Getting Juicy!

A few months ago, Team Newman invested in a juicer - a Cuisinart 1000W 5-Speed Juice Extractor to be exact! It pretty much changed our world. Green drinks (and juicing in general) is definitely on-trend these days ... but there's good reason for buying into it: juicing aids in alkalizing pH levels, boosts immunity, helps with weight loss and fights fatigue. This is my favorite recipe, and I always find this drink refreshing and delicious!

Team Newman's Green Drink

4-6 large kale leaves (with stalks)

3-5 romaine leaves (with stalks)

1 cucumber (peeled)

2 stalks celery

1 large handful of parsley (flat leaf or curly, stems included)

1 lemon (halved)

1 large green apple (halved)

1" piece of fresh ginger (unpeeled)

Process each of the ingredients through your juicer on the suggested speed (consult your owner's manual if necessary). Produces approximately 24-32 ounces of fresh juice (depending on your juicer). Juice should be enjoyed immediately, or sealed in mason jars (or other airtight storage glasses) for no more than 24-hours to preserve best nutritional value!

Happy juicing, and happy health!
xx JN

Sugar and Flour and Migraines ... oh, my!

{ image via Caitlin McGauley }

Choices.
Consequences.
Migraines?

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Frustration.
Treximet.
Post-migraine hangover.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

Yeah, not so much, friends.

I knew it was time to make a different choice when my 7-1/2 year old said, "Momma, can you pleeeeeeeeeeease not get a migraine today?"

I saw doctors. I kept journals. I had CT-scans.

But I continued to ask, "Why. Is. My. Head. Still. Hurting?"

I must admit I am the type of person who strives to find a balance between holistic medicine and traditional medicine. From my own personal experience, I have truly seen the benefit of both. However, I tend to lean toward the side of holistic when I hear, "I'm not sure what's causing it, but let's try another medication."

This mama is all about identifying the root cause.

Once I began to realize we were starting to embark on a similar medicinal journey with my recurring migraines, I had to wonder if the "garbage in, garbage out" scenario was happening with my body. When the CT of my sinuses came back clean as a whistle, my ENT deemed my migraines were not sinus-triggered. And although I knew there were more avenues to explore, I started to take notice of what I was putting in my body every day. My daily cocktail of Allegra-D, Nexium and now what seemed to be one too many Treximet were on the menu. But what about vitamin intake? Fluids? Am I eating vegetables? Or more over, what am I eating religiously?

Chocolate.
No meat.
Too many refined carbs. (But the Trader Joe's pita chips are GOOD!)
Diet Pepsi.

Yeah, not so much, friends.

I have been down the "no sugar, no flour" path a few different times in my life - always as a holistic solution to a health issue. So I thought, alright ... let's try it again.

January 4th was the last day I consumed refined flour & refined sugar. And turned to leafy greens, tons of veggies, water, green tea, green drinks and good protein.

And not a migraine since.

Choices.
Changes.
Progress.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

xo JN