Your Natural Glow-Up: Vibrant Vegetable Juices for Everyday Energy

Glow-ups are becoming more and more fashionable these days. There are hundreds of beauty products and techniques out there, but the best are the ones that come from nature themselves. Like vegetable juices.

From green juices to Dr. Ludwig Johnson’s 5×5 technique, vegetable juice recipes are delicious and brimming with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. While the term “detox” is often misused, these juices can certainly contribute to a healthy, balanced diet.

Remember, whole fruits and vegetables are always best, but these juices are a fantastic way to add some extra nutrients to your routine and keep you glowing, Muza.

1. The Green Machine: A Hydrating Powerhouse

This vibrant green juice is a refreshing blend of hydrating cucumber, leafy spinach, and crisp celery, with a zing of lemon and ginger. Zulay’s green juice recipe is our top favorite, but this one is also amazing.

  • Ingredients:
    • 1 medium cucumber, chopped
    • 2 cups fresh spinach
    • 1 celery stalk, roughly chopped
    • 1/2 lemon, peeled
    • 1 inch fresh ginger root
  • Directions:
    • Wash all produce thoroughly.
    • Combine all ingredients in a juicer or high-powered blender.
    • If using a blender, strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve.
    • Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing taste.

2. Beet and Carrot Boost: A Radiant Elixir

This beautiful red juice is rich in antioxidants and naturally sweet, thanks to the beets, carrots, and a touch of apple.

  • Ingredients:
    • 1 medium beet, peeled and chopped
    • 2 medium carrots, chopped
    • 1/2 apple, cored and chopped
    • 1/2 lemon, peeled
    • 1 inch of ginger.
  • Instructions:
    • Wash and prepare all produce.
    • Juice or blend the ingredients until smooth.
    • Strain if needed.
    • Enjoy the earthy-sweet goodness.

3. Cucumber Mint Refresher: A Cool and Calming Drink

This juice is incredibly refreshing and perfect for a hot day, with the cooling combination of cucumber and mint.

  • Ingredients:
    • 1 medium cucumber, chopped
    • 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
    • 1/2 lime, peeled.
    • A small amount of water (optional)
  • Instructions:
    • Wash all ingredients.
    • Process in a blender or juicer.
    • Add a little water if needed for easier blending.
    • Savor the cool, minty flavor.

4. Tomato and Celery Cleanse

This savory juice is a great source of vitamins and minerals, with the rich flavor of ripe tomatoes and crisp celery.

  • Ingredients:
    • 3 ripe tomatoes, chopped
    • 2 celery stalks, chopped
    • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1/2 lemon, peeled.
  • Instructions:
    • Thoroughly wash the vegetables.
    • Blend the ingredients.
    • Strain if desired.
    • Add a pinch of sea salt to enhance the flavor.

5. Carrot Apple Ginger Zinger

This juice offers a delightful balance of sweetness from carrots and apples, with a spicy kick from ginger.

  • Ingredients:
    • 4 medium carrots, chopped
    • 1 apple, cored and chopped
    • 1 inch fresh ginger root
    • 1/2 lemon, peeled.
  • Instructions:
    • Wash and prepare all produce.
    • Blend and strain. Or process in juicer.
    • Enjoy the sweet and spicy zing.

Zulay’s Roadmap for Finding Your Muze: Beauty, Balance, and the Power of Self-Care

In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, cultivating confidence and achieving balance are paramount. For Zulay Henao, CEO & Founder of Modern Muze, beauty is a narrative, a cultural bridge, and a professional tool.

As an actress and entrepreneur, Henao juggles life in the spotlight while leading a business focused on empowering Latinas to become the best version of themselves and be their own muze. To help others find the intersection between self-care and the hustle, Henao and Elena Garcia-Romo, a licenced esthetician and owner of Luminous Beauty by Elena, shared their best advice for entrepreneurs on embracing self-care with Modern Muze.

Together, they illustrate how beauty and well-being are not just external pursuits but fundamental aspects of personal and professional success.

Beauty as storytelling, empowerment, and internal nourishment

For Henao, beauty is a powerful form of storytelling, deeply rooted in her Latina heritage.

“Beauty has always been a form of storytelling for me,” she says. “As a Latina, it’s how I honor my roots and express myself before I speak. With Modern Muze, I use beauty as a tool to connect and show that you can lead in business and celebrate your femininity. Whether it’s a bold lip or natural skin, it’s about showing myself fully. That authenticity builds trust and opens doors.”

Similarly, Garcia-Romo follows a similar philosophy, emphasizing a “less is more” approach to self-care.

