Candice Kumai - Clean Green Drinks: 100+ Cleansing Recipes to Renew & Restore Your Body and Mind

Copyright 2014 by Candice Kumai and Zinczenko/AMI Ventures

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Galvanized Books, a division of Galvanized Brands, LLC, New York

Galvanized Books is a trademark of Galvanized Brands, LLC

PHOTOGRAPHY BY EVI ABELER

COVER PHOTOGRAPH AND BY JAMES DIMMOCK

ISBN 9780553390834
eBook ISBN: 978-0-553-39163-3

v3.1

The recommendations in this book are not meant to diagnose or treat any medical disease or condition. You must not rely on the information in this book as an alternative to medical advice from your physician or health care professional. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter, please consult your physician or health care professional.

As a chef, cooking show host, cookbook author, and dedicated health journalist, I have studied the connections between nutrition, physical and emotional health, and weight loss for more than a decade. What Ive learnedand what science bears out time and againis that losing weight, looking great, and living a long, healthy life comes from two simple moves: cutting down on calories and doubling up on nutrition. Simply put, fewer calories consumed equals fewer pounds to gain. More nutrition equals less hunger. And thats a very positive thing.

Yet achieving that Holy Grail of health isnt easy. Because while you want to take in as many vitamins and minerals as possible, you also want to do it in the fewest calories possible and from whole foods. Yet, in todays society, where an estimated 70 percent of our daily calories come from heavily processed foods, that can be difficult.

Thats why this book will change your life. Consider it your insiders guide to perfect nutrition; an ideal plan for maximizing nutrients, minimizing calories, and telling hunger to peace outfor good.

GREEN IS THE NEW BLACK. The green and organic juice market has grown to a multi-billion dollar industry, and its expected to continue booming. Companies are cashing in, with many consumers willing to cough up $10-plus for a clean-green fix. As celebrities, health gurus, and foodies the world over tout juicing as the new hot thing, sporting a green drink has become somewhat of a status symbol. But its not just a fad. The proven nutritional benefits of sipping green are numerous and far outweigh its sex appeal.

In fact, juices for healing date back to ancient societies around the world. In the Biblical era, juicing remedies found in Dead Sea Scrolls were promoted by the Essenes. Ancient Indian writings sing the praises healing drinks made from vegetables, fruits, and herbs. The Ayurvedic term amit ras, roughly translates to immortality juice and speaks to the ability of such natural elixirs to optimize lifes energy.

Research continues to prove that consuming more fresh produce is one of the easiest and most realistic ways to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, not to mention overall well-being! And the easiest way to ensure youre getting your fill of nutrition-packed produce is to whip up a selection of gorgeous greens into a delicious drink that takes, literally, seconds to sip. (Although, these recipes are so terrific, youll want to savor them!)

Just take a look at what science tells us about the benefits of the juices and smoothies like those youll enjoy in this book:

Youll get top nutrition. Vegetables and fruits contribute vital vitamins and antioxidants to your body, and the vast majority of us arent getting enough. A 2013 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that adults in the United States consume fruit about 1.1 times per day and vegetables about 1.6 times per dayfar below the recommended daily servings of at least four and three, respectively. Juicing is the easiest way to get a high volume of fruits and veggies into your bod, and a variety at that! Consider this: We would need to eat two pounds of carrots, 10 to 12 apples, or eight pounds of spinach to get the same amount of nutrients found in 16 ounces of produce-packed juice. Amazing!

You can lose and manage weight naturally. Juicing isnt just about weight loss, but better-fitting jeans can be a happy side effect. Thats because most fruits and vegetables are low in energy density due to their high water and fiber content, and low fat content. Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that dieters who drank an eight-ounce glass of low-sodium vegetable juice daily over a 12-week period lost, on average, four pounds more than dieters who did not drink the juice.

Your digestive system will thank you. Since juicing strips produce of its fiber, your body gets a leg up on digestion. And unlike many bottled drinks that are heated during pasteurization and sometimes hide both synthetic and genetically modified ingredients, fresh juices are totally raw and you control what goes in them. Its believed that consuming raw produce boosts digestion by preserving vital enzymes, which means less bloat and more regular bowel movements, for a flat, happy belly!

Youll feel calmer and happier. Studies suggest that eating more fresh produce has a positive effect on mood. Researchers from University of Otagos department of human nutrition evaluated the relationship between day-to-day emotions and food consumption and found that participants felt happier, calmer, and more positive on days when they consumed fruits and vegetables.

Youll think more clearly. Studies show that raw foods, especially vitamin- and antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetable juices, can boost brain function by reducing the damage caused to brain cells. A 2006 Vanderbilt University study found that people who consumed three or more servings of fruit and vegetable juice each week were 76 percent less likely to develop signs of Alzheimers over 10 years than those who drank fewer than one serving a week. Clean, green, and keen!

Youll have better sex. Diet affects our libido in numerous ways, and you can, quite literally, juice up your sex life. Some foods, like chili peppers, ginger, garlic, and avocados, actually increase blood flow to the genitals. Wowza! There are fertility benefits of a diet high in fruits and vegetables, as well. Researchers at Harvard University pointed out that extra iron from plants such as spinach improve a womans baby-making prospects. And research from the University of Texas Medical Branch found that men who consume at least 200 milligrams of vitamin C a day can improve their sperm counts and motility. Who needs pills when you can juice?!