The importance of living a healthy lifestyle for maintaining general good health and preventing chronic diseases has been well established. A healthy lifestyle is quite simple to achieve – one does not need to do anything “crazy” to adopt a healthy lifestyle. I will say that a certain amount of independent thinking is required to separate truth from fiction in most modern health advice currently being delivered.

The most important thing you can do is eat well. Avoid toxins in your food as much as possible and consume plenty of fresh fruit, veggies and whole grains; exercise moderately a few times per week; avoid smoking, including secondhand smoke; and avoid gaining too much weight (which should come naturally if you eat right and exercise). While it is not always possible to eat all Organic food – the EWG recommends 12 fruits and vegetables that should be organic because of their higher levels of pesticide residue.  Avoiding environmental toxins as much as you can is an important part of achieving a healthy lifestyle.

Our modern lifestyle is very convenient – but it can also be extremely unhealthy. Most of us eat too many processed foods and too few fruit and veggies; we rarely exercise; and when we develop chronic conditions such as diabetes, we rely on conventional medications to make us feel better – but these medications often have devastating side effects. Instead of accepting the importance of living a healthy lifestyle for us and for future generations, we continue with our bad habits – then take potent, toxic medication to treat our inevitable symptoms.

Of course, not all aspects of living a healthy lifestyle are in our control. We are going to be exposed to certain environmental toxins whether we like it or not. But many of these factors are absolutely in our control. Whenever we can, we should be responsible and make the right choices.

This is why it is so important to be sure you eat well as the key factor in achieving a healthy LIFESTYLE.

I say “lifestyle” because what I know is that “eating well” can sometimes be something a person does with resentment because they feel “sacrifice” is required to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

I remember when people who ate poor foods used to joke with me and say I was not really living because I chose not to eat pizza and drink beer – and I always replied “how much LIVING can you do when your body is recovering from what you put in it?”

Shifting from an Unhealthy to a Healthy Lifestyle

The reason I discuss the healthy lifestyle tip of simply EATING WELL on my blog is because it has been so effective for my health.

It was not always like this though. I remember when I was addicted to a chocolate bar each day and I always had headaches or an infection or illness of some kind. 

In addition to excessive sugar cravings (eating a chocolate bar each day) I also suffered from many unhealthy symptoms that were challenging to resolve through traditional medicine: Frequent headaches, Skin problems (ie. eczema, acne, hives, Bloating, Gas, Bad Breath, Weak or brittle hair and nails, Fatigue and lethargy, Excessive stress, Candida overgrowth, Yeast infections, Food or Environmental Allergies, Anxiety or depression, Diarrhea, Constipation, Memory loss, Mood swings, Frequent colds or infections, PMS or bad menstrual cramps, Bladder infection, Loss of sex drive…etc

Ughhh! No fun at all!

Years later, I LOVE good food and I am rarely sick. Eating well is the perfect way to get in tune with your body and really get back to basics of what your body needs. It challenges you to give up the vices that you take for granted, break your addictive eating habits and start again from the beginning. Eating well is a healthy lifestyle choice that gives you clarity on what your body really needs, not craves and becomes the foundation for all other healthy lifestyle choices.

An important thing to remember with eating well is to really examine your root philosophy for adapting more healthy foods into your lifestyle.

This is SO IMPORTANT!

If it’s simply to loose a few pounds – I personally feel that this is not enough of a motivator and you will set yourself up for “failure” however, if you choose to eat well to enjoy a better quality of life, to do things you have not done in years and to not get sick anymore, then this is a wonderful motivator that will likely last!

So, getting really practical, eating well obviously involves making a few changes to the foods you prepare and enjoy.

I always listen to my body when I eat. I do not calorie count, measure my fist, use ratio’s or anything that causes me to separate myself form the food I eat.

The main reason I enjoy excellent health is because I am critical of what I eat – I choose to eat REAL food.

Because of this, I do not need expensive supplements or challenging programs to maintain my weight.

Delicious menus of real, whole foods allow me to enjoy the things so many diet plans warn against.

This  sounds simple enough, but what I have learned is that many people simply do not know what a healthy lifestyle consists of, especially when it comes to food!

I try to keep things as simple as possible. I shop from the perimeter of the grocery store, eat mostly wild and free range chicken, very little meat and mostly raw organic fruits and vegetables, with beans and rice. It’s not practical to list everything I eat here, but feel free to download my FREE Healthy Grocery List while you are here!

