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Why I Love Juicing with the Fusion Juicer

Juicing has always been something I have wanted to try, but never have because the thought of finding, comparing and selecting juicers, truthfully, overwhelms me beyond belief. I don’t know where to start and was always hesitant to invest in one (since most cost a decent amount of money) that I might not like later. It looks complicated, and I previously did not know where to start. I have wanted to try juicing, especially vegetable juicing, for the health benefits such as consuming a significant amount of greens in a single glass, because it looks like fun and because I always thought it would be enjoyable to create my own juices with the flavors, fruits and vegetables I want and not all the extra sugars, preservatives and unknown ingredients often found in store-bought juices. Just look at what recently surfaced about Coca-Cola’s Simply Orange Juice. Not so simple (the article even says, “if you want that freshly squeezed orange juice experience, buy a juicer,” right? If I can make my own juice, I would know exactly what was in it because I was the one who put it there! Making my own ingredient list is just one reason why I love juicing with the Fusion Juicer.

At first look, the Fusion Juicer and Fusion Booster (blender) were very intimidating to me (remember, I am already afraid of juicing). It’s a large machine and has about four or five parts to it that must be assembled/disassembled. Fortunately for me, it also came with a detailed (but not overwhelming) and easy to read instruction book that was very helpful. The Fusion Juicer was actually very easy to put together once I did it. It also came with a 200 page Raw Remedies and Juice Recipes book (juices, soups, dressings, baked goods, etc.) and the 6-Week Turn Around (healthy cleanse) Program.

Once I realized how easy it was to use, I couldn’t wait to get started. I made two recipes from scratch to finish in about a half hour. This included a cleaning of the machine (by hand) in between the two juices. The fact that this machine was incredibly easy to clean is by far my favorite feature! I took literally minutes to take it apart, wash out with warm, soapy water, rinse well and re-assemble.

I was worried about knowing what to make and was unaware that a recipe book came with the juicer so I tried my first recipes out from ones I found online, but I am thrilled with the recipe book and plan to use it with the Fusion Juicer from now on.

First I made Berry-A-Peeling Juice (strawberries, apples and lime) for the ingredients’ detoxification, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant properties (clink the link for more info) – plus it just sounded delicious and it was!

Next I tried a vegetable juice called Celery Cool Down (cucumber, celery, tomato and cilantro) because – let me just admit – the name went with the very negative temperatures around here right now (and I love cilantro, which, by the way, was really fun to juice). After the sweetness of the strawberries, it did not taste as good as I was hoping it would. It was good though and might have gone well with a dash of hot sauce, which I didn’t think of until after I finished my glass.

For the small ingredients list, the Fusion made about four cups of juice with the fruit juice and about three cups from the vegetables. I was very surprised by the quantity of juices it produced!

Why I love juicing with the Fusion Juicer:

A huge variety of recipes come right with the juicer (and a cleanse plan).
It was easier to clean than any other kitchen appliance I have ever owned.
Super easy to use from assembly to juicing to storage.
It is very quiet when it is juicing.
It came with a mini-blender that converts right into a bottle for smoothies or drinks on the go.
It’s fun to use!

Things I don’t love quite as as much about juicing with the Fusion Juicer:

It is a little expensive at about $120 (but, really worth it if you want to make your own juice and recipes).
It is a very large machine and kind of inconvenient to store on the counter-top.
(My husband would like me to include “it made vegetable juice” here, but I don’t see how that’s the fault of the juicer)

If you are committed to trying juicing and don’t know where to start, I suggest the Fusion Juicer. I am really happy I have it and plan to continue making my own juice.

Tell me about you. Have you tried juicing? If so, please share your favorite recipe below (the spicier, the better, of course)! Do you want to juice? Are you afraid of juicing like I was? Do you have a juicer that you love (or don’t love)? Would you try the Fusion Juicer?

Until the next mile marker,

Please note, I was provided with the Fusion Juicer for review in exchange for my honest opinions. I was not compensated for this review or asked to write a positive one. Thank you to Fusion Juicer for the opportunity to try this juicer and subsequently overcome my fear of juicing!

