I now watch what I eat. I read about the food I eat. I have eaten a lot of Salads, raw fruits and Vegetables. In fact, we grow most of our own lettuce on our I now sleep great; I take no prescribed medicine even though diabetes and high blood pressure runs in my family. My skin is way better, gums, nails and hair are in excellent shape. You can learn more about it too, and I will put my research up with any other fad diet out there. Eating as much raw fruits and vegetables to your diet and being sure by taking Juice Plus, too. Juice Plus is the most researched nutritional whole food supplement in the world and if you add it to your diet it will assure you of daily whole food plant-based nutrition.
WHAT IF…
Do you ever ask yourself “what if I ________” (fill in the blank). It can be if I had or if I had not done this or that. It certainly can go either way. There are a lot of “What Ifs” in my life, but recently it seems like it’s been around my eating and exercising.
Until almost six years ago, I ate pretty much what I wanted. I love fried chicken. I’m sure we had it when I lived in Montreal growing up but don’t remember. I do remember eating baked chicken. I guess it’s a southern thing and I had no trouble eating it. Then I was introduced to fried okra, fried green tomatoes, fried pork chops and gravy and yes, please put gravy on my mashed potatoes too! You get the gist of it. I exercised some, but not a huge fan of it. Around this time of year I joined a gym or two but that didn’t last long. Those New Year’s Resolutions just don’t seem to last very long with me which is why I don’t make them anymore.
One good thing happened almost six years ago that changed my life. I was introduced to a healthier way of life. A way to get nutrition from 30 different fruits, vegetables and berries in my system. Not a replacement to keep me from eating them, but a way to get those nutrients from what I should be eating. I noticed that the more I stayed consistent taking these dried fruits, veggies and berries in the capsules, the more I wanted to eat what was in them! Of course, I’m human and I had my fried chicken once in a while, and that wonderful tenderloin biscuit on Saturday morning from this awesome little café inside a local gas station, but I knew that I was filling in the gap with what I was taking. Instead of eating chips I was eating an apple. Don’t get me wrong, I still ate chips, hamburgers, chocolate cake, brownies, you know the “good stuff” as we call it. But I also started eating these fruits, vegetables and berries in chewable form as a snack. They satisfied my “sweet tooth” and I was getting the nutrients that I needed at the same time!
About 8 months ago, I ended up with a surplus of the berry capsules and started taking 4 to 6 a day. I knew that it wouldn’t hurt me because it’s food! Well, let me tell you that God had a plan. Sty with me here. Did you know that there is a study in the JACC (Journal of the American College of Cardiology) on the effect of Supplemental Phytonutrients on Impairment of the Flow-Mediated Brachial Artery Vasoactivity AFTER a SINGLE High-Fat Meal?? Well, there is! And it shows that thirty-eight healthy, physically active hospital employees – 14 men and 24 women were studied. They were randomized in a double blind study where all sorts of tests were done on them. They were divided into three groups, one groups taking the fruits and vegetables capsules, one group taking the fruits, vegetables and berries and the last group taking a placebo. Now remember that these fruits, vegetables and berries capsules provide dried juice concentrates derived from produce picked at its ripest to keep the nutritional value. They possess antioxidants and are great for the body. Then they were given a high fat meal and re-studied. They were then sent on their way to return in three weeks and at four weeks. All tests done before the study were performed again at this 3 and 4 week period. The results were amazing! When they came back, in the placebo group, the percent of decrease in vasoactivity with the high-fat meal remained high. In the fruits, vegetables and berries group, the percent of decrease in postprandial vasodilation was significantly less than the decrease found before they started. The study found that the DAILY use of a fruit/vegetable/berry concentrate rich in antioxidant phytochemicals, blunted the detrimental impact of a single high-fat meal on healthy subjects. 