The Future Depends on our Health

Living a healthy lifestyle, free as much as possible of toxins (in our environment and in our food) and of stress, is important to us – but it’s also important for future generations. Scientists are also now discovering the impact nutrition has on our DNA! Healthy trees bear healthy fruit. A continued lifestyle of sickness will have a lasting effect on future generations and on our planet.

The results of years of living an unhealthy lifestyle are obvious. We are currently faced with a sharp increase in chronic illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease, with an obesity rate so high it’s considered an epidemic, and with growing rates of infertility. The number of children diagnosed with autism, Asperger’s syndrome or ADHD is alarmingly high.

We should also remember that our children carefully watch us and emulate us. If they see us act responsibly now, they will likely adopt a similar approach of taking care of themselves and of the planet when they become adults.

We must each ask ourselves if we are modeling the importance of a healthy lifestyle to our children. If we do not show them how to care for themselves, they will likely turn to the food corporations instead. How will they know the difference between real food, “food like” substances?

I keep about 6 – 8 fantastic cookbooks on hand including the acclaimed ebook The Delicious Revolution. From these books, I create simple meal plans that I rotate each month based on about 15 simple meal ideas.

In addition to eating Delicious Food (that is real and healthy!) I suggest the following ways to help model a positive approach to food in our children:

• Young children especially learn about the world through imitation. How do you feel each day as you prepare your family’s meals? Are you hurried, frustrated, and disconnected? We can show our children that eating healthy is important by the way we approach our meal times. If we are happy and engaged in making a meal, and then take pleasure in eating together we affirm that food is more than something to fill the hole but is a necessary part of a happy and healthy family life. In short, your children will imitate what they see so make sure you are placing a positive value around the activities involving healthy living.

• Involve your children in meal preparation, even once or twice a week. By discussing how good certain foods taste and by letting them help you cook you will show that it’s important to take the time to prepare a healthy meal instead of throwing something in the microwave. You never know, you may inspire a future chef!

• Make a plan to eat together as often as possible. By each decision you make to eat together, you are casting a value judgment on the importance of  healthy living and that it involves more than just eating a few more vegetables.

We can and should make an effort to change our habits and accept the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. If society won’t make changes, then we as individuals need to make them. After all, if we leave our health to someone else guess what they have planned for you? Not much.

I have absolute confidence that you can make the switch to living a healthy lifestyle and eliminating the nuisance symptoms that result from a body that is overloaded with toxins from our North American lifestyle. I was able to do this by following simple strategies, cooking from informative books that helped me switch my lifestyle over and enjoying life!

In all this talk about living a healthy lifestyle – we cannot overlook simply choosing to ENJOY LIFE!

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The Importance of Living a Healthy Lifestyle

Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy delicious smoothies. Even if you don’t have frozen fruit on hand, you can still create healthy smoothies for breakfast or any other time of day.

Breakfast smoothies are a wonderful way to start the day however I find that if they are made with only fruit, I am hungry within an hour. With a few tweaks to a regular smoothie, you can heave a healthy and hearty breakfast smoothie in minutes.

The best way to start the day is with a little protein. I usually have organic eggs along with a breakfast smoothie. People generally underestimate how much protein they really need to maintain their energy and well being. Skipping breakfast sends your body into survival, storing fat for a “famine” by lowering your metabolism, so it’s best to give your body the fuel it needs withing an hour of waking each day.

One little health tip while you’re here: Have a glass of warm water with 1/2 lemon squeezed into it. This is a wonderful way to stimulate digestion and metabolism. Do this especially if you are not a “breakfast person!” It will help your body readjust to eating and loving breakfast again – not to mention help you naturally balance your metabolism and well being.

Here are our favorite breakfast smoothie recipes. They are nutritious and quick with a good serving  of protein as well. If you tend to skip breakfast because you are busy (ahem…!) then you will love how easy these recipes are.

Our Favorite (Healthy!) Breakfast Smoothie Recipes:

Almond Boost

1-2 cups rice or almond mild – make sure they are non GMO and organic.
1/2 banana
1-2 Tbs almond butter (raw or roasted)
1-2 scoops of good quality whey protein powder (this is optional – you also get protein from the almond butter)
dash of cinnamon
1 tsp raw honey (optional, there is plenty of flavor from the other ingredients)

Place all ingredients together in a blender, adding the protein powder last so it does not stick to the sides. Blend until smooth. Serves 1-2.