“I make sure to give myself time every morning and night a few minutes to peacefully do my skincare routine. I reflect in the mirror how far my skin has come from my teen acne day struggles. Realizing that the beauty is already within me and nourishing it how it comes to life,” she tells Modern Muze. “Taking care of my skin with the correct routines, consistent facials, taking care of my body and mind, has truly let my self-confidence soar.”

Cultivating confidence while instilling self-reflection

As Latinas, finding their voice, place, and footing hasn’t always been easy for Henao and Garcia-Romo. Despite the changing tides for Latina entrepreneurs today, it wasn’t always the case. Now, they’re part of a group leading some of the greatest economic growth the United States has seen in decades.

Henao found her source of confidence rooted in her Colombian heritage. “Embracing my culture changed everything. When I stopped hiding parts of myself and became really at peace with myself and all the things that make me, ME, I found a deeper confidence,” she says.

Since starting Modern Muze, Henao has led a community of women seeking inspiration in themselves.

“At Modern Muze, we celebrate being our own MUZE!  Owning my Latina beauty helped me show up unapologetically, whether on set, or on conference calls. It’s powerful and truly magical when you lead with who you truly are. That has given me strength both in life and in business.”

On the other hand, creating a wellness routine has been a cornerstone of success for Garcia-Romo. Particularly when it comes to feeling confident while leading her business. As an esthetician, she encourages clients to look beyond expensive skincare products and focus on how they are nourishing themselves inside and out.

“Taking care of my body both inside and outside is key to my self-confidence and well-being. I could apply the best skin care products out in the world, but if I don’t nourish my body internally, my skin will have nothing to show for it, ” she explains. “The skin is the largest organ we have, it mirrors our insides. Having a healthy diet, exercising, self-love, it does make a difference.”

Some practices she’s instilled into her daily routine include eating healthy, keeping her gut check in health, and moving her body daily.

“Whether it’s going to the gym, walking my dogs, or even a dance party in my room. My skin care routine is a must morning and night; that is one step of my day I won’t skip,” she says. “Those are the minutes in the day where I speak kindly to myself, reflect, and just give myself a moment to give myself the love I pour to others daily. Although I work in the beauty industry, I am not someone who does these extravagant routines daily for self-care. As I previously mentioned, less really is more sometimes.”

Grounding, leading with presence, and attracting success while feeling beautiful

At Modern Muze, beauty is a pillar of growth, embracing authenticity and opening an essential door to confidence. For Henao, “Beauty is business.”

She adds, “My daily routine is an act of self-respect. Whether it’s skincare or a red statement lip, it’s how I ground myself before I lead. When you feel good, you do good! At Modern Muze, we continuously talk about showing up as your own Muze, your highest self,  and this is part of that. Feeling good in my skin helps me lead with confidence and clarity. It’s not about vanity—it’s about presence and power.”

Garcia-Romo shares this sentiment, taking time each day not only to make sure her clients feel empowered by beauty, but embracing it herself.

“Look good, feel good. Pretty cliche I know but it is that simple sometimes. The more I poured into my cup and gave myself the same amount of love I give to others, I noticed a shift in my mindset and everything else followed,” she says. “Your appearance is the first impression you give others, as shallow as it may seem sometimes. It is also the impression you give yourself when climbing towards success.”

She also claims that mental and physical self-care are essential to attracting the right connections.

“When I took a look at the new people I began to associate myself with, I took note of how they carried themselves and how success just oozed out of them,” she asserts. “Not only with their physical appearance but how they have educated themselves in their field, staying humble and modest apart from their obvious success. As I started applying these small but impactful practices in my own life, I saw a total shift in my journey towards success. The confidence within has grown and comes effortlessly now when it comes to my business.”

Unlock Your Fertility and Boost Your Libido: 7 Surprising Benefits of Maca Root

If you’ve been looking for ways to level up your libido and fertility, then it’s time to get familiar with maca root. The ancient Peruvian superfood has been getting a lot of buzz for all its incredible benefits.

Packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and adaptogens, maca can do wonders for your body. Whether you’re looking to support your reproductive health or just curious about this magical root, we’re here to put you on to seven benefits of maca root.

1. Balances hormones like a boss

Muzas, we all know that balancing hormones can be a bit of a rollercoaster. According to Moon Dust, Maca root can help in pregnancy, menopause, and mood swings. This natural adaptogen is known to support hormonal balance by regulating the endocrine system. Maca helps balance estrogen and progesterone, two crucial hormones that are crucial for a healthy reproductive system.