I say all of this because in August, I ended up in ER and to make a long story short, on September 28th I had quadruple bypass surgery. WHAT!!!! Me! Bypass surgery! I’m eating these capsules and this is not suppose to happen. As a representative for this wonderful gift that I share, I found myself not really wanting to share anymore. How could this happen? What will people think? When I spoke to my surgeon before surgery and he pointed out the 9 blockages, I was shocked! He said it was a miracle that I had not had a heart attack or a stroke. He wouldn’t let me leave the hospital until surgery. My response was, “well I guess God was not finished with me yet and maybe my fruit, vegetable and berry capsules helped”. He responded with “You take those? He knew all about them. Then he said “it probably saved your life!”. Now don’t get this wrong, these are not miracle pills, but the nutrients you get from taking them help support the immune system. Now I know that God was preparing me for this. No telling how long this had been going on, and without knowing, I was taking extra nutrients every single day. This was affecting the flow and contraction of the blood vessels to my heart!
I went from beating myself up saying “I should have______” to “What if”. I have to understand that I’ve only been taking these capsules for almost 6 years. I didn’t eat right for 56 years! I can’t expect my health to be judged by only the past few years. BUT, what if I had not been consuming those nutrients every day, then what? What if I had not changed most of my eating habits for the past few years? Would I have had that heart attack? What if I had not had that surplus of the berry blend, would my arteries have closed up? What if I had said no when I was offered this gift, would I be alive today? I’ve been going to Cardiac Rehab, and it’s usually 3 days a week for 12 weeks. I’ve been going 4 weeks and graduated today because I’m doing so good. Isn’t that awesome! What if I wasn’t flooding my body with all of those nutrients, would I have done that well?
I am so blessed that God gave the CEO of our company the wisdom to encapsulate real fruits, vegetables and berries. Who on earth can eat 30 of these each day? I can’t. Wouldn’t be able to afford it if I could. Can you imagine buying and eating apple, peach, cranberry, orange, mango, lemon peel, acerola cherry, pineapple, prune, date, beet, broccoli, parsley, tomato, carrot, garlic, spinach, rice bran, kale, raspberry, bilberry, blueberry, cranberry, pomegranate, concord grape, black currant, blackberry, elderberry, artichoke and cocoa every single day! And eating the peel where most of the nutritional value is? I don’t think so! Yes, I know that lots of people juice but the cost alone would be ridiculous and the clean up…I don’t think so. Been there done that.
So now I feel great and I’m ready to share this wonderful gift. I had to get over myself as I heard a wonderful mentor say. Isn’t it funny how we feel when we think of what others are thinking and saying about us? One thing I’ve learned in the past 10 plus years is that people that point at you have 3 fingers pointing right back at them. I’ve been guilty of that and continue to work on it. One thing I do know for sure – God works in mysterious ways.
Here’s to your health,
France
A Great Juicer To Get You Started
A great juicer to get you started
As mentioned in a previous article, juicing and whole food nutrition is the only way to give the body what it truly needs in terms of nutrition. For those looking to incorporate juicing into their routine to boost their nutrient intake, finding a great juicer is the first step. With so many options out there, the team at Reviews.com put together a guide to the best juicers to help. Here are a few factors they suggest to consider:
Masticating or cold-press? The jury’s still out on this one. Some readers believe that cold-press juicers are superior in nutrient extraction and/or juice, but studies show that the difference between the two extraction types is minimal. To get the most out of your juice, focus on reducing oxidation, which lowers the nutritional quality of produce and thus, juice. Try adding citrus (which contains citric acid, a natural preservative) to your blend and refrigerating your fruits and veggies the night before. You can also optimize your nutrient absorption by adding a little oil to your recipe, which can help your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins.
Settings and Efficiency. Look for a juicer model that offers a variety of settings, which can help cater to a wide variety of produce from watery apples to relatively dry leafy greens. You’ll also want to opt for a model that is easy to set up and put away to make juicing as easy to incorporate as a daily activity as possible. A simple design also allows for easy cleaning, which is essential for daily use.
For more information about finding a great juicer for your needs, and to see which their team recommends, you can check out the full guide here: https://www.reviews.com/juicer/
Heart Month
Do you put on your seat belt when you get in a vehicle? How about your children, do you make sure they’re buckled in? It’s a lot easier to perform these daily functions to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe but what about your health? Their health? One thing I’ve learned is that in pretty much any circumstances PREVENTION is a lot better and less expensive than TREATMENT. What we do to keep ourselves well from the inside out is so important.
