Juice fast

CEBU, Philippines - We are preoccupied these days with what not to eat, based on religious observation of the Lenten season, having the guilt pangs after sinking our teeth into red meat when we aren’t supposed to.

But Matthew 15:11 clearly pointed out “it’s not what goes into our mouth that defiles us; we are defiled by the words that come out of our mouth.”

The Old Covenant directed us to abstain from certain foods. However, the New Covenant has broken all of the old practices. In fact, we are directed to receive with thanksgiving the gifts poured upon our banquet table.

Fasting in the digital age involves more than food cravings. Fasting focuses more on our tongue – a platform of evil among the many parts of the body corrupting the wholeness of man. For our tongues speak of the contents of our wicked hearts.

However, since abstinence from particular foods has already become part of our Christian beliefs on weeks like this, why not try juice fast? It’s about consuming only raw vegetable and fruit juice, as well as water, for a brief time of period. Just be very clear about your medical status by consulting a physician first before indulging in reduced food intake and an absence of solid food.

Juicey lineup

Doctoryourself.com recommends the following fruits and vegetables best for our body’s ability to quickly absorb them into our system and for their timeless appeal and availability:

CARROT. Tasty and popular, two glasses of carrot juice per day are highly beneficial. Carrot juice is very high in Vitamin A or carotene which is completely non-toxic no matter how much you consume.

CELERY. The juice is very tasty but a bit high in sodium so use small amounts of this juice to flavor the others. Juice celery leaves and all for the most benefit.

CUCUMBER. The juice is remarkably refreshing. It tastes rather different than a cucumber itself. The taste will remind you of watermelon. Peel cucumbers before juicing to avoid the waxes applied to their skins to enhance their shelf life in the grocer’s section.

TOMATO. Is easily juiced. Do not juice the leaves, vines or green tomatoes though. Only the red, ripened fruit is good for you. And yes dear, the tomato is a fruit!

ROMAINE LETTUCE OR BEAN SPROUTS. These will make an especially nutritious juice with a taste that is well worth acquiring. This green drink is loaded with minerals and chlorophyll.

Fitness blender suggestions:

Green Garlic Monster. You need ½ cucumber, two large handfuls of spinach, ½ cup cabbage, three pieces carrots, and a clove of garlic. Blend well.

Pure Melon Boost. You need ½ cantaloupe which is said to be the most nutritious of all fruits and does well when juiced alone. Blend the rind in with the flesh of the fruit and enjoy this cancer-fighting drink as an occasional simple but tasty treat.

Carrots, Apples plus Celery. You need three apples, two carrots, and two celery stalks. Fitnessblender.com cites that celery is a diuretic that can help the body shed water retention. It is also a great source of naturally occurring sodium, which can help the body maintain its careful balance while you are fasting. (FREEMAN)