential vitamins such asfolate, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), riboflavin, niacin, and pantothenic acid.

• Horseradish - 1"
• Grapefruit-1
• Clementine - 2

Project Juice: Day 21

The holiday weekend is bearing down on me, and it is DARK outside a lot. I have come to plan my juice based on how I feel I need the day to go, so, hoping I end up in Hawaii by days end, I exert the energy to lop open a pineapple, papaya and mango. These may have to be double up tomorrow based on the size of the fruit. I muse momentarily between ginseng and horseradish before going with horseradish. Ginseng tomorrow. Hawaii will likely be a mindful vision, but a beautiful and helpful one to accompany my juice.

• Pineapple - ½
• Papaya - ½
• Mango - 1
• Horseradish - 1"