Tag: juice cleanse break

What to Expect From Green Drink When Expecting

One of the most common questions we get here at Chef V is from women wondering if it’s alright to be drinking green juice during and after pregnancy. If you’re expecting (or expecting to be expecting), this blog will cover all the basics you need when it comes to pregnancy and green drinks. 

Can a pregnant woman enjoy a green drink?

Let's get right into the main question here. Can you enjoy green detox juice while you’re pregnant? The short answer is, as is so often the case, it depends. So what does it depend on?

First is context. It makes sense that you’d want to avoid a low-sugar juice cleanse while pregnant, for example. During your pregnancy, you’re eating and drinking for two, after all. It’s not a good idea to radically decrease your food intake during pregnancy.

Of course, drinking some of that cleansing juice alongside your regular meals is a different matter. However, this also raises some interesting questions and concerns regarding the kind of juice you are drinking. 

Pasteurized versus unpasteurized

Most juice you can pick up in a grocery store will be heavily processed to make it more suitable for the global food transportation business; it will be pasteurized and filled with various additives. 

This creates something of a conundrum for pregnant women. On the one hand, drinking unpasteurized drinks could be dangerous, as it increases the risk of infection from raw produce. On the other hand, additives and preservatives in food can be potentially very dangerous to pregnant women as well. 

In the end, our best recommendation is to go organic, while also making sure you’re emphasizing freshness. Refrigerate any green drinks you make, and ensure that you drink them as quickly as possible. This keeps you safe from additives, while also reducing the risk from unpasteurized beverages. 

If you buy your green drink instead of making it, ensure you’re getting green juice delivery right to your door. This cuts down on time between when it's made and when it reaches you. You don’t want to be guessing how long unpasteurized juice was sitting on a store shelf!

Why green drink is great for pregnancies

So we’ve discussed a bit about whether you can drink green juice while pregnant. But why is this such a big deal anyways? Why do we get all the questions about it? Part of the reason is that there are a ton of benefits to enjoying some green detox juice while you’re pregnant. These benefits naturally boost interest in green drinks.

Detox juice is perhaps best known for helping people lose weight, get blood sugar under control, and better manage their digestive systems. However, it also offers a lot of other nutritional benefits. The iron, vitamin C, and calcium in a green drink can help keep pregnant women healthy, as do its anti-inflammatory properties. These nutrients also help boost the immune system, which is essential to keeping mother and child healthy. 

Green the best green juice delivery with Chef V

At Chef V, we’re all about staying healthy, at all times of the year. While you might know us for our low-sugar juice cleanses, we also do delivery of our signature green drink right to your front door! This means you can get an incredibly healthy blend of leafy greens, while also getting a guarantee of absolute freshness. You can check right now to see if your green juice delivery covers your area. 

Is there a Safe Detox for Diabetics? Diabetes and Juice Cleanses

Diabetes management tools

Maintaining blood sugar levels is important for everyone, but especially pressing for those with diabetes. Blended juice cleanses can help you get your blood sugar levels back under control, and cut sugar cravings as well – this makes them an incredibly useful tool for both preventing diabetes, and alleviating its symptoms.

Individuals with diabetes do need to be very careful with changes in their blood sugar levels, and with what they eat in general. This means that diabetic cleanses need to be approached with a little bit more care and thought. We’ll cover some of these considerations right here.

Juicing to Prevent Diabetes

In an odd twist,  juice is both one of the main causes of diabetes, and one of the main ways to prevent it. How does that work, you might ask?

The risk of Type 2 Diabetes can be increased significantly by the consumption of sugar (overall diet, lifestyle and genetics also play a role). A lot of the juice products you can buy in the grocery store tend to be filled with sugar, often artificially added in order to create a sweeter flavor. Since we tend to think of juice as “healthy”, we might gulp down a lot of sugar without realizing it.

However, there are also a lot of healthier juice options out there. The green drink in our blended juice cleanses, for example, is filled with only the healthiest fruits and vegetables, and has low overall sugar content  – an 8oz serving has 26 calories and 6 g of sugar. 

Blended juice cleanses can be a great way to help regulate the dangerous sugar levels that might lead to the development of diabetes. They’re also a great way to help regular sugar cravings. This doesn’t only promote weight loss, but it helps you better stick to a healthy diet that can be used to manage diabetes risk factors. While reading the labels on blended juice cleanses, check for the amount of sugar – some have up to 100 g of sugar! 

Glucometer surrounded by candy

Juicing and Diabetes Concerns

So, a blended juice cleanse can be a great way to help prevent the high blood glucose levels that can be a risk factor for Type 2 Diabetes. But should people with Type 2 Diabetes be taking part in blended juice cleanses? Can it do anything for diabetes after it has developed?

If you are considering the possibility of a safe detox for diabetics, there are a few things to consider. Blood sugar levels for those with diabetes are much more difficult to control. This means that if you go all out on a hardcore diabetic cleanse to lose weight, you could possibly drop your blood sugar down to levels that are potentially unsafe.

If you have diabetes and aren’t sure about participating in a juice cleanse just yet, it doesn’t mean that you have to abandon the good stuff in a blended juice cleanse entirely – far from it. It does mean that you should try to set more limited and realistic blended juice cleanse goals for healthy living.

Cutting out sugary drinks is still important, as are managing sugar cravings. This is why incorporating green drinks into your regular diet can be a great way to help you achieve weight loss goals, and blood sugar level goals, even if you do have diabetes. By losing weight and cutting sugar cravings, you can help better manage your diabetes overall. With Chef V, you can get a green drink plan developed just for you, delivering the exact amount of the healthiest green drinks out there for your own health needs.

So while undergoing long cleanses may not be the best idea for those with diabetes, blended juice cleanse products can still play an important role in maintaining good health.

Recently Chef V had a clinical research study of its detox and green drink products completed. It shows that a 21 day Chef V detox plus a week of Chef V organic green drink lower A1C blood sugar levels. 

Common Side Effects of Juice Cleanses: If You Should Worry and How To Deal With Them

Participating in a blended juice cleanse is a significant undertaking. You’re doing a hard reset on your body and naturally flushing toxins. Whether you’ve opted for a 3 day cleanse or a 21 day cleanse, you can expect to see and feel dramatic results.

I'm going to explain some common reactions people have to juice cleanses. I will cover which are normal and which are concerning, and why my Chef V cleanse is the safest and more achievable cleanse for you. 

Understanding Different Juice Cleanses

Before discussing the side effects of juice cleanses, you need to understand the different kinds of juice cleanses. So how exactly do you define a juice cleanse? At its most basic, a juice cleanse is a temporary diet that looks to replace, in part or whole, your regular food with juiced fruits and vegetables. The goal of a juice cleanse can be to lose weight, boost the immune system, detox the body, get more nutrients, remove sugar cravings, or just feel great.

Of course, every juice cleanse out there has a different set of ingredients to it. When browsing recipes you might look for maximum nutritional value, or for the taste you prefer. Some juice cleanses are very basic, such as those based around only celery juice. Other juice cleanses are more involved, with many different ingredients.

Many juice cleanses go beyond the juice. It’s not uncommon to see juice cleanses that add in detox smoothies and detox shakes. These allow a juice cleanse to offer you more protein and fiber, meaning that you can stay healthy for longer during your juice cleanse.

Lastly, juice cleanses can differ depending on how long they last. Generally, the shortest kinds of juice cleanse are the 3-day juice cleanses. The longest kind of juice cleanse would be the 21-day juice cleanses.

Common Juice Cleanse Side Effects

Ideally, a juice cleanse should leave you feeling amazing. Yet, many report side effects while taking on a juice cleanse. Here we’ll go over some of the most common, as well as explain what might cause them – and if you should do anything about them.

Headaches

Headaches aren’t uncommon during many juice cleanses. But this doesn’t mean that they are good either. One of the major causes of headaches is from getting a lack of all the nutrients you need. Many juice cleanses don’t provide you with everything you need to get through a juice cleanse. This is particularly true of the very “basic” ones like celery juice cleanses.

Celery juice side effects often include the infamous celery juice headaches. While eating celery is certainly healthy, you can’t just live off of celery stalks! You must research your juice cleanses beforehand and make sure that they have all the proper nutrients you need. In particular, try to make sure you are getting enough protein out of your juice cleanse.

Dizziness

Dizziness during juice cleanses isn’t uncommon either. Dizziness during a juice cleanse normally happens because of a drop in blood sugar levels.

A little bit of dizziness is to be expected then, as your blood sugar levels start to stabilize. If you are experiencing prolonged dizziness, your juice cleanse isn’t providing you with enough carbs and natural sugars. Like the celery juice headache, you may want to look for a more sustainable cleanse, or try a shorter one.

It should also be noted that sometimes dizziness can be caused by a lack of iron, or dehydration. Make sure you are doing a juice cleanse that includes plenty of dark greens for iron, and always drink plenty of water.

Fatigue

If you are experiencing prolonged fatigue during your juice cleanse, it might be that you aren’t getting enough iron or protein. Like with the previous side effects, it’s a good idea to make sure you are getting a nutritionally comprehensive juice cleanse. This is especially important if you are aiming for a long-term weight loss goal like the 21-day juice cleanse.

Fatigue can also be caused during a juice cleanse by getting too much or too little physical activity. Remaining active during a juice cleanse is important, but you will want to try and keep it to mainly light exercise.

Bowel Issues

Getting on a juice cleanse does represent a fairly significant change to your diet, it’s true. So some digestive issues to start aren’t uncommon. If you find yourself running to the toilet, you might want to look into a juice cleanse that contains more fiber. A lack of fiber in your cleanse is often the most common reason for bowel issues. (In particular, celery juice side effects often include bowel trouble). It’s a good idea to go for a blended juice cleanse that comes with detox soups. This way you don’t have to deal with the results of putting too much juice in an empty stomach without fiber.

Get A Sustainable Juice Cleanse

The best kind of blended juice cleanse is the kind that you can finish. Undergoing even a 3-day juice cleanse or 7-day juice cleanse is a big undertaking. If you want to go for a 21-day juice cleanse, you are going to want a cleanse that works with you, not against you.

Thankfully, our 21-day juice cleanse comes with the extra detox smoothies and detox shakes you need to be able to make it all the way through. Our green drink juice recipes are also jam-packed with all the most nutritious fruits and vegetables we can find.

Just as important as our recipes is our support. Chef V wants to help you succeed, and will be with you for every step of your juice cleanse. As long as you listen to your body and take note of side effects, you’ll be able to finish your blended juice cleanse like a champ.

A 21-day juice cleanse should leave you feeling great, not suffering from things like celery juice headaches.

Vegan vs. Vegetarian

Choosing a healthy lifestyle is always the best choice. But it's important to be mindful of the diet you opt for because it needs to be compatible with your lifestyle, sync with your weight goals, and meet nutritional requirements. 

Some of you may think of going meat-free or giving up dairy products, which often motivates people to turn vegan or vegetarian. Please note that these lifestyles are different from each other; both may include giving up meat, but vegetarians consume dairy and other animal products in their diets whereas vegans don’t. 

Curious to know which one's best for you? Should you turn vegan or still enjoy your cheese and take the vegetarian route? At Chef V, you'll get all your answers as we briefly discuss vegan vs. vegetarian with their benefits and downsides. 

Vegan vs. vegetarian – What’s the difference? 

Let's take a look at the difference between vegan and vegetarian.

Choosing a healthy lifestyle is always the best choice. But it's important to be mindful of the diet you opt for because it needs to be compatible with your lifestyle, sync with your weight goals, and meet nutritional requirements. 

Some of you may think of going meat-free or giving up dairy products, which often motivates people to turn vegan or vegetarian. Please note that these lifestyles are different from each other; both may include giving up meat, but vegetarians consume dairy and other animal products in their diets whereas vegans don’t. 

Curious to know which one's best for you? Should you turn vegan or still enjoy your cheese and take the vegetarian route? At Chef V, you'll get all your answers as we briefly discuss vegan vs. vegetarian with their benefits and downsides. 

Vegan vs. vegetarian – What’s the difference? 

Let's take a look at the difference between vegan and vegetarian.

Veganism

Veganism is a lifestyle that encourages you to give up all animal products, ranging from clothes to food items, in an attempt to save the climate and limit the exploitation of animals. It’s a lifestyle that motivates individuals to consume plant-based and dairy-free products, including whole fruits, seeds, nuts, legumes, beans, and vegetables.

More than for social reasons, people are opting for veganism or a vegan diet because of its varied health and wellness benefits. According to a 2022 report, Americans are turning vegan six times faster in 2022 than they did in 2014.  

As more and more people move toward veganism, the market is experiencing a change. Due to the increasing demand for vegan products, the global market for plant-based products is likely to grow by 12.95%. 

There are many vegan food options and alternatives that won't let you miss your usual meat-based diet. There are vegan smoothies and burgers; you can also go for an organic juice cleanse diet and bake with plant-based ingredients, such as coconut milk and vegan meat.

Downsides of a vegan or vegetarian diet 

  • Most people following a vegan or vegetarian diet need to take vitamin B12 supplements to fulfill their daily vitamin B12 needs. The most significant source of B12 is seafood, including fish, sardines, and clams, but since vegetarians and vegans don't consume animal flesh, they take medications or other substitutes to meet health requirements. 
  • The limited option for complete proteins is also a significant downside of a vegetarian diet. Complete proteins contain nine amino acids, which are rare in plant-based diets. You may need to add a variety of different proteins, such as legumes, lentils, and nuts to meet daily protein needs. 
  • Believe it or not, a vegan diet can also result in weight gain because you tend to eat more to meet your daily nutritional requirements, which is why you should always include a juice cleanse diet or intermittent fasting in your lifestyle while turning vegetarian or vegan. 
  • Going vegan is challenging; be aware of whether the food item is vegan or not before putting it on your grocery list. It requires a complete behavioral and consumer change, especially when new to the diet and philosophy. 

What works best for you? 

This mainly depends on your lifestyle, weight goals, and health requirements. The journey will be tough if you eat meat and want to give it up to become vegan or vegetarian. Plan things accordingly to deal with cravings, find substitutes for favorite dishes and how you can accommodate the change in lifestyle. 

Both vegan vs. vegetarian are lifestyle choices, and both do wonders for your health by encouraging you to eat healthily and focus on your overall well-being. You can always move back to your standard diet if things don't go according to plan or expectation. You just need to take that one step toward a healthy lifestyle.

Learn more about this on Chef V, a platform that helps you achieve your body goals. We offer multiple juice cleanses, ranging from one day to 21-day detox challenges to take you a step closer to a healthy lifestyle. 

12 Reasons Why Juice Cleanse Delivery is Amazing

There’s something plain magical about fresh food and drinks. Too many people across the country never get to experience the health benefits of fresh food, let alone the fantastic taste. Buying juice at the grocery store is one thing, but getting it delivered fresh is a whole different story. We got our start with juice cleanse delivery in San Diego, so we figure we know a thing or two about why juice cleanse delivery is amazing. We’ve made a list of some of our top reasons just for you!

#1 Appetite control

If there are any of our readers who haven’t had to deal with junk food cravings, they should count themselves lucky. For the rest of us, we know just how hard it can be to deal with the desire for sweet and fatty foods. 

These cravings are often caused by issues with blood sugar levels. Generally, as blood sugar levels drop from a lack of food, we tend to crave carb-heavy food. However, if we’re eating too many sugary foods daily, our body can stop accurately determining blood sugar level, and we tend to get blood sugar spikes and cravings. 

Getting a low sugar juice cleanse delivered right to your home is a great way to get blood sugar under control. This lets you get a fresh, low-sugar “reset” on your blood sugars, helping break the deadly junk-food cycle. We might not have the willpower to get low sugar options at the grocery store, so green drink delivery makes sure we get what we need. 

#2 Detox

Juice cleanses can be great for your liver health as well. Lowering the amount of sugar, fats, and carbs in your diet benefits the liver overall. A healthy and happy liver is going to do better at its job, which is detoxifying your body and flushing out the bad stuff. A juice cleanse is a great way to give your liver a well-needed break.  

#3 Digestion 

One of the most common reasons we hear people expressing interest in a blended juice cleanse is to help with gut health and digestion. If you have issues with bloating and an upset stomach,  a juice cleanse is just what the doctor ordered—or rather, just what you ordered, to your door. Not only will the juice cleanse plan help fight bloating and gas, but it can help the growth of healthy gut bacteria. 

#4 Energy

Feeling low on energy? So low on energy you can’t even get to the store? Well, if you are starting a 21 day liquid detox diet, you don’t need to go to the store. The fresh juice will come right to you! By getting your blood sugar under control, and developing healthy eating habits, this liquid diet can give you better alertness and consistent energy.

#5 Heart health

A good green juice recipe (such as Chef V’s very own) will be full of antioxidants and other anti-inflammatories. These are great for helping promote better heart health throughout your life, and you can get this long-term health investment in a super convenient method. 

#6 Hydration

We all know we’re supposed to drink plenty of liquids throughout the day. But how many of us actually hold ourselves to that ideal? If you’re getting a regular delivery of green drink filled with delicious fruits and vegetables, you’re more likely to at least get some of your daily hydration. 

#7 Immune-boosting

Green drink delivery means you’re  getting a daily dose of a powerful immune booster. A blended juice cleanse is an easy way to get the fruits and veggies that will help keep your immune system operating in tip-top shape. Chef V’s green drink even includes apples, and you know what they say about apples and doctors… 

#8 Organic 

Organic food is great. But it can often be hard to track down the best organic drinks, especially if you don’t live in a major city. With juice cleanse delivery, you don’t need to worry about hunting down the organics; they’ll come right to you! 

#9 Savings

Sometimes organic juices can be expensive. If you get it delivered, you can often get the juice cleanse plan in bulk. And buying in bulk is always a great way to get some deals and cut down on overall costs.  

#10 Support local businesses 

Buying locally has a ton of benefits all on its own. Just like with the goal of buying organic, however, this is often easier said than done. A delivered juice cleanse means you’re getting your product from relatively nearby, but without the hassle of having to hunt it down yourself. 

#11 Taste

Fresh is better. That’s just the way  it goes, especially when it comes to things like leafy greens. With juice cleanse delivery, you can make sure you’re getting only the freshest, best-tasting juices, right at your doorstep. The fresh difference needs to be tasted to be really understood. 

#12 Weight loss

Using juice cleanse delivery to get your appetite under control will certainly help with weight loss all on its own. But it’s also important to remember that a tasty green drink is a great low-carb snack. By helping you regulate both diet and sleep schedule, and giving you the energy to exercise, a little green drink can go a long way for your weight-loss goals. 

Get juice cleanse delivery with Chef V

From juice cleanse delivery in Orange County, to juice cleanse delivery in New Jersey, Chef V is getting Americans the best in green drink, coast to coast. By signing up with Chef V, you get an amazing green drink, detox soup, and detox smoothies delivered right to your door, hassle free. Just check out what Chef V has done for all these Americans across the country

Making Lasting Changes: Chef V’s Tips to Build a Healthy Lifestyle in 2023

Everyone, at least once in their life, has dreamed about making lasting health changes in the new year. But there’s no magic formula to reaching a healthy lifestyle. Instead, it’s all about developing healthy habits that will serve you throughout the rest of your life. This blog covers some ways to get started. 

Exercise

Most of us understand the importance of exercise in our daily lives. It helps us get our weight under control, build muscle mass, improve digestion, and just feel all around better about ourselves.

And yet exercise is also often considered one of the hardest healthy habits to get into. This is because it requires an active investment of time, something many of us feel like we have precious little of. 

Healthy eating habits involve swapping out one food choice for another. Exercise involves finding new time in your schedule. It’s essential that you meet at least your minimal exercise goals. A good rule of thumb is that you should be getting at least either 150 minutes of moderate exercise in a week or seventy-five minutes of more intense exercise

To build healthy exercising habits, it’s vital to start with smaller goals. Using lunch breaks for walks is an excellent way to get started, and to enjoy the fresh air if the weather permits. We’re also big fans of yoga at Chef V, as a low-impact way to get more exercise and flexibility. 

Stress management

Making any permanent change in your habits will be difficult unless you manage to get your stress levels under control. Too often, physical health is emphasized so much that our mental health is forgotten. However, chronic stress levels can cause appetite issues, sleeping difficulties, and mood swings. These can further degenerate into diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. 

Getting started with stress reduction can be intimidating. Stressing about stress is counterproductive, not to mention just a little bit silly. Don’t be afraid to reach out to a therapist for assistance. Healthier choices in diet and exercise can also go a long way toward reducing stress levels, thus creating a positive feedback loop, as your positive mood encourages you to make better choices.

If you really don’t know where to get started, we can certainly recommend simple breathing exercises throughout the day. These are good ways to calm yourself quickly and cut down on the worst effects of stress. 

Sleep

Sleep is incredibly easy. Most of us can do it without even thinking about it. All you have to do is lay in bed, that’s it! So it’s strange that for so many people getting enough sleep is an incredibly difficult proposition. 

The hectic modern lives we live, plus the proliferation of screen-based technology, has significantly impacted our ability to get a good night’s sleep. Remember, the average person needs from seven to nine hours of sleep. 

Getting enough sleep depends on maintaining a strict routine for sleep. Your body will get used to regular sleep times—you just need to start enforcing them on yourself. An excellent way to get started is to shut off your phones and other screens an hour before bed, letting your mind relax and your eyes recover. 

Increase water intake

Hydration seems like such a minor detail, but water is incredibly important to us humans. Water flushes the toxins from the body, lubricates joints, improves mood, boosts digestion, and improves organ health. Thankfully, getting more water in your life is easy. Just make sure to have more glasses of H2O during the day. You can also try to mix in more green drinks with your daily habits to get all the important hydration. 

Intermittent fasting

If you’re still worried about weight loss, even after improving your health, sleep, and exercise habits, the new year might be the time to give intermittent fasting a try. Intermittent fasting is the idea that when you eat can be as important as what you eat. The longer you give your body to digest food properly, the better you can manage your weight. 

It might sound like a lot, but it’s easy to get into. For example, all you need to do is try having your dinner an hour earlier, and breakfast an hour later. Maybe you can even replace your morning routine with a healthy green drink! 

Try some juice cleanses

If you have severe issues around bloating, weight gain, digestive system problems, blood sugar levels, and cravings for processed foods, then the new year might be the time to start a juice cleanse. 

The best juice cleanses for weight loss will include things like detox soups and detox smoothies as well. If you’re new to juice cleanses, we recommend starting with a 3 day juice cleanse. Even a short 3 day cleanse can help you fight back against cravings for sugary foods.

Get more green juices in your diet

Still uncertain about where the best place is to start with your new year’s goals for building a healthy lifestyle? One of the easier healthy habits to get into is adding more green juice into your everyday routines. 

Chef V’s green drink is great whether as part of a 3 day juice cleanse, a snack in the morning, or as a refreshing treat throughout the day. Our own green juice recipe mixes plenty of healthy leafy greens with delicious apple juice for some natural sweetness. Best of all, we can deliver all the incredible health benefits of green drink right to your doorstep! 

