Juice Nashville.

Well, I know that this is usually the part of the week where I post some "Instagram Inspiration" for you guys to get your creative juices flowing to make, well, juice of course! But I'm going to switch it up a little. I stumbled upon something (and someone) amazing right here in our very own backyard! When I first started this blog and my juicing journey, I not only shared my experience with those of you that read my blog but also everyone around me. I  personally think that everyone should juice, but I wanted to start by making an impact in Nashville first! I started thinking of a business plan that would incorporate a food truck, etc. I thought I'd done my homework thoroughly, but I see now that I missed something. Just the other day I found  *cue music* juice.Nashville -- and it's everything I could've dreamed up and SO much more. Stephanie Waring is the brain behind the concept and let me say, this girl's got talent. And she's been around since July of last year and I still can't believe it took me this long to find her -- and I couldn't even tell you how. But I'm so very glad that I did.

I've never been a fan of 'green juice'. Every time I've juiced it at home, it just never works out that great. Maybe my amounts/ingredients are off or maybe it's just my juicer, or heck, maybe it's just my palate. Well, I honestly thought the latter was the truth, that is until I tried some of her 'ting.' this week. I literally was overwhelmed by the taste and the smoothness -- it was magic in my mouth.

So now I'm hooked. I had tracked her down Tuesday at the 12South Farmer's Market (my first time there, but more on that in a second) and that's where I got my hands on a sample of the 'ting.' -- and then I bought one of each that she had with her. And oh, do I wish she had more. There was c-ya. (apple, orange, grapefruit, ginger), hot stuff. (apple, lemon, cayenne pepper), and pear-fect. (pear, ginger). She has a whole variety of different juices that she makes fresh daily and she even offers a 3 day cleanse program which I'll be definitely be doing either next week or the following! I'll keep you guys posted!

Delvin Farms had some great greens fresh and on ice.
Snagged a huge bundle of kale for $3.00!

Real quick on the 12South Farmer's Market -- what a great little gem. I've spent time over in the 12South neighborhood and had heard that they had a market over there, but had no clue that it was completely different from what we have over here in East Nashville on Wednesdays. There's food trucks, fresh baked breads, jams, honey, fresh meats and pastas, my new juice friend (haha) and even a 'chick' that makes fresh hummus that is to die for! Yes, I said to die for and her name is Hummus Chick :) She had 5 different ones and I only sampled two since I'm a hummus fiend and knew I'd buy them all if I tried them. And really, who needs that much hummus? I snagged one called Spicy Canvas though and it was super yummy! OH and she had a chocolate hummus too! I didn't dare try it though, I'm saving that for another Tuesday when I want to indulge. All in all, I'm quite excited about my new finds this week. Fresh greens -- check. Food trucks -- check. Hummus Chick -- check. Fresh juice -- check.

So, who wants to do a 3-day+ juice fast with me?

Citrus: Immune Boosters.

So growing up as kids, our parents always made us consume citrus when we were getting sick -- well, at least mine did. My dad use to take and warm up grapefruit juice and make me gargle and drink it for a sore throat. My mom always made me drink large amounts of orange juice (I prefer pulp free) to help fight the sniffles. Lemon tea with a little honey was always great too when a cold was coming on. I never really understood then why it was so important, but as I got older, I started learning about the benefits of these beautiful gems. I figured since it was that time of year again when sniffles, sneezes and sour throats are running rampant -- that I'd take the time to remind everyone why they're so important. I'm just going to touch on a few today and wrap up the topic next week.

Oranges -- there are several different varieties from sweet to bitter -- Valencia, Persian, Naval, Jaffa and Blood. The most popular ones, of course being the sweeter ones, are what you typically find in your every day orange juice varieties.

• Helps fight off viral infections due to an increased amount of polyphenols -- also helpful for treating bronchitis and pneumonia as well as several other diseases.
• High amounts of Vitamin C help fight off free radicals that can lead to cancer. Liminoid also helps fight off certain forms of cancer that can affect the skin, lungs, colon, stomach, breast and mouth. Vitamin C also helps reduce chances of heart disease and has great anti-inflammatory properties that help with arthritis and other debilitating joint/muscle issues. 
• Helps to alleviate constipation due to high levels of dietary fiber.
• The flavonoid Hesperidin helps to regulate blood pressure and the magnesium found in oranges helps to maintain healthy blood pressure levels.
• Good levels of beta-carotene helps protect our skin from free radicals that can cause cancer and damage, as well as help delay the signs of aging. 
• Oranges are full of calcium which promotes strong teeth and bones.
• Helps prevent kidney issues -- and regulates the formation of kidney stones when used in moderation.

Additional Sources: WHFoods and Juicing For Health

Grapefruits -- there are a ton of different types, but most commonly you'll find red, white and pink pulp kinds in the States. Fun Fact: They actually got their name because of how they grow -- you can find them in clusters, just like you would grapes. 

• These also have high levels of Vitamin C which help with boosting the immune system as well as fighting off common colds, reducing fevers, helping to increase liver function and getting rid of gallstones. 
• Antioxidants found in grapefuit can help lower cholesterol levels but you shouldn't eat them if you're on any prescriptions -- something in the fruit causes a negative reaction to certain meds and you should ask a doctor first. 
• Just like oranges, there is a high level of lycopene that helps fight off free radicals that lead to cancers and skin damage. Naringenin is a compound found in grapefruit that helps repair damaged DNA cells and by doing so slows/reduces/stops the reproduction of cancer cells. 
• Contains salicylic acid helps alleviate arthritis by breaking down the inorganic calcium in our bodies that binds up our joints/ligaments. Also because of salicyclic acid, grapefruit seed extracts can be added to water to be used as an antiseptic for treating infections. 
• Got a few extra pounds? (who doesn't!) Grapefruit helps speed up your metabolism, thus helping you to shed some weight. You should definitely add them to your regimen if you're looking for something to speed things up.

Additional Sources: WHFoods and Organic Facts

What are some of your favorite uses for citrus?