The Case for VitaMix, Cooking, & Your Health

I am often asked why I am a Vitamix junkie & am happy to recite my list (yes, it's a list) of reasons. Today while listening to the radio I learned yet another interesting tidbit.

The Journal of Agriculture & Food Chemistry recently published findings from a study showing antioxidant levels in carrots were increased more than 34% when cooked or pureed. Luke Howard, lead author of the study contends "The softening of the carrot tissue allowed phenolics attached to the cell wall to be released".

Levels of antioxidants continued to rise during the first week of storage and then began to fall after 2 weeks in storage. However, antioxidant levels of stored carrots remained higher than that of fresh raw carrots.

Howard explained that reactions that occurred during storage resulted in the formation of new phenolic compounds "with excellent antioxidant activity."

Keeping the outer skin on carrots also boosted antioxidant activity slightly, researchers found.

"Numerous phenolic compounds are located in the (skin) of fruits and vegetables, many of which are removed by peeling steps prior to processing," the study notes.

While the study used cooked carrots, I will point out that jucing or "Vitamixig" (pureeing without cooking) has the same effect as cooking in that it breaks down the cell wall to allow the nutrients out.

The nice thing about using the Vitamix is that if you don't cook the veggies you don't kill the living enzymes & amino acids, you get all the fibre, & it is easy to digest. All the benefits of the vegetables!

Read the article here.

Test Posting at BRCC

Here we go--posting on the blog! No, it's not a post about my beloved Vitamix.

Vita-mess!

Note to self:

Do not overfill the Vitamix. No matter how good it will taste when finished...

Another Raw Food Vitamix Recipe

The vegetables in Western North Carolina have been fantastic this year. We've had plenty of rain & you can sure tell it!

This is one that we make at least once a week. I know it sounds weird but it actually has a pretty good taste & is loaded with both vitamins & fiber.

1 apple
1 small carrot
1 cup pure water
1 small cucumber
1 cup ice
1 tsp nutmeg
1 small piece vanilla bean or 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Blend all together till smooth.

Enjoy!

Raw Food Vitamix Recipe

2 cups pitted bing cherries
1 cup rice
4 cups water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 vanilla bean
2 tbs raw agave nector

Soak the rice and vanilla bean in water overnight.
Put the goop in the Vitamix & blend till smooth.
Strain.
Put rice milk mixture into ice trays & freeze,

Add ice cubes, vanilla extract, agave nector, cherries & blend till smooth.

This recipe is a bit high in carbs, but a good option for those avoiding dairy. Not to mention it tastes great!

Enjoy!

Vitamix Raw Recipe

I do love my Vitamix!

Here's what has to be the simplest recipe yet.

2 cups ripe local strawberries
1/4 cup raw honey

Blend for about 10 seconds.

Pour over ice cream, strawberry shortcake, or anything else that you want to see disappear when you serve it.

Enjoy!

Another Raw Vitamix Recipe

Tom made this one last night & it was so good!

Veggie Soup

1 carrot
1 stick celery
1 cup spinach
full glass water - 16 oz
1 tbs Braggs Liquid Amino

Add to Vitamix & set to High till warm (or hot if you don't want raw)

This is the best tasting cream of veggie soup I've ever had.

Enjoy!

Vitamix Recipe - Make Your Own Raw Veggie V8

3 really ripe tomatoes
1 stick celery
1 cup pure water or ice
1-2 carrot
dash ground coriander

Add it all to the Vitamix & blend with variable setting till smooth. Strain it if you can't handle the pulp--don't strain it if you want all the fiber.

Enjoy!

Another Raw Vitamix Recipe

I had this yesterday--it was delicious!

1 pint blackberries
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
3 tbs raw agave nector
2 cups pure water

Add the sunflower seeds to water & set vitamix to variable. Blend till smooth.
Add the rest of the ingredients.

Enjoy!

A variation to this (if you drink dairy) is to add about a cup of plain or vanilla yogurt and/or some ice.

Another Raw Food Vitamix Recipe

This time of year in Hendersonville is so nice. We are starting to see some fresh produce & lots of strawberries (which I love). I don't know whether you could call this recipe vegan ice cream, strawberry gelato, or slush--all I know is it is good!

1 cup rice--soaked for 8 hours in 1 cup pure water
3 tbs raw agave nector
1 lemon wedge--peeled & frozen
2 tbs vanilla or 1/2 vanilla bean
2 cups ripe strawberries - frozen

Slowly add the ingredients in the vitamix until well mixed. Freeze if you want, then remix one more time in vitamix.

To make it more "slushy", add a few ice cubes.

Enjoy!