Sticking to Your Health Goals while Celebrating Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is associated with romance and all things romantic. It’s unfortunately also associated with sugary treats and big dinners. While those will certainly get your heart racing, it’s probably not in the way you want. We ask you, what’s so romantic about bloating and sugar headaches? However, we’re not suggesting your health goals and habits will inevitably be trampled underfoot on Valentine’s day. In this blog, we’ll discuss a few ways to stick to your health goals and not ruin your cleansing juicing or juice detox diets during February. 

Do your own dinner

There’s an expectation around Valentine’s day that one person in the relationship is going to be saddled with organizing a costly dinner out at a fancy restaurant. The meal is probably going to involve a lot of steak, and end up with tons of sugary desserts. 

It’s a nice image, especially for fancy restaurants looking to lure in customers. But maybe it’s time to consider bringing the romance back into the most intimate of settings, the home. This isn’t to say you can’t enjoy some time out. But if you have Valentine’s Day dinner at home, you get total control over the meal.

That means you can control the portions, and how it’s prepared, to make sure it meets the health goals of everyone involved. You can swap the steaks for vegetarian options, or opt for lean proteins like fish. 

Desserts can be prepared with healthier options. And if you do indulge, you can at least head to the fridge to wash it down with some green drinks. The only thing the home experience can’t guarantee you is someone to wash the dishes.

Restaurant responsibility

Maybe that part about washing the dishes got to you. Maybe you simply don’t have the time or inclination to cook. That’s perfectly okay! It’s alright to want to spend the night out on Valentine’s. But if you’re firm on having a restaurant experience, then it’s worth it at least to consider expanding your options. 

You don’t need to go for heavy meals. Compare your dietary goals with everyone involved, and then try to select a restaurant that fits these dietary needs. Remember, sometimes fun and new is better than fancy and expensive. 

Take the focus off the dinner

Valentine’s Day should be about spending time with the ones you love. So why is it so focused on the dinner experience? Maybe it’s time to think outside the box. Have dinner as you usually would that day, and then plan for something else that’s a bit more active and engaging. Of course, given that Valentine’s Day is in February, the best options vary depending on your location. 

If you’re in a colder area, why not try ice skating or other winter sports together? If you’re in a warmer area, why not plan a walk in a botanical garden or a hike in the most beautiful natural settings your region provides? These all let you spend quality time together while still remaining active. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box, either. For some people, the real romance is found in mini-putt or indoor rock climbing. 

Back yourself up with green drinks

Sometimes, we just want to indulge. And you know what? That’s okay. One day a year isn’t going to derail your health goals. And you can take steps to mitigate any side effects you earn from that indulgence. Some detox juice can be the perfect thing to fight both bloating and the sugar headaches

And when it comes to detox juice, there’s little better than Chef V’s green drink. Whether as part of a juice detox diet, or delivered to be enjoyed on its own. So let Chef V backup your health with the green drinks, and focus on having the most romantic Valentine’s possible.

Top 5 Ways to Detox Inside and Out

Detoxing goes beyond green juice recipes and your gut health. Detoxing involves removing all toxic junk from your body, mind, and life. If you’re looking for more ways to detox, inside and out, then we’ll provide a guide to get you started here, including through the use of detox juice.  

What counts as detoxification? 

If there’s a hot term out there in the nutritional community, it’s undoubtedly “detoxification.” The idea is that you’re removing harmful substances from your body, mind, and life. This could include the additives in processed foods, or simply other negative influences in our life. There’s a reason organic detox juice is becoming so popular. 

One of the biggest misconceptions about detoxification, especially for the body, is that it’s not something you can do naturally. Human beings are a lot more resilient than we give ourselves credit for. Even processed foods (which, maybe appropriately, take a long time for our body to process) can eventually be broken down. 

What detoxification should aim to do is instead help the body through these natural processes. The same goes for detoxifying your mind and habits. Trust in your own adaptability and resilience. Sometimes, it takes a few minor tweaks to your daily habits to start making permanent detox changes. 

Top ways to boost detoxification

#1 Massages 

When we think about physically improving the health of our bodies through movement, we often first think of stretching and exercise. However, it’s essential not to forget about all the great things that massages can do for you.

Part of the confusion here probably stems from the fact that there’s no single type of physical therapy that is a “massage.” Instead, this refers to a whole range of different styles, each with its unique health benefits. 

For example, the classic “Swedish massage” is mainly to help promote relaxation, while deeper massages help work out muscle tension and injuries. This means that no matter how active you are in your daily life, you can get something out of a visit to a massage therapist. 

Regardless of the type of massage, they all come with benefits beyond getting the kinks out of your muscles. Massages reduce stress as well as pain, and help promote circulation, manage blood pressure, and boost immune function. The improved circulation means the bad stuff in your body gets flushed out quicker, and the boosted immune system also helps your body regulate itself better.

That’s not to say there are no mental benefits to massages, of course. If you’re mired in stress and tensing up, few things are better at helping you unwind than a massage. If your body is tense, you’re going to feel tense, and the same goes in reverse. Massage is a comprehensive package, which is why it makes this list.

#2 Screen time limitation

You might have heard the term “digital detox” being bounced around, so it’s worth delving into what this means. Today, we take our constant connectivity to the digital space for granted. Always keeping tabs on what is happening in our personal and online lives allows for little bursts of pleasure throughout the day. 

However, people have been getting little bursts of pleasure from things like junk food and cigarettes long before smartphones. The behavior of constant online engagement is an addictive one. Even if you’re dubious about whether you have a screen addiction, you can’t deny the science regarding screen use and sleep. 

Cutting down on your screen time, especially in the evening before bed, is going to help net you some extra shuteye, which is going to help both your mind and body rest and recuperate. Of course, saying that you should “limit screen time” is easier said than done. 

Setting up your phone to reduce the temptation to constantly check it is one way to help get less screen time. Disabling notifications, or even switching the phone to black-and-white mode can all help make it much less enticing. You should also work on setting personal rules for yourself. For example, do a hard cut off of no screen time an hour before bed, or simply make the bedroom a tech-free space altogether.

#3 Spa days

It would be remiss to put massages on this list and not mention the option of going for the full spa day. Sometimes, all you have time for is one of those massages. But if you can carve a day out of your schedule, doing a spa day, or just some solo travel, is a great way to detox the mind and body. 

Not only do you get the benefits of massage and a break from your hectic schedule, most spas also include a variety of skin treatments, helping you look great. Beyond the glow of confidence in your looks, spa days help release positive-feeling chemicals like serotonin and dopamine, and can help you deal with headaches, pain, and sleep loss. 

Just like with massages, they can also help promote blood flow for all the aforementioned benefits. Basically, think of a spa day as a super-charged massage session. 

#4 Eliminating processed foods

In the modern age, plenty of food you’ll find in the grocery store is designed for long-distance travel, not necessarily for health. This is why organic detox juice is an increasingly popular option for those interested in getting their fruits and vegetables in liquid form. The additives used to make food good for travel can cause various health problems, especially for certain people with sensitivities

Beyond the sensitivities, there’s the plain fact that a lot of processed sugar in your food isn’t good for you. In particular, these sugars are linked to health conditions, such as diabetes and weight gain. They can take a long time for your body to process, and throw your blood sugar levels out of whack. 

They can also play hell with your digestive system, leading to bloating and diarrhea. Cutting these foods out of your diet and embracing more organic options is an excellent way to detox from sugar and additive overload. 

#5 Get that green juice

Can’t decide which part of your life needs an emergency detox first? Then our first recommendation is to get yourself an excellent detox juice recipe. Drinks full of leafy greens are great as an anti-inflammatory, are full of vitamins and minerals, and just make you feel great drinking it.

And if you’re looking for the best detox juice around, then look no further. With natural sweetness, but tons of those leafy greens as well, Chef V’s green drink is a significant part of a healthy lifestyle. Best of all, you can get a green drink delivered right to your door! 

Nutrition and Self-Care Tips For Beginners

At Chef V, we love green juice, in case you couldn’t tell. But, as crazy as it might sound, some people are scared of the delicious green stuff. They mainly associated it with long-term juice cleanses. However, you don’t have to be a detox juice cleanse master to enjoy fresh juice, regardless of what’s in it. There are plenty of ways to work some of that green drink into your everyday routine. You might even want to give a juice detox diet a try!

Benefits of green drink

If you’re new around here (if so, welcome!) your first question might not be what the benefits of green drink are. Instead, you’re likely wondering just what green drink is. 

Well… it’s green, for starters. Really, “green drink” isn’t a scientific term. It’s simply used to refer to all kinds of beverages that use leafy greens as their main ingredient. Our own Chef V green drink, for example, includes green kale, black kale, collard greens, curly parsley, and green chard among its ingredients. 

These kinds of leafy greens are packed full of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin K, and iron. This means drinking juice filled with these greens is an excellent way to ensure you’re getting all the important nutrients you need. 

Beyond general nutritional goodness, there are a few more specific health benefits to green drinks. The leafy greens in these vegetable juices are great for fighting inflammation, reducing your risk of a whole host of health issues, including heart disease. 

These leafy greens are also great for helping you get your blood sugar under control, improving digestion, and helping you better control your weight. What’s not to love? 

Cleanses versus adding green drink to your diet

It’s important to note here that while green drinks are clearly a fantastic tool for healthy eating, you do have flexibility in how you use them. A lot of people associate green drinks with undertaking detox juice cleanses to lose weight. 

And yeah, green drinks are pretty great for this. The idea behind a juice cleanse is to cut down on the carbs and calories in your diet. Green drinks let you do this while ensuring you still get all the essential nutrients and minerals.

But don’t be afraid to just add some of the green stuff into your daily diet. It doesn’t need to be all about the juice fasts. The anti-inflammatory properties and benefits to your digestive system alone make adding in some leafy greens a worthwhile endeavor. 

Swapping for other drinks

If you don’t want to go for a whole detox juice cleanse, it can be a significantly healthy step to swap some of your other regular drinks for something fresh and green. Just switching out a caffeinated beverage every morning for a glass of green stuff can have a significant effect on your mood and energy. Or you can swap out those sugary drinks for a healthy option that’s got its own sweetness. If you’re going for the Chef V option, that includes apples

Chef V green drink delivery

If you’re interested in getting more fruits and vegetables into your diet, but are afraid of going for a full-on juice detox diet, we at Chef V have got you covered. Our green drink delivery brings the good stuff right to your doorstep. This ensures you’re getting only the freshest green drink, no processed foods or liquids anywhere near your juice. 

How to Beat the Bloat : Chef V Clinical Research

Chef V's Clinical Research Study conducted earlier this year shows that a 21 Day Detox followed by a week of Green drink led to a 42.6% decrease in bloating! 

What causes bloating and how can I fix it?

It’s always been said that you should know your enemy. Before we can go about how to fight back against bloating, it’s essential to understand what foods cause bloating, as well as other factors. 

That tight, full, and painful feeling of bloating is unmistakable. There can potentially be medical conditions that cause a bloated stomach. However, for most of us, a bloated stomach is caused by nutritional or digestive problems. The bloating feeling is often caused by excessive intestinal gas. 

This gas buildup can be because you ate too fast, or you’ve overeaten. It could be because of the type of food you ate. You might even have a specific food intolerance you’re unaware of. Women also may get bloated before their periods due to menstrual changes. 

Overeating can also be a cause of bloating. This is especially true if  you’ve been going through a phase where you’re binging on foods that are high in fats and carbohydrates. 

So what now? 

Hindsight is always 20/20. Rather than bemoan the digestive issues caused by some poor nutrition decisions, it’s time to fight back with some options for reducing bloating and there are a few tactics you can deploy in the fight against bloating. 

Water

Yep, just getting some water can help. This one might seem counterintuitive at first glance. Bloating makes you feel like you’re about to pop, so why fill up on water as well? It can’t be understated how important hydration is for your body and all its functions. When you drink plenty of water, your digestive system can work more effectively at processing what’s in your stomach and returning things to normal. 

Eating foods high in water, like fruits and vegetables, is also a great idea. Apples, melons, and berries are all ideal fruits to get started with. 

Intermittent fasting

Intermittent fasting is an increasingly popular way to help manage your body’s weight and metabolism. Essentially, intermittent fasting is about understanding that when you eat can be just as important as what you eat. In practice, intermittent fasting often involves eating most of your food during the day in a smaller window. 

This gives your body more time to operate in “high-metabolism” mode, and start digestion faster. This, naturally, also helps out if you’re suffering from bloating, as it will make your digestive tract work faster, and better process the food causing gas. 

Food to fight bloating

We touched on what foods cause bloating, the fatty and carb-heavy sort. But you can pull a reversal on bloating by eating foods great for fighting bloating. An excellent place to start are fruits high in potassium, such as bananas and avocados. High-water fruits like apples are also a great choice.

Potassium in foods like bananas, cantaloupe and apricots helps you manage sodium levels, which helps you manage hydration levels, which, as we learned, helps you manage bloating.

Certain spices are also really good at fighting bloating, turmeric and ginger being some of the best. 

Foods that have a lot of healthy bacteria are also excellent choices. Fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi, kombucha, miso, and tempeh and are becoming increasingly popular for their gut-healing properties.

chef v power salad

Get moving

We get it, if you’re all bloated, you’re probably not super interested in the health benefits of exercise. But getting up and moving about can help stubborn gas be moved through your system. And any kind of exercise that works out your stomach muscles will also improve your digestive process. 

This doesn’t need to be intensive exercise either. Just getting some stretching in can help you fight bloating, while also reducing the stress it causes you. Our recommendation is to give yoga a try. 

Trying out a blended liquid cleanse

As we mentioned before, getting any kind of hydration is great for dealing with bloating. And so is intermittent fasting, and healthy eating. But what if you could combine all of these strategies into one? 

Here’s where a detox juice cleanse comes in. The idea is that you restrict your diet down to low-carb foods filled with nutritious ingredients for a few days. Most notably, this includes a lot of green drink. This way, you can lose weight, while still keeping healthy. The best juice cleanses can last for quite a few days through the intake of detox soups and smoothies. (Make sure to check out our 21 day juice cleanse recipes for examples of what goes into one of these!) 

Beat the bloat with Chef V green juice

Of course, you don’t need a 21 day juice cleanse to beat the bloat. A small 3 day juice cleanse can do wonders for helping you reduce all that bloat, at any time. It can also help you manage your blood sugar and appetite, both great for weight loss! Chef V’s signature green drink is blended to ensure it loses none of that important nutrition. We also provide detox shakes and detox smoothies so you can cleanse in a safe and achievable way. Check out all our great cleanse products today, and fight back against the bloat. 

Beat the Bloat—Which Habits and Foods Cause Bloating?

Bloating and gas are never fun. We know, really dropping the controversial statements here. The fact that bloating sucks is an obvious one. What’s somewhat less obvious is what is causing bloating. Diet choices can be a significant factor in how much bloating and gas you put up with during the day. If you’ve suffered from bloating, we might be able to help you pinpoint the causes in this blog. 

What causes bloating? 

The sensation of bloating can be caused by a few factors, but the most common is simply the accumulation of gas inside the stomach. This is pretty straightforward. If you’re filling your stomach up with air like a balloon, you’re not going to be having a good time. You’re also more likely to be gassy since, well, that air is going to want a way out. There’s no real polite way to put it.

But why the excess gas in your stomach? Generally, your stomach does create some gas during the digestive process as food breaks down. But there are a few reasons why this gas might be getting out of control.

Overeating

Putting too much food in your stomach is probably one of the most surefire ways to end up feeling bloated. If you have to adjust your belt buckle after meals, you likely need to cut back.

Eating too fast

Eating too fast is a path that leads right into overeating. By slowing down, you can let your body signal you are getting full. Eating fast doesn’t just put too much air into your stomach;  it also means you’re swallowing a lot of air into your stomach, which then means gas. 

Carbonated beverages

If you’ve ever drunk a carbonated beverage too quickly, you know exactly what we’re talking about. There’s nothing inherently wrong about carbonation (you should be worrying way more about the sugar content of these drinks), but if you drink too many of these kinds of beverages or guzzle them quickly, you can expect gas.

Smoking

Yeah, here’s another reason smoking is bad for you. It turns out that sucking in air all the time can lead to excess gas in the stomach. But if you care at all about your health, you shouldn’t be smoking anyways. 

Food intolerances

So we’re finally mentioning food as part of the bloating process. This is going to be a somewhat special section. While we’ll discuss foods that could bloat, for many people, the foods that bloat them are linked to specific intolerances. 

The best-known example of this is lactose intolerance, wherein certain people get bloated from consuming dairy products. In this case, dietary changes unique to the individual are recommended. For example, going vegan might be a good option for those who can’t break down lactose.

Fatty foods

Alright, let’s get into the meat of this issue. For many of us, the main culprit in causing bloating is the fat content of food. Why does fat content matter? Well, fat is one of the slowest digesting portions of food. That means food high in fat will be in your stomach longer, producing more gas. 

Foods high in fiber for the fiber un-initiated 

Hold up, fiber is good, right? Fiber is absolutely essential to a healthy digestive system. However, for those who don’t get enough fiber, making the transition to higher-fiber foods can sometimes cause bloating as our digestive systems adjust. 

Certain sugars and carbs 

Various kinds of sugars and carbs are found in the foods we regularly consume. Many of these sugars and carbs end up fermenting when being broken down, creating a release of gas that causes bloating

Examples of foods that cause bloating  

Beans and lentils: These kinds of foods are generally healthy for you. Beans do have a reputation for causing gassiness that we should address. For some, this is because they are a good source of fiber. Other people have difficulty breaking down the sugars and carbs in beans. If you wash and soak your beans, you can reduce the severity of this issue. Also, the more you eat them, the more your body will adapt, causing less bloat over time.

Cruciferous vegetables: Think broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. These foods have much the same nutritional profile as beans—lots of fiber, but also lots of sugars and carbs that ferment in your gut. You can cook them instead of eating them raw, or swap for other greens, such as spinach and swiss chard.

Dairy products: Mainly a concern for the lactose intolerant, some people just have a hard time breaking down dairy products. Trying out some vegan alternatives could help alleviate the issues. 

Whole grains: Think barley and rye. Just like dairy products cause issues for those with lactose intolerance, whole grains can cause problems for those with gluten intolerance and celiac disease. These grains also can give many digestive systems not used to it a fiber overload. 

Fight bloating with Chef V

We’re talking mainly about foods that cause bloating. But there are plenty of foods that can do the opposite. Fruits and vegetables high in water, potassium, or antioxidants tend to be fantastic for gut health. Berries, apples, and bananas are all great for those with gut issues.  

Sometimes the key is in the spice. We get so many questions about if turmeric makes you fart. In truth, both turmeric and ginger are great for combating bloating. Even better, these are two spices found in our signature detox soups. 

In fact, Chef V has plenty to help with bloating. Our detox juice cleanse includes a green drink with plenty of bloat-fighting foods, such as apples and spinach. Unlike other liquid cleanses, we make sure to include plenty of fiber as well, to avoid a gut meltdown. 

If you want to learn more about our 21 day juice cleanse recipes, then check out all the information here, including facts on ingredients and nutrition

Shuteye for Weight Loss: The Link Between Sleep and Metabolism

Are you having difficulty with your health and weight-loss goals? Then sleep on it! No, really.  How and when you sleep can have significant effects on your overall health. In this blog, we’ll go over the surprising connections between sleep and metabolism, and how you can use sleep along with your juice cleanse detox for better digestive health.

A little background: In 2023, ChefV.com products were the focus of an independent clinical trial by Citrus Labs. The 38 participants who completed a 21 DAY DETOX and then continued on a GREEN DRINK plan for 7 days saw vast improvements in all areas of their life. This includes a 34% reduction in inflammation and an average weight loss of nearly 8 pounds, and a 44% improvement in sleep quality.  We take sleep seriously!

The choices of the sleep deprived

There’s a lot of neat science coming up, we promise. But before we get to that, it’s important to understand how being generally sleep deprived can affect your overall relationship with food and health habits.

Generally, there’s a much larger chance that the sleepy version of yourself is going to be the one making the bad decisions. If you’re exhausted from getting too few hours of sleep, you’re probably not going to be getting enough exercise.

The bad news doesn’t stop there, of course. When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain impulse control centers get dulled. Your brain simply knows it needs energy somehow, and you’ll start reaching for the sugary foods. Best case scenario is you develop a caffeine addiction by trying to treat your tiredness with coffee. 

Stressing out your gut bacteria 

One key aspect of how your digestion and metabolism work involves the bacteria found inside your gut. Keeping the good bacteria in your stomach and guts healthy is vital to help them break down the fiber in the food you eat. Not only does this keep you regular, but it also helps you better regulate your appetite and eating schedule.

When you don’t get enough sleep, you start releasing stress hormones. These stress hormones then proceed to mess with the functioning of your gut bacteria, preventing them from working correctly. This in turn can lead to intestinal distress, loss of appetite control, and weight gain. 

Timing, sleep, and metabolism 

As anyone who has ever seen intermittent fasting before and after pics, it’s clear that when you eat is nearly as important as what you eat. Your body is a more sophisticated machine than you give it credit for. It at least understands that when you’re sleeping, it should be burning fat, since you’re not going to be needing that for anything while you’re dozing, right? When you’re awake, your fat-burning rate slows down in case you need to expend energy during the day. 

This means that if you miss out on sleep, you are also missing out on prime-time fat burning. 

A lack of sleep can also mess with how your body reacts to insulin. If your body stops reacting to insulin, it stops properly processing sugar in the bloodstream, which is instead stored as fat. Long story short, if you cut back on sleep, you’re cutting back on one of the best times to lose weight. Even if you want to stay up all night waiting for your green drink delivery, the link between sleep and metabolism means it’s a better idea to get some shuteye. 

Get your best rest with Chef V

At Chef V, we can’t be there every night to steal your phone and force you to get some shuteye. What we can do is provide you the best in green drink delivery to promote better gut health, energy, and weight loss. With all the fruits and vegetables you need, we can help you feel refreshed in the morning, and relaxed enough

The Best Foods to Break Intermittent Fasting

The best weight-loss program is always the one that works best for you. So it’s great news that so many people have succeeded with their intermittent fasting programs. If you’re in the midst of an intermittent fast, or planning one, you have nothing but good vibes from us at Chef V. Plenty of customers have found great success with green juice intermittent fasting using Chef V green drinks. But with any organic cleanse, it’s essential to keep your eye not just on the finish line, but beyond it. 

You can’t just break an intermittent fast by getting right back into the hamburgers and donuts. Not only does that sabotage all your hard work from intermittent fasting, but it can potentially give you serious digestive issues as well. 

If you’re looking for the best foods to break intermittent fasting, then we’ve prepared a list, including some of our favorites here. Of course, remember that there’s also Chef V’s own great products as well. When it comes to the best smoothies to break intermittent fasting, you shouldn’t miss out on our own recipe included in our cleanse

Why finding the best foods to break intermittent fasting matters

We understand. You’re getting to the end of your intermittent fasting period. You’re starting to dream of big, juicy hamburgers, or giant buckets of ice cream. But there are a few things you need to consider.

