Why You Should Be Juicing: 10 Recipes to Get You Started
Last week I was in LAX airport battling a cough and head cold. I was looking for breakfast when I spotted a juice bar. "Perfect" I thought, "I'll just grab something to give me a boost of nutrients to help kick this crap out of my system." I was pleased to find a blend of orange, carrot and ginger, but not so pleased to find out that those 16 ounces would cost me $13. I begrudgingly paid it because it's what I needed, but I suddenly had a greater appreciation for my juicer at home.
According to the Mayo Clinic, drinking freshly made juices helps your body absorb the nutrients better than eating whole fruits and vegetables and it gives your digestive system a rest from working on fiber. They say that juicing can reduce your risk of cancer, boost your immune system, help remove toxins from your body, aid in digestion and even help you lose weight. Sounds like a win/win to me! As a bonus, it's a great way to sneak more vegetables into your kid's diet.
I bought my Breville Juicer JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus 850-Watt on Amazon and I love how easy it is to use AND to clean. It's been going strong for over a year now and I've never had any issues. There is also a smaller and cheaper version, the Breville BJE200XL Compact Juice Fountain 700-Watt, that has rave reviews on Amazon. Either way, with the cost of buying cold pressed juice in the store or at a juice bar, they pay for themselves quickly.
Below are just a few of the fruits and veggies you can juice and their health benefits.
Apples – Helps to fight inflammation and heart health.
Beets – contain nutrients that may help lower your blood pressure, fight inflammation, and support detoxification.
Carrots – known for being a good source of beta-carotene, fiber, vitamin K, and potassium. Carrots have been linked to lower cholesterol levels.
Celery – low in calorie since it is mostly water. It is a low-glycemic food and a good source of dietary fiber, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin K.
Cucumber – since it’s 95% water, it’s an incredible detoxifier and helps with liver and kidney function
Ginger – aids in digestion and supports the immune system
Kale – low in calories, powerful anti-oxidant with anti-inflammatory properties, and helpful for arthritis and autoimmune diseases
Lemon – a highly effective cleansing agent, helps body become more alkaline and cuts through the bitterness of greens.
Oranges – immune system booster since it is high in Vitamin C and low in calories.
Pineapple-especially rich in vitamin C and manganese, providing 131% and 76% of the daily recommendations. High in antioxidants and bromelain which helps with digestion.
Spinach-loaded with carotenes, amino acids, iron, iodine, potassium and magnesium, Vitamins A, C, K, E and B complex and helps balance the pH level in your body.
Here are 10 recipes to get you started, but the possibilities are endless!
1. Anti-Inflammatory Juice
4 Celery Stalks
1/2 Cucumber
1 Cup of Spinach
1 Knob of Ginger
1 Lemon
2. Belly Buster
3 Carrots
1 Small Cucumber
1 Apple
1 Beet
3 Celery Stalks
1 Knob of Ginger
3. Cleansing Juice
3 Cucumbers
2 Hearts of Romaine
1 Celery Stalk
1 Apple
1/2 Lemon
4. Ginger-Aid Immunity Booster
1 Bunch of Kale
1 Green Apple
1 Cucumber
1 Lemon
1 Knob of Ginger
Optional: 1 Clove of Garlic (peeled)
5. Carrot Immunity Booster
5 Carrots
1 Orange
1 Knob of Ginger
6. Beauty Elixir Juice
2 Beets
3 Carrots
1 Apple
1 Lemon
4 Celery Stalks
1 Knob of Ginger
7. Migraine Reliever
1 Cup of Pineapple
3 to 4 Kale Leaves
1 Celery Stalk
1/2 Lemon
1/2 Cucumber
8. Hydration Boost Juice
2 Cucumbers
1 Apple
9. Anti Aging Juice
2 Beets
1 Red Apple
1 Cucumber
10. Toddler Approved Immunity Booster
3 Carrots
1 Orange
1/2 Apple
These are just a few recipes, but you can really tailor your juice and your kids juice to your specific needs and tastes. I would love to hear your favorite recipes and I'm happy to answer any questions you have in the comments below. Happy Juicing!