Oatmeal Breakfast in a Glass

1-2 cups rice or almond mild – make sure they are non GMO and organic.
1/2 banana
1/2 cup cooked oatmeal (Rolled oats are most healthy. Precook some oats and refrigerate for your breakfast smoothies. Grains including Oats should be soaked overnight before cooking to ensure your body gets maximum nutritional benefits.)
1-2 scoops of good quality whey protein powder (optional)
1tsp raw honey or maple syrup
dash of cinnamon

(adding a few strawberries or blueberries is also delicious)

Place all ingredients together in a blender, adding the protein powder last so it does not stick to the sides. Blend until smooth. Serves 1-2.

If you’re looking for a bunch of great smoothie recipes, have a look at “sensational smoothie” recipes. They have been a great hit with our family. We have breakfast smoothies in the mornings and generally a “green” smoothie later in the day.

I thought my husband was wasting money (sorry honey) when told me he was buying an infomercial product but he’s proven me wrong with this one. If you want a very quick and clean way to make a smoothie with almost zero clean up I have to highly recommend The Magic Bullet. We use it at least two times a day. Since we each prefer different smoothie recipes, I love that I can make multiple smoothies at the same time. We drink from the actual mixing cup and I don’t have to spend the time washing and reassembling a big blender. I only need to screw off the blade top and rinse.

Cheers to your health, I hope you enjoy my favorite breakfast smoothie recipes – let me know what you think?

photo: Nikki L.

Hey, come visit the me and leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this article, thank you for giving it a boost on social media. © All rights reserved. This post is from HealthyGreenMoms and cannot be republished without express written permission.

Healthy Breakfast Smoothie Recipes

What is HypnoBirthing? Read my other article about pain free births: HypnoBirthing, The Mongon Method

We Are Given What We Require to Grow into Our Creative Potential

The gentle and pain free birth of my second really begins with the birth of my first child, our  beloved daughter Olivia. The incredible birth of my son was very much influenced by the decisions I made before the birth. I believe we are all given the birth we require. Some women are conscious of this opportunity to learn more about themselves and what is possible, and some are not.

For as long as I can remember, I have admire and wished I could be one of those women who births naturally at home. When I became pregnant with my first, the only option in my mind was to have a natural birth without drugs. I received very little support from women who chose epidurals and women who birthed natural told me their horror stories and then said, “but you can to it, just get it done.” I went the traditional route however, passing off my desire for a home birth because it was my first and I was nervous of “the unknown.” In hindsight, I accept that I did not educate myself enough to make a fully empowered choice. My choice to birth naturally in a hospital did, however, teach me something very powerful that enabled me to have the birth of my dreams two years later.

The Lesson

Going into the birth of my first, I was not sure if I could handle it. Looking back, I hoped and prayed it would go well, but I did not feel truly prepared or empowered. I knew I was a “strong woman” but of coarse I also had no idea what birth was like except for the stories I was told, which did not leave me feeling optimistic. I had prepared with traditional Lamaze classes and I noticed how little they supported a natural birthing mother. Much of the discussion centered around  “back up plan” for drugs.

In labor, I was taken back by the power of the contractions but I went inside and mustered my courage for a natural birth. The only plan I had was to “birth naturally.” I viewed it as  the “summit” of the birthing experience.

The labor rolled on and then slowed at 6cm dilation where I accepted the suggestion to break my water. This is when the fun really began. Surges that were manageable before, suddenly became incredibly painful and I was rocked by the intensity. The birth classes proved to be utterly useless.

Looking back at what I know now, I felt at this time, that I was separate from baby…as though we were not birthing together. Instead, I was “surviving” the birth. By the transition phase at 10 cm, I surrendered and accepted gas. Because of my previous history, the gas triggered an anxiety attack that hid from everyone. Even my husband did not know what was happening to me as I felt myself spiral down.

I was congratulated for being such an “amazing and stoic woman” after the birth. They felt my birth had gone so well and yet I felt so humiliated and dis-empowered. I had accepted a drug when my only goal was to birth naturally. I had been terrified by the pain and I had felt completely ill equipped as a woman to handle it. I had ran when I knew I could have embraced the experience differently. I knew that there was something about this birth experience that I had missed, but I could not put my finger on it just yet. It was my intuition that told me this.

