Between back to school/book/blog juggling, I had forgotten that I happily agreed to review Shauna Martin's book, Daily Greens 4-Day Cleanse, when it showed up at my door along with a handful of her Daily Greens juices on a day that I was feeling particularly frazzled (<-- I think that meets criteria for a run-on sentence). I had also been neglecting both my blender and juicer in hopes of saving a few extra minutes each day, but quickly felt the absence from the lack of green goodness in my diet (e.g., lethargy, mental fog).
So when I opened that box, I'm 99% certain there was an ethereal ray of sunshine beaming down on the book and juices. A gift from the universe (and Shauna/her publisher -- thank you!) that said something along the lines of, "Get your green [back] on, girl." Because the universe is just as full of wit and spunk as it is expertly-timed coincidences. I guzzled the juices down over the next two days and have been making Shauna's green juices over the last handful of weeks.
Current trendiness aside, there is something truly powerful about green smoothies/juices (at least in my experience). When I regularly drink them, I feel more focused, motivated, energized, and lighthearted. It's as if the mental fog and stress are cleared away by a potent dose of chlorophyll. I ♥ you, chlorophyll.
Daily Greens 4-Day Cleanse is bursting with Shauna's appealing and practical approach to fitting more green goodness into our days. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 at the age of 33, Shauna searched for answers to both the cause and the cure. With research and knowledge from leaders like Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Kris Carr as her guide, Shauna dove head first into a plant-powerful and green-juice-infused lifestyle to support her fight back to health. In the book, she recalls the perks of adding a simple daily green juice into her life...
"I had an incredible amount of energy all the time. My immune system -- which had been completely wiped out by the chemotherapy -- rebounded. My skin glowed, and my hair (which was finally growing back) was black and shiny once again. Mentally, I was sharp and clear. And I was happy. For me, the daily flush of nutrients from my green juice was like the fountain of youth." (Daily Greens 4-Day Cleanse, p. 12)
In 2012, Shauna paid the green goodness forward by getting green juice in as many hands as possible. She started by making and selling cold-pressed juices at her local farmers market and just five months later, her juice line, Daily Greens, launched at Whole Foods Markets.
And now she's sharing her wealth of knowledge through the thoughtful, inspired pages of her book, Daily Greens. The book is broken down into six chapters, including pre- and post-cleansing and four, seasonal green juice and raw food cleanses. Shauna starts by detailing the hows and the whys of juicing, cleansing, and eating seasonal, organic produce before diving into the four cleansing programs: New Year, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Each cleanse chapter includes two shopping lists; one for juicing and one for meals. Then, Shauna outlines the juices and raw meals for each day, including raw snack ideas that provide an energy boost when needed.
The juices are creative and flavorful (e.g., Kale Grape Melon, Pear-Vanilla Green, Strawberry Green Juice, Carrot-Cilantro Green, etc.) and the raw meals are drool-worthy whether you're on a cleanse or simply looking for a flavorful, nutrient-dense meal (e.g., Red Cabbage & Walnut Salad, Gazpacho, Vegan Caesar Salad, Raw Guacamole Tacos, etc.). If I would have had Raw Guacamole Tacos when I did a 3-day juice cleanse a couple years back, I might not have been such a B by the end of the first day.
I've been picking and choosing juices and meals to make from this book, and I've fallen in love with the recipe for Shauna's Daily Morning Greens Juice. It's a staple green juice and can be remixed to suit a variety of taste buds. Whether you like your greens sharp and grassy or softened by a bit of sweetness, there's a twist for everyone in this one recipe.
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post for 1) the recipe and 2) to enter for a chance to win a copy of Daily Greens 4-Day Cleanse AND 3 Daily Greens juices (Renew, Elevate, and Purity). If you're eager to grab your very own copy of the book now, you can purchase it here!
Shauna Martin's Daily Morning Greens Juice from Daily Greens: 4-Day Cleanse + A Giveaway!