Hüma Chia Energy Gels Review

Ever since reading It Starts With Food and being diagnosed as gluten-intolerant and joining Weight Watchers, I have been trying to take an active role in getting healthy, losing weight and taking care of my body. After losing my mother unexpectedly about two years ago and then almost losing my own life last year, I have developed a heightened sense of awareness of how fragile and provisional life really is. It is absolutely striking to me that one person dies of a pulmonary embolism every six minutes in the United States alone (http://clotconnect.org). That could have been me.

One of the things I have really started to pay attention to is the amount of highly processed, highly sugared, highly unhealthy substances we are putting in our bodies. Nutrition is important – more than I ever imagined – and I believe the foods we eat (or don’t eat) are playing a major role in undermining our health around the globe, contributing to sometimes preventable diseases like diabetes, obesity, heart attack and stroke. The amount of sugar and processed carbohydrates we put in our bodies are contributing to such systemic inflammation that I do believe it is killing us.

Less is more when it comes to food – and maintaining our nutrition while exerting high levels of energy is also important to keep us sustained during our workouts. While I almost exclusively drink Gatorade and eat GU while running longer distances, it has really bothered me that these commercial energy supplements – while they work – are filled with sugar and a bunch of things I can’t pronounce. What is all of that stuff? And it is helping our health? I doubt it.

I am always on the hunt for natural, yet convenient and handy ways to hydrate and fuel on my runs so I was really excited when I was given the chance to try and review Hüma Chia Energy Gel.

Hüma Chia Energy Gels are all natural, gluten free and made in the USA. And guess what? When you read the ingredients list you won’t be unsettled that it takes up the fingers on both of your hands and you will be able to pronounce each and every last ingredient. In the Apples and Cinnamon Gel there is Apple Puree, Evaporated Cane Juice, Filtered Water, Brown Rice Syrup, Ground Chia Seeds, Sea Salt, Citric Acid and Cinnamon. That’s it. Nothing else. N-o-t-h-i-n-g. I know what each of these things are and in terms of a long run when I need sustainable energy quickly, I am comfortable putting all 100 calories of them in my body.

Hüma (pronounced “Hoo-mah”) is based on the name of the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico, otherwise known as “The Running People” because they participate in 50-100 mile races, making them the premier ultra-marathoners. They thrive on chia seeds, which have a long history as an endurance fuel. Ancient Aztec tradition held that an ounce of chia seeds could sustain a warrior for 24 hours. Today, chia is considered a super food for the following reasons (http://www.humagel.com/why-huma/all-natural):

I found the FAQ section of the Hüma website very helpful in answering my questions about Hüma, including why is the package larger than a typical energy gel (Hüma gels have a higher water content than other gels, which makes then easier to swallow and digest, but that also means less calories per ounce, so there is more in the package). I tried the Strawberry (I am not a cinnamon fan, unfortunately) and found the consistency to be very similar to Apple Butter.

The taste was surprising to me as I could taste strawberry, but it was somewhat bitter, not like the processed packets I am used to. I did not particularly like the flavor, although the coarser texture was refreshing to me because I felt like I was eating something. I ran two miles in the heat on the day I tried Hüma and felt good using them as fuel in the conditions at hand. While I did not like the taste, my husband took the Apples and Cinnamon on a three day canoe trip with him and he liked the flavor. He said they were perfect snacks while canoeing because he didn’t have to stop and unpack his gear or build a fire when he was feeling like he needed energy. He just opened a Hüma gel and kept right on paddling. I think the flavor is all personal, and something I could get used to, because many other athletes reviewed Hüma and also enjoyed the flavor.

Connect with Hüma Chia Energy Gel on Facebook and Twitter. You can also find them on Pinterest (search Hüma Energy Gels) and Instagram!

Overall, it is worth it to me to sacrifice a little bit of flavor for real ingredients, whole fruit taste and all-natural energy, especially in light of how unhealthy I think traditional sports drinks and gels are and I would definitely rather fuel with Hüma Chia Energy Gels than my standard energy gels and sugary sports drinks.

You can order Hüma Chia Energy Gel online or check the store locator for a resale shop near you.

What about you? Have you tried Hüma Chia Energy Gels? Did you like them? Did they help during your run? Do you use a natural gel or sports drink? Why or why not?

Until the next mile marker,