Following the birth of my first, I took about 16 weeks to heal from the stitches, and unfortunately, I experienced post-partum depression for about 10 months. There were so many aspects where I gave my power and voice away during the birth that I feel this influenced how I felt entering into motherhood.

The Opportunity for a Peaceful Empowering Birth

Nearly two years later I was weeks away from giving birth to my second.

In the beginning of the pregnancy, I went the same route as my first – doctor and hospital. But one day I met with a friend and she casually said that her second birth was very “spiritual.” I was intrigued? Spiritual? What does that mean?

I still pondered the idea of a home birth but I was scared of the “unknown.” My doctor was “good” and she delivered my first. I was hesitant to rock the boat, but the desire to explore what a “spiritual birth” meant to me persisted. I began to research birth online and quite by chance, a blogger published her “pain free” birth story using HypnoBirhting. She was so relaxed that nobody believed she was in labor!

I decided to hire a HypnoBirthing Coach late into my pregnancy. At 34 weeks, I began the recommended 5 sessions. After my first session, I brought my passionate desire to use HypnoBirhting to my doctor. I assumed a female doctor would share my desire to birth as powerfully as possible but she was threatened by my desire to self direct my birth and accused me of  potentially doing something to harm my baby. (the famous “fear of the unknown” scare tactic)

I felt very betrayed by my doctor. I was hurt but then I was angry. I  knew she was not on my team, so at 35 weeks, I fired her. I was completely without any birth support and only weeks away from my due date. I spent the next 3 days calling midwives around the province (canada) who would possibly take me on. Typically, every office is booked 30 weeks in advance so I was not having any success.

The Choice is Made, My Dreams are Possible

This was the point where I mustered up a vision & faith for my birth. It was distressing on one hand, but incredibly liberating on the other. I was birthing my way and I began to trust that things would work out so long as I released fear. At 36 weeks I finally found a local office who agreed to take me on. As soon as I had secured a midwife, I committed to a home birth. (Doctors do not attend home births in Canada) I was given statistics and information from my midwife that is approved by the Canadian Government and I was completely reassured that in many cases, home birth is the safest place to birth. I then completed my 3rd HypnoBirthing session.

At 38 weeks, I received my second midwife appointment. I grabbed a birthing pool, “just in case.” The very next morning, I went into labor!  My husband left the house to gather the supplies for a home birth. My birth story inspires me because all my major decisions were made in the final month of my pregnancy! I feel many women make a decision for their birth and then they are afraid to change it. I changed my mind and it was the best decision I have ever made!

The beginning surges were mostly in my back, as it was with my first baby and I begin to feel self doubt again. I worried that back labor would spoil my desire to have a “pain free & peaceful birth.” The labor slowed during the day but picked up again shortly after putting my daughter to bed. My husband continued to prepare the birthing room.

I’ve heard you can sleep in early labor but I was too excited to lie down. I pondered a movie, but since it’s only my husband and I, I decided to “stay in the zone” and fill the bathtub instead. In hindsight, being alone to labor was ideal. No distraction allowed me to completely sink into the experience.With an essential oil of rose facecloth draped over my face, I labored in the tub. No music, no talking, just a deeply relaxing HypnoBirthing CD.

The surges came often, and while they were still in my back, the thought of pain had totally diminished. This time, I breathed in a way that felt productive to me and baby. At one point,  I acknowledged where many women would ask for an epidural, however I completely released the feeling of pain and returned to total relaxation. This was an exhilarating realization.

I asked my husband to fill the birthing pool but he blew me off, thinking we had more time. Clearly he was remembering and expecting the look on my face with our first born! He reassured me that he wanted to be sure the pool temperature was “just right” for the birth. I continue to ask, and finally he began filling the pool. Within 10 minutes we run out of hot water. OOPS!
My husband continued to fill the pool by running up and down the stairs with pots and a kettle while I labored in the bath tub. I felt the surges intensify. We had not bothered to time the surges because they were so manageable but now it was time to measure our progress. We called our HypnoBirthing Coach in, who lived one hour away.

Putting Peace into Practice

I began to feel some fear at this point. Perhaps it was because everything was going so well, a fear creeped in as if it was all too good to be true, so my coach relaxed me over the phone and helped me release my fears about the cord being wrapped about the baby’s head. My previous sessions went very deep into my fears and I did a lot of work on visualizing the birth of my dreams so relaxing at this point had already been well rehearsed.

