Recently I have been feeling very tired. I know that part of the blame is due to what I eat. Nachos are my weakness and all of that cheese makes me quite sluggish. I had watched the documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and was intrigued. So, I figured a 3-day Juice Cleanse would help me get healthy and energized. Luckily, we have a company right here in Santa Barbara that provides freshly pressed, raw and organic juices to your doorstep! I met with the owner of Vibrant Earth Juices who happens to have her Masters of Science in Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Science and is a Registered Dietitian. She was able to assure me that the juices were all gluten-free and would provide me with the proper nutrients for my anemia.
Today was my first day on the Juice Cleanse. There are 6 juices that I had to drink throughout the day. Overall, I felt good in the morning. I didn’t find that I was that hungry. Midday, I received some unexpected bad news that definitely took a toll on my body. I kept up with the cleanse schedule, but I felt worn out. I am not sure if I felt exhausted due to the emotional day or due to the cleanse. One thing that struck me though was that I wasn’t hungry. The juices left me feeling satisfied.
At 6 AM, I had the first juice which was “Energy”. I was nervous about the taste because of the ingredients listed, but I enjoyed it. Three hours later, I had the second juice which was labeled as “Immunity”.
I loved this one. It was similar to lemonade. I could see myself drinking this on a normal day. One of the things I like about Vibrant Earth Juices is that on the site, it outlines what each ingredient’s purpose was. From the site:
- Pineapple – Abundant in enzymes that aid digestion, speed up wound healing, and reduce inflammation. Additionally, its packed full of Manganese (benefits good skin), Vitamin C, and Potassium.
- Pear – Provides soluble fiber to improve elimination and increase the digestive system.
- Mint – Contains potent anti-fungal properties and soothes the digestive tract.
- Lemon – Rich in Vitamin C and bioflavonoids, lemon helps clear mucus, fight kidney stones, and prevents against skin cancer.
- All of the fruit and vegetable blends come with a teaspoon of Flax Oil. The flax oil is a vegan oil, high in antioxidants and Omega-3 fatty acids. The inclusion of this fatty acid is very important, as it helps with the digestion, transport, and absorption of the nutrients in the juices. Without it, the body has a very hard time utilizing what the fruits and veggies have to offer! Another amazing benefit of the oil is that it reduces the fruit and vegetables “glycemic load” on the blood stream. In other words, it reduces the impact the juice has on your blood stream, preventing huge spikes in insulin and glucose levels.
It was nice to confirm that each ingredient was contributing towards a healthier me. I am optimistic that Day 2 will pass without the hunger pangs I was expecting.
Tags: cleanse, fruits, gluten free, juice cleanse, juices, organic, santa barbara, vegetables
The bun was also made of cauliflower. Since we grabbed this from a prepared case, it was cold. I think I would have enjoyed it more if it had been made to order and was still warm. For dessert, we split the Blueberry Creme Cupcakes.
These were pretty great. This is a good option for certified gluten-free food in downtown Santa Barbara. It would have been nice if it wasn’t just take away food and there were some seats available. At least there are endless beautiful spots in Santa Barbara to enjoy this healthy meal.
gluten-free in sb 