February is HEART month and I’ve been thinking about how I try to take care of my heart. My grandfather passed away when I was young from a heart attack. I barely remember looking at him at the funeral home, and now it’s just a blur. Seems like the older I get, the more I think about my family’s health history and it makes me want to take even better care of myself and make better choices so I can see my grandchildren grow up.
I’ve learned in the past five years about the power of nutrition and how all of these phytonutrients from whole food can help prevent disease in the body. I read article after article that says that to help prevent heart disease we need to change the way we eat, to maintain a healthy diet and perform some type of regular physical activity. We’re suppose to eat 7 to 13 raw fruits and vegetables every day. And if you’re an athlete it’s more than that! I’m so happy that I found a way to do that. Something to bridge the gap between what I eat and what I should eat to get the nutritional value that I need. Juicing is just not my thing and it is so expensive – and the cleanup!! well, we won’t even go there. One of the best parts is that with all of this sickness going around, I’m covered! No sickness in this house. That means, no sick visit and waiting on doctor, no copay, no prescription bill, no standing in line to get said prescription. We’re actually saving money! No complaints there for sure.
If you would like to know more just send me a message and I’ll be happy to talk with you. You are what you eat – and sometimes I’m just good ole dark chocolate!!
Here’s to your health.
Grocery Shopping
Who is ready for the #WholeFoodChallenge? ??♂️
Plant Based Omega Supplement
Did you know that the BEST source of OMEGAS come from PLANTS, NOT FISH!! Fish eat plants in the ocean and that is why they have omegas! Makes sense doesn’t it? And no more fishy taste! I am SO excited that our amazing company has been working on a 100% PLANT OMEGA CAPSULE. We’re talking Omega 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9 encapsulated in a VEGETARIAN capsule made from tapioca.
State-of-the-art encapsulation process that avoids the need for higher temps that can negatively impact the nutrition inside. We all need to eat better, that's a known fact. And, we especially need much more nutrition from fruits and vegetables in our diets - including omega fatty acids. I know that I get my nutritional value from my Orchard, Garden and Vineyard blend capsules each day, that's what helps me fill in the gap between what I eat and what I should eat. What can I say, I'm human and I do like some foods that are not the best for me. And who can eat 7 to 13 raw fruits and vegetables every single day? Not me. With my capsules, I'm getting the antioxidants, phytonutrients and other micronutrients that are much needed. One more reason why I am so excited about the Omegas! Let me jut say that there is scientific evidence showing that a diet rich in omegas fatty acids supports a broad array of health benefits. These include heart, brain, joints, skins and eyes! Now who doesn't want to improve in any of these!
One thing is for sure, our company has done their homework on this and has chosen the highest quality ingredients such as oils from six different whole food sources: algae, pomegranate seeds, sea buckthorn berries, raspberry seeds, tomato seeds and safflower seeds! As they mentioned, they "cut out the middle fish" by taking the Omega 3s from the original source that the fish eat, not from the fish. Now, I am all for not having that fishy taste after I take omegas. YUK! 100% non-GMO, gluten free, no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or added starches. Will be NSF and Kosher Certified!!!
We will learn more in April in Anaheim, but I am SO excited and wanted to go ahead and share this valuable information with you. More information to come SOON!
As always, if you have any questions or want more information on the wonderful Garden, Orchard and Vineyard capsules that I take each day, send me a note. Or if you want to know how children can get fruits and veggies for free, I can help you with that too. We have these in chewable form and they are so delicious. I actually eat them for my snack. And if you like that healthy, plant-based shake each day, we have the best product, or at least I think it's the best. Scott and I have one every morning and some days, that's what he wants for supper which is really great for me when I don't feel like cooking. Of course I have to watch how many times he wants to do that because two a day helps with weight loss and believe me, he does not need to shed any pounds!
Have a great week!