Firstly, decide to undergo intermittent fasting not only to lose weight, but to control your eating habits better. By indulging in the foods you were trying to cut back on, you risk swinging the pendulum all the way into binge eating. 

But there are also more immediate reasons to be careful what you eat. The best foods to break intermittent fasting will be easy to digest, low on carbs, and low on sugar. Why does this matter? A major diet shift is going to cause some significant changes to your metabolism and digestive system. If you don’t find foods that meet those criteria, you’re likely to end up in serious digestive distress and with uncomfortable bloating. 

Our favorite examples of fast-breaking foods and beverages

Apple cider vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is a beverage that is finally getting the buzz it deserves. We’ve always enjoyed using it as an ingredient in healthy pick-me-ups. However, apple cider vinegar is great  on its own, cut with water to make it go down easier. Even two tablespoons is going to be amazing for your gut health.

Avocado

Ah, is there anything that avocado can’t do? Some people have argued that the fat content of an avocado disqualifies it from being a good food for breaking fast. However, most of these are healthy fats. When you add on all the antioxidants, vitamins, and potassium, and the low calorie count, avocados start to look like a great food to break fast with. 

Broccoli

Don’t forget cauliflower either! These veggies, when cooked, tend to be easy on the stomach and easy to digest. They’re also full of tons of vitamins and minerals, just like many of the darker, leafy greens, but more on them later. 

Fermented foods

This is a broad category of foods, everything from yogurt to kimchi to sauerkraut. The reason they’re on this list is that they contain a lot of good gut bacteria, as well as compounds that promote the growth of those good gut bacteria. This helps you stay gut healthy even as you start to eat to break your fast with solid foods. 

Nuts

Nuts pack a ton of nutrients into a small package, and are a great way to start boosting vitamin intake after a fast. Some nuts are also high in protein, which will be good for giving you energy. Don’t forget seeds either—chia seeds are popular for fast breaking too. 

Smoothies 

Smoothies give you all the hydration of a drink or juice, but with some extra fiber and nutritional value as well. There’s a reason so many people love smoothies for breakfast. You can put in all the fruits and vegetables you love to make your own smoothie recipes. We certainly recommend a lot of berries and bananas if possible. 

Soups 

Like smoothies, soups are a perfect balance between solid and liquid foods. This makes them an easily digestible and suitable transition from a juice cleanse or fast back into a more solid diet. There’s also a ton of great soup recipes out there for you to try; find one that works best for your taste and nutritional needs. Fill them up with plenty of healthy vegetables. Bone broth is also popular among many non-vegans for breaking fasts. 

Spinach

Spinach is a real hard hitter when it comes to nutrition in food. However, you can put any of the dark leafy greens in this position, including kale and swiss chard. Dark leafy greens are loaded with vitamins A, B2, B6, C, E, and K. They also include plenty of calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium. When it comes to the overall nutritional punch, the dark greens are hard to beat. They’ll also do wonders for your digestion, prevent constipation, and regulate blood sugar. If you cook them, they go down easily as well. 

Break your fast with Chef V

Chef V’s signature cleanse has everything you need to power through your intermittent fasting. Unlike other blended juice cleanses, Chef V provides detox soups and detox smoothies to give you everything nutritionally needed to meet your goals.

However, Chef V’s green drink is great on its own. Packed with vitamins and minerals, it’s a great companion to any fast-breaking food. Even at the end of your intermittent fasting, Chef V is there to back you up! 

Headaches and Other Negative Side Effects of Celery Juice

Chef V is often lauded by supporters as one of the best juice-cleansing products you can buy. Over the past few years, it’s exploded in popularity online as a potential “cure-all” for a variety of ailments. But is celery juice good for migraines and gut health like they say? Is a celery juice diet really going to make you lose weight and feel great? Since we take juice diets seriously, we consider it our duty to get you the celery information you never knew you needed.

What are the benefits of celery juice?

To understand what has people so excited about celery juice, it’s probably best to get right down to the basics. The nutritional basics, that is. According to the US Department of Agriculture,
1 cup of chopped celery includes the following: 

  • 40 mg calcium 
  • 14 calories
  • 2 grams fiber
  • 263 mg potassium 
  • 1 gram protein
  • 80 mg sodium
  • 453 IU of vitamin A
  • 3 mg of vitamin C  
  • 30 mcg of vitamin K 

For most of you, that’s just a bunch of numbers. So let's highlight a few standouts. Most notably, celery has a ton of vitamin K, an essential vitamin for helping us repair our body from injuries. Celery also has decent showing in calcium, potassium, and vitamin C. 

But, overall, celery’s nutritional profile could be best described as “inoffensive.” It’s not packed with any particular vitamin or mineral, but its calorie count is also pretty low. This isn’t to say it isn’t healthy. Celery is undoubtedly a super healthy vegetable, and with its low-calorie count, it’s great for a snack. 

If you were to turn celery into juice, it would be an equally inoffensive juice. In an age with so many sugar-laden drinks, we can respect that. Getting more veggies in your life is never a bad thing, whether it comes from celery stalks or drinking juice. Lots of fruit and vegetable juices, celery included, feature antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties. 

Problems with celery juice

What's the main negative side effect of celery juice? Well, it’s got one obvious and dangerous side effect. Hype. Celery juice isn’t magically going to make all of your serious ailments suddenly vanish, no matter what your favorite celebrity tells you. It’s just a juice made from a single vegetable and a fairly innocuous vegetable at that.  

Of course, plenty of people want to focus on that tantalizingly low-calorie count and assume celery drinks are great for juice diets and fasting. Trying to go for a juice fast based on celery juice isn’t a great idea. Firstly, the juicing process tends to strip most of the fiber out of celery juice. This can give you tons of digestive issues if you’re relying on celery juice alone for nutrition. 

There’s also the fact that the low nutritional profile of celery juice means it’s just not sustainable for something as long as a 7 day cleanse, let alone a longer 21 day cleanse. The lack of serious nutritional value can lead to the infamous “celery juice headaches” as your body goes without what it needs. 

Beyond the digestive concerns and celery juice headaches, there are also some adverse side effects of celery juice that are concerning for specific people. If you have a celery allergy, you should obviously stay away from large amounts of the stuff. However, people on blood thinner medication may also want to avoid too much celery due to the abundance of clot-promoting vitamin K.

The verdict

In the end, celery juice is just juice. That’s about it. In reasonable doses, you’re fine drinking it. The negative side effects of celery juice only start to kick in when you try to lean on it for a juice cleanse. If you want a juice cleanse that works, make sure to cleanse with Chef V. Our green drinks, detox soups, and detox smoothies have all the essentials to get you through even the legendary 21 day detox, no problem. 

Why Apple Juice is a Key Part of the Chef V Cleanse

An apple a day keeps the doctor away. This old saying has a lot of truth to it. When we were looking for an ingredient to help add that little bit of sweetness to the Chef V cleanse, we settled on putting a little bit of apple juice in our green drink. But the addition of apples wasn’t just to make our fresh juice taste even better. There are actually a ton of health benefits that come from apples. Here’s a few for you to chew over! 

Blood sugar control

Apples have a reputation of being a fruit that can help stave off diabetes. While this might be an overgeneralization, apples are definitely a great food for helping get blood sugar levels under control. The soluble fiber (more on that in a bit) in apples helps regulate the absorption of sugars into your bloodstream. This helps prevent issues with energy and cravings that come with spiking blood sugar levels. 

There may still be something to the idea that apples can prevent diabetes, however. Studies have linked high levels of soluble fiber with a reduction in the chance that your body starts to build up insulin immunity. So some green drink with apples certainly couldn’t hurt! 

Digestion

Apple is noted for containing a decent amount of fiber, both the soluble and insoluble types. The soluble kind of fiber will regulate the speed of your digestion and help you feel full, while the insoluble fiber helps your intestines keep that food moving along at a regular pace. 

You have to be careful with apples and fiber, though. A lot of store-bought, processed apple juice will just throw away all the good stuff. With an organic blended juice cleanse, you’re getting all the benefits to your digestive system. 

Heart health

Apples are full of antioxidants. There’s a reason you’ve probably heard of these; the health benefits of antioxidants are big news. While there’s some potential connection between antioxidants and cancer prevention, their anti-inflammatory properties can help your heart. Anti-inflammatories can help lower cholesterol and regulate blood pressure, both of which help lower the chance of serious heart complications. 

Immune booster

Not only do apples have plenty of antioxidants, but they contain a lot of vitamin C as well. Vitamin C does a lot in your body, but it most notably serves as an immune booster. Even a 7 day juice cleanse with some apples involved can go a long way toward fighting back against the sniffles and colds that come around this time of year. 

Weight loss

One of the major reasons people look for a juice detox diet is for helping prevent weight gain. The Chef V cleanse is no different, and apples are a key part of helping provide its weight loss benefits. The fiber and sweetness of apples help keep you feeling full, while the low calories of apples mean that you’re not gaining much weight. When it comes to appetite control, apples are some of the best choices out there. 

Get into drinking juice with Chef V

Whether apples or other fruits and veggies, we don’t often get enough of these kinds of foods in our diet. With Chef V, getting the good stuff like apples into your diet is easy. Our green drink comes packed with not just apple juice, but a nutrient-dense blend of leafy greens. It’s nutritious, delicious, and can be delivered right to your doorstep! 

New Year, New You: Why You Should Add Green Drinks to Your Diet

At Chef V, we love green juice, in case you couldn’t tell. But, as crazy as it might sound, some people are scared of the delicious green stuff. They mainly associated it with long-term juice cleanses. However, you don’t have to be a detox juice cleanse master to enjoy fresh juice, regardless of what’s in it. There are plenty of ways to work some of that green drink into your everyday routine. You might even want to give a juice detox diet a try!

Benefits of green drink

If you’re new around here (if so, welcome!) your first question might not be what the benefits of green drink are. Instead, you’re likely wondering just what green drink is. 

Well… it’s green, for starters. Really, “green drink” isn’t a scientific term. It’s simply used to refer to all kinds of beverages that use leafy greens as their main ingredient. Our own Chef V green drink, for example, includes green kale, black kale, collard greens, curly parsley, and green chard among its ingredients. 

These kinds of leafy greens are packed full of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin K, and iron. This means drinking juice filled with these greens is an excellent way to ensure you’re getting all the important nutrients you need. 

Beyond general nutritional goodness, there are a few more specific health benefits to green drinks. The leafy greens in these vegetable juices are great for fighting inflammation, reducing your risk of a whole host of health issues, including heart disease. 

These leafy greens are also great for helping you get your blood sugar under control, improving digestion, and helping you better control your weight. What’s not to love? 

Cleanses versus adding green drink to your diet

It’s important to note here that while green drinks are clearly a fantastic tool for healthy eating, you do have flexibility in how you use them. A lot of people associate green drinks with undertaking detox juice cleanses to lose weight. 

And yeah, green drinks are pretty great for this. The idea behind a juice cleanse is to cut down on the carbs and calories in your diet. Green drinks let you do this while ensuring you still get all the essential nutrients and minerals.

But don’t be afraid to just add some of the green stuff into your daily diet. It doesn’t need to be all about the juice fasts. The anti-inflammatory properties and benefits to your digestive system alone make adding in some leafy greens a worthwhile endeavor. 

Swapping for other drinks

If you don’t want to go for a whole detox juice cleanse, it can be a significantly healthy step to swap some of your other regular drinks for something fresh and green. Just switching out a caffeinated beverage every morning for a glass of green stuff can have a significant effect on your mood and energy. Or you can swap out those sugary drinks for a healthy option that’s got its own sweetness. If you’re going for the Chef V option, that includes apples

Chef V green drink delivery

If you’re interested in getting more fruits and vegetables into your diet, but are afraid of going for a full-on juice detox diet, we at Chef V have got you covered. Our green drink delivery brings the good stuff right to your doorstep. This ensures you’re getting only the freshest green drink, no processed foods or liquids anywhere near your juice. 

How to Rock Your New Year’s Fitness Resolutions with Chef V Green Drink

Ever made a New Year’s Resolution for fitness that you ended up bailing on quickly? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Chef V is happy to see people reach their health goals, whether it be making it to the end of our 21 day cleanse, or hitting the gym more often in the new year. Since we’re all about promoting better health and fitness, we decided to put together a quick list of tips to make your fitness goals stick in the near year. 

Don’t make idle resolutions

Sometimes, the best option is to not make a resolution. Yeah, we know that doesn’t sound like a super piece of advice. But you need to stop and think about these things. You need to first answer the big question, “Why?” Why are you making these fitness goals? 

“Because it’s New Years” isn’t a good enough answer. What is going to motivate you? Is it reaching a healthier weight? Feeling better? Getting more energy? Pick your reason, and it will provide the drive you need to succeed. 

Make concrete goals

“I’m going to be healthier” isn’t a goal. You want to get down into the fitness and health specifics. Are you going to walk every day after work? Are you going to hit the gym a few days a week? Are you going to try a juice diet once a month?

Note that in the example goals above, we also put a time frame on it. Time is a vital component of goal setting. Saying you’ll lose twenty pounds is meaningless without a time frame. No one is going to drop all that overnight. Also, make sure you’re setting reasonable goals. You’re not going to go from being a couch potato to scaling Everest in a year. 

Track goals

Keep good records of when you need to take action on your goals, and if you did so. This isn’t just for holding yourself accountable. Tracking your goals, and checking them off, is great motivation. It’s actual proof you’re getting stuff done!

Work together

Holding yourself accountable by tracking goals works for some people. For others, it can help to get a buddy. Doing a 21 day cleanse with someone else is a lot more fun than doing it on your own. Ditto for taking on long-term fitness goals. A workout buddy is great for giving you that extra reason to keep going.

Have fun! 

Okay, talking about accountability is starting to seem serious. But keeping your goals doesn’t have to be a drag. Try to find fun ways to meet your fitness goals. Take up a sport or activity you’ve always wanted to try. Make it a group event with friends, if possible. If you’re having fun, you won’t view your fitness goals as chores; you’ll turn them into habits. 

Get Chef V green drink

Sometimes, it seems like the energy to complete your resolutions is never going to come. Or maybe it  seems like amid all the processed food options out there, it’s hard to get the vitamins and minerals you need to power through your fitness goals.

We’d be there to spot every one of you in the gym if we could. But we can offer the next best thing—our signature Chef V green drink. It’s great to get you going in the morning, or just whenever you get thirsty. Packed full of leafy greens, it’s a detox juice that has everything you need to smash your fitness goals. 

Green Drink, Vitamin D Lamps, and Other Ways to Live Without the Sun

The sun gets a bad rap these days. As more and more people become aware of the dangers of skin cancer and other threats from sun exposure, we tend to view the sun more as a threat than anything else. And while it’s true that sunscreen is essential, the absence of sunlight can be just as serious a health risk as too much sunlight. Here, we’ll discuss just why sunlight is so essential, and how you can survive winter on a diminished supply. 

Importance of sunlight

Sunlight, while potentially harmful if you get too much of it, is what allows for all life on earth. That warmth and light is responsible for everything. For humans, it has particularly pertinent health benefits. These include some of the following.

Eye health: Too much sun exposure can damage your eyes, yes. But if you aren’t getting enough sunlight either, it can lead to complications with vision. This is especially important for children. 

Mood control: Sunlight is connected to serotonin levels, one of the chemicals that helps regulate mood. Not enough sun, and you can start to feel depressed and miserable. There’s a reason Seasonal Affective Disorder is a thing. 

Sleep control: Our bodies are amazingly complicated biological machines. We’re meant to be in tune with nature, and sunlight acts as a trigger or “reminder” to our bodies to keep in sync with the world. This means if we don’t get enough sunlight (especially in the morning), we can start to have issues with managing our sleep. Worse, a disrupted sleep schedule can affect our weight management

Vitamin D levels: You’ve probably heard before that sunlight is related to vitamin D. But what does this mean? Vitamin D is a hormone our body produces that allows us to absorb other essential minerals, such as calcium and phosphorus. (You can also get vitamin D in your food. More on that later.)

Sunlight on the skin helps promote our body’s natural production of vitamin D. You probably remember calcium is key to healthy bones. If you aren’t getting enough vitamin D production through sunlight, it can lead to brittle and damaged bones. There’s even an indication that other organs in your body need vitamin D to help stave off infection and inflammation. 

How to get vitamin D without the sun

Naturally, you want to get as much sunlight as possible, though with the proper protection from sunscreen and shades. But what do you do during the months when clouds cover the sun, or wind and snow keep you inside? 

One way is to get some artificial help. Vitamin D lamps are a great way to mimic natural sunlight, “tricking” your body into producing more vitamin D. As far as mood control goes, try to stick to a set sleep schedule, even if the light isn’t around. Spend time socializing with family and friends, and eat and exercise well. 

As we mentioned earlier, it’s also possible to get vitamin D from certain foods. As far as animal products go, fish tend to be the highest in this vitamin. Because of its importance, you’ll also often see beverages artificially fortified with vitamin D, such as milk and orange juice. But what about those who skew more organic or vegan?

The best veggies for vitamin D tend to be the darkest and leafiest green. Think of things like collard greens, kale, and spinach. And one of the best ways to get these into your diet is through Chef V’s green drink. Whether a 3 day juice cleanse, or our signature 21 day juice cleanse, our green drink has everything you need to stay healthy all year round. 

Green Drink to Coffee—Best Morning Drinks

Your day is often only as good as your morning. Start your day off kicking butt, and you’ll likely stay in that groove for the rest of the day. Of course, your morning also is only as good as your morning routine. And one of the most essential parts of the morning for many people is the “morning drink.” You know what this is—it's the beverage you always reach for after stumbling your way out of bed. It’s the drink that’s going to help wake you up and give you the energy to get going. 

But what drinks are best for giving you energy? What drinks are the healthiest? Are there any potential health dangers lurking in your choice of morning potage? We’ll review some of the most popular choices of morning drinks and provide all the basics. 

Water

This list is intended to be alphabetical, but we’re going to break that pattern for an emergency broadcast reminder about water. In short, it’s incredibly important to stay hydrated throughout the day. Water is perhaps your best weapon in the battle to remain constantly hydrated. And it's never a bad idea to start your day by drinking plenty of water. By remaining well hydrated, you’ll keep your energy levels up, stave off illnesses and even better manage your weight

Flavored water

Water too plain for you? Then it’s good to note that flavored waters are increasingly popular as morning drinks. You might not think that just adding fruit or spice to water can do much to change their nutrition profile. However, you can get a nice little morning boost, depending on what you add. 

For example, lemon juice is excellent for helping manage your weight and blood sugar levels. Other popular flavor additions for water include mint, cucumber, and spices, such as ginger (more on some of those later.) These all help you stay hydrated, while adding some crucial nutrients to your diet. There’s not too much more to add here—we’re never going to recommend you stop drinking plenty of water! 

Apple cider vinegar

You can’t get more classic than water. So let’s hop next to something a little off the beaten path. Apple cider vinegar has become an increasingly popular beverage due to being high in plenty of healthful substances, such as proteins, enzymes, and good bacteria. 

Most people get apple cider vinegar in their diet by incorporating it into their cooking and dishes. There are some, however, who have even started drinking the stuff straight in the morning to aid them in weight-loss goals, reduction of cholesterol, or getting control of their blood sugar levels. 

So is this a good morning drink? Sure, but only in moderation. Really, apple cider vinegar is more of an accompaniment to your morning routine, rather than what you should base that entire routine around. While it’s excellent for fighting things like inflammation, it’s still vinegar. If you go chugging a bottle a day, you’ll likely end up with intestinal distress. Keep it moderate or, better yet, incorporate it into recipes

Coconut water

Delicious, nutritious, and hydrating in the extreme. What’s not to love about coconut water? It has fiber for your gut, potassium to fight inflammation, calcium for your bones, and electrolytes to help it work as nature’s very own Gatorade

Of course, most coconut water will have some calories and sugar in it, so it’s not a one-to-one replacement for water. But a glass of coconut water can make an excellent morning drink. On an empty stomach, its immune-boosting properties can get working right away, leaving you ready for the worst the day can throw at you. 

Coffee 

Ahh, coffee. For many Americans, there’s absolutely no way  they could get the day started without their morning brew. But just because it’s traditional for many, is coffee really the best choice out there? Is coffee good for detox and otherwise boosting your health? 

Well, there are some coffee benefits. Plenty of people do get a significant energy boost from caffeine, after all. Coffee beans contain antioxidants, and caffeine has been linked to boosting morning workouts.

But there are plenty of other things to watch out for when it comes to coffee. As you’ve probably noticed, keeping hydrated is one of the most essential parts of a morning routine. Coffee tends to dehydrate rather than rehydrate, which is especially bad considering you’re often dehydrated when you wake up in the morning. 

Coffee energy isn’t sustainable either, and you’re likely to end up with crashes throughout the day. And as for the question “is coffee good for detox,” could it really make the cut when coffee beans are some of the most pesticide-sprayed crops on the planet? 

Energy drinks

Take all the energy-regulation issues with coffee, and add on a ton of extra sugar, and that’s pretty much where you end up with most energy drinks. We don’t want to tar the entire industry with the same brush, but we also don’t want to spend too much time on the topic. You might get really hopped up in the morning, but you’ll be crashing by noon.

Fruit juice

There’s a wide world of fruit and vegetable juices out there, but we’re definitely getting closer to some of the better options for morning drinks here. Something fresh and full of vitamin C is going to help give you the immunity boost to get you started. If you need help deciding what the healthiest juice to detox and energize with, we’ve touched on the topic before

Tea

Sometimes on those colder days, you really just want something to warm up with. Tea is an excellent way to start those chilly mornings. As with fruit juice, how good tea works as a morning drink really depends on what is going into it. Anything with ginger or lemon is going to be a real winner, plus green and black teas. If you’re interested in juice to detox, you should check out our information on detox teas as well. 

Green drink

Whether you want a new morning drink, or are looking for a 3 day cleanse weight loss program (or more) Chef V has you covered. Our green drink has all the vitamins and minerals and energy boosters you need to have an amazing day, start to finish. If you’re dependent on caffeine and want to break away from the iced coffees in the morning, then we have the perfect option for you!

Green Drink and Other Vegan Cold Busters

The cold seasons are also cold seasons, the time when the flu, colds, and other bugs spread around. And the things you eat and drink determine the recovery to your old, healthy self.

Are you just as bored by the sight of hot drinks or a healthy vegetable soup when down with a cold? We don’t blame you when you’re already struggling to cheer yourself up with a weak body. 

And with many enticing supplements on the market promising easy recovery, it can become difficult to motivate oneself to have healthy food. While these over-the-counter drugs may get you quick relief from a cold, your immune system works overtime during winter. This calls for boosters like green drinks to keep you energized and protected against infections. In this blog, we’ll cover some vegan foods and drinks that are great cold busters. 

Magical immune boosters

When it comes to prepping your immune system against a common cold or flu, go for immune boosters packed with nutrients. They’re not just good to soothe the effects of colds but also improve your strength to fight against chronic diseases.

