Give yourself an easy natural boost with juicing
Why juice?
I’ve been a avid fan of juicing for the last 20 years. I was first introduced to juicing when I lived in Australia and more. I discovered the liver cleansing diet which was a two month cleanse starting with a juice every day. This juice is, to this day, one of my favourites with a blend of carrot, apple, beetroot, parsley and celery. All good to give the liver a good ‘ole boost when it’s been having a hard time cleaning out those toxins. It’s great for those days when you feel sluggish and you have to drag yourself out of bed.
There is something about a fresh juice that feels really alive when you drink it. Sometimes it can seem like a hassle to get the machine out and prepare the vegetables and fruit. These days I do very little peeling, just lots of washing and then turn them into a delicious juice.
It just feels so good to drink it- like it is one of the most nourishing things in the world….and that’s because it is. The juice and all of its goodness is quickly absorbed into your system as it is all liquid.
I like to practice what I preach and as I write this I’m devouring a juice of celery, kale, lemon, apple and cucumber. Deeeeelicious! It’s a recipe out of a fantastic book called ‘Hungry for Change’ by James Colquhoun and Laurentine Ten Bosch. This book has become one of my health bibles and I can highly recommend it. If you are new to juicing you might want to start with fruits and work up to the vegetable ones. Check out more recipes here.
So how I am going to benefit from juicing?
Caroline Wheater sums up the benefits of Juicing in ‘Juicing for Health’.
“Not only do they (juices) provide a wealth of vitamins and minerals and other nutrients, they are also cleansing and balancing for the body as a whole; the equivalent of a multi-vitamin pill in a glass”.
Top 7 reasons to make your own fresh juices
1.The secret to raw juicing is that a fresh juice provides the body with active enzymes which are often destroyed in cooking. These enzymes are active for about 3 hours after juicing which is why it is important to drink your juice after you have made it.
2. All the essential nutrients are preserved and taken into the stomach ready to be assimilated and used by the body without the need for digestion.
3. As juices are packed with so much nutrition that you’re body has more chance to absorb nutrients. For example, bioflavonoids are found in the pith of citrus which in turn helps the body to absorb vitamin C.
4. Vegetable and fruit juices have a variety of therapeutic benefits. Juices work to purify your blood, detoxify your tissues and cleanse your digestive tract. It is better to aim for organic or pesticide free raw food for your juice but do what you can.
5. Fruits and vegetables are packed with antioxidants which research shows give protection against degenerative diseases such as premature aging, cancer and heart problems.
6. This brings us onto free radicals. These are created by toxins in our food, our environment etc. It is the antioxidants which help to get rid of these toxic cells, therefore proving really beneficial for our health in general.
7. Juicing can be incredibly alkalising for your body. It is always good to check acid and alkaline levels of what you are juicing. Go green and you can’t go wrong. You can always add a teaspoon of green powder such as spiralina, barley grass or chlorella to really pack a punch and get your energy going. Lemons and limes with water are one of the simplest and most effect detox juices available. It is a great source of Vitamin C and is great for the skin. It also purifies the kidneys and liver as well as being alkalising.
What if I don’t have a juicer?
You can also blend fruits and vegetables together making sure you have some liquid to help create the ‘juice” such as not from concentrate apple juice or filtered water. This way you also get the bulk materials from the fruit and vegetables too. Try this to start with:
Add (play around with quantities) and blend together
- Bag of spinach-cram it in!!
- An avocado
- Juice of a lemon
- Ginger 1-3 inch depending on your taste preference
- Liquid of your choice
A few things to be mindful of…
- Fruit has a very high sugar content to use sparingly especially for diabetics, candida sufferers etc
- Avoid mixing fruits and veg for easy digestion. Although, you can use apples, carrots and lemons with either.
- Start with a small juice and let your body get used to so much nutrition and build up
- Always dilute red veg such as beetroot and dark greens such as kale 1:4
Want to try more juicing recipes?
Do you feel you want to take further steps to increasing your health and vitality?
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Enjoy your juicing and a lighter and brighter day.
Debs