I began to have a hard time expressing my needs to my husband. It was the same point in hindsight, that I had accepted the gas with my first. As I peered down at my belly, I noticed that it had begun to flatten out. Baby was moving down! The power of the surges took my breath away, but I was still relaxed so what I actually felt was the power of my inner body squeezing around our baby. I relaxed while my body worked!

(In hindsight, I love the fact that I was not checked to “see how far along” I was. This practice is so disturbing to “the zone” and I think it leads to disappointment if the progression does not match expectations. The disappointment and perhaps distrust in the birth process can easily shift the labor out of the hands and intuition of the mother and into the hands of other who do not have the same intention for your birth.

I asked my husband to call the midwives as well. I had to get out of the bathtub. I was so ready for the pool but it was not ready yet! I remember feeling guilty for calling the midwives, in case I has misjudged the time and called too early. To add to the adventure, our midwife declared that her other client was also in labor and chose to be in a hospital, so that we would have to meet her there!

I blurted out that “I am ‘pushing’ and there is no way I’m getting in a car right now!”

My husband flew around filling the pool. Water sprayed everywhere. He was a little flustered, but not too bad. My legs began to shake from the hormones and dampness from my long bath. When I finally got into the pool, it was HEAVEN!! It really should be the standard. It was dark, except for a candle. Our midwife arrived and checked me,  declaring that our baby is “right there.”

That was a sweet sound!

Discovering My Innate Birthing Wisdom

My birth coach arrived soon after. I drank water but declined a fruit snack. Even though I knew many HypnoBirthing moms snack through labor, the the memory of puking with our first turned me off. Then my coach dropped me into the deepest relaxation I have ever been in. It was literally “lights out” as my body floated to the top of the pool. When the surges came, the bearing down was so intense yet relaxed and I felt joyful – even ecstatic!

I felt intensely powerful. Warrior like. There were many moments that took my breath away, but never did I feel a loss of my power. There were, perhaps, moments where I was faced with a decision. And each time I was empowered to TRUST and SURRENDER to my baby and body.

I feel this is the line each women come up to during birth, some earlier on and some later along the labor, but this is where we have the power to choose fear or faith. It’s where we signal to our body to produce more adrenaline or more oxytocin and it is controlled by our emotions.

I connected to the process and floated while my body birthed my baby. I did not push with any of my external muscles. I did not scream or cry in pain. I remember uttering the most powerful “song” that seemed to come from my belly.
Just before crowing, my water finally broke. This was one big bone of contention with my former doctor who said she would not allow me to birth with the water in tact lest she got sprayed in the process. Doctor centered? Or mother/baby centered?

I decided to squat with my upper body draped over the side of the pool. I breathed deeply using the special HypnoBirthing breathing techniques. My husband got into the pool ready to catch our baby while I felt the classic “ring of fire.” This is the second point where I felt scared. I tore with my first and endured a long 4 month recovery with sits baths. I felt myself get tense, but I remembered the videos I watched of mothers birthing their own children and I remembered from those videos that I could slow things down. No one was telling me to “push.”

My coach quietly asked if I was holding back on birthing him. I could not communicate what I was doing, only that I did not want to rip again. Again I felt empowered and breathed deeply through two surges  (She later said to me that this part of the labor was so amazing for her to watch. I was birthing my way and it was perfect! In hindsight, lingering a little longer for the crowning allowed Evan’s head to adjust to my size so there was no discomfort apart from the brief initial discomfort.) Women are generally encouraged to push baby out at this point. I personally feel it should go more slowly.

There was only a small patch of hair showing at this point, but just as I rolled out of the squat and on to my back, baby’s head fully emerged. I did not feel a thing! No pain whatsoever. I placed my hand over the top of his head and felt him wiggling inside of me, trying to swim the rest of his way out. We were all shocked at the ease and speed that he crowned and was birthed into the pool.

My Dream Becomes a Reality

Evan Lucas was born at 2:10am. Norb placed him on my chest and Evan took his first breath of life. A sleepy eyed Liv was immediately brought into the room. She whispered “my baby brother..ohhhh wow!” while we sat back as a family and soaked the entire birth experience. Around 4:30am we retired to the warm comfort of our bed.

A water birth at home would have been amazing, but for us using the HypnoBirthing method along with a home water birth is really the icing on the cake. It was truly delicious! I felt incredible. I did not rip, I declined the hormone shot, birthed the placenta naturally and within 24 hours, my perineum had returned back to normal. There was no sore muscles or bruising. More than that, I felt like I could take a big hike because there was simply no post-partum discomfort. I had allowed my body to birth from inside and instead of  sore muscles and a fatigued body I was rewarded with energy.