Are you wondering if a diet free from animal products can improve your strength? Undoubtedly, healthy vegan options can be your last resort when that annoyingly persistent cold is testing your patience. Scroll down to explore a platter of vegan recipe ideas. We bet they’ll make their way to that sick day’s care package you just can’t do without.

Go for citrus fruits

People who turn to vitamin C at the first signs of trouble get an early head start in fighting off the flu. Vitamin C helps the body by increasing the production of white blood cells, which further fights the infection thriving in your body. Include citrus fruits, such as grapefruits, lemons, and oranges in your diet. Try Chef V recommended Lemon Ginger detox to break the monotony of a conventional sick-care routine and fuel your immune strength.

Don’t miss broccoli

Do you know one cup of broccoli has more vitamin C than an orange? This antioxidant star is packed with all the fiber, vitamins, and minerals you need to revive your body. If you’re looking for a sweet spot between enjoying cravings and maintaining your health, our warm and comforting creamy broccoli soup is a must-try for your sick taste buds. It serves as a light meal without taxing the body.

Turmeric can do wonders

Golden Milk is a magical version of milk that keeps diseases at bay, thanks to many antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties of turmeric that safeguard us from infections. And the best part is it’s really easy to make at home. Check out Chef V’s cleanse-friendly golden milk recipe.

Refuel with coconut water

As we enter the winter season, one of the most common tips we hear is to drink hot drinks to keep warm. When you’re feeling under the weather, you might prefer a cold beverage. Some cold drinks can do wonders too. 

When you’re low on energy with sniffles and body aches, you need to restore your electrolytes. And coconut water can bring that hydration. It also has a little amount of fruit-derived natural sugar, which your body can absorb as a quick and simple source of energy.

Try Chef V’s magical green drink

It’s better to prepare our bodies at the start of winter when the holiday season is right here. Enjoy holiday treats, but say goodbye to artificial flavorings. Don’t miss the seasonal goodness of organic drinks. Add Chef V’s Green Drink Plan to your diet regime today. Its immunity-boosting ingredients should help you navigate sickness like a pro. 

Our famous green drink, juice for detox, and soups are made with seven certified organic leafy greens and delivered to your door fresh weekly. Build your plan today and get started with your green juice detox.

Getting Studying Done On a Detox Juice Cleanse

Juice cleanses are a great way to lose weight and detoxbut for newbies, they can be somewhat overwhelming. It may get a little tough to focus for many people trying to study, because of a few 7-day cleanse side effects. This blog gives some tips for keeping your focus up during a cleanse. 

According to one of the latest reports, 17 percent of those using juice cleansers notice improvements in their emotions, 23 percent experience improved digestive health, and 26 percent tend to lose the desired weight. Despite these promising results, it may take quite a bit to convince yourself to choose a detox journey with all the lip-smacking, eye-grabbing food options out there.

 If you’ve taken the most difficult step of adopting a detox juice cleanse, we only want to make it smoother for you from here on by helping you with some of the tips to manage detox and celery juice side effects and retain your concentration levels.

Things a juice cleanse does to your body

A juice cleanse is a “detox” dietyou’re committing to consuming only fruit and vegetable juices. While the primary benefit of juice cleansing is presumed to be weight loss, that’s just a fraction of the great work green juices do for you. They improve your digestive health and promote the growth of healthy microbiota. They also tighten your tummy bloated by inflammatory foods, such as  gluten, dairy, and alcohol. With your calorie intake reduced, your body doesn’t have to exert the usual amounts to break down food, giving your gut some rest.

A detox plan is a great way to improve your mental health as well. With your meals planned beforehand, a break from meal planning, shopping, and cooking significantly improves your mood and relaxes your brain. Juice cleansing also leads to improved quality of sleep in the absence of toxins, caffeine, and other food items that make it difficult to get good quality rest. 

Amidst all these positive developments during your detox, what remains equally true is that sometimes fasting sucks. You may experience sluggishness, weakness, and light-headedness. With a drop in your calorie intake, both your brain and muscles may want to slow down, leading to celery juice headaches. With emotions like temporary sadness and confusion, you may even struggle to focus on your studies and other important tasks.

Tips for focusing during a juice cleanse

You may experience some challenges along the way of your detox diet, but we’ve got you covered with simple, actionable strategies to boost your stamina and emotional strength. These tactics will help you maintain focus levels during r studies and manage your body and mind better.

1. Give your body a heads-up

While the urge to grab those delicious snacks is natural and understandable before you bid them goodbye for a while, introducing drastic changes in a day won’t be kind to your body. Give your body a transition period of at least three to five days before beginning a detox juice cleanse. Slowly cut out dairy, alcohol, heavy food, and gluten, and replace them with healthier options to stock up some extra energy for later.

  1. Organize and prioritize

Plan your detox juice cleanse at a time when you’re not flooded with a heavy study checklist. Stressing yourself with a lot of rigorous study schedules will only make your diet routine tougher. If you want to stay committed to your cleanse as well as your studies, sync stress-free study days with your juice detox plan to strike a balance.

  1. Do it together

Make this experience more fun and memorable by getting friends onboard. You can help each other stay sane on the days that challenge you too much. This way, you will keep your energy levels up, and navigate through your detox journey with much more enthusiasm.

  1. Stock up on herbal teas

With your belly filled with just juices, hunger is going to knock on your doors often. This is inevitable thanks to a lowered calorie intake, but you can get through it. Explore warm and soothing drinks such as herbal teas to improve your digestive health.

  1. Drink plenty of water

With only juices in your body, we know you’re taking trips to the washroom often. Don’t limit your water intake in response. Hydration is key to keeping your energy levels high throughout the day. It will help you fight sluggishness and keep you focused and active. 

  1. Mind over matter

The way you think of this journey can overpower the side effects. Changing the narrative from “fasting sucks” to “fasting cleanses” can flip things up for the better. Approach it with positivity and enthusiasm and avoid negative self-talk. A positive approach will clear your head and help you focus on your studies better.

Get Chef V’s cleanse package for best results 

Planning a detox journey by yourself can be tricky, and we hear you. Chef V does all the homework and works with nutritional therapists to craft the perfect detox plan for you. Bid prep work goodbye, and say hello to easy-to-follow instructions to enjoy your juices for the best results. 

Our intricately curated, fiber-packed juices are free of green powders, pills, or other gimmicks. Only the best and fresh gets delivered to your doorstep. 

With all these tips and Chef V’s cleanse, you’re all set to achieve your health goals and ace those study goals simultaneously. Go ahead and prep up your mind and body for a refreshing detox experience. Build your cleanse plan today. We’re rooting for you all the way! 

Chef V’s Everyday Ways to Be More Sustainable

Chef V has always been a big fan of sustainability. However, you don’t necessarily need to make huge changes in your life to be socially responsible. You can adopt some simple, everyday ways and go vegan and organic. This blog will cover the essence of sustainability, and how you can achieve the same with some basic lifestyle changes and a little more consideration for Mother Earth. 

What does sustainability mean? 

The term sustainability has become way more important today than it ever was. Around 51 percent of people take it more seriously today than they did last year. In fact, 49 percent of consumers say they’ve paid a premium—an average of 59 percent more—for products branded as sustainable or socially responsible in the last twelve months. 

Sustainable living means being aware of the impact our actions have on the environment around us and finding ways to carefully use the resources  we have today. It’s about preserving, reserving, and bettering for tomorrow. 

Easy ways to be more sustainable

Are you looking to get started with being more socially accountable? Let’s look at some easy, everyday ways to be more sustainable and how you embark on the path of sustainable eating and drinking. These tips are doable as they won’t ask you to change your life drastically or go out of the way to fulfill them.

Drink tap water

Drinking tap water instead of bottled water is probably one of the simplest ways to have a more sustainable lifestyle. Right from processing the plastic, filling the bottles with water, and transporting them, bottled water manufacturing uses a lot of energy. Regular tap water is an immune booster in itself and hence an inevitable element of healthy living.


Consume meat consciously

Raising farm animals requires large amounts of land and water, and causes water, soil, and air pollution. And factory-farmed animal protein has a  high carbon footprint. To minimize the environmental impact, you can try plant-based products and minimize meat consumption as much as possible.

Check seafood sources

Make it a habit to check the source of your seafood. For minimal ocean pollution, your seafood must be sourced from sustainable sources only, i.e., a certified sustainable fishery or certified responsible farm that abides by ocean-friendly practices. 


Go for homemade food

Eating homemade is better than at most restaurants because you save money and can eat organic food. Cooking at home allows you to verify the sources and quality of ingredients. Avoiding restaurant-made food also minimizes waste generated during packaging and delivery. And commercial kitchens typically use more energy than a home kitchen.


Grow or cook local

Starting a little farm at your own place is easier than you may think. Make a home gardening project as your side hobby and enjoy locally grown organic foods. If you can’t have a home farm, consider shopping from local farmer’s markets.

Reuse accessories

Keep an eye out for items you can reuse and optimize kitchen materials for minimum waste. Something as simple as using  reusable straws over plastic ones can be a contribution toward sustainability.  So, you see, sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated. Nor does it have to be big, elaborate, or intimidating.

Sustainable food options to explore

From the resources we consume to the food we eat, there are several ways we can explore being more ecological. Here’s a list of a few super sustainable food options to consider starting your journey toward healthy and environment-friendly eating habits.

This recipe is as vegan as it gets. With healthy ingredients like carrots, onions, and nut milk, this soup is an appetizer you can’t miss. Try this recipe and kick-start your sustainable eating habits today.

This recipe can be your go-to snack while watching football, as an hors d’oeuvre at a party, or with a glass of wine on the deck while the sun goes down. This flavorful dip is easy, gluten-free, and keto.

This recipe is packed with loads of healthy vegetables. The pumpkin, carrots, and quinoa complement each other’s flavors well. It’s made with mellow spices for a flavorful and healthy meal. 

TryChef V’s juice cleanse diet and green drinks

Made with certified seven leafy greens, Chef V’s drinks are the best sustainable partners you can find on your journey to eating and drinking right. Made with organic ingredients, all  Chef V drinks can become your tools for both a sustainability-conscious  lifestyle and a healthier body. Make sure to give our drinks a try, and fall in love with our green drinks and your new sustainable lifestyle.

With our juice cleanse diet, you’ll get juices and smoothies packed with local, organic ingredients that flush your vital organs and leave you satisfied. We bet you don’t want to miss the juice cleanse benefits. You can build and customize the plan as per your needs. Get in touch today to learn more!

Hormones and Detox Juice

Nutrition and health aren’t simple things. If it was a simple process, then there wouldn’t be a need for things like 21 day juice cleanses! Your body is an incredibly complicated machine, with countless chemical processes happening at every moment. You need to take into account terms like nutrients, vitamins, minerals and more. One key component of health that’s often not understood is hormones. However, hormones can have a significant impact on your overall health and well-being. In this blog, we’ll explain what hormones are, and how your diet can affect them, for better or worse. 

What are hormones? 

Hormones are a big topic, so we’re going to condense this down as much as possible so we can get talking about things like the best juice cleanse for weight loss. Hormones are chemicals inside your body that have the specific job of acting as messengers. Hormones are distributed through your bloodstream and trigger reactions and changes in your cells. These changes tend to be things in your body that vary depending on your age and the situation—things like your metabolism, growth, sex drive, and mood. 

What’s unique about hormones is how different they are between the genders. Both genders produce hormones in places called glands. You’ve probably heard of things like the pineal gland or thyroid gland. However, men and women also produce unique hormones in their respective reproductive glands. 

You can kind of think of hormones as your body’s own little supply of drugs, made directly on-site. And like drugs, while they can be incredibly useful for you, they can also cause havoc in the wrong amounts. Imbalanced hormones can have especially chaotic effects in women. Potential symptoms include things like diabetes, irregular menstruation, infertility, skin conditions and difficulty in managing weight. 

How does diet affect hormones?

When we think of the chemistry of losing weight and staying healthy, we tend to worry about things such as fat, carbs, and our blood sugar levels. However, your diet can have just as much effect on your hormones as any other part of your body. Hormones are the messengers of your body. Those messengers can easily get confused or imbalanced by food that is processed or overly high in fat or sugars. 

However, there are a lot of positive diet changes you can make that can help bring your hormones back to balanced levels. The most important of these is also one of the simplest—just get enough water! Whether you’re drinking straight H2O, or getting it in your detox juice, it’s essential you always stay hydrated.

The number two diet and hormone rule is to get tons of fruits and vegetables, especially the leafy green stuff. However, get organic products, to avoid taking in chemicals that could affect your hormone levels. 

You also want to get plenty of proteins, regardless of the source. There are plenty of great sources of plant-based proteins out there, from those dark leafy greens we mentioned, to certain nuts and grains. Healthy fats (the kind you’d get from avocado, for example) are also key ingredients in helping manage hormone levels.

Hormones and juice cleanses

The best way to get hormones under control is to get plenty of hydration while getting as many essential fruits and veggies as possible. It’s no wonder many women have found a 21 day juice cleanse is one of the most effective hormone managers out there. Green juice keeps you hydrated and gives you all the nutrients your body needs to manage hormone production. This, in turn, helps you get a handle on everything from skin cleanliness to weight loss.

Of course, not all detox cleanses are created equal. With Chef V, you can get a juice cleanse that includes protein shakes and detox soups, which ensures you aren’t losing out on other important nutrients like protein. This means it’s a juice cleanse you can actually hope to finish, and so get real results for your hormone control or weight loss goals. Just check out some of our great success stories

 

Protein-Power: What’s the Function of Proteins?

It’d be impossible to navigate the internet in this day and age and not hear someone trying to talk to you about protein. Heck, we’re guilty as charged at Chef V, with plenty of articles about topics like what is pea protein good for

There’s a good reason for this—protein is one of the fundamental building blocks to good nutrition. Despite being so important, your average customer probably doesn’t know what it is, or that they should care about things like protein shakes. No matter if you’re a nutrition junkie, or just looking for a juice cleanse near you, here’s your basic guide to protein.

Okay, so what’s protein?

We’re not chemists or biologists, and we don’t expect you to be either. So we’ll try to cover the basics here. At the same time, it’s important to note that protein is a bit more complex and essential than just “something in your meat.”

First things first, there’s no singular thing called a protein. Rather it’s a class of types of molecules found inside your body. Proteins are made up of chemicals called amino acids. (For the few people interested in chemistry here, amino acids are themselves made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. Yep, you don’t get any more basic than this). Proteins themselves are the building blocks of much of your body, particularly your muscles. 

From the nutritionist’s point of view, proteins are considered a macronutrient. This means that along with fat and carbohydrates, they’re one of the kinds of nutrients humans need in relatively large amounts. 

What is the function of proteins? 

What do proteins do? It’d be easier to ask what they can’t do! Proteins combine the role of both a key building block of your body, as well as a key component of your body’s daily operations. Essentially, proteins help your body create new cells, and move them around your body to where they’re most needed in your body. In particular, you need protein to build and maintain your muscles. 

This is only scratching the surface. Proteins also help you produce hormones, which are worth a discussion entirely on their own. Having enough protein is also key to making sure that you have enough antibodies to stave off disease.

From a diet perspective, it’s important to note that proteins are often what help you feel full after a meal. This means that if you’re getting enough protein, you can better manage your appetite and cut back on cravings. 

How to get more protein in your diet 

We tend to associate protein mainly with meat products. However, that’s not the only place you can get protein in your diet. In fact, there are plenty of plant-based proteins out there, especially in nuts and the really dark leafy greens. Recently, there has been a growing  interest in protein that comes in powdered form so it can be mixed in with other products, often drinks.

You’ll often hear about the term “complete proteins.” What this is referring to is that fact we dropped earlier, that proteins are themselves made up of different amino acids. You do need all of these amino acids for the best health. A complete protein would be one that contains all the amino acids. 

There are a few misconceptions about complete proteins. The first is that if you aren’t eating complete proteins, you need to try and “match” proteins to eat together to get all your amino acids at the same time. Trust us, it’s not that complicated. Just treat your amino acids like any other important nutrient and mix them up in your diet. 

Another common misconception is that complete proteins are only found in animal products. There are quite a few plant-based complete proteins, such as quinoa and soybeans. 

You know what also has complete protein in it? Our signature detox shakes! We achieve this through the use of pea protein. This means that our juice cleanses deliver a comprehensive package in nutrition. Try them with confidence.

Making the Most of Juice Detox Diet Leftovers — Fun Pulp Recipes

If you’re into a juice cleanse diet, it’s very likely you make your own juice and probably end up with a ton of leftover pulp. There is a lot of goodness in the pulp, including most of the fiber. If you’re just throwing your pulp out, hold up — there are a lot of fun recipes you can make with it!

In this post, we’ll cover how to reuse juice leftover into good use with clever hacks, and you’ll never need to throw the pulp ever again.

Fun recipes with pulp

With a juice detox diet, you may be finding yourself with a lot of leftover fruit and vegetable pulp that you’re not quite sure what to do with. Here are some creative ways to recycle your leftover juice pulp.

Give your smoothies a kick of fiber 

Do you like having fun and experimenting with different ingredients while making smoothies? Add some fruit pulp to the blender when making your next breakfast smoothie. This will be a great way to add consistency, not to mention extra nutrients. It will also add plenty of fiber, so you’ll feel fuller for longer.

Go for a healthy and fuller veggie broth

If you’re left with vegetable pulp, including celery, carrots, onion, or garlic, you can easily transform it into a flavorful vegetable broth. Cook the pulp in a large pot with some olive oil and add a few cups of water, salt, pepper, herbs, and your favorite spices. You can enjoy this homemade broth on its own. Or even use it for any of your favorite soups and stews. We’d recommend adding your veggie broth to Chef V’s recipe of Creamy Carrot Soup and enjoy the magical version.

Make your baked goods with a healthy twist

Wondering what to do with pulp from carrots, apples, melons, or beets after you’ve made a healthy glass of juice? Spoil yourself with some baking! Try adding these leftovers while baking bread, cookies, muffins, or cakes for a burst of fruity flavor and some added texture. And enjoy a perfect nutrient-filled sweet treat. 

Try green eggs and pancakes with pulp coloring 

If you want to woo people with colorful yet yummy pancakes or eggs for breakfast, use these Chef V recommended alternatives to food coloring:

  • red coloring extracted from beet juice pulp
  • purple coloring extracted from juice pulp of the red cabbage
  • lighter purple coloring extracted from blueberries pulp
  • green coloring extracted from spinach or Chef V Green Drink

Make healthy variant popsicles

Do you have a sweet tooth and want tasty yet healthy popsicles? Are you wondering what to do with your remaining fruit juice? Pour your juice into popsicle molds or ice trays and sprinkle in some of the pulp. Freeze and enjoy! We bet you would love Chef V’s frozen Red White and Blue Popsicle treats by adding pulp of blueberries and raspberries.

Add a slew of nutrients to patties or fritters

Pulp from juicing beet, spinach, carrots, sweet potatoes, and beets can be used as fillers and make your own delicious vegetarian burger patties or fritters. These pulps add an earthy flavor and help the burgers keep their shape. 

Keep healthy and vegan with Chef V

Are you into a juice detox diet but not ready to put in the time and effort of at-home juicing and reusing the leftover pulp? We heard that call and answered it with our Chef V cleanse package. With our juice cleanse diet, you’ll get juices and smoothies packed with local, organic ingredients that flush your vital organs and leave you satisfied. We take care of the pulps in the most creative and recycle-friendly ways. 

And what could be more convenient than having organic juice cleanse delivered fresh right to your door?  You can build and customize the plan as per your needs. Get in touch today to learn more!

Green Drink and Other Beverages to Beat Cold Season

Winter is around the corner, and you may be gearing up for the festive season. This is often a time when many of us indulge in winter outings and savor foods such as sweets and fried dishes that may lower our body’s natural defense system. With winter comes not just the cold, but colds as well. If you want to avoid the sniffles, sneezes, and coughs, here are some ideas for cold and hot beverages that you can sip, with a nutritious and low-calorie twist.

Reset your immunity with magical ingredients

When it comes to prepping your immunity against a common cold or flu, there are a few magical ingredients and immunity-boosting nutrients that can do wonders and help you recover faster.

Ginger, with its antibacterial properties, stimulates the immune system and helps protect against cold viruses. The spicy, pungent herb is one of the best cold relief spices with anti-inflammatory properties. It soothes your throat ache and speeds up recovery time. Ginger can be a great addition to teas, soups, and recipes. Garlic is also effective protection against colds due to its powerful anti-viral and anti-catarrhal properties. 

Higher vitamin D intake during winter is associated with a lower risk of getting colds. With a daily serving of eggs — in food recipes or eggnog — you’re less likely to catch a cold or any other upper respiratory tract infection.

Vitamin C is also a good option to consume when you’re feeling under the weather. It can help lower the duration and severity of a cold. It’s found naturally in oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits, but broccoli, kiwi, and red bell peppers have even more vitamin C. Did you know that tomatoes too are a great vitamin-C-rich food and are a proven fuel for your body’s immune system?

Beat colds with these hot drinks 

With the cold days ahead, you crave all things warm and nourishing. If you’re looking for flavorful and healthy drinks that’ll put you under a magically warm spell, we’ve got you covered. Here are Chef V’s recommendations to help you tune-up your immune system to tip-top shape for the flu and cold season.

Water, water, and more water!

Don’t panic if you get a runny nose or an itchy throat and rush to the pharmacy for OTC medicines. You’ll be back on track in no time if you rest and hydrate properly. And this tip should be no surprise to anyone — try drinking at least the recommended eight glasses of water a day. Water on its own is good enough, but for a touch of flavor, add a dash of fresh-squeezed lemon juice, ginger, or honey (or all three) for a tasty way to double up on immune support.

Get cozy with detox soups

Soups can be the most soothing for flu season! With nutrient-rich veggies and ingredients, they can serve as a light meal without taxing the body. Here’s a list of warm and comforting Chef V detox soups that put their feel-good magic to work when you sip on and cozy up with your loved ones:

Sip on chicken bone broth

Sipping on super beverage bone broth can be a relaxing evening snack or a light morning breakfast. It’s a flavorful, collagen-rich drink packed with a whole host of nutrients that help you heal and loosen congestion in your chest and nasal passages. Turmeric, cinnamon, and a dash of fresh ginger and garlic can be added that’ll help speed up your metabolism. 

Go for golden milk

We realize the thought of eating or drinking nearly anything can be off-putting when unwell, but that’s where simple, soothing drinks come into play. Golden milk is a health elixir that helps you get back on your feet during a bout with the flu. And the great part is, it’s really easy to make! 

All you need are some readily available basic ingredients: turmeric, milk, cardamon, cinnamon, and ground ginger. Some nutritionists recommend adding a dash of black pepper as well to increase the bioavailability of turmeric. The drink will warm the hearts of your family and friends, and keep everyone healthy. Homemade and delicious, how can it not? Check out Chef V’s cleanse-friendly golden milk recipe.

