Thoughts on juicing

The results are amazing, either that or I am suddenly, coincidentally, miraculously transformed.

I have been lacking in energy and enthusiasm for years - most of my life I would say.  I'm overweight, sluggish, generally under par, groan when I sit down, groan louder when I stand up.  I was starting to think that it's just a matter of getting older and having parts - mainly joints - that simply aren;t up to the job any more. 

But this juicing lark has really made a difference.  Within literally a day or two of starting, my achey knees are fine, I don't feel the need to grizzle every time I stand up, or collapse with a sigh onto the sofa.  I'm trotting up the stairs with no complaints at all, I'm sleeping far better than of late, and I have energy for everything that I want to do.  It's wonderful, really it is.  Little short of miraculous.

I'm juicing at least once a day, usually twice.  I always start with a couple of organic carrots, and usually at least one apple.  After that it's a matter of whatever I have and fancy at the time.  I have successfully used watermelon, ginger, celery, cucumber, pineapple, pears, broccoli, fennel, kiwi, red and golden beetroot and grapes.  I have tried and rejected cauliflower and spring greens  My thoughts on that (after "yuck") are that it's probably best not to juice anything that you'd not be happy to eat raw. 

There are still so many fruits and veggies waiting to be explored!

Washing up the juicer is a nuisance, and isn't doing my hands too many favours, but overall the benefits are far more numerous and obvious than the trifling down side.  I started a cold on Friday; by Wednesday I was symptomless, and I was able to walk the dogs on all days between except for one.  Normally a cold floors me completely, and my husband, who started his 4 days before me, is still suffering 10 days later.  I did make him one juice but he's really not keen.  His loss!

I'll be keeping this up as long as the juicer and my ability to buy good-quality and mainly organic fruit and veg last.

The results are in and ......

...... I'm allergic to cobalt (strongly), Balsam of Peru (strongly) and Carba mix (weakly).

Cobalt is bad news, partly because I've no way of knowing what I'm touching that contains it, and partly because if I succumb to pernicious anaemia (and I may - vitamin B12 deficiency is quite common in older people) I can't be treated for it as the treatment is cobalt!  So I'm kind of ignoring this one, except that I'll be asking for regular blood tests to check my B12 level.

Carba mix I'm less concerned about.  I should probably not touch anything rubber such as elastic bands, latex gloves and - help - knicker elastic, but it's fairly easy to avoid.

The big problem is Balsam of Peru.  It's everywhere, in cleaning products and personal care products and if that were not bad enough, if one is allergic to it then one is also likely to be allergic to a host of things that form a large part of my diet.  Tomatoes, citrus fruit, the sweet spices (cinnamon, cloves, vanilla etc. Christmas will be very bleak) pickles, chutneys, sauces, anything with "flavouring" as an ingredient is suspect, beer, wine, gin, ice-cream and - chocolate.  Of course they jest.  A future without curry, gin or chocolate?  Shoot me now.

I'm due to go back for a follow-up appointment towards the end of this month, and I'm going to ask for what used to be called a RAST test (no idea what they call it now).  They take your blood and test it for reaction to various foodstuffs so they can give you a list of what you are *definitely* allergic to.

I have my fingers crossed that I'm not allergic to eating any of these things, and that my reactions are purely contact allergies.  It's possible.

My hands are still very fragile and will break out at the slightest provocation.  I am careful with them but probably not careful enough.  You've got to live thought haven't you, and there are many things one cannot accomplish with hands swaddled in cotton wool.

My other plan of attack is to start drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juices, made at home, to boost my immunity and nutritional status.  I've made a start, and jolly tasty it was too.

Apples, red beetroot, golden beetroot, celery, fennel bulb and carrots. 
Very, very good!  Gave me wind though.

I've also ordered some turmeric and will be trying the famous "golden paste" that seems to bring such well-being to the human organism.

If none of that works, I'm stuffed!