When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves.
– Viktor Frankl
For the last seven years I have devoted all of my time and energy to reclaiming my health after totally losing it to Lyme Disease: a systemic bacterial infection contracted from the bite of a poppy-seed sized tick.
Seven years ago I was a workaholic PhD student, who spent all of her time at the gym, training for the Chicago marathon. I ate cake for dinner or whole French baguettes slathered with peanut butter and butter (yes…a double butter whammy), and I drank copious cups of coffee. I loved my sugary, frantic, social butterfly existence. I had absolutely nothing to worry about. My life was galloping along, and I was embracing every minute of it.
And then, like a buff of smoke, my health disappeared. And, my entire life changed.
I lost my health rather instantly, and in dramatic fashion. I could barely walk or stay awake; my body burned with pain. I was shuttled from one baffled doctor to the next. Only to be told that there was nothing wrong with me.
I lost the ability to work and to see my friends and family — my life totally shrunk. I was left without a diagnosis for five years. I was also left with the cold, hard fact that I was on my own. So, like the consummate student I was, I dove deep into research, and I read about the power of food to heal the body.
I learned that in order to get out of the mess I was in, I had to take drastic action. No one else was going to save me; I had to save myself.
If you lost your health, completely, what would you do?
One of the most powerful and transformative practices I started was juicing. Juicing is an amazing way to saturate the cells with body rockin’ nutrients — nutrients that help the body to heal.
I constantly meet people, who like me, have lost their health or are struggling to gather enough energy to get through their day. And, to both of these lovely souls I say, “you need to start juicing”.
But to some, juicing can seem abstract. Where do you start? What type of juicer do you buy? How on earth do you make a juice that doesn’t taste like Satan in a glass?
Well…I’ve created a little How to Start Juicing infographic to dispel the mystic.
How to Start Juicing
This infographic illustrates the four different types of juicers available on the market; it also shows you a 4-step strategy to make a beautiful tasting juice.
The infographic eliminates all of the guess work, which ultimately fuels inaction. And, let’s be honest, when you want to dramatically change the way you feel, you need to take dramatic action.
I’m happy the report that I did finally get the medical help that I needed, and I’m almost fully recovered. But I strongly believe that my recovery would not have been possible if I didn’t change my approach to the food that I eat and the life that I live.
I’m pretty proud to say that I no longer eat cake for dinner, and I now live each day empowered with the knowledge that I have the strength and the know-how to reclaim my health and my life.
I fully agree with what Mastin Kipp of The Daily Love says: My life and how I respond to it is 100% my responsibility.
If you would like to start juicing but you just don’t know how to begin, print off a copy of the infographic, and check out the three juice recipes, below. Let’s get our juice on! Your body will love you for it!
3 Delicious Juicing Recipes
Thank you for this easy to understand article and directions to juicing. I love your photos with the ingredients on the juice glasses! ~ Donna
You are very welcome, Donna. Happy juicing!
So “juicing” helped you? I doubt that. This article stinks of over-selling. I don’t even believe your story. It sounds made up. So you could barely move and were on your own for 5 years?
Sorry, I know people who are or were in real pain and believe me you can’t survive on your own that way and juice is certainly not the way to go with acute and chronic pain. You’d rather try acupuncture and other Traditional Chinese Medicine remedies.
So don’t try to trick pain patients by selling them a juicer. This is really vicious.
Hi Tad Chef,
Speaking as person who suffered from chronic fatigue, thyroid, liver, gall bladder issues for years with no relief from conventional medicine I can say that I truly bless the day I started juicing. Like you, I was very skeptical at first, but decided to give it a try since I had zero hope elsewhere. I was told I would be on medication for the rest of my life and now I am a testament that juicing does truly help to restore your body bad to it’s natural state (free of dis-ease).
But, I do think that you should try it for yourself and see what happens, it is a practice that has been around for very, very long. Please research it since it would be too much for me to write here. I would suggest that you start off with a The Gerson Miracle (documentary available on Netflix) and also it would not hurt to delve into the ancient practices of Hippocrates (a Greek physician) who urged all of his patients to “let thy food be thy medicine.”
In all, I am now a strong believer that what you put into your body (in terms of nutrition–hence juicing) is the key to getting rid of many chronic conditions with which we seem to needlessly suffer (as I did).
Wow, Gina, thank you so much for sharing a part of your story. I, too, believe that food has the power to heal or harm. And, during the process of healing from a chronic illness, nutrition can provide a strong foundation for recovery. It’s great to hear that you’re feeling better.
Thank you Allison for sharing your story–I usually never comment, but was inspired to add my bit to your own testament.
I was told many times by others that I must be “promoting or selling something” and the only thing I was really promoting and selling is the idea that we have more control over our health than we think. You don’t even have to buy a juicer if that is what you choose (although it does come in very handy for getting instant vitamins and nutrition into our bodies), but eating more veggies, fruits and drinking lots of water will also provide great benefits.
I am so glad that juicing (in combination with other methods) has worked for you!