Some cold drinks can do wonders

Winter is soon here, and the most common tip you usually get for staying warm is sipping hot beverages throughout the day. If you feel more inclined to drink something cold while under the weather, that’s OK too.

Drink your greens 

Enjoy some holiday treats, but say goodbye to artificial flavorings. Don’t miss the seasonal goodness of organic drinks. Make a refreshing blended juice with green veggies, such as kale, chard, curly parsley, and dandelion greens. Elevate the richness of your blended juice by adding chia seeds, jalapeno, nutmeg, or cinnamon. Check out Chef V’s famous Green Drink made with seven certified organic leafy greens delivered fresh to your door.

Try eggnog 

What better way to kickstart the holidays than with some rich, comforting eggnog. The merriest drink is made with eggs, cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla bean (the real deal). Spread holiday cheer with Chef V’s vegan version of this traditional favorite.

What not to drink 

While choosing the right drink can help you feel better during flu season, avoid these drinks (or at least limit their consumption) to maintain a healthy and strong immune system in winter:

  • Artificial juices and carbonated beverages with high sugar content
  • Dairy products, such as milk and buttermilk 
  • Milkshakes and smoothies as they can be mucus-generating
  • Drinks such as coffee, energy drinks, and sports drinks that contain caffeine

If you’re short on time or hate the cleanup involved in cooking, try our Green Drink Plan. We’ll ship you the freshest, most nutrient-dense Chef V detox soups and green drinks for a strong immune system and revitalizing cleanse. 

All of our products are made from fresh, organic ingredients and have been praised for their great flavors. Make the greatest investment in your health for as little as six dollars per day! So, don’t wait and build your plan now.

Vegan Halloween Candy to Enjoy With Your Green Drink

Is everyone ready for a real scare? Because the holiday season is about to get started in North America. This means that any health-conscious reader, or just those looking to lose weight, is going to be met with a host of delicious temptations between here and the new year. 

For those vegan readers out there, this time of year presents an entirely different issue from the threat of an expanding waistline. Even if they did want to perhaps indulge once in a while, the staples of this time of year rarely are vegan-friendly. 

This is most apparent at Halloween, where a good deal of candy includes dairy-based chocolate. And the stuff that doesn’t is so full of preservatives and additives that anyone who knows even the slightest bit about nutrition is going to want to scream and head for the exit.

However, there’s no reason the chillier autumn and winter months need to leave you out in the cold. We’ve discussed some general ideas on how to handle Halloween while staying healthy. We’ve also given some great ideas for Halloween-themed treats. But we know some of you have a sweet tooth and won’t be happy until you get some real Halloween candy. 

With that in mind, we’ve put together some tasty vegan Halloween candy ideas. While they might not all be great foods to eat while juicing, they’re a delightful way to celebrate the end of your juice cleanse diet, or simply to enjoy with your green drink as an autumn treat. 

Thankfully, DIY vegan Halloween candy isn’t as complex as it sounds. With a little bit of creativity, you can ditch the processed foods in autumn, so you don’t end up ruining all the hard work from your juice-cleanse diet. We’ll treat you to a few examples of vegan alternatives to some of your favorites.

Vegan Halloween Candy Ideas

“Almond Joy”

Health nuts often go nuts for nuts. So it’s no surprise we’re going to be starting this list with a little almond-y joy. It seems a shame to take a nut as jam-packed with good stuff and then cover it up with all sorts of high sugar, processed chocolate. 

Thankfully, since the concept behind the Almond Joy is fairly simple, it’s not hard to whip up vegan versions at home. All it takes is some almonds (naturally), organic shredded coconut, and vegan chocolate, and you’re good to go! You can find plenty of great example recipes online.  

Candy corn

For many, candy corn is inextricably linked with the “feeling” of the autumn season. However, it’s not a candy often seen after Halloween. There’s no reason to let a good classic languish, so take it upon yourself to resurrect it. Of course, in the interest of vegan Halloween candy, you’ll want to make sure you’re making a vegan-friendly version. Plenty of recipes for candy corn don’t require too much in the way of complex ingredients either. 

Coconut balls

We touched on coconuts when talking about Almond Joy. But it’s also worth pointing out how flexible and versatile an ingredient shredded coconut can be when it comes to whipping up some tasty vegan Halloween candy. As long as you can get your hands on some organic shredded coconut and dark chocolate, you can go nuts with your own vegan candy ideas or take inspiration from the many recipes online

Peanut Butter Cup 

Is there a more classic junk food combination than peanut butter and chocolate? Peanut Butter Cups have long been a guilty pleasure for many of us. There’s a reason, then, that you’ll see plenty of low-sugar or vegan alternative versions of this snack in grocery stores. However, don’t think you need to spend a lot of money buying premium versions. You can easily find plenty of recipes detailing how to make these treats on your own. They’ll be a great reward year-round for finishing a juice cleanse diet or just a great companion to green drinks. 

Peppermint patties

Are you the sort of person who prefers a peppermint flavor to your candy? Just because you’re a picky candy eater doesn’t mean you need to feel left out of all the vegan Halloween candy fun. Peppermint patties can be replicated in a much healthier vegan format by relying on sweet nuts. Many of the examples you’ll find will include cashews for the creamiest fillings

“Snickers”

It’s not a mystery why certain types of chocolate bars become so popular as Halloween candy. When you throw in salty and sweet staples like peanuts, caramel, and nougat, it’s no wonder many find these kinds of candy so tasty—and why they tend to be bad for your waistline and blood sugar. Thankfully, there are healthier vegan alternatives to nearly anything these days. If you don’t mind taking on a more complicated challenge, you could try recreating these kinds of chocolate bars using online recipes

Stay healthy all year long with Chef V

At Chef V, we believe that healthy eating habits are something to be enjoyed all year long. We’re always excited to share ideas for foods to eat while juicing (like our detox soups), or fruits and vegetables that are just generally amazing. If you’re looking to stay healthy all year long, then check out our green drinks, perfect with snacks or as part of our juice cleanse diet.

Vegan Soup Recipes for Winter

Winter is around the corner, and with it comes chills. Nothing compares with the warmth of a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter day.

To help maintain your daily nutritional intake, Chef V has come up with some delicious vegan soup ideas that are healthy, easy to make, and packed with wholesome ingredients. These vegan soup recipes are as tasty and comforting as your regular chicken soup or hot ramen noodle soup and loaded with numerous immunity boosters, weight management, and digestion-improvement ingredients. 

Whether you’re a rookie or a professional soup maker, be ready to add these vegan soup recipes by Chef V to your favorite soup recipe collection. So, let’s get started and welcome the upcoming season with a bowl full of healthy soup. 

Is soup healthy for winter?

Yes! If we specifically talk about vegan soups, they’re often made with veggie broth or contain fruits and vegetables, which provide necessary minerals, fiber, vitamins, and nutrients, such as collagen. Additionally, consuming soup is a delicious way to increase your vegetable and fruit intake, which helps reduce weight and achieve your health goals.

Furthermore, because soups are often rich in fiber and protein, they make you feel fuller, so you’re less likely to  oncomfort food, such as French fries, baked pasta, and hot chocolate. During the winter, water intake gradually decreases because you’re not overly sweaty or hot; in that case, soup helps with extra hydration to maintain your body’s water levels.

Great vegan soup ideas

Below are some of Chef V’s favorite vegan soup recipes that you must try this winter. All these recipes taste delectable, uncomplicated, and satisfying

1. Creamy curry pumpkin soup

This vegan soup recipe offers the perfect way to bid goodbye to fall and welcome winter as it contains fresh pumpkin puree with coconut milk and some other very subtle ingredients, such as nutmeg, black pepper, sea salt, and organic vegetable broth. The creamy texture and thick consistency are very satisfying and filling to keep you going throughout the day.

2. Creamy sweet potato and leek soup

Sweet potatoes are a great source of antioxidants, fiber, and blood sugar-regulating nutrients, which means using them along with leek in a winter soup makes it even more nutritious and healthy. This creamy sweet potato and leek soup has simple ingredients — white carrot, coconut oil, and raw cashews to make it rich and wholesome. 

3. Little leprechaun soup

Follow this simple vegan soup recipe to transform  regular and boring broccoli into a tasty winter comforting meal. Paired with some fresh thyme leaves, coconut oil, shallots, and unsalted cashews, this little leprechaun soup is the perfect winter soup to enjoy with your friends and family.

4. Black bean soup

Say hello to the healthy and vegan way of having protein with this delicious and rich black bean soup by Chef V. The subtle ingredients white onion, vegetable broth, garlic and cayenne pepper — give this vegan soup a pungent taste that’s perfect to beat the chilly winter vibes.

5. Creamy broccoli soup

Takes only twenty minutes to cook, this absolutely delicious creamy broccoli soup contains both coconut milk and oil that give it a rich and thick consistency. The use of raw cashews, thyme leaves, and minced and peeled garlic elevate its taste to make your winter days more comfortable.

Chef V’s detox soups

If you don’t want to get into the hassle of cooking all these vegan soup recipes, sign up with Chef V to get her organic detox soup delivered to your doorstep. Chef V detox soup is made from fresh and plant-based ingredients, which detoxify your body to remove toxins and harmful substances.

 This detox soup is known as SOUPer detox, and is included in Chef V’s cleanse plans to finish your day with a warm meal that flushes your vital organs and satisfies your appetite. Chef V’s detox soup is crafted with the help of a nutritional therapist to ensure it improves your digestion, improves bowel movements, and regulates blood sugar levels.

You can opt for the seven-or 21 day cleanse challenge to get this detox soup with two other types of drinks, organic green juice and protein shake, in your plan to achieve your weight goals. These liquid cleanse plans are customizable to each of you to help you move forward to a healthy lifestyle.

Visit Chef V today to learn more about the different detox cleanse plans. You can also explore some more healthy vegan soup recipes to try on this winter season. Do check out our delivery areas and store locations to find out where and how you can get our healthy products. 

Celebrities Who Love Detox Juice Cleanse

Juice detox cleanses are becoming more and more well-known in the mainstream. If you need any more proof, this piece covers examples of celebrities who swear by juice cleanses. We’ll look at how blended juice cleanses helped them lose weight and detox their bodies.

What is a juice cleanse?

A juice cleanse involves drinking only fruit or vegetable juices for a certain amount of time, usually ranging from one to five days, depending on the goal. Juices are usually pressed, which means the pulp is separated from the juice. Most importantly, while juice cleansing, you eliminate sugar, caffeine, refined foods, and other substances from your diet.

Are you looking to melt fat quickly for an upcoming occasion? Detox juice cleanses are good for hitting the reset button on your health if you’ve been overindulging. With it,you’re able to boost your metabolism and flush out toxins gently. With all the nutritional content, they provide steady energy throughout the day. You’ll also curb cravings for unhealthy food.

In recent years, cleanses have become the quick fix for dropping pounds for celebrities from Beyonce to Anne Hathaway. Ever wondered what’s the secret behind their toned bodies? Let’s spill the beans for four superstars who enjoy cold-pressed veggies and fruits for radiant skin and a fit body.

Beyonce

Beyonce popularized the granddaddy of the cleanse trend the Master Cleanse diet — shedding twenty pounds in two weeks for her role in Dreamgirls. The diet that has particularly taken Hollywood by storm since 2006 as a popular way of losing quick weight was developed by Stanley Burroughs in 1941 as a diet regimen to flush out  toxins in the body.

Also known as Maple Syrup or Lemon Cleanse diet, it involves subsisting on nothing but a liquid diet of hot water, fresh-squeezed lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne pepper for ten days. You also drink laxative tea and do a salt-water flush to eliminate body toxins through bowel movements.

Salma Hayek

Salma has used juice cleanses as a regular part of her health and beauty maintenance program for fifteen years. Ever-radiating, she’s known for endorsing the cooler cleanse diet that’s a big hit with thousands of her fans worldwide.

In 2008, Salma approached New York City juicing expert Eric Helms to co-create a line of fresh, raw juices and nut milk that worked well for her body. The idea was to help everyone look and feel their best, no matter how busy or stressful their lives.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway swears by celebrity trainer David Kirsch’s forty-eight-hour detox where you drink his patented lemonade mixture four times a day for two days. Hirsch’s mixture comes ready-made in a concentrated liquid you add to water and can consume at mealtimes. The delicious pink lemonade blend gives you the supercharged nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants needed to achieve healthy results. 

Jennifer Aniston

The secret to Jennifer Aniston’s svelte body lies in her Wonder Saturday Smoothie, jam-packed with spinach, garlic, beetroot, organic vegetables, cucumbers, kale, and celery. For the best taste, add some cayenne pepper or parsley. 

Get convenient cleanse delivery with Chef V

You can use these liquid diets as celebs do  to jump-start your journey of eating better and get your metabolism revved up. Please note we aren’t giving medical advice here and that if you try these diet regimes, do so at your own risk. We can help you answer your query though: Are juice cleanses worth it? You might be surprised to learn that even a very short juice cleanse can have some significant impacts.  

At Chef V, even our 3-Day Juice Cleanse Plan will give you the desired results. We mix our nutrient-packed green drinks with detox soups and smoothies. You can easily customize your blended juice cleanse. Choose one, three, or five days and the number of people consuming it. 

So, what are you waiting for? Reach out to us and let’s get started with your cleanse plan that’ll leave you feeling great, all the way through.

Chef V’s Vegan Thanksgiving Plan

With Thanksgiving around the corner, we’re excited about spending time with friends and family. While we also love a bountiful feast, we beg to differ if you say turkey should steal the spotlight. And when you realize you’re ingesting thousands of extra calories, you’ll definitely want to check out healthier options. This piece discusses some delicious vegan Thanksgiving recipes to enjoy along with green drink and juice detox options to burn your extra calories this holiday season.

Healthy holidays = happy holidays

One-third of Americans prefer hosting a meat-free Thanksgiving dinner. Your friends may be making healthier choices this year, and you want to host them well. Opt for vegan recipes that typically incorporate whole foods, an abundance of healthy plants, and antioxidant-rich, nutrient-dense foods. Plant-based, plant-loaded meals can be your starting point to kick-start healthy beginnings and seal the deal for healthy New Year’s resolutions.

Traditional side dishes can be easily veganized. And with multiple ideas for creative vegan options, you don’t have to sacrifice taste for a healthy meal or stress out trying to create it. 

Planning a vegan Thanksgiving meal

If you’re up for a vegan Thanksgiving dinner this year, you must be wondering how to organize everything and what dishes to choose for a whole vegan meal. We’ve got the answer for youslow down, and scroll down.

First things first, decide on the number of courses. Do meals with less than four courses feel incomplete to you? Or does a three-course meal swell up your belly just about enough? 

Next, zero in on the delicious vegan recipes that’ll look absolutely delicious on your Thanksgiving table this year, and then move on to arranging the ingredients. You can easily get natural sweeteners, dairy alternatives, vegan condiments, and other pantry essentials from any grocery store. Or you may want to prepare all dishes at home from scratch. Depending on how much time you want to spend in the kitchen, sort out what raw materials can be store-bought and what you’re willing to make at home.

Chef V’s recommendations: Vegan Thanksgiving recipes 

Are you struggling with choosing your Thanksgiving menu? We have some healthy, lip-smacking vegan recipes to share with you below.

Vegan appetizers

This delicious fall treat is a hit at Thanksgiving dinner. It’s  filling and makes you feel warm inside even though it’s a salad.

This vegan soup will suit everyone’s taste buds. The spicy vegetable soup with jalapeno, quinoa, zucchini, black beans, and lots of spice will leave your guests wanting more.

The only thing more comforting than a bowl of soup is a bowl of homemade soup that’s both vegan and gluten-free. This recipe is easily one of the most healthy ways to pop a pumpkin on your Thanksgiving table.

Vegan roasts

With only seven ingredients, this recipe is super easy to make. Filled with generous amounts of flavor and filling, you can’t miss this roast for your Thanksgiving toast.

Vegan main course

This gluten-free, dairy-free version of macaroni and cheese will become a favorite at your Thanksgiving dinner table! A recipe so fulfilling, you might just switch to this vegan version altogether. 

This delicacy incorporates pumpkin into the ricotta cheese mixture. Made with gluten-free noodles, it is sure to become a family favorite, for even the pickiest eater. This lasagna is an entree you’ll be proud of.

  • Vegan Green Bean Casserole
    A perfect combination of crunchy and creamy in a vegetable dish, this one is definitely a crowd-pleaser. Beans worthy of attention, you need this addition to your dinner.

Vegan desserts

This healthy take on tiramisu is a must. Once you discover baking with healthy ingredients, there’s a good chance you’ll want to continue!

A dessert you can’t do vegan Thanksgiving without. If you love ice cream, all things pumpkin and fall, and exquisite vegan desserts, you’ll love this recipe.

A dessert you’ll have a ton of fun making. Pair this poached pear recipe with scooped vegan ice cream for a delicious and healthy dessert. 

Vegan drinks

While these vegan Thanksgiving recipes should add some exciting and healthy new flavors to your meals, don’t temper your love for the meal by worrying about holiday weight. Gulp on! Just make sure you take care of your body with just as much enthusiasm.

With Chef V’s juice detox and green drinks, you can bid your worries goodbye and set a detox in motion. Chef V’s nutrient-dense drinks are freshly made and help you detox your liver, fight inflammation, reduce cholesterol, and much more. 

And these healthy green drinks are delivered with a hint of sweetness, kicking the boring out of the green.  Order your 7-day juice cleanse today to celebrate Thanksgiving with a healthy body and a thankful heart. Have a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!

Why a Fresh Organic Juice Cleanse is Good for You

The benefits and importance of fresh fruits and vegetables lie in their high density of nutritional values. They’re rich in antioxidant properties, minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and many other nutrients that help the body remove toxins and maintain good health.

But due to greater convenience and minimal wastage, many people prefer consuming and using frozen fruits and vegetables. Though some produce retains nutritional values, they often lose their natural taste and may contain harmful preservatives to maintain longer shelf life. 

And because of this, many start wondering whether frozen fruit can be used in a juice cleanse and why fresh organic juice cleanse is better for you. Follow along to learn what Chef V has to say about this and the valuable benefits of consuming fresh produce. 

What freezing veggies and fruits do

The purpose of freezing vegetables and fruits is to preserve the nutritional content for longer, but some nutrients start to break down if you keep the produce frozen for longer than a year. Moreover, before freezing, fresh fruits and vegetables undergo a process called blanching, which involves keeping the produce in boiling water for a few minutes. 

The purpose of blanching is to kill harmful bacteria and prevent the natural texture and color of the produce. But it also results in the loss of some important water-soluble or heat-sensitive nutrients like vitamin C and B vitamins. 

Furthermore, freezing also reduces the antioxidant content in some fruits and vegetables. According to the Journal of Science of Food and Agriculture, up to 30 percent of the phenolic compounds, an antioxidant type, get lost in some vegetables due to freezing. 

Benefits of fresh fruit and veggies

Below are some top benefits of consuming fresh veggies and fruits:

  • It’s hard for frozen fruits and vegetables to compete with the visual appeal, juiciness, and natural taste of fresh ones. The crunch of fresh green beans and the creamy texture of avocado is hard to find in a supermarket freezer. 
  • Fresh produce is a great source of dietary fiber that keeps your gut strong and improves bowel movements. Moreover, it gives you a fuller feeling when on an organic juice cleanse, intermittent fasting, or dieting. 
  • Seedless watermelon, pineapple, red leaf lettuce, sprouts, kale, luscious cherries —it’d be hard to get bored of fresh fruits and vegetables as hundreds of varieties and options are available on the market. And variety is something you can’t find in the frozen foods section of the grocery store. 

Fresh juice delivery with Chef V 

If you’re planning on going for a juice cleanse, try Chef V’s multiple juice cleanse plans, specially designed for people who want to move to a healthy lifestyle and achieve certain weight goals.

You can opt for a single or multi-day juice cleanse, where you get three different drinks: the famous green juice, protein shake, and detox soup. All these fluids are made from the freshest, purest, organic ingredients, such as pea powder, green kale, dandelion greens, curly parsley, and collard greens, to help you get rid of toxins from your body. 

Moreover, the team at Chef V provides green juice delivery to your doorstep, meaning you can achieve your health goals in the comfort of your home while enjoying the nutritional and tasty drinks crafted by nutritional therapist Chef V. You can also request a pickup from the listed store locations by giving twenty-four-hour notice. 

If you’re looking for a fresh and organic juice cleanse plan, visit Chef V today. Browse our store locations and delivery areas to learn where and how you find plant-based foods and raw blended juices by Chef V. 

Green Drink and Other Post-Workout Options for Vegan Athletes

If you’re an athlete, or just enjoy being athletic, getting energy and protein post-workout can be a major concern. Some people assume it’s hard to find good energy sources that are also vegan — but is this really the case? This post will examine snacks and drinks that will complete your plant-based nutrition, and how Chef V’s green drink can be your next go-to post-workout drink.

What makes a good post-workout snack?

You probably put a lot of thought into your pre-workout intake. How about the post-workout snacks? Do you pay as much attention to it as you do to what you’re eating before starting high-intensity activities? 

Whether training for a competition, doing a casual workout, or high-intensity and resistance training activities, eating something within two hours will help muscles recover and replace glycogen stores. Along with carbs, protein should be an integral component of the diet as it aids muscle recovery and new muscle growth.

Your body loses water and electrolytes when you sweat during exercise. It’s even more important to replenish these with healthy drinks rather than eating right away after a tough workout. A general rule of thumb is to drink three cups of fluid for each pound lost during competition or training. 

Overall, what and how often you should eat and drink will ultimately depend on your activity level and intensity. And since each body is different, follow your instincts in deciding which pre- and post-exercise eating habits work best for you. 

Vegan post-workout snacks and drinks 

The idea that protein needs to come from animal products is a misconception. Eating a wide variety of foods high in vegan protein can ensure an adequate intake of nutrients. Vegan athletes are increasingly finding that a diet free from animal products can actually improve their strength and performance. On that note, let’s look at some good examples of vegan snacks and drinks to boost your energy.

Power-packed smoothies

If you make them right, smoothies can provide all the nutrients you need after your workout in just one glass. Pour in your preferred protein in a mixing jar — milk, yogurt, or soy-based products. Fill in with the fruits or vegetables of your choice. Add some healthy dose of unsaturated fats, such as avocados or nut butter, that not just strengthens your bones, but also enhances the consistency of smoothies. Add some good fiber, such aslike chia seeds or ground flaxseed and enhance the flavor without adding calories. Blend until smooth. Your refreshing and filling smoothie is ready.

You’ve probably heard the buzz when it comes to green juices but what about a post-workout green smoothie? We recommend trying Chef V’s Creamy Green Smoothie. It’s a great option as a nutritional powerhouse and it’s super easy to make and digest.

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is one of the most popular post-workout snacks due to its high protein content – just what you need after a strenuous workout. Boost your food’s nutritional value and add extra taste and texture by adding some fruits or whole grain cereals. Add on hemp seeds, chia seeds, or granola for your delicious recovery fuel.

