My awesome friend Norm sent me what is rapidly turning out to be THE best present I could ever receive:  a juicer.  Man, that thing has been in constant use since it arrived, last week; I'm actually starting to worry that I might burn it out because I've been using it so much.

Everything can be juiced - did you know that? - including bananas.  It's true: just juice up some other fruit first, then drop the (peeled) banana in a blender or food processor, add the juice you've already made, and puree the whole works.  Boy, does it ever taste good - and it's healthy, too! 

The juicer is actually turning out to be something of a life-saver, too. I haven't been able to eat anything, lately, because the ol' plumbing hasn't been working right. Juicing stuff up has really helped; I'm getting nutrition, but I'm also loosening things up and getting rid of stuff - which is a HUGE relief, let me tell you.    Believe me, when the plumbing isn't working and it makes you feel way too full to eat, juicing can totally save you.  Of course, getting active is also important, and I'm afraid I haven't been doing that...

Another benefit I'm noticing since I started juicing is that I have more energy. Our weather has really been kicking my butt; just last week, in fact - and this is no word of a lie - I watched in stunned amazement as a big thunderstorm (which included lots of lightning, as well as rain) turned into a big snow storm, complete with thunder!    Then, within mere minutes, the snow changed to hail and the thunder stopped. And then, less than two minutes later, the lightning started up again, and so did the snow.  It was the weirdest weather I think I've ever seen in my life...

But, I digress. The point is that I haven't been active, and that has had a really bad impact on the ol' plumbing, which has been swollen and rock-hard for the past several days.  Thankfully, things are starting to ease up; the last thing I want is a visit to the hospital and a tube stuck up my butt. 

Anyway, go get your go-go juice.  If you haven't tried it already, it's definitely worth the effort.  There are all kinds of juicers out there, so your choices aren't limited.  And get this:  You can even use the pulp!  It's true: with fruit, you can mix the pulp with plain yogurt to make a nice treat, you can drop it in a blender, add a few tablespoons of water (to help mix it up), puree the whole works, and enjoy a nutritious and yummy health shake, or you can add a little bit of nutmeg and cinnamon and add a few dollops to hot cereal.  With veggies, you can puree the pulp and use the paste as a spread for crackers, or as a dip for other veggies. Almost nothing goes to waste when you're juicing, and in my books, that totally rocks.

So, if you're looking for healthy and nutritious ways to help your body peel off those layers, give juicing a try.  There are lots of juicing books available, so don't hesitate to check them out.