Some Days
There are some mornings that I just can’t seem to want to get out of bed because my mind just wanders as I’m trying to go to sleep. I’ve tried warm almond mild with Turmeric and the other “fixings”, melatonin, warm bath, reading, and whatever else others have suggested but nothing seems to work. Then I did a Shred10 – getting rid of bad habits in January. For 10 days I stuck to the plan which I ended up carrying on over to 18 to 20 days. That’s when I finally started getting some rest and sleeping better. I guess all those fruits, veggies and berries flooding my body with all of those phytonutrients were doing something to my system that actually worked. Then I went off but went right back on track for our February Shred10. Continued to do well with sleeping, felt great, had more energy and just had a better outlook on everything. Then on my 14th day, I went back to some old habits. Why is it that I do this? Don’t get me wrong, I’m still drinking my awesome shakes for breakfast. These are whole food based and packed with all of the good stuff. It’s a protein rich drink mix that provides balanced nutrition in each and every scoop! It provides the benefits of whole food nutrition through nutrient packed pumpkin and pomegranate powders, ancient grains and much more nutritious ingredients. My favorite is the Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie. I make it with the Vanilla Complete, spinach, almond milk, cocoa nibs and peppermint essential oil. YUMMO!!!!
Anyhow, now I’m feeling as though I’ve let myself get way off base because of some of those “bad habits”. It would be easy to put myself down and let satan get me in that spiral dark pit that he wants me in but it’s not going to work. Not today. I will succeed and stay on this. It’s good for me, for my health, for my family. And – I WANT to do it. I need my private Shred10 Facebook group to keep me accountable and help me stay focused. I can’t wait until March 6th to start the next Shred. It’s so nice to know that this is a lifetime change not just a d-i-e-t. I can’t do those. And, I can RESTART whenever I want - alone or with lots of others each month. I’m ready to take healthy back. Makes me feel energized just talking about it.
Of course though, life happens. Friends are coming over tonight for supper and my sweet husband wanted me to prepare the first meal that I cooked for him when we were dating. Simon and Garfunkel Chicken, twice baked potatoes and this awesome carrot casserole recipe that I have. Definitely not Shred approved, but so good. Hey, it does have parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme in it! Beside, this is when it’s nice to know that we can fill in the gap and get our nutrition of 30 fruits, veggies and berries from our JP capsules.
By the way, my husband, Scott, is my greatest support system. Here he is making a smoothie for his dessert! I love that man! That’s the great thing about the Complete Shake Mix, it tastes great anytime and no matter what you put in it, you’re still getting the nutrition you need from whole food! You just can’t beat that! I’m actually enjoying some chocolate bars that I made with the Chocolate Complete. It truly satisfies that sweet tooth of mine.
Ya’ll have a great day and healthy living to you.
OH, and if you would like more information on Shred10 or how to get started on a journey to a healthier you, let me know!
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No one Get’s whole food nutrition
It is just absolutely amazing to me how people just "do not get it"! What is so hard in understanding what whole food nutrition is? I talk to people who have cancer, parents who have children with ADHD and ADD, children who are sick all the time, parents who are sick all the time, and everyone just seems to want a "fix". I don't have a fix, but I do know that whenever something is going on and I have been to the doctor in the past (especially with my cholesterol) she says, "CHANGE YOUR DIET". So what better way to do that than with whole food nutrition! That's why I just absolutely love Juice Plus. I get all of the nutrients that I need. But, try to explain that to someone! People roll their eyes and say things like -- "If it's so great, why don't the doctors tell us about it?" Well, doctors didn't go to school to PREVENT disease, they went to school to TREAT disease! Everyone looks at a capsule as a "pill". I use to do the same thing. But with Juice Plus and whole food nutrition, it has a Nutrition Label, NOT a Supplement label. Any idea what the difference is? Nutrition is FOOD! If Juice Plus were to be sold in the grocery store it would be in the fresh veggie isle. As a matter of fact, in States where there is no food tax, people do not pay tax on Juice Plus!. How amazing is that! What I've learned is that Supplement basically means that...... ok, the best way I can explain it is.....An apple has 10,000 phytonutrients, so let's say that a supplement shows a % of vitamin C, that is an isolated portion of the whole entire phytonutrients that the apple actually has to where Juice Plus whole food has a portion of ALL of that entire 10,000 in the capsule. Does that make sense? All I know is that I will take Juice Plus until the day I die because of what it has done for me. I just absolutely love Juice Plus, and I love my husband too. He wants me to write blogs and I'm just not sure how to do that. But if I were to write on a daily basis, would anyone read? Have a very blessed day!
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