Salads on the go

A hearty salad can be your perfect post-workout/gym session snack. Use dark, leafy greens, such as kale or spinach, that are high in nutritional value for the base of your salad, and then top with superfoods of your choice — kale, carrot, blueberries, squash, grapes, pumpkin, dried cherries, quinoa, sunflower seeds, or walnuts. Opt for a light olive oil for the dressing, which contains healthy fats your body needs. Here are some of our recommended superfood salad recipes with a protein kick that are great for the cold days ahead — Warm Pumpkin Salad, Warm Butternut Squash Salad, and Carrot Ginger Salad.

Chia seed pudding

Tiny superfood heroes as they are, chia seeds are a complete protein. They come in either white or dark brown/black and have a huge nutritional profile. They contain calcium, manganese, and phosphorus, and are packed with fiber, protein, and healthy omega-3 fats. Having chia after a workout can provide tissue repairing protein and amp up your energy levels. They’re easy to digest, especially when soaked in almond or coconut milk overnight to make chia pudding. Don’t miss to check out our version of Chia seed pudding.

Warm and comforting soups

Don’t feel like refueling with something cold? Soups are a great post-workout snack option this time of year. They can warm you up after a chilly practice, with benefits extending far beyond that. They’re easier to eat after a workout than solid food and will fill you up with all the balanced nutrients.

Perfect for fall and winter weather, this delicious Black Bean soup recipe by Chef V is a must-try. It’s warm, filling, and protein-packed. Always try to use organic dried or canned black beans and organic vegetable stock, preferably homemade. Top with shredded cheddar cheese and drizzle with healthy fats, such as avocado slices, and you’re as good as full.

Looking for a sweet spot between enjoying cravings and maintaining your fitness? There’s something special about cooking comforting soups like Creamy Curry Pumpkin Soup that’ll warm you up, replenish all the lost energy, and make you feel festive.

Pita dipped with hummus 

Hummus and pita are another great post-workout combo. With its revitalizing dose of slow-release energy, whole wheat pita keeps you fueled for hours, while hummus provides both carbs and protein. Bring out the Green Goddess in your post-workout with Chef V’s Green Goddess Hummus. Or try this delicious version of Red Beet Hummus.

Add Chef V green drink to your routine 

With the spread of plant-based lifestyles, many people are now promoting veganism as a means of maximizing performance and recovery. If you’re a vegan and looking for a power-packed juice detox diet

to add to your post-workout routine, you can try our 100% organic green drink

It’s made from seven superfoods, including green kale, black kale, collard greens, dandelion greens, and green chard. These green ingredients are packed with essential nutrients, minerals, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.  

You don’t even need to do any prep work yourself. Just build your plan, and get it delivered to your door. It’s that easy! You can start with our 3-day juice cleanse and see how that works for you.

Common Juice Cleanse Detox Mistakes

A juice cleanse is the perfect way to get all the nutrients your body needs to stay healthy. It helps improve digestion and maintain healthy blood sugar levels while eliminating toxins and harmful substances from your body, such as synthetic chemicals, preservatives, and artificial ingredients via fresh vegetables and fruit juice. 

Juice cleanse detox is popular among people who want to achieve certain weight goals, have unhealthy eating habits, or experience indigestion, bloating, and irregular bowel movements. Because a liquid cleanse helps reboot your body while offering enough minerals, enzymes, vitamins, carbohydrates, and other nutrients to keep you going with a fuller feeling. 

Many people follow this diet type after getting inspired by someone to maybe get a certain physique or attain a healthy lifestyle. But most rookie cleansers make common mistakes, making the whole cleanse process less effective and intimidating. So, if it’s your first time going on a juice cleanse, here are a few mistakes to avoid to enjoy a smooth journey to a healthier life. 

Juice cleanse mistakes to avoid 

1. You skip pre-cleanse 

Pre-cleanse is like preparing your body for what’s coming next. You should take at least two weeks to eliminate processed and junk food, excessive salt and sugar, packaged meat, and artificial ingredients from your diet, as it helps you get in the right mindset before you jump into a full-on juice fast. 

2. Starting with a long cleanse diet 

If it’s your first time going on a juice cleanse, don’t do it for more than one to three days. And if you’re planning on a seven-day challenge or a 21 day juice fast, you should include high-fiber fruits and vegetables, nuts such as almonds and walnuts, and antioxidant-rich berries in your diet to keep your energy levels stable. 

3. Consuming random ingredients 

You should stop putting random fruits and vegetables in your juice just because you think it’s healthy. The purpose of this diet is to give your body a balance of the nutrients it needs. So, pick the ones best for you or leave it to Chef V because she knows exactly what you need to achieve your health goals. 

4. Drinking it when it’s no longer fresh 

To get the complete health benefits of a juice, consume it fresh because once it gets opened and exposed to air, it will no longer be as healthy and beneficial as it should be. The enzymes in that juice will start to degrade and lose their nutritional value. 

5. Getting too many calories 

Fruits like litchis, mangoes, and grapes are high in sugar, and if you only have fruit juices, it can make your cleanse counterproductive by offering you way more calories than needed. More than fruits, you need vegetables in your juice to maintain the required calorie limit and ensure it’s well-balanced.

Why Chef V is an easy cleanse

Chef V understands your body’s needs. She’s come up with different cleanse plans for beginners, frequent detoxifiers, and experienced cleansers. The organic green drink by Chef V has all the natural and fresh ingredients, including seven green veggies, that help you achieve your health goals without compromising your lifestyle. 

The organic juice preparation without any green powders and pills makes her juice cleanse plans more successful while remaining safe and effective for your body. The specially crafted green juice cranks your metabolism and gently removes toxins without any energy crashes and cravings.

Chef V’s juice cleanse plans are effortless and accessible as you can get the green juice delivery to your footsteps. You can choose the delivery day that works best for you or schedule a pickup from the store with twenty-four -hour notice. 

If you also want to start a juice cleanse, sign up with Chef V today! 

Can I Take Vitamins During a Liquid Cleanse?

A liquid cleanse is a diet type that encourages you to only consume juices from fresh fruits and vegetables. This diet does wonders for those who often feel bloated, experience irregular bowel movements, or indigestion by removing non-organic waste substances and toxins, such as pollutants and synthetic chemicals, from the body. 

Detox juice cleanse gives your body the necessary punch of antioxidants, minerals, vitamins, and nutrients essential for your overall health and well-being. Furthermore, a liquid cleanse helps your body heal, rest, and reboot while improving your digestion and kidney function

Many of you who want to go on a detox juice cleanse, especially to achieve your weight goals, ask Chef V whether it’s okay to take vitamins while doing it. Follow along to find the perfect answer to that and learn how supplementing your supplements with Chef V’s organic green drink can help maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

Why take supplements?

Vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients help the body  grow and function properly. While some people get all the necessary nutrients from their diet and daily regimen, some fail to meet their body’s needs so take vitamin or mineral supplements for that extra nutritional boost.  

Moreover, if you have a specific health condition or deficiency, your general practitioner may recommend you take vitamin and/or mineral tablets, such as echinacea and ginger or probiotics to ensure you remain healthy. Taking supplements is also important for regular
junk-food eaters or if you have erratic eating habits to heal and prevent your body from all the damage due to poor eating habits. 

Is it okay to take vitamins during a liquid cleanse?

You can if a doctor or health-care provider recommends it, but you shouldn’t because a liquid cleanse already provides abundant minerals, enzymes, vitamins, and other nutrients. A detox juice diet offers the perfect opportunity to take a break from your supplements and let your body absorb all the natural ingredients to heal from within, especially if you’re used to consuming processed food and artificial substances. 

Please note that taking too many vitamins or minerals can also harm your body. Getting an overload of vitamin C or zinc can cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and/or nausea, while excessive vitamin A or D can cause irritability and numbness, which is a significant reason you should avoid taking supplements on a liquid cleanse. 

Supplement your supplements with Chef V’s green drink

Chef V uses organic vegetables, fruits, and other ingredients to deliver the fresh green drink to your doorstep, making your liquid cleanse healthier, tasty, and packed with necessary nutrients. The use of seven certified organic green veggies, including collard greens, dandelion greens, green leaf lettuce, green kale, black kale, green chard, and curly parsley, boosts your metabolism and provides natural energy to help you keep going throughout the day. 

In Chef V’s cleanse program, you can opt for a multi-day detox juice cleanse, which offers you three drinks to fulfill your daily dose of nutrients:

  • Detox soup or SOUPer detox: a warm drink that improves digestion and maintains your blood sugar levels
  • Green drink: a cold-blended addition to different cleanse plans that increase your metabolism and preserve your body’s nutrient density
  • Protein shake: made from organic pea protein powder, making you feel full longer

Sign up for Chef V’s cleanse plan today to fuel your body with 100 percent vitamins, minerals, fibers, and other nutrients without any preservatives, additives, and artificial flavors. 

How Often in a Year Can You Do a Detox Juice Cleanse?

Have you ever felt bloated or uneasy after overeating junk food or a weekend-long party? It’s possibly because you consumed something your body doesn’t like. This consequently causes indigestion, fatigue, exhaustion, weight issues, and sometimes allergies. In such situations, a juice cleanse helps you reset your digestive system. 

Juice cleanses detoxify your body to remove unhealthy substances while providing necessary nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. It offers the perfect opportunity for your body to rest and recuperate while pushing away artificial ingredients, excessive salt, sugar, and processed food. 

Moreover, once you sign up for a detox juice cleanse, there’s no going back. It keeps you healthy and helps you achieve your body and wellness goals, which is why many health enthusiasts prefer to juice cleanse often. But if you’re a beginner and wonder how many juice cleanses you can do in a year, read below to see what Chef V says about it. Continue reading to find out how different detox juice cleanses work for different people. 

How does juice cleanse your body?

Juice cleanse is a popular diet that involves consuming only freshly squeezed juices from fruits and vegetables. It helps remove toxins, such as synthetic chemicals and pollutants, from your body while maintaining a balanced diet. Because most detox juice cleanse diets are low in calories, they also help achieve short-term weight goals

Moreover, a juice cleanse increases the number of Bacteroidetes in the body, which helps with weight loss. In fact, it decreases Firmicutes, bacteria that cause weight gain. Consuming liquid-based diets, such as a detox juice cleanse, also helps improve the functionality of your kidneys. Juice cleanse efficiently removes non-organic waste substances from your body. 

Different juice cleanse schedules for different people

Chef V suggests that before signing up for a detox juice cleanse, consult your general practitioner to learn whether it will suit your daily health regime. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should skip going on a juice cleanse diet because our drinks aren’t pasteurized, and the bacteria that may pass down to your baby can be harmful. 

Chef V recommends following the pre-cleanse instruction to prepare your body two days before the cleanse. You should listen to your body and work accordingly rather than exhausting it with intense workouts or exercise. 

If you’re a beginner or new to the juice cleanse diet, you should start with a one-day cleanse that helps you lose up to five pounds. As you get familiar with the diet and its process, you can opt for a 3 day juice cleanse. It works best after a chaotic weekend or vacation to reset your body and give it a punch of necessary nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. 

For more stringent body goals, you can choose the 7 day juice cleanse or a 21 day cleanse challenge by Chef V.  Both these challenges or cleanse routines help you adopt a healthy lifestyle that offers lifelong results. In fact, you can enjoy your favorite meals and snacks without sabotaging your diet by just following Chef V’s instructions. 

Delivery with Chef V

Chef V makes going on a juice cleanse diet easy and smooth by delivering freshly squeezed juice of organic fruits and leafy vegetables to your doorstep. This means you don’t have to go anywhere to be healthy. 

All you need to do is decide which juice cleanse plan you want. You can customize it as per your weight goals and health requirements. The next step is to choose a delivery day, and that’s it; your fresh and organic juice is ready to drink. If you want to pick up the juice on your own, you can schedule a pickup by giving us twenty-four hours’ notice. 

If you’ve opted for a multi-day juice cleanse, you’ll receive a mix of different drinks, including:

    • green juices: made of seven certified green vegetables: organic green kale, collard, black kale, green chard, curly parsley, dandelion greens, and green leaf lettuce
    • protein shakes: made with organic pea protein powder
    • detox soup: also known as SOUPer Detox, a warm drink that helps regulate your blood glucose levels and improve digestion 

Visit our website to learn more about our delivery locations or to find a Chef V store near you.

The Importance of Prebiotic Fiber

You’ve probably heard plenty about probiotics. But do you know about prebiotic fiber and the foods that contain it? And do you know why it’s so important?

Globally, 84 percent of consumers are aware of probiotics as an ingredient that’s reigned strong as the top choice for gut health. But 57 percent also say they’re aware of prebiotics. Are you confusing prebiotics with probiotics? We’ve got you covered. This post will examine what these fibers are, what different roles they play for your gut health, and how prebiotic-rich foods can help you enjoy a healthy life.

Probiotic versus prebiotic

What you eat determines who you are. Subsequently, we are what we feed the trillions of organisms that live on and within us — mostly in a mutually beneficial relationship.

Do you know our lower digestive tract or colon is home to billions of bacteria, both good and bad? These organisms create a micro-ecosystem called the microbiome — and that’s where the magic happens. Not surprisingly, what you feed your microbiome — probiotics or prebiotics — have the biggest impact on its health. And the healthier it is, the healthier you are!

Probiotics are live yeasts and good bacteria that live in our body. They help rebalance our gut flora and support healthy gastrointestinal and immune function. While probiotics are beneficial bacteria, prebiotics are food for them. Think of it this way: if we don’t feed the good bacteria what they need to grow, they won’t survive!

Prebiotics are special plant fibers that help good bacteria grow in the gut and improve the variety of good gut bugs. They’re essentially carbs the body can’t digest. So, they travel to the colon to feed the good bacteria. These healthy bacteria then produce short-chain fatty acids that nourish the cells of the gut barrier, offering better digestive health, fewer antibiotic-related health problems, and other benefits.

Should you take them together?

Prebiotics and probiotics collectively support the body in building and maintaining a healthy colony of bacteria and other microorganisms, which supports gut health. Together, they help treat many digestive problems, including antibiotics-related diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Why care about prebiotics

Nutritionists and health experts are going gaga over prebiotics. Does this make you wonder about the health benefits of these dietary fibers? We’ve got all the answers!

Prebiotics stimulate the growth of good bacteria and help balance harmful bacteria and toxins living in the digestive tract. Consuming prebiotics are linked to numerous health implications, including:

  • better gut health and improved digestion;
  • increased calcium absorption, decreasing risk of osteoporosis;
  • cancer prevention;
  • lower inflammation and autoimmune reactions;
  • enhanced hormonal balance;
  • lower risk of cardiovascular disease;
  • faster food fermentation so they spend less time in your digestive system, thereby avoiding constipation;
  • lower risk for obesity and weight gain;
  • improved immune system defense;
  • higher production of beneficial metabolites;
  • lower allergy risk.

With the antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties of this prebiotic fiber, don’t forget to add them to your diet. Munch on prebiotic foods and change your gut composition and the function of your gut microbiota for the best.

How to consume foods high in prebiotic fiber

Prebiotics are emerging as the darlings of the weight-loss world and are filling up supplement shelves. But perhaps the best way to get them is through naturally available high-fiber foods. Studies suggest eating three to five grams of prebiotics a day can benefit the health of your gut. Start with small amounts so your gut can get used to them. Here’s the rundown for you to grab these foods and boost your gut health.

  • Fruits: bananas, berries, apples, grapefruit
  • Vegetables: legumes, garlic, leeks, onions, snow peas, green peas, shallots, beans, broccoli
  • Whole grains: oats, barley, wheat, rye crackers
  • Legumes: chickpeas, lentils, soybeans, red kidney beans
  • Nuts: cashews, pistachios

Then there are several products on the market to which manufacturers have added prebiotics — cereals, protein supplements, energy bars, yogurt, and cookies, to name a few. Interestingly, babies get prebiotics through the sugars in breast milk, and some infant formulas also contain prebiotics.

Improve your gut health with prebiotic soups

If you want to up your prebiotic consumption, perhaps the safest way to start is by eating more prebiotic-rich foods. Chances are you’re already including these superfoods in your daily diet, which is great! You don’t necessarily need those pricey prebiotic supplements required.

In case you’re looking for easy ways to prepare prebiotic food recipes, then soups can be your go-to option. In fact, they’re one of the easiest ways to consume more than one prebiotic in a single meal.  Whether you’re looking to cleanse, lose weight, or boost your gut health, soups can be a lifesaver. And with colder weather coming, it can be a delicious way to warm you up.

One bowl of soup a day is all it takes to improve your gut metabolism and reduce those extra pounds. These healthy detox soups would support your body’s microbiome in an effective (and undeniably delicious) way. 

To begin with, you can try some of our detox soup recommendations. Go for warm and comforting black bean soup that will brighten your mood on a crisp fall evening. Or cozy up with someone you love and enjoy delicious pumpkin soup. You can also double down on the prebiotic benefits by topping these soups with a seasoned seed blend for an added crunch.

Get the Chef V package with prebiotic detox soups

According to IFIC’s latest released survey on Consumer Insights, 29 percent of Americans are familiar with prebiotics but do not try to consume them.

Who has time to prepare healthy prebiotic-rich recipes? If you’re working the whole day and don’t prefer to make ahead and freeze these healthy options, we’ve heard that call and answered it with our Chef V cleanse package. You can build and customize the plan as per your needs. 

With our Organic Juice Cleanse diet, you’ll get warm and flavorful Chef V detox soup packed with local, organic ingredients that flush your vital organs and leaves you satisfied. And that’s not all! We’ll also provide you with green juices and protein shakes for an easy and revitalizing cleanse. And what could be more convenient than having them delivered fresh right to your door? Get in touch today to learn more.

Can Too Much Sugar Cause Headaches?

If you have a sweet tooth, you can definitely relate that giving up sugar is some people’s worst nightmare. And if you’re on a diet, then there likely isn’t a day when you don’t think about indulging in freshly baked donuts or a perfectly stacked plate of pancakes. 

Sugar is an important element that maintains the body’s blood glucose levels, and having too little or too much sugar can affect your body in many ways. Fluctuations in glucose levels are directly related to the brain, which can cause severe headaches. 

In fact, sugar headaches are common among people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes as they suffer from irregular blood sugar levels. Read on to find out how you can regulate your sugar intake and cut back on sugar cravings by signing up for Chef V’s exclusively designed 21 day cleanse challenge.

What causes headaches? 

Consuming excessive sugar, or too little of it, can cause a headache, because the fluctuating amount rapidly changes blood sugar levels, which gives the brain a massive surge of dopamine. Changes in dopamine levels play a crucial role in triggering migraines. 

High blood sugar or glucose levels can result in small swellings in and around blood vessels and nearby brain tissues, which can cause mild to severe headaches

Types of sugar headaches

There are two types of sugar headaches you could experience with fluctuating levels of blood glucose levels in your body. Both are outlined below.

Hyperglycemia

When you eat too much sugar, your body fails to break down glucose efficiently and effectively with insulin, and this condition is called hyperglycemia. Though the headaches related to hyperglycemia are mild, they can get worse as your blood sugar reaches a higher level. Some common symptoms related to hyperglycemia include:

  • excessive urination 
  • frequent thirst
  • fatigue or drowsiness
  • blurred vision 

Hypoglycemia 

This is the opposite of hyperglycemia, where the blood sugar levels fall below 70 mg/dL. The major causes of hypoglycemia include skipping meals, fasting, or not consuming the suggested amount of sugar. In some cases, you may experience reactive hypoglycemia that rapidly drops body glucose levels within a few hours of taking a meal. In both these cases, you may experience mild to serious headaches. 

In any of the two hypoglycemia conditions, you may have the following symptoms:

  • nausea
  • weakness
  • heart palpitations
  • mood swings
  • anxiety 
  • sleepiness or tiredness 

Cutting back on sugar and sugar cravings 

Giving up sugar completely can be challenging and may affect your health with conditions like hypoglycemia, but it’s not impossible if you choose to consume it in the right proportion and form. You can substitute cane or white sugar with honey or maple syrup to retain sweetness. Add a bowl of fresh fruit to your diet to maintain your body’s blood glucose levels.

If nothing works in your favor, then opt for the results-driven 21 day cleanse challenge by Chef V that is exclusively designed to motivate and encourage individuals to take a step forward to a healthy lifestyle. The organic green drink helps eliminate fat in the bloodstream and helps insulin break down glucose better. 

The 21 day cleanse challenge helps eliminate excess sugar from your diet while offering just the right amount to maintain the balance of your blood glucose levels. Chef V’s green juice is made from healthy green leaves and organic fruits, including green kale, black kale, green leaf lettuce, apple, and green chard to give you the perfect boost of antioxidants and other nutrients that helps cure sugar headaches.  

Sign up today to achieve your health goals! 

Organic on a Budget — Organic Juice Cleanses and More

Organic means a lot of different things to a lot of different people — healthy, ethical, and tasty. However, it also means “expensive” to quite a few people as well. In many cases, this reputation for being more expensive does ring true for organic food. However, with some clever planning, you can start to cut down on the cost of your organic shopping. Here are a few of our top pieces of advice. 

#1 Embrace “organic triage”

We’d love to get absolutely everything organic. But just like sometimes it’s better to go for a 3 day juice cleanse over a 7 day juice cleanse, sometimes you need to prioritize. And this is okay! Every little bit helps in its own way. 

So, in the case of organic, it’s important to decide what organic foods are more important to you. Are you worried about pesticides? Then maybe focus on getting your fruit organically. Do you care about the effect of farming on the environment? Maybe look for more organically sourced beef and other animal products. Make your organic choices unique to you. 

#2 Go meatless

Speaking of meat… sometimes the best way to go organic is to go all in with the vegan choices. A lot of the time, meat can be one of the more expensive ingredients in a dish. Cutting down on the total amount of meat in your diet can benefit your health and the environment. You could be helping out your wallet as well.

 #3 Embrace farmer’s markets 

If you’re lucky enough to have farmer’s markets opening in your area, it’s worth your time to give them a visit. First off, you’ll be getting the most local of local possible — some real organic gems. Plus, you can often get some amazing deals by buying directly from the supplier. From the field right to you, it doesn’t get much fresher than this.

Farmer’s markets are also a bonus since you’ll eat more seasonally. Not only will organic produce be cheaper when in season, but you’ll get all the great benefits from eating seasonally and locally as well. 

 #4 Search out store brands

Often, we associate organic food with expense because we’re used to seeing some of the high prices that national brands can demand. Seeing the prices on these high-profile brands in the store can often turn many off organic food in general. However, lots of your favorite grocery stores might have store brands of organics that are available at a more reasonable price.

 #5 Seek out sales and coupons 

This is an old and standard piece of advice, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still great. By carefully planning your shopping, you can start to rack up some impressive savings in your organic shopping list. 

Another tip is to look for establishments that have bulk bin options. If you’re buying loads of organic grains, nuts, or dried fruits, these can be a good way to get more bang for your buck when it comes to your final bill. 

Plus, there are tons of grocery store apps you can download. Ask at your local grocery what they recommend to help you save while shopping there.