2. Maca boosts libido

Not only does maca root give your fertility a boost, it also helps ramp up your libido. If you’ve been feeling off when it comes to intimacy, studies suggest that maca can increase sexual desire in women by helping them improve mood and energy levels. So, if you want to spice things up in the bedroom, then add this magical root to your diet. According to Medical News Today, maca root also has positive effects on antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women.

3. Improves ovulation and menstrual health

A regular cycle is vital for fertility and maca can help with that too. It’s believed that maca can improve the quality of eggs and regulate ovulation. So, if your periods are unpredictable, maca can help you improve regularity. According to Moon Dust, a 2006 study shows that maca root can aid in modulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis, regulating reproductive hormone levels.

4. Enhances mood and reduces stress

Another great benefit of maca root is how beneficial it is for stress reduction. An excess of cortisol can cause mood disorders, but thanks to its hypothalamic and pituitary support, maca can help you adapt triggers with its flavonoids. A 2022 study done in adult females shows it reduced fatigue.

5. Supports healthy blood circulation and can help erectile dysfunction

Maca is known for improving blood flow, which can enhance circulation to reproductive organs. Better circulation means your ovaries and uterus are getting the nutrients and oxygen they need to work their best. If you’re trying to conceive, optimal blood flow to these areas is pivotal for egg health and reproductive function. Another benefit of maca is that it helps with erectile dysfunction. According to Medical News Today, a 2023 trial showed that people who consumed gelatinized maca root reduced their incidents of erectile dysfunction.

6. Supports weight management

Maca helps regulate metabolism and energy levels, which can aid in managing your weight. Other studies show that the Peruvian root can also manage blood sugar levels from the flavonoids and phenols it has.

7. Fights free radicals

Finally, maca root is theorized to promote antioxidant and enzyme production in the body. Additionally, Medical News Today states it may prevent some health conditions like cancer and heart disease.

Family Demands Justice After Middle Schooler Takes Her Own Life Following Bullying and ICE Deportation Threats

A Texas 11-year-old died from suicide earlier this month after being bullied at school. Classmates harassed Jocelynn Rojo Carranza at Gainesville Intermediate School. They allegedly threatened to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on her family. According to KGNS, the child’s mother, Marbella Carranza, claims students taunted Jocelyn repeatedly about her family’s immigration status while saying her family was in the United States illegally.

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Now, Carranza is seeking justice for the school’s failure to stop the bullying allegedly leading to her daughter’s death.

Classmates bullied the young girl for weeks before she took her own life

According to her mother, sixth grader Jocelynn Rojo Carranza never showed signs of bullying at home.

“My daughter never showed changes,” Carranza told CNN in Spanish on February 20. ” I mean, there was never anything that gave me a sign that she was suffering from bullying.”

However, she says school officials knew the bullying was happening and didn’t do anything about it. She claims investigators said her daughter was receiving counseling at school.

“It appears the school was aware of it all, but they never told me it was happening with my daughter,” she told KUVN. “It appears she would go once or twice a week to counseling to report what was happening.”

According to CNN, rumors and speculations about ICE were rampant at the school for days. In an interview, Jessi Noble, another student’s mother, claimed her daughter consistently came home from school crying and expressing fear for her Latino friends.

“People had been telling her friends that were Hispanic that they were getting deported, that ICE was coming for them,” Noble told CNN. “And she was just terrified.”

After her suicide attempt, Jocelynn was hospitalized for a week before her death on February 8.

“I waited a whole week for a miracle that my daughter would be well, but unfortunately, nothing could be done,” Marbella said in an interview with Univision. “My daughter will always live for me, and I will always love her.”

The child’s death comes after ICE raids have been terrorizing immigrants in the United States

Jocelynn’s untimely death comes after President Donald Trump’s use of ICE to terrorize immigrant communities. For weeks, ICE has been used against immigrants, disregarding status or criminality. Additionally, hate speech toward Latino immigrants, including claims they’re “eating” dogs and cats, are taking jobs, and are violent immigrants has raised bigotry against Latinos.

Currently, under federal law, being undocumented is a civil offense, not a crime. Several legal avenues are informing immigrants of their rights to ensure they are well informed in case of being involved in an ICE raid.

Jocelynn’s death has sparked concern regarding bullying policies at the Gainesville Independent School District. In a general statement, the district stated they take these allegations “very seriously.”

“We want to emphasize that we take all reports of bullying and student safety concerns very seriously,” the statement said. “Our district follows strict protocols for investigating any allegations, and we are committed to fostering a safe and supportive environment for every student.”