Why Are We So Unhealthy?

From the Juice Plus booklet called, 'The Recipe for Better Health is as Simple as 1-2-3', which is what the Juice Plus presentation is based on, we are now on the page that explains why we, as a people in America today, are so unhealthy. Here is a list of the reasons why we are unhealthy:

1. Poor food choices
2. Not drinking enough water
3. Lack of exercise
4. Stressful lifestyles
5. Environmental factors
6. Sleep deprivation
7. Approach to medicine; "Treatment" instead of "Prevention"

  A couple of generations ago, cancer was almost unheard of. Now, for every 2.5 people, one will get cancer, according to statistics. Both my grandparents on one side of my family seemed relatively healthy, except for diabetes, which indirectly caused the death of my grandfather when he was older. People were generally healthier in the 'olden' days and I always wondered why. Part of it had to do with the fact that much of the food was grown right in the back yard, almost effortlessly. Fruit was in abundance. No need to put pesticides or fertilizers on plants. Milk wasn't even homogenized yet and came fresh early in the morning twice a week. There was a healthy appreciation for food back then. Wouldn't our ancestors be in a rage if they knew what was going on in the food industry today!
  At my grandparents house, there was always fresh fruit. Of course, there were always other things too, but the good, important stuff was there. But things have changed. I remember my grandmother expressing disappointment at a woman in the grocery store that wasn't able to recognize a certain vegetable. I am surprised at how little women want to, or are able to, cook today. I think we need to get back to some basics in life, just for survival.
   That is one reason Juice Plus is helpful. We don't know how to cook right. We certainly don't know how to eat properly. Now is the time to begin learning and taking charge of this aspect of our health.
   No one, unless that person has unlimited funds and a lot of time to eat, can take the time out and money to buy enough fruits and vegetables to make sure that he or she has enough for 7-13 servings a day. Even harder, is to make sure it comes from organic or natural sources. No genetically modified food counts as real food. Juice Plus does make it easy and convenient to get the nutrition we so desperately need.
   There is more information about Juice Plus on my web site at: www.sseifertjuiceplus.com
Go to the tabs on the top of the page and see all the studies that have been done and are continuing to be done. It is all very interesting.

Growing an Avocado Tree

  I am not sure if the avocado grows into a plant or a tree, but I have a seed from an avocado plant that I want to grow into a large plant or tree that I can have so I can grow my own avocados. Here is one web site that tells how to do this. Just be aware if you go to this web site that there are a lot of commercials on it! http://faq.gardenweb.com/faq/lists/seed/2002114535011263.html

Grow An Avocado Tree!

Grow an Avocado Tree!

There's nothing more fun than growing your own Avocado Tree!
"How do I do it?"
Open the avocado and remove the pit from the center. You can eat the fruit of the avocado, it's yummy and is full of nutrients!*
Wash the avocado pit under cool running water, you don't need soap to clean it. With your fingers gently wipe away and remove any of the green fruit that might be on the pit. Rinse it well and then blot it dry with a paper towel.

Carefully push three toothpicks into the thickest width of avocado, you want to push the toothpicks into the pit about a 1/2" deep. (It's okay if you push them in deeper or even a little less) The toothpicks will help suspend the avocado pit in water and keep the top part of the pit in fresh air and the fat base of the pit under the surface of the water. Be careful pushing in the toothpicks, they have pointy edges and could hurt if they poke your hands, it's all right to ask a grown-up to help with this.

Suspend the pit over a glass filled with water....the toothpicks will rest on the rim of the glass and hold the pit in place so it doesn't sink to the bottom. Always check the water level in the glass and see that the water is covering the fat base of the pit by about an inch depth. If the water is below that level you'll need to add some more. Slowly and carefully pour in more water from a small cup to avoid splashing. 

Read more at the web site. This is a good start though.

Our Children Are Unhealthy Too

Here are some collected statistics on the well being of our children in America (from Juice Plus)

1. By age 12, an estimated 70% of our children have developed the beginning stages of hardening of the arteries. (Bogalusa Heart Study)
2. 1 in 3 Americans born in 2000 will develop diabetes. (Journal of the American Medical Association)
3. 1 in 4 children is obese. (International Journal of Obesity)
4. Nearly 50% of obese adolescents remain obese as adults ( International Journal of Obesity)
5. 7% of school age children are diagnosed with ADHD (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
6. About 6% of elementary school children and 7% of adolescent children miss 11 or more days of school yearly due to illness or injury. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
7. Over 93% of all children and adolescents do not consume the recommended 3 servings of vegetables per day. (Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine).

Americans Aren't Very Healthy

  Here is the first page of the Juice Plus presentation.

Americans aren't very healthy

(Did we think that they were?)