 #6 Find those great online deals

We assume shopping online is for getting things from far away. But you may be pleasantly surprised at how many local deliveries you can get through online sources. Chef V, of course, is one of these options, bringing the best in organic juice cleanses right to your door.

And if you’re looking for deals, check out our cleanses. You can get 5 day juice cleanses or 3 day juice cleanses, often at great discounts. So visit often, and check for when you can add an organic juice cleanse to your organic grocery list. 

Beyond Green Drink Delivery — The Benefits of Eating Locally

With green drink delivery with Chef V, it’s easier than ever to get organic juice cleanses delivered directly to your area. Whether you’re close to our Chef V West Caldwell headquarters, or on the other side of the country near our origin in San Diego, a huge portion of the United States has delivery coverage to get you blended juice cleanses. 

If you already enjoy our blended juice cleanses, then why not branch out into looking for more options to eat locally? Of course, in the modern world, it might be difficult to get absolutely everything local. But if you need some impetus to try and get more local flavor in your diet, here are some of our top reasons. 

#1 Better for the environment

Let’s start with the bigger picture. And what could be bigger than the entire planet? When you hear people discussing local eating, this is one of the benefits that gets brought up a lot. But how does eating locally help the environment?

There are a lot of little ways that actually start to add up. Most food we buy is designed to be distributed at a national, if not global, level. This means it needs to be heavily packaged in plastic to survive those long trips. More plastic, more waste.

Those long trips aren’t environmentally friendly either. Food doesn’t just magically fly to where it needs to get going. If you’re getting your juice from Chef V Caldwell NJ, and you live in New Jersey, well, it’s a short drive away. If you’re getting your juice from across the country, it’s probably going to burn a lot of gas to get to you. And the cost to get it from overseas via cargo ship… outrageous. 

#2 Helps the local economy

If you’re buying locally, you’re putting your money into the local economy. This is a pretty straightforward benefit, but it’s one we often forget. We’re used to going for the most convenient option these days. But sometimes convenience isn’t the best thing for the place where you live. More money in your local economy means a better local community. And what’s a better feeling than that?

#3 More nutrition 

Fruits and veggies are most nutritious right when they’re pulled out of the ground. Those same processes designed to make them last for long transport across the world slowly start to suck out their nutritional value. Freezing or processing all makes them less nutritious than when they were first picked. Speaking of nutrition…

#4 Less weird stuff

It’s not just all the plastic packaging that makes food suitable for the global world. It’s often filled with preservatives and additives designed to make it last longer. The idea of putting something designed to last forever in your body isn’t an appealing one. Many preservatives, while useful for extending shelf life, also aren’t the best for nutrition. Think of salt, a classic preservative. Are you sure you want food with sodium levels off the charts? If you’re looking to get more organic food in your diet, local delivery and shopping is the way to go. 

#5 Seasonal eating benefits

Once you start to eat locally, you’ll naturally begin to eat more seasonally. After all, when you eat locally, you eat whatever’s being brought to market at the moment. For many, this is a fun little comfort. Who doesn’t love eating fresh fruit in the summer? 

But there are also hidden nutritional benefits as well that we don’t often think of. The leafy greens harvested before winter in many areas have the vitamins and minerals you need to thrive in a time of less sunlight. And then when summer comes, you have plenty of berries and fruit filled with tons of water to help you stay hydrated. 

#6 It tastes better

This one might be more subjective, but it’s certainly one we’re going to stick with. When you’re in the green drink delivery business, you start to notice the freshness of fruits and vegetables. Eating organic doesn’t just have to be about being healthy — it tastes amazing. If you’ve never had the benefit of eating fresh fruit right off the vine, you’re missing out. 

#7 You’ll try new things

You might be surprised at the amount of diversity in your local food. The United States was founded on diversity, after all. If you live in areas with ethnic enclaves producing their own food, then you can sample things you’d never have considered before. You can discover wonderful new foods like urab, and wonderful new drinks like golden milk

And, of course, we’d have to toss in our own blended juice cleanses as a wonderful local option for you to discover. The best part is, we’re local in a ton of states across the country! 

But no matter if you’re getting your green drink from Chef V West Caldwell, or Chef V San Diego, you’re always going to be getting the absolute best in organic juice cleanses. If you haven’t checked out our signature green drink yet, then now might be the time to give it a shot

Can You Get Diabetes From Eating Too Much Sugar?

If you live with a disease such as diabetes, it’s probably something you come to understand more than you’d want to. But for the rest of us, these diseases can be mysterious. Diabetes is a great example of this, with a lot of misconceptions and oversimplifications floating around. 

Most of us nebulously connect diabetes with sugar intake. But can you get diabetes from eating too much sugar? Can a diabetic juice cleanse help you out with this? Since we make low-sugar juice cleanses, we thought we’d help you investigate.

What causes diabetes?

So, the first thing to understand is that not all diabetes is equal. You’ve probably heard of “types” of diabetes. There are two types. 

Type 1 diabetes appears to have a genetic origin. It’s an autoimmune disease, which means it affects your immune system. Essentially, what happens is that your immune system starts attacking your own pancreas, hampering its ability to make insulin, the substance that helps regulate blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes is caused by having blood sugar levels that are too high. In response, your body no longer reacts to insulin in the same way, becoming somewhat immune to the effects of the substance. This means the body, like with type 1 diabetes, loses its ability to properly maintain its blood sugar levels.

However, it wouldn’t be accurate to say that one form of diabetes is genetic and the other isn’t. While type 2 diabetes seems to need to be “triggered,” certain people can also be more genetically predisposed to it. If you have a lot of family members with type 2 diabetes, you’re probably more at risk as well. 

So, can you get diabetes from eating too much sugar?

Since type 2 diabetes is mostly genetic, we’ll focus on type 2 diabetes here, which has to be triggered. From what we know, it seems a pretty open and shut case. Too much blood sugar can trigger diabetes, so too much sugar must be the main risk factor, right?

Well, it’s not that simple. Blood sugar and sugar aren’t equivalent. Blood sugar is the result of the body’s natural processes in breaking down what is eaten. How it’s managed is also determined by overall health and how active you are. 

So while someone who eats a lot of sugary foods might develop type 2 diabetes, it’s not a straight line of causation. Rather, eating a lot of sugar tends to be connected with an unhealthy lifestyle. And a lot of the hallmarks of an unhealthy lifestyle also translate into higher blood sugar levels. 

If you’re overweight (especially obese), the extra fat can make it more difficult for your body to process blood sugar. An unhealthy diet full of carbohydrates will also translate into greater levels of blood sugar. And if you aren’t getting enough exercise, it’ll be harder for your body’s natural processes to get rolling. 

So, technically, sugar isn’t the direct cause of diabetes. However, if you’re eating a lot of sugary foods, you’re more likely to gain weight, which does put you at a higher risk of developing diabetes. And once you have diabetes, you’ll have to be especially careful around high sugar foods, which can send your blood sugar levels all out of whack. 

Get blood sugar under control with a low sugar juice cleanse 

Whether you’re trying to get your blood sugar under control to avoid developing diabetes, or you want to help manage your blood sugars as a diabetic, what you eat and drink is vital for long-term health. A low sugar juice cleanse is great in both cases to help you get that blood sugar under control. Of course, many juice cleanses put you at risk of going too far in the other direction.

With Chef V, you can get the assurance you’re getting a fully appropriate diabetic juice cleanse. Our low sugar juice cleanse comes with the detox soups and smoothies you need to maintain great overall health, while still getting your blood sugar under control. Check it out today! 

What’s the Difference Between a Headache and a Migraine?

If your head hurts, that’s probably the only thing you care about. Dealing with the pain is going to be higher up on your priority list than trying to discern the difference between a headache and a migraine. 

Of course, it’s always a good idea to figure out what’s causing your pain before you try to come up with a solution. The best solutions are always the preventative kind. With the right adjustments in diet, nutrition, and habits, you could potentially ward off your next headache (or migraine) before they show up.

Difference between a headache and a migraine

Alright, first things first, let’s get our terms in order. Plenty of people assume a migraine is just a “big headache.” However, it’s more complex than that. 

In fact, a headache isn’t even simply a headache. There are different kinds of headaches you can get, and all have their own unique causes. 

Cluster headaches: This kind of headache is actually a migraine! So we’ll have to talk about it later. Warned you that this could be complex. 

Injury headaches: If you’ve suffered a serious injury, particularly to the head, there could be damage to your brain or skull that causes headaches. This is the kind of problem a green drink won’t fix. If you have a serious head injury, get yourself to a hospital right away. 

Sinus headaches: Sometimes, the cause of a headache is pressure building up inside your skull. If you’re stuffed up or have a sinus infection, a sinus headache is sure to follow. The pain often feels like it’s behind your cheeks, nose, or eyes. 

Tension headaches: This is the most common kind of headache, with the widest array of causes. Generally, you’ll feel it at the sides of your head. As the name suggests, tension headaches are often caused by the muscles in your head tensing up. 

There are a variety of ways you can get a tension headache. It could be because of stress, anxiety, or lack of sleep. Too much alcohol or not enough hydration are also causes — so keep that green drink handy. Sometimes, it could be because of too much strain on your eyes (looking at computer screens and phones), or because of too much caffeine. 

Often, it can also be because of a lack of nutrition or food. If you aren’t getting enough of your leafy greens and other good stuff in your diet, your body could decide to punish you with a headache. 

“Thunderclap” headaches: These kinds of headaches occur suddenly, and with extreme force. Normally, they are a sign of a much more serious problem. If your headache arrives without warning and is causing serious pain, contact a doctor immediately. 

Migraines 

A migraine is not just a “bad headache.” Rather than being related to tension or pressure in your head, they’re instead more of an actual disease caused by issues with your nerves and brain chemistry. These issues affect the blood flow around your brain, causing a variety of symptoms. 

Migraines can arrive in different forms. Sometimes, they come in a cluster — those cluster headaches we mentioned. They can be long or short in duration. Like headaches, they often involve a lot of pain. However, they also come with some unique symptoms, such as sensitivity to light, fatigue, nausea, and dizziness.

And those are just the common symptoms. Like much of what goes on in our brains, migraines are inherently mysterious. People with migraines often report symptoms that pop up even before the migraine attack, including headache pain, stiffness, food cravings, vision issues, numbness, and difficulty with speech. Migraines can be frightening.

As to what causes migraines, there are a few possible culprits. Notably, women seem to suffer from migraines at a higher rate than men, suggesting a possible hormonal cause. Allergies and genetic predisposition have also been linked to migraines.

Avoiding headaches and migraines

In short, headaches are perfectly normal, but also perfectly manageable. Migraine pain, on the other hand, often is connected to medical issues. You should consider speaking to a doctor if you have a serious migraine and get prescription medication for it. 

However, whether preventing headaches or preventing migraines, a surprising amount of the same tactics work. First and foremost is to make sure you’re cognizant of your diet and schedule. Essentially, this means you should be doing your best to detect if there’s a food or drink that’s causing your headaches. For example, if celery juice causes headaches for you every time you drink it, it’s a good idea to drop it from your diet.

In general, the two keys to avoiding headaches and migraines are going to be sleep and food. More specifically, you’re going to want to develop regular sleeping and eating habits. Skipping meals, or staying up too late on your phone are surefire ways to give yourself headaches. 

Headaches, migraines, and green drink

Of course, it’s not just about eating at regular intervals. Making sure you’re eating the right stuff is also vital. As mentioned, headaches and migraines are often linked to a lack of proper nutrition. If you aren’t getting enough fruits and veggies in your diet, a side effect could be headaches and migraines. In fact, some foods high in ingredients like sodium can even cause headaches!

Sounds like a headache minefield, doesn’t it? Thankfully, you can help fight migraines and headaches by cutting down the sodium and sugar in your diet through juice cleanses. Of course, not all juice cleanses are going to be created equal. Just drinking celery juice could lead to a headache from loss of nutrition, remember? 

Thankfully, Chef V’s green juice recipe is packed full of great nutrients, minerals, and vitamins. Better yet, our cleanses also come with detox smoothies and detox soups (filled with fresh ginger and turmeric!) to help you stay healthy and fit even as you detox out the sodium and sugar. Beating headaches and migraines can be a balancing act, but Chef V has the balance to beat most types of headaches. 

 

Fight Bloating with Detox Soups

Bloating is a common complaint most people make after overeating, eating too fast, or consuming unhealthy drinks and food items. It’s often accompanied by gassiness and abdominal discomfort that may affect your digestive system and bowel movement. If you often feel bloated and the situation persists for a long, it may result in conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 

As much as bloating sounds uncomfortable and irritating, it’s not life-threatening and can easily be cured by consuming the right food in the right portion. Moreover, organically crafted detox soup does wonders for conditions like bloating by soothing pain, relieving constipation, and improving digestion. 

If you or someone you know often experiences bloating, read below about the naturally crafted detox soup by Chef V that helps fight bloating. By adding this herbal soup to your diet, you can take a step forward to a healthy lifestyle.

What causes bloating?

Bloating is a common abdomen condition where your belly appears fuller and tight due to gas in your gastrointestinal tract. It can be triggered by a number of things and pre-existing medical conditions, including lactose intolerance, liver disease, or pelvic inflammatory diseases. 

Some of the most common factors that can cause stomach bloating includes:

  • swallowing air by eating too fast, smoking or for any other reason 
  • constipation
  • irregular weight gain 
  • parasitic infections
  • imbalanced intestinal bacteria
  • food intolerances and ulcers

Turmeric and ginger for bloating

Turmeric and ginger are effective in solving half of your gut problems. Ginger has been used for centuries to cure stomach pains, alleviate gas, and help get rid of bloating, as it’s packed with anti-inflammatory and digestive enzymes. Chef V believes ginger is Mother Nature’s most trusted weapon against stomach pain, nausea, and indigestion.  

Turmeric is a magic spice that combats bloating and gas like no other. The earthy spice has excellent anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, which keep your gut strong and healthy to fight and minimize harmful bacteria. Turmeric is also great for easing constipation as it improves your digestion system. It’s a pure spice anyone can add to their daily routine despite worrying about its side effects. There’s only one thing to note: turmeric contains many essential oils that sometimes make you burp or fart, so if any of you ask if turmeric makes you fart, then the answer would be yes. 

Say yes to Chef V detox soups 

When you sign up for Chef V’s organic juice cleanse or detox challenge, you also get fresh and healthy detox soup called SOUPer Detox. This soup is made only from fresh, organic ingredients that cleanse your liver, regulate blood sugar, and improve digestion, eventually soothing conditions like bloating or gassiness. This flavorful detox soup helps detoxify your body and gives you a warm hug from within to leave you satisfied while flushing your vital organs. 

You can also follow Chef V’s exclusive detox soup recipes on our website for maximum health benefits and to keep your gut strong. All these recipes encourage you to use and consume healthy vegetables, herbs, fruits, and spices, including sweet potatoes, leek, basil, dandelion, cinnamon, and carrots, as they’re rich in fiber, anti-inflammatory properties, and antioxidants to help you fight bloating and irritable bowel movement. 

Visit Chef V or write to us at chefv@chefv.com to learn more about our organic green juice and protein shakes that help keep you healthy and rejuvenated throughout your day. 

Saying Goodbye to Junk Food With a 21 Day Cleanse

If you’re on a diet, you’ll relate to the idea that food cravings can be your worst enemy. No matter how hard you try to stop looking at that crispy fried chicken or hot chocolate brownie, you somehow end up gorging on them because of those uncontrollable and intense desires. 

The fact that junk food is available in minutes at low prices is among the few reasons why most people, despite being on a diet, crave it all the time. In fact, the quick-pick or instant delivery options contribute equally to the ever-growing popularity of junk food. 

There are harmful effects to consuming junk foods, but their convenience and taste often overpower the will to adopt a healthier lifestyle. Well, the best way to say goodbye to junk food is by taking a few baby steps to move away from it slowly and gradually; or else you can continue reading to learn about Chef V’s results-driven ways and 21 day cleanse challenge that will help you stop binging on unhealthy and harmful junk food with time. 

Why do we crave junk food?

Explaining this is far more difficult than placing an order for a burrito bowl because there are many psychological, physical, environmental, and sociological factors that make you crave and eat unhealthy fast food. 

Without getting deep into it, here are a few reasons which may lead you to crave something sweet and fried.

Lack of rest or sleep 

Many epidemiological studies suggest that lack of sleep may result in increased hunger. Sleep deprivation causes major hormone shifts, encouraging you to binge on unhealthy snacks and sweets. You may experience a surge in ghrelin, a hunger-control hormone that causes you to eat more. 

Food euphoria 

When you’re stressed, tense, sad, or anxious, your brain releases endorphins, neurotransmitters that help you deal with pain. As soon as the level of endorphins fluctuates in your body, you start to eat more because that’s how you’ll feel better both physically and emotionally. 

Everyday routine

Most people with a busy schedule prefer eating junk food because that’s what’s instantly available and requires minimal time to get on the table. This expediency makes it difficult to give up junk food. It can be time-consuming to prepare meals and overall seems easier to grab what’s more convenient and easier. 

Benefits of dropping junk food 

Though it’s complex and challenging for some, when you choose to drop junk food, you’re instantly moving a step toward meeting your body and health goals. In the beginning, you may not witness the desired results, but as soon as you start the process, you’ll start to notice the following changes: 

  • Weight loss: quitting junk foods means cutting unnecessary calories from your diet, which eventually helps you lose weight.
  • Rejuvenating skin: most junk food is made from unhealthy or harmful hydrogenated oils and other ingredients that may affect your skin. But when you quit junk food and eat only fresh and wholesome meals, you’ll notice your skin will glow and appear clearer. 
  • Good overall well-being: by dropping junk food, you tend to create more room for nutrient-rich food items, which eventually helps you to remain healthy. You can add a bowl of fresh fruits, vegetable salads, proteins, and whole grains to give your body a boost of health and wellness 
  • Better sleeping cycle: most junk foods come with added sugar that fluctuates blood sugar levels in the body, which largely disrupts sleep. But when you quit junk food and eat only healthy food, you enjoy proper and restful sleep. 

How to curb junk-food cravings 

Nothing is impossible when you’re determined. So, if you want to say goodbye to junk food, you just need to be determined and follow the tips below.

Plan everything ahead

From everyday meals to daily regimes, you need to adjust your whole schedule to create room for new, healthy habits. The best way is to plan and prepare your meals and snacks for each week on weekends. You can also prepare a list of ingredients or food items you need for your meals to avoid last-minute hiccups or, in this case, substituting them with something unhealthy. 

Add more water and protein to your diet 

Water gives you a fuller feeling whenever you feel like munching on something. In fact, drinking water before your meals will help regulate your portion size. Proteins help limit your appetite by keeping you full and satisfied.

Eat less but often 

This helps you avoid getting extremely hungry because when you starve, you tend to look for easy and quick food options, such as a burger or fries. Always carry a few healthy snacks with you, such as nuts, a protein bar, or fruits that can help deal with your instant hunger. 

Try Chef v cleanse green drinks  

The fiber-packed green juices, detox soups, and protein shakes by Chef V can do wonders for you and your body. They’re tasty, healthy, and packed with organic ingredients that help you move a step closer to a healthy lifestyle. These healthy drinks are ready to consume, so if you’ve got a busy schedule and are still finding ways to remain healthy, this is what you need. 

For lifelong results, you can also sign up for the 21 day detox challenge that will successfully eliminate temptations for junk food and sugar without you feeling deprived. In fact, you can customize this 21 day cleanse challenge to fit your budget and body goals. In this three-week time, you’ll indulge in organic green juice made from fresh ingredients, including green kale, dandelions, green chard, and curly parsley. 

For more details on Chef V’s 21 day detox plan, please feel free to write at chefv@chefv.com or contact us to know our delivery locations

Eating for a Glowing Complexion

Did you know that what we eat gets into our skin and appears on our faces? It’s pretty simple — if you eat healthily, you’ll get healthy. Moreover, a wholesome diet significantly gives you rejuvenated and clean skin while helping you achieve your body goals. 

It’s undeniable that healthy skin comes from within; though plenty of skin-care products are available on the market to treat surface-level problems, nothing works best for a glowing complexion than eating the right food that’s also wholesome. 

Chef V also believes in this philosophy, which is why she has radiant and naturally glowing skin. Curious to know how you can get a glowing complexion? Read below to find out some food and drink recommendations by Chef V. 

Nutrients for better skin

The author of the popular book, The Radiant Woman’s Handbook has rightly said that skin care must be good enough to eat. And Chef V couldn’t agree more, which is why she emphasizes including juice cleanses, superfoods, and organic food items in your diet. 

Nutrients are essential for the overall health and wellness of your body. If you miss any of the important nutrients, minerals, or vitamins, it will start to show on your skin and face. Eating for a glowing complexion isn’t as tough as it may sound; all you need to do is say goodbye to unhealthy junk and processed food. In fact, research shows that consuming ultra-processed food items, such as frozen meats, added sugar, packaged cookies, and salty snacks can expedite aging. 

You can fulfill your body’s requirement for nutrients by clean eating. To eat clean means adding whole fruits and vegetables, proteins, fiber, and green drinks to your diet. Look for ingredients or produce rich with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as these may help boost your metabolism, which eventually helps you have clear and radiant skin. 

Food and drink recommendations

If you’re up for taking a step toward a healthy gut and skin, here are a few foods and drinks that must be included in your diet: 

Fish

Fish are incredible sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which keep your skin plush, moisturized, and supple. You can add salmon, herring, or mackerel to your diet as all these are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and zinc that reduce inflammation and help cure acne and redness. 

Lemon

Squeeze it in a glass of water or rub it on your skin; lemons never fail to bring a natural glow to your face. Lemons are great for detoxifying your body and are also one of the richest sources of vitamin C that helps improve wrinkles. 

Dark chocolate 

Chef V gives you another reason to love chocolate, meaning chocolate can elevate your mood and skin. Eating dark chocolate helps improve your skin’s complexion by keeping it hydrated for longer. It’s a superfood with flavonoids that protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Green tea

Green tea helps improve metabolism, but how many of you know it also protects against UV-induced damage? Surprisingly, the polyphenol antioxidants found in green tea work exceptionally well against sunburns. 

Olive oil 

The benefits of olive oil are well known, but did you know it’s also a natural exfoliant for your skin? Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, phytosterols, and polyphenols, which help eliminate free radicals from your body to offer you naturally glowing skin. 

Avocados

Avocados are a healthy source of fats that keep your skin springy and supple. They also have antioxidant properties, vitamin E, and polyhydroxylated fatty alcohols, which help protect your skin against aging and, most importantly, UV-induced damage

Yogurt 

Another great food to add to your diet as it contains amino acids and a significant quantity of lactic acid, which helps reduce dark circles and heal dead skin. You can eat it directly or apply it to your face for an instant glow and long-lasting skin hydration. 

Sweet potatoes

You may not expect this on this list, but sweet potatoes can do wonders for your body and skin. It’s an incredibly rich source of provitamin A and beta carotene, which prevents wrinkled skin, sunburn, and dryness. 

