MY GREEN JUICE RECIPE

1) Slice up one ripe Gala apple (this will make your green drink sweet and delicious)

2) Open up a grapefruit and peel the thick skin off (the grapefruit will add a bit of acidity and freshness to your juice)

3) Use a handful of spinach or more if you want

4) Add some kale or parsley to the mix!

Grapefruit is a very important fruit for weight loss because they are high in fat burning enzymes and antioxidants. Grapefruit also decreases your insulin level which helps with weight loss because it burns energy more effectively and increases your metabolic rate. For those looking to fight off the common cold and free radicals, grapefruit provides you with lots of Vitamin C! Grapefruit is also useful for ridding yourself of indigestion. It can be digested quickly and easily, reducing the heat and irritation that is in your stomach.

Juicing spinach can be a bit tricky because it is fairly difficult for the body to metabolize it compared to other vegetable juices. Most people don’t use it as the main ingredient in juice mixes. I only use a handful. Try and use fresh spinach quickly because it will eventually lose beneficial nutrients when stored over longer periods of time (more than a few weeks). Spinach is supposed to be helpful for improving regularity and cleansing the heart and liver.

Kale is also an excellent source of nutrients, especially vitamin A and calcium. With a combination of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients, kale is a dieter's dream food. It provides decent amounts of vitamin C, folic acid, vitamin B6, manganese, and potassium.

The crappy thing about juicing is, you don't get the beneficial fiber. It actually goes to waste unless you use it for "jook" afterwards. I guess you can also use it for a face mask by mixing it with honey. I usually end up just throwing it away...

I try to switch back and forth with a juicer and a blender or sometimes I'll use both. I will juice some fruits and veggies and then blend it with a banana or add in some blueberries to make sure I'm getting some fiber. It's a lot of work having to wash everything afterwards but if it becomes part of your daily routine, you'll get used to it!

Some other veggies/fruits I like to juice include:
- carrots
- celery
- oranges
- peach
- lemon
- nectarine

MY VISIT TO THE DERMATOLOGIST

Last week I went to see a dermatologist for the very first time because I started to form these annoying rashes on my elbows and knees. I also had these tiny little clear bumps on my hands that were so small you could barely see them and they would sometimes itch like crazy. If you looked super closely, you could see this small dot smack in the middle of it but it was impossible to pop. Anyways... It drove me crazy! I thought I was allergic to something or had a serious skin condition so I booked an appointment after 3 weeks of hoping it would go away on its own.

I tried a bunch of over-the-counter medicines like hydrocortisone creams, benadryl, benadryl cream, and Kheils extra strength moisturizer but none of it worked. Finally I asked my doctor if she could recommend a dermatologist and she directed me to this place. I can't thank her enough for it because the ointment the Dr. prescribed me made such a big difference! I wish I would've just gone in sooner instead of being my stubborn self. I changed my bedding, changed my laundry detergent to a non-allergenic one, and even changed my body wash to Cetafil thinking they all had something to do with it.

Anyways here's a before and after picture of my elbow.

This was before... So gross huh? Sorry. I just had to post it for you to see haha.

and this is after!

Thank GOD for Dr. Stuart. She was so sweet, so easy to talk to, and she made it all go away! Well, I still have to put on the ointment for another week or so but it's already made such a drastic difference. She pretty much said I had dermatitis and that it can be caused by sweat, pressure, heat, or friction. She said yoga and working out at the gym a lot could've caused it or me taking frequent hot showers. Now I'm going to make sure I super sanitize everything at the gym including my yoga mat! Also, she said the little tiny bumps on my hands are caused by me washing my hands too often. My friend told me the same thing but of course I didn't believe her haha. I do have to admit, I wash my hands A LOT! I guess I need to be a little less OCD about germs on my hands...

Anyways, if anyone has skin problems and is interested in going in for a consultation with Dr. Stuart you can go to www.lajollaskin.com and set up an appointment. She is awesome!

She's also specialized in laser treatments. I felt like I was on the Kardashians when I walked into her office and saw all the celebrity botox pics. Haha. Glad my procedure didn't require any needles or shots!