Saying YES to my dream birth and birthing my way, despite all the obstacles we faced was a life changing experience. I have come to realize that each of us are given the birth experience we require. I had no idea that my desire for a more “empowered and spiritual” birth would lead me to this point. This was my big success that empowered me in all areas of my life. The connection with my son on my second birth gave me the strength to heal my feelings around my first birth.

What Does My Spiritual Birth Mean For Your Birth?

I know the fears I moved through. They were big. I doubted I could be that woman, who births easily and naturally at home. My birth has secured a knowing that any women who desires her dream birth can make it happen. We may not always get the birth we want, when we want it, but our births have a tremendous opportunity within them. I share my birth story with any woman who will listen but I find that the belief that birth has to be hard and painful is so deeply engrained in our subconscious that they do not think it is possible for them as well.

I look back on my birth experience and see each birth as a result of decisions I made or did not make. Prior to the births, I made choices and during the births I made choices. Some were empowering and honored my authentic voice and some were not.

This is how I feel we possess so much power over our birth instead of accepting that we are mearly bystanders in this process.

I have learned that it is so important not to judge your birth experience, especially if did not do the way you had hoped. We are given the gift of understanding and learning. Regardless of how a birth goes, we always have the power to choose whether we will use it to empower us or limit us in some way.  It’s all choices. If you are reading this story, you likely feel a calling to create an empowered birth as well.

Declare your dream and own your voice, this is your right and it is your birth story to create.

Hey, come visit the me and leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this article, thank you for giving it a boost on social media. © All rights reserved. This post is from HealthyGreenMoms and cannot be republished without express written permission.

My HypnoBirthing Story

One of my favorite sources of energy is fresh juice from my juicer.  A fresh glass of orange & grapefruit juice really hits the spot in the morning and a carrot, apple, beet and ginger at 2pm helps lift the afternoon lull.

Although it looks pretty good in the picture, my juicer has definitely seen better days. I’ve had my old Braun for over 15 years and the time has come to retire old faithful and find out what is the best juicer to buy?

A lot has changed in juicer technology over the years and they can be an investment depending on what you are looking for. My criteria for picking the best juicer is:

• Easy to clean – not too many small parts
• Efficient – must make good use of the veggies and fruit
• Stainless steel or type of material that limits staining
• Can juice the hard vegetables like beets, carrots and ginger
• Fits nicely on my kitchen counter for daily use
• A bonus would be that it can juice leafy greens like spinach and kale, or even Wheatgrass

You basically have two options in juicer technology when choosing the best juicer:

Masticating juicers or Centrifugal juicers.

A masticating juicer can be thought of much the same as your jaw. It grinds or “chews” the juice from the  fruit and veggies rather than the spinning and cutting action used by centrifugal juicers. A masticating juicer is considered to be the better choice if you want to juice leafy greens although not all juice greens. They tend to be quieter and there is less friction/heat produced due to the grinding nature of the juicer which preserves the enzymes and nutrients better, allowing you to store the juice for a couple of days. The drawback of masticating juicers is that they can be more time consuming for those who want to make a quick glass of juice however they are considered to be more efficient, producing more juice from the same amount of fruit as a centrifugal.

The centrifugal juicer spins at high speeds to grind the food into a pulp while simultaneously spinning the juice from the pulp. A centrifugal can juice high volumes of juice at a time, is considered to be a great starting juicer for household use and kids may prefer juice from this juicer as it tends to be less pulpy. If you drink this juice within 1-3 hours, you still benefit nutritionally in the same way as a masticating.

So what is the best juicer to buy?

I researched quite a few juicers (Jack Lalanne, Omega 8005, L’Equipe, Dr Weil 9816 1000, Breville 800JEXL, Champion 2000+)  with similar features like price range and horsepower. I also read all the comments from Amazon customers to get a better idea of possible problems or additional benefits. The reason I looked past 4 of the above juicers is either they did not meet my criteria or the reviews were too hit and miss for me to be confident that they would be the best juicer.Also, if there were too many functional or warranty issues, I moved on.

Finally, I narrowed down my top 2 picks for what I feel is the best juicer to buy:

one from each option: one masticating and one centrifugal juicer.

Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite 1000 Watts

• This particular juicer is very stylish because of the die-cast steel housing
• It has 2 speed controls with the highest reaching 13,000RPM and the lowest going to 6,500RPM (high speed is used for harder fruits whereas the lowest is for softer fruits)
• It contains a micro-mesh filter basket to catch the pulp, which makes it very easy to clean
• One of the best features is that you don’t have to stop to clean in between your juicing session and the easy cleanup
• Another great feature is the wide-mouth opening for whole fruits and veggies, which measures 3 inches
• The price for this one is $259.88 on sale (retail $399.99)
• Approximately 20 pounds

Champion 2000+ Commercial Model Juicer G5-PG-710

• This juicer is heavy duty
• It contains 1.75 inches diameter feed tube (need to cut F&V)
• It is relatively quiet for a commercial unit
• Nylon as opposed to plastic parts
• Can make coconut milk, baby foods, fruit sauces, nut butters however it is not great for leafy greens although some reviewers say it juices Wheatgrass just fine.
  
• Juice comes out cold if cold F&V used
  
• Has full power 1/3 horsepower
• It is easy to clean
• 10 year warranty
• The price for this one is $232.99 on sale (retail $289.99)
• It is a bit heavy compared to the rest at 24 pounds and takes up slightly more space on counter

What is the best juicer for us?

Finding the best juicer (for the price )depends on what you are looking for. Both the masticating and centrifugal types have their benefits and limitations. I’ve been analyzing these two juicers for a while and I’ve been stuck on whether I want a fast, pulp free juicer that may be a little less efficient with food VS a slower, pulpier juicer that takes up more room on the counter but the nutrients in the juice may last longer and may a little more efficient with the food?

We decided that Breville is the best juicer for our family. It is a fast machine, will juice anything and at high volumes, is easy to clean, has TONS of positive customer reviews, saves time through feeding whole foods into it, and it was highlighted by Fresh Restaurant’s juicing gurus as a good one to choose for the home. The Breville, in my opinion, is the best choice in it’s class for a “juicing family on the go” with children who don’t care for pulp. We’ve decided to pass on juicing our greens (we’ll eat them instead) and stick with green smoothies instead.

This isn’t the same type of decision as buying a toaster. I always hum and haw over the more expensive online purchases and analyze the options to death! I’m sure I’ve picked the best juicer for our family. The Champion is also great juicer and my parents have decided to buy it so I’ll be able to try them both and report back. I’m excited to create some awesome healthy juices for my kids!

I hope I’ve helped you determine what is the best juicer for a family on the go – stay tuned for some juicing videos!

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Who Makes the Best Juicer?

If you are already balking at the very concept of a pain free birth, I urge you to stick with me over the next few weeks! As many of you know, I am weeks away from delivering our second child. I am extremely excited for “the day” and looking forward to the entire birthing experience.

I initially began researching home water births however I soon realized that this was going to be difficult given the lack of midwives available in our area. Although having a home birth does not possible at this point, I want to make sure that whatever environment I’m in, the birth is peaceful & relaxed.

I began begin researching other alternate birth experiences and after reading some incredible birth’s  using HypnoBirthing techniques I decided to look into it further and bought the book HypnoBirthing: The Mongon Method. Needless to say, the book has rocked my world!

In this article, I’ll share some of the basics of HypnoBirthing techniques. I have already committed to using the HypnoBirthing techniques in my own delivery – to “prove” if I can have a painfree birth. At this point, I’ll admit, it’s a dream…and that little voice inside really wonders if it is possible, so we shall see! I am 100% committed to doing everything that HypnoBirthing suggests in order to have a peaceful and painfree birth.

(UPDATE: after reading this article, you can check out my HypnoBirthing Story and see for yourself if I experienced what these techniques promise?!)

Whether or not HypnoBirthing is for you, I hope this series will inspire you as it has inspired me. By the end of this series, I hope to have started a discussion about our own birth expectations, to imagine what could be possible if we chose another way to relate to birth, and what this could mean for a generation of future moms?

When you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change. Marie F. Mongan

What is HypnoBirthing?

HypnoBirthing puts aside the myth that pain must be associated with childbirth.

When a woman is in tune with her body and is able to relax her mind along with her muscles, the birthing process is much easier. We already know that what lingers in the mind is felt by the body as real so using mind/body relaxation techniques are very helpful anytime, and especially during labor. Relaxing and breathing is something that is not easy during the intense labor process but with practice the woman is able to relax the muscles, especially the muscles of the uterine that facilitates the entire process.