1. 80 million people have some form of heart disease. - National Heart Association
2. 1 in 3 women and 1 in 2 men will have cancer in his or her lifetime. - National Cancer Institute
3. Over 20 million children and adults have diabetes. - American Diabetes Association
4. 64% of adults are overweight - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
5. About 59% of adults do not engage in any vigorous leisure-time physical activity - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
6. Our national health care expenditures were 2 trillion in 2005 or $6,700 per person. - National Coalition on Health Care


Taken from the booklet The recipe for better health is as simple as 1-2-3.

Quick Tip on How to Take Capsules if You Can't Swallow Them

   It has come to my attention lately that many people cannot swallow pills. I almost can't believe the amount of people who want the chewable Juice Plus instead of the capsules. I don't blame them. I love the chewables. They are very sweet and full of nutrition and are great for children. I am tempted to take them as well, not because I can't swallow capsules, but because they taste so good!
   So, if you are a person who wants to take Juice Plus, and you have the capsules, but realize you can't take them, don't despair! You can take the capsule apart and dump the contents onto food or into a drink. This is actually done by moms who want their children to take Juice Plus, but would rather put it into their food than have them take a chewable.
   Juice Plus also has a shake called 'Complete'. It comes in either vanilla or chocolate. You can order both flavors too. That way everyone can be happy. You can have the shake with only the protein powder added, or you can add fruit or vegetables too. Unless you really want to have a chocolate shake with vegetables and fruits, you might want to use the vanilla powder. But you might like strawberries or raspberries in your chocolate, and you can add those too. Just make sure you blend everything well or you might have chunks of fruit on the bottom of your drink!

Protein Powder Balls

Here is a recipe that I am trying to do by memory. When I was in Shaklee, I learned how to make peanut butter protein powder balls. I am pretty sure this is the recipe for them. I did look on the Internet and found some similar recipes, so if you use this recipe, and it needs to be firmer, use more protein powder or less honey. Use your own judgment and preferences on how soft or firm you want the protein powder balls to be.

1/3 honey
1/3 peanut butter
1/3 Juice Plus+ Complete^® 

Combine ingredients with a spoon and form into balls. I would refrigerate them as they might be too soft if left at room temperature. Also, you can use any type of measurement. Whatever measurement you choose, just make the same measurement for each ingredient. I'm sure you can add variety by using chunky peanut butter or adding some chopped nuts. You could also add some oatmeal, but I would make sure it is refined or put through a blender or food processor. You can use the chocolate or vanilla flavor Complete^®

What Juice Plus+® is

Here is an excerpt of what Juice Plus is:

Juice Plus+^® is whole food based nutrition, including juice powder concentrates from 17 different fruits, vegetables and grains. Each ingredient is specially selected to provide a broad range of nutritional benefits.

Juice Plus+ is a complement to a healthy diet. Juice Plus+ is the simple, convenient, and inexpensive way to add more nutrition from fruits and vegetables to your diet, every day. Juice Plus+ is supported by clinical research conducted by researchers at leading hospitals and universities around the world and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Juice Plus+ is recommended by thousands of doctors and health professionals around the world.

17 Fruits, Vegetables, & Grains

Juice Plus+^® contains a wide variety of nutritionally dense fruits and vegetables reduced to juice powder concentrate using a proprietary process. Fruits and vegetables contain many phytonutrients, from such familiar vitamins as vitamin C and beta-carotene, to less widely known antioxidant compounds, including polyphenols and flavonoids. It also includes the carotenoids, beta-cryptoxanthin, and lycopene. 

Apple, cherry, cranberry, orange, papaya, peach, pineapple, tomato, oat bran, beet, brocoli, cabbage, carrot, kale, parsley, spinach, and brown rice bran are what Juice Plus is made from. 

We should eat between 7-13 servings of fruits and vegetables each day, preferably raw. Can this be done? Every day? Juice Plus provides the solution.

Avocado Melon Protein Drink Recipe

Avocado Melon Protein Drink Recipe

I am going to give you my version of the recipe. The end product is light green and tastes yummy. The recipe is adapted from a recipe put out by the California Avocado Commission and calls for a whole avocado!

1/2 cup cut up avocado
1/2 cup cut up cantaloupe
*1 scoop vanilla flavored protein powder
*1 cup milk
scoop of fresh yogurt (optional)

Blend ingredients very well in a blender or food processor. Make sure the blender or food processor has plenty of headspace.
   *Juice Plus puts out a protein powder called 'Complete'.
  * I usually use raw cow, sheep, or goat's milk. Any milk will do though.
Measurements for avocado and cantaloupe are approximate. This can be custom made according to your taste preferences.

Juice Plus, Health Tips and Recipes Intro

This blog page is being designed to bring up to date information on Juice Plus and Health Issues, and will have recipes that will lend itself to good health. Feel free to chime in. There will be no abusive talk about Juice Plus or nutritional issues, but it is ok to present your opinions on this blog. If you feel you have to attack another person you don't agree with, then there are other blog pages you can visit. But if you enjoy talking about good food and nutrition, please share your knowledge and expertise with us. You are welcome to join in and be part of the conversation.