ALL ABOUT AMINOS
Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and since more than 50 percent of our body’s dry weight is made of protein, amino acids are pretty important. When you look at them along with our body’s enzymes, amino acids are responsible for cellular respiration—called “cell renewal”—and thousands of other important functions like creating hormones to build muscles, blood and organs; proper digestion, and turning the foods we eat into energy; providing immunity from disease and illness; rapid wound healing; and proper liver function.
Out of all the amino acids in nature there are nine essential ones that our body can only synthesize from the foods we eat. What does that really mean? If our diets lack those nutrients, our body won’t renew its cells properly, and that can lead to nervousness, dizziness, exhaustion, and complications from all the things we mentioned about above.
Lucky for you, our beeutiful juicers, all fresh juice contains essential amino acids (and juices made from lots of sprouts and leafy greens contain the highest concentration of ‘em). And that means The Juice Standard’s juice is just what the body needs to help to kick the arse of our immune systems into high gear and contribute to mental clarity and overall vitality. By adding juice to diet that’s rich in whole, natural foods like vegetables and grains and saving refined or sugary foods for only the occasional “treat,” you’ll get a full complement of essential amino acids to keep you feeling fly. Promise.
OMEGA FATTY ACIDS
Dietary fat is always a hot topic just brimming with conflicting info. “What kinds of fat should I eat?” “How much fat?” “Is there fat in cold-pressed juice?” Have these questions plagued you? Here’s the down-and-dirty of what you need to know:
1) “Good fat” exists…and you should eat it
Including healthy fats in your diet is important for many reasons as they help the body absorb fat-soluble vitamins and phytonutrients like antioxidants; vitamins E, D, A, and K; as well as beta-carotene and lycopene.
2) Hunt down omegas…especially your 3s
Omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids are ones we need to go out and proactively add to our diet since our bods can’t generate them on their own. But did you know that more often than not, Americans eat way more omega-6 than we need? The typical Western diet is so full of omega-6 fats that we’re usually deficient in less prevalent but super-important omega-3s—which are pivotal in fighting inflammation, boosting brain function and development, reducing risk for heart disease, and preserving muscle mass during cancer treatment. You can find omega-3 fats in salmon, sardines, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and flax oil.
3) Boost your juice with a fat shot
Did you know there’s something to be said for when you eat your fat?
Since oil helps the body absorb those all-important minerals, antioxidants and fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K, try drinking The Juice Standard’s cold-pressed juice with a shot of flax seed oil!
Now, don’t say “ewww!” Fatty acids carry nutrients into your cells, and since juice alone doesn’t have naturally occurring fat, a fat shot will help you reap all the nutritional benefits of our juice (so will something simple like making sure that when you eat a salad, you don’t skip the oil in your oil and vinegar…otherwise, you lose the bennies from your raw veggies).
Bonus? A little fat with your juice will prevent huge spikes in blood glucose and insulin levels, which means a flax shot will help you stay fuller longer from each bottle of juice. No sugar highs!
How much should you swig? Start with a tablespoon and try working up to three to four. Some find it easiest to pour into a small shot glass and have at it while others add a little lemon juice and cayenne for a little extra purifying. We say, do whatever it takes to get the job done.