Green drink for better skin 

Chef V offers an easy, healthy and tasty solution for radiant skin. Along with eating for a glowing complexion, you should also start drinking Chef V’s organic green drink. This green juice is made from seven certified fresh and organic greens, including black kale, dandelion green, collard greens, green kale, green chard, and green leaf lettuce. 

Sign up for our 3 day cleanse or 21 day detox challenge that offers you a mix of thoughtfully crafted drinks, such as a protein shake and detox soup, to keep you healthy from within. These naturally crafted drinks have helped thousands of people achieve their body-weight goals, detox vital organs, and rejuvenate skin and hair. 

You can visit our website or contact us today to learn more about our customizable cleanse plans and detox challenges. Click here to find out all our delivery areas and store locations

Tips for Vegan Food Swaps

Whether for climate change, health reasons, or limiting animal cruelty, the vegan population worldwide continues to rise. In fact, more than 620,000 vegans across 220 countries and territories signed up for the 2022 Veganuary Campaign. In the United States, people are turning vegans six times faster in 2022 as compared to previous years.

But going vegan isn’t easy, especially when you don’t know what things to consume and avoid. The vegan market has many plant-based and vegan food options, but finding the right alternatives to your favorite food items can be a little daunting. 

So without overwhelming you with this challenging transition into the vegan lifestyle, here are a few amazing hacks and tips to find the perfect vegan options for your meats, milk, and other go-to grocery items. We’ve tried to keep the nutritional needs of a vegan diet in mind while preparing this list to add high-energy and healthy food alternatives for you. 

1. The perfect meat alternative 

If you’re new to veganism, giving up your usual meaty diets will be challenging, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You can find the same fibrous texture and nutritional values of chicken, beef, or sausages in their vegan alternatives, including tofu, jackfruit, and soy-based protein.

Lentils make the perfect protein-rich substitute for minced meat. You can use the same spices and a variety of boiled lentils to make vegan patties for your burgers and sandwiches. Moreover, lentils are one of the most affordable meat alternatives for vegans. 

2. Say yes to the right dairy products

Thinking about how you can give up your milky cappuccino while going vegan? Well, you don’t have to. You can ditch your regular cow milk with creamier, thicker, and sweeter vegan options like soy, hazelnut, and almond milk. 

You can use coconut milk as it’s thicker and sweeter, whereas rice milk makes a perfect vegan option to add to your smoothies, shakes, overnight oatmeals, and cereal bowls. Cheese is a food item most vegans miss in their diet, but you can swap your cheese with the nutty hemp seed or vegan kimchi queso alternatives. 

Also, don’t forget to add peanut or almond butter to your cart while grocery shopping, as they make the perfect vegan option. 

3. An ideal vegan option for spreads

Love mayonnaise? Try hummus. The creamy texture of blended chickpeas with herbs and garlic of hummus makes a healthier and tastier vegan option for your regular mayonnaise. You can swap maple syrup with honey to drizzle on your waffles and pancakes as a vegan option. Avocados, apple sauce, and pumpkin puree are among some vegan spreads that complement toast the best. 

4. Vegan options for ice cream

Don’t worry about giving up ice creams while going vegan because you’ve many healthy and vegan substitutes for your regular ice creams. To relish a creamy dessert, try frozen bananas, strawberries, or blueberries blended with your favorite nuts. Add any fruit of your choice and freeze it to prepare vegan sorbets and sundaes. 

5. The perfect vegan option for weight loss

If you’re a vegan and want to lose those extra pounds, you can try my 100% organic green juice. It’s healthy, vegan, and made from seven superfoods, including green kale, black kale, collard greens, dandelion greens, and green chard. All these green ingredients are packed with essential nutrients, minerals, and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to help you lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

Moreover, this green juice for detox helps you stay energized by making you feel fuller every time you consume it, eliminating the urge to eat non-vegan or unhealthy food items. You can begin your weight loss journey with a 3 day juice cleanse plan and move further with the specially designed 21-day detox challenge

Chef V strives to help you achieve your health goals, which also includes debunking myths about what you and can’t eat as a vegan and helping you discover tasty vegan alternatives.

Want to learn more about the available detox and cleanses? Visit the Chef V website.

Why Chef V Finds Fruit Fantastic

If you’ve noticed Chef V’s glowing skin, you might be curious as to the reason. Well, some part of the credit goes to the bowl of fresh fruit she eats every day. In fact, the dietary guidelines set out by the United States Department of Health and Human Services suggest consuming fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy diet. 

Fruit is an excellent source of minerals, antioxidants, vitamins, and fiber, which helps you stay healthy and hydrated. Moreover, fruit is a good substitute for unhealthy, sugary, processed snacks, including artificially flavored candies and gummies. 

If you still wonder why adding fruit to your diet is important, read below to learn about some benefits and facts of consuming fruit. We’ve also come up with a list of Chef V’s recommendations for great fruit that we know you’ll love to check out. Take a look!

Why is fruit great?

Eating fruit generally benefits your overall health and prevents common diseases like diabetes and related complications by providing necessary nutrition. They offer an expansive range of antioxidants, such as flavonoids, health-boosting fibers and vitamins. Surprisingly, one banana alone can provide 25% of your average daily fiber intake. 

They help your digestive system, boost metabolism, and keep your body hydrated. Watermelons and strawberries have more than 92% water content, so if you often skip chugging down plain water, you can eat fruit high in water to meet your water requirements.

Most people argue that fruit contains sugar, so are they bad or any better than other sugar alternatives? Yes, fruit contains sugar, but it’s natural sugar, which is a mix of glucose, fructose, and sucrose. Despite the sugar levels, whole fruits still make an ideal choice compared to candies, canned fruit, dried fruit, and soft drinks available on the market. Because whole fruits contain sugar, they give you a fuller feeling, eliminating the need to consume unhealthy snacks and beverages. 

Fruit is also great for individuals on a weight-loss journey. They contain fewer calories, meaning you can swap your regular high-calorie snacks with the fruit of your choice. Fruits like apples, oranges, bananas, and strawberries contain a high amount of fiber, which helps suppress the appetite to prevent overeating. 

Moreover, if you don’t like eating whole fruits, have them as a smoothie, juice, dessert, or salad. You can find hundreds of smoothie recipes for intermittent fasting or go on a cranberry juice detox. Find the best ways to consume fruits and say hello to a healthy lifestyle.

Some of our favorite fruits 

All fruit is fantastic but they vary in nutritional values and health benefits. Here are some of Chef V’s favorite fruits to include in your diet.

1. Lemons 

Lemons are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, carbohydrates, and calcium. They contain antidiabetic and antibacterial properties, which help you deal with indigestion and inflammation.

2. Strawberries 

This juicy, red fruit contains a lot of water, minerals, and vitamins. You can have strawberries in a smoothie, with your cereals, or put some on top of your pancakes for added flavor and a punch of sweetness. 

3. Oranges 

Oranges are the richest source of vitamin C, which fulfill 117% of a person’s daily requirement of vitamin C. They boost your immune system and contain a good amount of iron and fibers to keep you going throughout the day. 

4. Avocados 

Want a low-sugar fruit option? Avocados are a superfood with less sugar content but high potassium and protein. They contain oleic acid, a type of monounsaturated fat, which helps maintain lower cholesterol levels. 

5. Apples 

Eating apples daily can reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers, which is why you say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Apples contain a high amount of minerals, vitamin C, and antioxidant properties, which are great for people losing weight or monitoring their fat intake. 

The bottom line 

Chef V finds fruit fantastic because of its innumerable health benefits and properties. Adding fruit to your diet motivates you to step forward to a healthy lifestyle. You can begin by consuming fruit in smaller portions or in a form that best suits your taste. You can swap between different fruits for all the necessary nutrition for your diet. 

Check out our Chef V cleanses, specially curated organic green juice and protein shakes, which aim to help you achieve your body and weight goals. Visit our website or contact us today to learn more. 

The Benefits of Eating More Locally

Eating locally doesn’t mean getting take-out from a nearby Italian restaurant. The most simple definition of eating local is stopping by your local farmer’s market and shopping for fresh produce. In the United States, the average meal travels more than 1,500 miles to get to your plate. Imagine the freshness and taste of the products by the time it lands in your kitchen; they may be gone by then. 

Moreover, the country’s population of locavores or people who choose to eat more locally is rapidly increasing. A consumer survey revealed 96% of people believe that a product must be grown, produced, and handled within 100 miles of its market to retain its freshness, quality, and taste.  

Below, we touch on different points, including the benefits of eating locally to drive you toward a healthy lifestyle. 

What are the benefits of eating locally?

The concept of eating local is primarily based on distance; the basic idea is to cut down the miles your food needs to travel before it gets to your table. The food you get in your local market, such as fruits and vegetables, tends to have a higher nutritional value, mainly because they’re prepared fresh without processing or getting through an artificial harvesting process to outpace the ripeness. 

Here is a list of benefits of eating locally: 

  • Eating locally benefits the environment. When you shop in a local market, the food doesn’t have to travel from one corner to another corner, reducing greenhouse emissions and consequently improving the carbon footprints. 
  • When you eat locally, you say hello to good health and well-being. Fruits and vegetables, including green beans, broccoli, tomatoes, kale, red peppers, and apricots are prone to nutrient loss when they travel long distances, so it’s always good to shop for these items locally. 
  • You’re supporting local farmers and shopkeepers. Take advantage of local green juice delivery to taste fresh, organic, pure juice, which will be far better than what you get at a supermarket. The idea is to support your local communities to help them strive and thrive while they continue to produce quality products.
  • It also eliminates the need for intermediaries from the supply chain, which benefits local farmers and business owners. When you purchase directly from farmers at the local farmer’s market, all the profit will go to them. 
  • When you buy from local producers, you’re contributing to the local economy. 

Tips for eating more locally

If you’re all set to turn into a locavore, here are a few tips that’ll help you find easy ways to eat locally.

Shop at your local farmer’s market 

Think of the last time you had freshly squeezed juice. With the availability of processed juice and other products, we’ve forgotten what new things taste like. This is precisely why you must go to your nearby farmer’s market. These markets often stock a wide assortment of colorful and vibrant seasonal fruits, freshly baked bread, and free-range meats. Shopping locally not only means getting fresh food at good prices, but it also allows you to meet people within your community. 

Have your own garden 

Trust us, it’s the best thing you can do for yourself. There’s nothing more local than growing your own herbs, fruits, and vegetables. You can choose the kind of plants you want to grow and nurture without artificial fertilizers. Plus, gardening is a healthy habit, which takes you closer to the earth.  

Become part of community-supported agriculture (CSA)

If visiting a farmer’s market looks like a lot, sign up for a CSA program that brings fresh produce to your doorstep weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on the subscription plan. You can choose the food you want, such as dairy, poultry, and fresh produce while opting for the subscription plan. It works the same way as Chef V, which provides organic green drink delivery to your home. 

Grow with the season 

With the availability of cold storage units, you get access to all fruits and vegetables throughout the year, which isn’t a healthy choice for people turning toward a balanced lifestyle. The best idea is to try seasonal produce to enjoy the freshness and unbeatable quality. 

Look for farm-to-table restaurants 

Give up eating at a fast food restaurant that only serves processed or reheated food. Instead, try eating at a local farm-to-table restaurant. At some of these, you can witness how your meals are prepared, using fresh and locally procured ingredients. In fact, the menus are designed to let customers know how the meals are prepared and with what products. 

The bottom line 

Eating locally isn’t just a lifestyle. The philosophy ties you back to your local community through food. With simple steps like shopping at your local market or small businesses, you’re helping farmers, local producers, and their families continue producing the freshest and tastiest food. It also helps contribute to the economy and a healthy environment. 

So, the next time you search for a juice cleanse near me, give it a try at your local juicery, or you can visit Chef V, a platform serving organically produced green juices, plant-based food items, and protein shakes. Our specially curated detox plans help our clients meet their body goals. 

Weight-Loss Basics for Newbies

If you’ve made it here, great job! You’re making the right decision for your overall health and well-being. Undoubtedly, weight-loss journeys are challenging, especially when you don’t know how and where to begin the whole process. 

As a newbie who aspires to shed those extra inches, you need to consider many things, including your weight goal, diet plan, calorie count, work-life and health balance and more, to have a less challenging weight-loss process. Moreover, losing weight triggers your biological mechanisms, resulting in constant mood swings, frequent cravings, and most importantly a strong urge to give up. 

As much as the whole process sounds daunting, it can easily be carried away with a bit of hard work, determination, and adding the right things to your diet. To help you make the right choices in your diet, here are some weight-loss basics to keep in mind to achieve your weight goals. 

Let’s take a look at some weight-loss basics 

1. Setting weight goals 

Don’t get over ambitious with weight goals. If you’re aiming to lose two pounds a week, you can do this but be mindful of the nutritional deficiencies and health problems that may come with it. Set achievable goals, get used to the new lifestyle, and then perhaps decide how to follow the process rather than forcing a regime on yourself for instant results. 

2. Dieting isn’t the right solution 

Especially when you’re a beginner, I wouldn’t suggest cutting down everything you eat in a day. Moreover, sticking to a diet is way more challenging when you’re new to a weight-loss journey. Replacing your burger with a salad bowl is a tough call; instead, try intermittent fasting and portion control. That way, you can eat your usual diet at a specific time to avoid overeating. 

3. Introduce daily movement 

If you’re a couch potato and want to lose weight, you must include exercise or some activity in your regime. Find ways to keep your body active; it could be cycling, brisk walking, hiking, yoga, or gardening. Do what you enjoy the most.

Easy activities for weight loss

The following are a few weight-loss activities to include in your day-to-day life to achieve weight-loss goals:

  • Walking is an excellent fat-burning exercise that’s effective, low-impact, and easy. If it’s feasible, ditch taking a cab or drive to your work or school and start walking.
  • Make your way to a healthy lifestyle by increasing your water intake. Drinking water improves your metabolism and detoxifies your body. Opt for a juice detox diet if you want something tasty yet healthy. 
  • Low-intensity workouts or cardio make an excellent way to introduce movement and activity to the body. Start with fifteen minutes of treadmill, at least three sets of squats, jumping jacks, burpees, and running.
  • Activities like swimming, cycling, and hiking are perfect for engaging your body and muscles.  

Foods for weight loss

This is a common question that pops up in every newbie’s mind who aspires to lose the extra weight. Proteins, such as chicken, eggs, lentils, seeds, nuts, and fish offer more energy to help you get through your day without consuming anything unhealthy like a burger or soda. The right kind of liquids, such as juice and water, also works best to keep you fuller throughout the day. 

Don’t underestimate the benefits of a juice cleanse as they detoxify the body to boost metabolism and keep you away from toxins known to cause weight gain. Keep an eye on calorie count, as eating the right amount of food is important.

Juice cleanse for weight loss

Make your weight loss journeys easy and yummy with my juice detox diet. I prepare these green juices with 100% organic ingredients, including black kale, green kale, collard greens, and green leaf lettuce, which have high nutritional, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant values. 

When you follow my juice detox diet, you don’t have to take any green powder pills. It’s just pure and fresh handmade juice delivered to your doorstep every day. You’ll have no energy crashes or cravings with these green juices. 

If you’re wondering why I vouch for the juice cleanse for weight loss, read what my clients say. You can also sign up for my holistic 21-day detox plan that helps you lose weight and maintain well-being.  

You Are What You Drink: Importance of Filtered Water

Water is just water, right? Well, sometimes it actually isn’t. We live in a world where food and drink move on a global scale, rather than the local. That means we live in a shopping environment where everything is designed to be full of preservatives and additives, whether we like it or not. Fresh is often an unattainable dream for many of us. 

Heck, you can’t even be sure your water isn’t free of the weird stuff. And since water is the primary ingredient in juice for detox and green drink, this can be a bit worrying for those wanting to undergo a blended juice cleanse. Hence, the big interest in filtered water. As proud makers of green drink, here’s our perspective.

Importance of hydration

We could pen pages and pages about why it’s essential to get enough water daily. It’s one of the most critical parts of your diet, and yet one that’s often taken for granted. But without water, your organs and joints wouldn’t work properly, and you’d be far more prone to infections.

If you’re interested in a blended juice cleanse, you’re probably interested in the health of your digestive system, and probably in losing weight. Well, proper hydration is also vital for keeping your digestive system working regularly, and can help curb your appetite and maintain your energy for exercise. No matter how you’re getting it, getting enough water is key.

What’s filtered water?

You might get your water from a tap or a bottle. Filtration is always going to be important, however. Why is this? Well, water might look clear and “empty” but it can actually have way more dissolved in it than you realize. Unfiltered water can be host to a wide variety of mineral or chemical contaminants. Some minerals in your water are good for you. But do you really want something like lead from pipes in your water? Bottled water isn’t much better due to the danger of microplastics.

Filtered water is an attempt to strike a balance between keeping the good in water, while removing the bad. Filtration can take many forms. You’re probably familiar with the carbon filters found in many kitchens across the country. Ion exchanges and reverse osmosis are more advanced methods of filtration. In some places, water is even distilled for filtration — turned into steam and then back into water, hopefully leaving all the bad stuff behind. 

Health benefits of filtered water

So what are some of the actual benefits of drinking properly filtered water? We’ll highlight some of the major ones here. 

Fewer toxins

Lead poisoning from water constantly comes up in the news. Microplastics in bottled water can have a less immediately dramatic effect, but can still damage your health over long periods of time. If you’re someone who demands the freshest organic juice for detox, there’s no reason to ruin this by getting water with all sorts of additives. 

Fewer bacteria

Bacteria can pop up in pretty much any water source. By making sure you’re getting filtered water, you’re preventing any unwanted guests from coming along for the ride when you drink. This can be especially important depending on your area, what the water supply is like, and what the water quality is like as well. 

Taste

Ever had water that just sort of tasted funny? Filtered water helps you avoid that. This isn’t so much of a health benefit on its own. However, if your water tastes good, then you’ll want to drink more of it. The same goes for any green drink or juice for detox made out of your filtered water. Little things like this can really make or break a fruit juice. 

Chef V’s promise

At Chef V, we use only the best clean, filtered water for our delicious green drinks. This is only the start of what makes our green drink special, of course. All of our ingredients are entirely organic, and we always blend instead of juice. We’re simply that dedicated to making sure every part of the process is benefiting you in some way when it comes to making our green juice recipe. Make sure to give our green drink recipe a try, and you’ll see why our detox juice recipe has become so famous! 

Delicious Vegan Picnic Ideas

What’s more wonderful than a picnic in the summer? Not much, that’s what. However, while picnics can be a delight with friends and family, they’re also (unfortunately) a great way to break your diet and healthy eating habits. Buckets of fried chicken don’t exactly scream “healthy vegan option.” So what should  you put into your picnic basket if you’re craving something a little fresher?

You’d be surprised by how many picnic staples can be easily reworked into absolutely amazing vegan counterparts. If you’re despairing at putting together a vegan picnic, then fear not — we’ve got some ideas to get your creative juices flowing. So grab your green drink and juice for detox, and get prepped for summer. Here’s our list of amazing vegan picnic ideas.

#1 Vegan potato salad

Potatoes might not be the first pick for everyone’s diet, but potato salad is a classic. The issue for those going vegan is mayonnaise. However, potato salad ends up being a pretty simple option to turn vegan. 

All you need to do is find some vegan mayo and you’re good to go with your old favorite recipes. You can go store-bought, but you can also fill up some mason jars with your own homemade vegan mayo. You’ll find a ton of tasty examples online, using ingredients such as cashews

#2 Vegan sandwiches

Alright, so no good picnic is complete without the sandwiches. However, let’s say you want to go beyond ham and cheese. You have a ton of potential options and it can be hard to pick which vegan, dairy-free sandwiches to choose from. 

We’d like to forward the humble chickpea as a potential contender for a sandwich star. These little legumes are a viable replacement for meat-based proteins and go well with many different ingredients

#3 Vegan pinwheels

Talking about sandwiches, there are few more iconic picnic foods than playful pinwheel sandwiches. Making some healthier, vegan options for pinwheels is super easy. The trick to making it healthier is to swap in a whole wheat tortilla for the bread. As for fillings, you can find all sorts of great recipes online. 

#4 Vegan dips

Chips and dips are another staple for picnics. You can quickly come up with tons of vegan picnic ideas for dips that are entirely vegan if you do a little bit of poking around. If you’re willing to use vegan meat substitutes, you could put together something like a vegan taco dip. But if you just want to enjoy some fresh fruits and veggies, then whipping up some dairy-free and oil-free dips just takes a little bit of imagination

#5 Vegan pasta salads

It wouldn’t be right to bring up potato salads and not mention that you can just as easily adapt pasta salads into vegan versions. All you need to do is get your favorite fruits and veggies together, some whole wheat pasta, and a light dressing of your choice. This makes a great snack to go along with your green drink or juice for detox, but it’s also fabulous picnic fare. There are plenty of recipes online to get your imagination running

#6 Vegan soups

Soups get unfairly forgotten when it comes to the summer season. It’s not everywhere that has a tradition of cool summer soups. However, if you get good at prepping them, chilled soups can be among the best easy vegan recipes in your arsenal. It’s all the good stuff of green drinks or juice for detox but as a filling meal. A great vegan picnic idea as far as soups go has to be our own gazpacho recipe

#7 Vegan slaws and salads

Coleslaw can be considered part of the holy trinity of traditional picnic salads, along with the aforementioned pasta and potato variations. Just like those, it tends to often have an uncomfortable amount of mayonnaise in it. But, just like those, it’s also the source of fantastic vegan picnic ideas when you start thinking about how to redo the dressing. If you’re looking to get into easy vegan recipes, coleslaws are a great way to start

Coleslaws are  the first step into the larger world of shredded vegetable dishes. Once you get comfy with some easy versions, why not check out the larger world of shredded veggie dishes? We’re a big fan of urab, ourselves — check out our recipe

#8 Vegan pies

A thick slice of pie with some ice cream — a summer dream, but one that seems out of reach for anyone looking for vegan options. Yes, we’re into the dessert section of this list. After all that green drink and juice for detox, you deserve a little bit of a treat every now and again.

But is pie going to be an off-limit dessert for vegan picnics? Not necessarily. It’s entirely possible to develop vegan options for all the old classics. And if you get creative with your dairy substitutes, you might not even need to get rid of the ice cream! 

#9 Tropical fruits

Sometimes, you don’t need to get fancy. Some of the most delicious dessert items for a picnic is  your favorite tropical fruits. Not much is needed here in the way of prep work, but you’ll create a memorable spread your guests will be eager to try again and again. If you want some tips on which tropical fruits make the best vegan picnic companions, why not check out our shortlist of some of our favorite examples? 

#10 Chef V green drink

You can’t have a picnic without something to drink. Low sugar lemonade is one nice option. But why not also enjoy some of that wonderful Chef V green drink? If you’re used to our original recipe, you might not know we have a truly amazing tropical version. This is the perfect companion to any picnic in the summer heat. No matter what you decide, just make sure you load up on the fruits, veggies, and plenty of water. And, of course, make sure to have fun! 

© 2021 Chef V, LLC.