HypnoBirthing is a natural process and differs immensely from the medical process.

It incorporates the use of breathing techniques, self-hypnosis and imagery for a shorter and easier birthing process. HypnoBirthing techniques help to eliminate FEAR, believed to be the main cause of pain and birth complications. Many women have been noted to have not experienced pain when using the method of HypnoBirthing. Marie Mongan, the founder of the HypnoBirthing Institue in New Hampshire, developed the method is now known as “HypnoBirthing – The Mongan Method”.

The entire method revolves around using techniques to remove the FEAR associated with childbirth.

Many times we are afraid of the unknown and is heightened with many subtle suggestions that are common with our cultural experience with birth. The HypnoBirthing techniques will help a woman reclaim her body, learn to relax and enjoy the process of childbirth. When a woman is made aware of how the body functions during the birthing process (instead of all the possible things that can go wrong!) she will be able to relax and be in perfect harmony with her body instead of fighting against it.

With HypnoBirthing you are not under a trance or asleep.

You are fully aware of the entire process and in full control, as a woman should be. You will be completely relaxed and aware of your body’s surges. Surge is a term used in place of contractions. Contractions is associated with pain where a surge is just the feeling you will experience during the childbirth process. Language is very important in the HypnoBirthing process, because your body will react to words differently; the use of positive words helps the mind and body relax.

Here are some of the advantages to using HypnoBirthing techniques:

• Removes the fear associated with childbirth
• Reduces the need for chemical painkillers
• Eliminates the fatigue associated with childbirth
• Reduces the first stage of labor by several hours
• Promotes the special bonding between mother and child as well as birthing partner
• Makes the birthing process a beautiful experience as nature intended
• More rapid post-natal recovery

So what exactly are these HypnoBirthing techniques?

This section is written as an update after having my dream birth. The book, HypnoBirthing: The Mongon Method is a great read – I thoroughly recommend it as a first step in planning for a relaxed and pain free birth. There are numerous simple techniques listed in the book that I feel are also the foundation for philosophy that a woman must have when approaching her birth from an empowered perspective.

I hired a coach for 3 sessions immediately prior to my dream birth. It was very helpful for erasing fears I had around the birth – losing control, ripping, too much pain, the fear of “failure” etc…..I did not even get to finish my sessions because I went into labor – but I was prepared with the breathing techniques and the relaxation techniques for self “hypnosis” (I kind of dislike that word! It’s really just relaxation!)

During the birth – if you read my birth story listed above – you’ll know that I did not have any assistance until the coach and midwives came in the last 1-2 hours. I was able to use the relaxation techniques myself, and keep myself in this state for my entire labor…WOW!

My feeling is that you only need to address the fears and use a powerful relaxation method to attain this state which will allow your body to relax to the point where your birth is peaceful, flowing, spiritual, powerful and gentle!

I have since come across GentleBirth™ – Self Hypnosis for Childbirth which provides, what I feel is, all the same information as the Mongon Method  – but will allow you to study at home without incurring the cost of a coach or doula.

My personal feeling on a doula is that she must totally resonate with you! If there is anything that does not jive, she can actually be a roadblock to your gentle birth process and you carrying out the HypnoBirthing techniques. There must not be any STATIC in your birthing experience and if you find it difficult to declare your needs or ask people to give you space, it’s best to avoid having a doula unless she is AMAZING and sensitive to YOUR needs!

I highly recommend checking out GentleBirth™ – Self Hypnosis for Childbirth which is much more extensive that the Book and much less than hiring a HypnoBirthing Coach. I believe you can do this on your own – you just need the techniques to do it!

As you read the basics about HypnoBirthing, can you imagine a birth that is actually pain free?

What if women looked towards their labor with excitement and anticipation instead of fear?

What if Childbirth became am empowering experience for women once again – how would our culture be transformed?

If I went from fearful to fearless in only a few weeks, you can too. By learning the HypnoBirthing Techniqes or  the Gentle Birth course – you CAN achieve the birth of your dreams!

Hey, come visit the me and leave a comment! I'd love to hear from you. If you enjoyed this article, thank you for giving it a boost on social media. © All rights reserved. This post is from HealthyGreenMoms and cannot be republished without express written permission.

HypnoBirthing: Can Birth Really Be Pain Free?