What is the healthiest juice?

Celery juice!

No wait, leafy green juice!

Or maybe carrot juice?

I think actually it's beet juice with a splash of lemon...

Doesn't the "magic juice" solution to every health problem seem to change every month? It's confusing and it tends to get expensive.

But don't worry, I actually do have an answer! And the healthiest juice for you is...

*drum roll*

Whatever fruits and/or veggies are not in your regular daily diet.

Not what you expected? Let's talk about it.

I'm Taylor, I have an Advanced Diploma of Nutritional Medicine, a Bachelor of Science in Physiology, over a decade of experience in the health and wellness world and a strong passion to help people feel more balanced. Which brings me to my core philosophy of health: balance.

So it makes sense that when consuming a concentrated version of fruits and vegetables in the form of a juice, what your body needs is different from what someone else's body may need because you are different people who live different lives and consume different diets. If you already eat a lot of salads and leafy greens daily, you may benefit from incorporating juices from root vegetables that you don't typically eat. If you don't eat a lot of fruit usually, incorporating some different fruit juices can help you attain those wonderful micronutrients and antioxidants! Feeling a bit under the weather? Add ginger to your juice and diet!

This philosophy can be translated to any other area in your life that you are trying to "improve", or as I prefer to say, "find more balance". The reason I prefer using this wording is because if we move from one end of the spectrum to the other, we may still be finding ourselves out of balance and not reaping the benefits of making changes to our diet or lifestyle.

Let's explore an example:

Perhaps you do not currently have a specific fitness routine, no gym memberships, no regular outdoor activities, but you know you want to move your body more. So you try "75 Hard" which involves having to do two 45 minute workouts a day, or a friend invites you to a 2- week CrossFit challenge, or you sign up for a marathon. This massive leap from one end of the fitness spectrum to another can actually do more harm than good. If you "fail" at this very intense "challenge", there may be shame and negative self talk that accompanies it. There may be a lasting negative association with movement and exercise. There may also be physical damage done by jumping into intense movements that your body is not trained for and acclimated to.

What could provide more balance in this situation is finding movement you enjoy and starting to incorporate it three days a week. And I always encourage people to think outside of the box! Love to dance? Swim? Martial arts? If you need a buddy, walk or hike with a friend or your dog! Choose conscious movement three times a week until it becomes a habit, and then add on! Keep this area growing and try new things! Long term it can truly benefit both your mental and physical health.

OK Taylor... but I thought we were talking about juice?!

I think the question "what is the healthiest juice" is a great metaphor for all things health and lifestyle related. So I am sorry to say it, but based on our current understanding, there is no "magic juice" to attain perfect health. There are, however, many things we can do to feel better and promote a healthy, balanced lifestyle that improves overall well-being.

And in future blog posts, I will be breaking down into specific topics tips and tools that I use in my own lifestyle that help me feel healthy, balanced, grateful and happy in hopes that you may also benefit and find more balance in life. Ultimately, my goal with any health-oriented behavior is to feel as good as I can for as long as I can. And if that resonates with you, join us! Ask questions! And let's feel good together :)

Taylor Bouknight

With an Advanced Diploma in Nutrition, a Bachelor of Science in Physiology, and over a decade of working in the health and science fields, Taylor wants to share her knowledge and help as many people as possible find balance and feel the best that they can. There are SO many aspects of health to discuss, and she hopes to continue spreading a whole lotta goodness through education, recipes, tips, research and more.

Her hobbies include reading, cooking, baking, running, kickboxing, and spending as much time with her dog "Goose" as possible.