Hi Tad, thanks for your input. I’m not making a claim that juicing was the only thing I used to help me heal. I used a huge amount of holistic practices right along side traditional medical care (long term antibiotic therapy). It is true that I was left without medical care for 5 years. And it is true that I wasn’t able to live independently during that time. I relied heavily on my husband and my mother. As you can see on my blog, I don’t sell anything. I’m just here, telling my story of how I lost my health and how I regained it. I truly believe that diet, which includes juicing, helped me to rebuild my strength — And, I’m so grateful for that.
All the best.
Tad,
Alison is a neuroscientist, and she has experienced this herself. I think she is perfectly justified in writing what she did, neither did I see any adverts for juicers on my page.
It reminded me of Dr Terry Wahls who is a doctor and has got better from 2nd stage MS through changing her diet, so the fact that Alison has been helped by drinking juice does not surprise me.
Much like you, I suffered a total loss of health and truely believe that juicing has made a huge difference for me. I suffered a massive pulmonary saddle clot through out my pulmonary artery. I was sent home to live the rest of my remaining life in a state of oxygen dependency and very limited activity ( I couldn’t even walk a flight of stairs to tuck my son in bed at night)
I’m not saying juicing is what totally fixed me, but I know it has had an emense supporting role in my regained health.
I’m asked about how to get started and always find it hard to explain it. Because I just took a chance on it and my journey has been trial and error. Gladly though I will point the questions to this article as it is something I wished I had seen when first starting out.
Paul,
Your story is incredible! You really battled back. And, I greatly admire that. All the best to you and yours.
Great infographic! I’ll share it around now.
If you’re up for an interview about your battle against Lyme disease, please let me know on my site wodara.org (krista@wodara.org).
I recently shared an article of a battle against cystic fibrosis and I’d love to share something similar about your flight: http://wodara.org/2013/07/17/fight-the-drowning-feeling/
Congrats on such a successful battle and the discovery of juicing.
All the best,
Krista
I don’t doubt the narration at all, despite skepticism expressed. The ingredients mentioned cleanse and nourish a malfunctioning system. Taking the juice in the morning ,particularly, is helpful and invigorating.
I suffered from all sorts of stomach related problems like bloating, acidity, irritable bowels,pancreatitus and obesity. Juicing was the surest way to stabilise my stomach and give me back the energy. In the process I lost several kgs of unnecessary weight. What we put into our mouths is what controls our health. Eating fruits and leafy vegetable salads along with juicing is also beneficial because of the dietary fibre that comes with eating the fruits and vegetables as a whole. I strongly recommend this for any one with health problems and one who is seeking alternate methods of healing themselves. I used to consume several medications some years ago and now I do not eat a single tablet. I have lost 15kgs overall and am in total control of my life through good eating habits. I wish I could reach out to people who want to take charge of their lives to become healthier.
I’ve often used the excuse that juicing is too time consuming and messy. I also have a very, very small kitchen. But I’m moving in a couple weeks and might have to make juicing a part of my new home’s norm.
Dan, your body is going to love you! Juicing really does rev-up your energy level.
I was in a very similar situation: small kitchen, lack of time. My first juicer was not great. It took forever to clean, and, yes, it was super messy. Then I upgraded to a masticating juicer (like the picture in the infographic). Now, there’s no mess. And, I can clean the whole juicer in 2-mins.
Thank you, Alison, for sharing your story. I’ve always known about the benefits of juicing, eating right and letting God guide me through my daily life. I haven’t seen a doctor in almost FIVE YEARS. Yes, not even a cold. I give my stress to God, eat organic, drink plenty of water and live life relying on God through every step. People have no idea what their missing. I also learned a lot from drday.com. I recommend everyone to read everything on her web site, EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN ILLNESS. She shares so much on her website and much much more in her books and dvd’s. I was a skeptic at one time, no one could tell me anything. Not anymore.
I agree juicing really works. Wonderful idea to share with people who have lost health. Giving a try takes nothing and is harmless.
after being miserable and in pain and Weighing 298 pounds,I owe it all to juicing. I am healthy in no pain and 174 pounds I’m still losing weight.it does work, it is real. I would be dead had I not discovered juicing and I also eat all organic food but no meat. thank you for your article.
Congratulations on reclaiming your health, Debbie! Thanks so much for sharing.
Great Article, I got into juicing after seeing a documentary called Fat Sick And Nearly Dead, it was very inspirational. I struggle with some juice drinks, especially mean green! hate kale. I have to say, I do feel much healthier since I started my Juice fast though :-) Thanks For Sharing.
Thanks Alison … I really want to give this a shot.
If i decided to buy the Omega 8006 juicer would it be be a lot more expensive to get delivered to Australia? I had a quick look online and noticed some juicers on ebay but they are located in the US (which uses a different voltage i believe)
Hi Ash! Perhaps there is an Australia based company that carries juicers? If you can’t find the Omega 8000 series in Australia, I would recommend that you source out a Masticating Juicer that looks like the Omega 8000 series. Just Google Australia & Juicers: there are a few online Aussie retailers that will pop-up.
All the best!
Great article Alison!
I also changed my life through juicing and have never looked back. It’s really crazy to think about all of the garbage food I used to eat compared to what I eat now. The thought of juicing up a pile of vegetables before would have made me in a bad mood, but what people don’t realize is how delicious it truly is…and how great you feel when you do it.
Cheers!
Wally