Ingredients
- ½ bunch of kale (or other dark greens)
- 1 cucumber
- 5 celery stalks or 1 head of romaine (I used romaine)
To Cut the Greenness
- ¼ lemon, peeled
- ¼- inch piece ginger root
To Add Flair
- Handful for basil or mint (6 to 7 leaves)
To Add Sweetness
- ½ apple or pear, or ¼ of either or both, cored and cut into pieces
Instructions
- Wash all ingredients except lemon (if using).
- Cut and core the apple or pear (if using) and cut into pieces that will fit through your juicer. (I've been adding lemon, ginger, and ½ a pear to mine -- AM)
- Run all ingredients through your juicer, scrape off foam (if desired), and enjoy!
Notes
Daily Greens 4-Day Cleanse Giveaway
One winner will receive a copy of Shauna Martin's Daily Greens 4-Day Cleanse + 3 Daily Greens Juices (i.e., Renew, Elevate, and Purity). For a chance to win, simply enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below and comment on this post between October 13th and October 27th. Please note: this giveaway is only open to residents of the United States.
I'd love to win this book because I am trying to be healthier and I haven't always been the greatest at getting my daily veggie on.
Looks like a great book, would love to try those raw tacos!
That looks delicious. I have totally been lazy about smoothies and juices lately. I need a good kick to get back into it!
I love the refreshing quality of green juice and that it offers an easy way to pack in nutrients without a lot of digestive effort!
I've never had a juice! I even have a juicer, but I've never used it!
I feel like I am taking care of my body when I drink green juice! Thanks for the giveaway!
Green juices are my favorite! I always struggle to get enough greens in my diet, and incorporating them into juices has been a huge help. I've got a few go-to recipes, but the book would help me expand my green juice repertory!
I don't have a juicer but I do love my green smoothies. I feel SO much better when I have my daily dose of greens.
I love green juice (on the sweet side!)and I would love some new recipes to break up my routine!
I have been maintaining a healthier diet and cut out soda and sugar
Looks amazing! My husband and I have been talking about doing a juice cleanse- this would be the perfect opportunity! :))
I am trying to eat better foods and I love green juices but need some inspiration and ideas for juicing. I love green juices because you can mix a variety of foods with them like ginger and lemon.
Looks like a great book. Last Sunday I was thinking about doing a cleanse. My body has just felt "off" and Daily Greens would be a great guide to doing it right.
I love green juices because of the refreshing taste and knowing how good they are for my body.
Just bought a Juicer last weekend and have started juicing daily.....would love a little guidance.
I've never juiced or done a cleanse before. My husband and I gutted our kitchen and have been eating pretty terrible the last 6 weeks. This book looks like a great opportunity for us to get back to health!
I'd like to win to inform myself of the benefits and love Green juices, they are so healthy
I love juicing and would like to try a juicing cleanse.
As I've recently gone vegan I'm realizing how important each vitamin source is and where things lie. How greens can provide so much. This book seems like it would provide a lot of helpful recipes to add that boost of green i need!
I love drinking green juices because I simply love the feeling of infusing my body and health with pure, natural goodness! And they're so refreshing too!
I am still new to and experimenting with green juices and I know Daily Greens 4-Day Cleanse would be so helpful in finding some great juice recipes!
What an exciting giveaway! As a student, I love green juices because they give me the clarity and energy I need without the caffeine crash of coffee. I have only one or two recipes that I use now so a recipe book would be great to expand my juice repertoire
I love when I drink green juice it makes me feel so energized.
I would love to win this to help me with my health. I'm about to embark on a juicing journey but realize I don't really know what I am doing. Would love to learn the right way. Thanks!
I would love to win this for me and my husband. We are starting on a healthy eating/juicing journey. We want to be healthy, strong and have energy.
I love the way I feel after a nice tall glass of green juice - so refreshing, so healthy, so clean-feeling! I went through a short period when I would drink a green smoothie every morning, but I got quickly bored of drinking the same thing every morning...I'm looking for more inspiration and new ways to incorporate more veggies into my diet...this book and sample would help me introducing more juicing diversity!
There is certainly a lot to learn about this topic.I love all the points
you have made.