Lycopene Healer Juice For Heart Health & Cancer Prevention

Lycopene - we have all heard of it, but what does it actually do? 

Lycopene is found in reddish-orange pigmented fruit and vegetables like tomatoes, watermelon, grapefruit and beets. It is known for its major benefits in helping heal those suffering from prostate cancer and breast cancer. It has also been demonstrated in providing protection to the blood vessels around the heart and neck. 

Tomatoes (a great source of lycopene) have particularly been researched for their ability to protect against the development of cardiovascular disease. Lycopene is a fat soluble vitamin, so consuming tomatoes with some fat source will help it become more readily absorbable in the body. That is why I decided to include a fat source in this juice, added after the juicing itself. 

Be sure to buy produce that is organic to reduce toxic load. It is hard for the body to heal when you are feeding it toxins to begin with. Be kind to your body, and go local and organic!

Ingredients:
- 2 cups tomatoes
- 1/2 bunch parsley (about 1 cup)
- 4 large carrots
- 1 beet
- 1 lemon
- 1 tsp. hemp oil (add to juice last)

Juice the above ingredients (except hemp oil) in a juicer, such as the Omega, add in the hemp oil last, and enjoy immediately!

Homemade Summer Fruit Juice

Making your own fruit juice is easy and takes no time at all (max 5 minutes). It is a much better option than pasteurized juices you can buy in stores, because all of the enzymes, vitamins and minerals are still in tact, and are therefore, better absorbed by the body. 

This juice combination is one of my all time favourites, and now that summer has entered the seasonal realm, I can now include all of the amazing local fruit that has peak nutrition. This juice will not only energize you, it will provide you with plenty of iron, vitamin C, and lymph-pumping macronutrients. 

It is also important to ensure that your fruit is organic, mainly because a majority of it is sprayed with toxic pesticides and herbicides. If you do not have the option of choosing organic, make a fruit juice with fruits that are lower on the pesticide list, and go from there!

Ingredients:
- 2 apples
- 2 cups grapes (a mix of whatever type you like best - I used black and red and green)
- 2 peaches
- 1 cup kumquats (OR you can alternatively use 1 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice)

*Note: the banana is for decoration - do not attempt juicing bananas or you will be disappointed ;P

Juice the above ingredients in a juicer such as the Omega Juicer, and enjoy!

Healthy Smoothie Based Fruit Pops

I thought of an incredible idea, and although I know that somebody out there has already thought of it, I felt quite excited (and brilliant) to test it and try it out! Smoothie-based fruit pops! These things are amazingly tasty, and contain no added chemicals, synthetic flavours or any of that other crazy stuff you really don't want to be putting in your body (have you read the ingredient list on some popsicles out there? It's scary!)

All you need for these smoothie pops is popsicle moulds, a blender, a freezer, some fruit and leafy greens (if you want to make the green ones). They are incredibly simple to make, and help you to cool down on those deathly humid-hot days. You can experiment too! Make any kind of your favourite smoothie blend, and freeze them in popsicle moulds - the sky is the limit!

Ingredients:

Green Blend:
- 1 cup spinach
- 1 cup kale
- 2 ripe, spotty bananas
- 4 pitted medjool dates
- 1/2 cup water

Raspberry Cooler:
- 1 cup organic raspberries
- 1 cup peeled & chopped mango
- 1 cup young coconut water
- 1/4 cup basil

Strawberry Healer:
- 1 cup organic strawberries
- 1 cup ripe pineapple
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice

For each smoothie base, blend in a blender such as the Vitamix, and pour into popsicle moulds. Place a popsicle stick in the middle of each mould and let freeze over night, or for at least 8 hours. Enjoy!

Raw, Vegan, Probiotic Almond Milk!

Ingredients:
- 2 cups raw almonds (soak them overnight in water to help blend them easier and to release enzyme inhibitors which makes them more digestible. Drain and rinse the almonds afterward.)
- 4 cups water (you can also try coconut water or dandelion tea)
- 3-5 dates, pitted

- 2 vegan probiotic capsules (try one with at least 10 billion cultures per capsule - I personally like to use Garden of Life RAW Primal Defense capsules) 

Preparation Instructions

1. Blend all the ingredients together except for the Probiotic capsules in a high speed blender.
2. Pour the mixture through the nut milk bag over a bowl and squeeze!
3. Add the Probiotic capsules to the milk. Just open them up to release the powder inside. Gently stir with a spoon.

At this point you can put your almond milk in the fridge and it’s ready! 

Or, you can add these extra steps: 

4. Cover the bowl with a towel to keep it away from the light and put it in the oven (don’t turn on the oven). The oven will keep the milk at a stabilized temperature which will help with the culturing process. Leave it in there for 12 hours or overnight.

When the 12 hours is up, take out the bowl and it’s ready! It should smell like yogurt! 

This recipe makes for an excellent vegan base to any smoothie, and will keep in the fridge for a total of five days!

Recipe Contributor: 

Salomé is a healer born in Ecuador. She helps busy people make time and space for themselves and specializes on healing before, and after surgery. Her healing allows her clients to pause for a moment, let go, and re-connect with mind, body and spirit. Her method helps decrease physical pain after surgery and helps clients recover faster. Learn more about Salomé at www.salometorres.com.