Happy New Year! I know, I know… we all talk about “cleansing” or “detoxing” after the holidays am I right?! But I’m here to show you an approachable, easy way to introduce fresh vegetable juices into your diet. It’s not as hard as you might think!
I own the Omega masticating juicer. What does masticating mean? Well.. it means that it presses the juice at a very slow rate (avoiding speed) which means less heat is introduced during the juicing process. This means that your juice will stay fresh for up to 72 hours and only loses minimal nutrients. I’ve tried many juicers over the years and this is by far my favorite one. The pulp comes out almost completely dry - meaning that you’re not losing the juice from any fruits or vegetables! It also processes leafy greens the most efficiently in my opinion. The motor is fairly quiet, I can even juice while my baby sleeps!
I like experimenting with different flavors when I juice but this cleansing/detox juice is my go-to! Here are the ingredients I used:
Kale - Very high in antioxidants like quercetin and kaempferol. These have powerful heart-protective, blood pressure-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and anti-depressant effects. It’s also one of the best sources of vitamin K which is an important nutrient. Kale is high in minerals and many vitamins including vitamins C, A, B6, manganese, calcium, copper, potassium and magnesium. If you can even get a few of these dark leafy greens into your juice I’d consider it a win!
Celery - What’s with big deal with juicing celery?! It helps restore and activate the gut, aids the liver and heals the body. The way it heals the gut is by restoring hydrochloric acid which helps us digest things faster and more efficiently. Celery juice actually helps raise stomach acid, which is necessary to help break down food, especially protein. Celery can also help lower cholesterol because it contains a compound called 3-n-butylphthalide (BuPh) that has been reported to have lipid-lowering action which then reduces the bad cholesterol in our blood. We also like adding celery to our juice (or even using it as the base) because it aids the liver. The nutrients in celery protect the liver and produce enzymes that help flush fat and toxins out. If you need a boost, celery is our go-to! It’s alkalizing, contains lots of anti-oxidants, fights infection and improves digestion!
Cucumber - One of my favorites to juice! The taste is mild and it’s extremely hydrating. I love the way my skin looks when i’ve been juicing lots of cucumber - it’s packed with nutrients that aid in the hydration of your entire body. It contains silica which is great for the skin and reduces redness and puffiness. The reason it’s so hydrating is because it’s made up of up to 95% water and two other compounds - ascorbic acid and caffein acid which prevent water retention. It also boosts your immunity because of the minerals, hormones and compounds which help in protecting your body from disease. It’s a great detox, especially when paired with lemon. I always feel energetic after drinking cucumber juice! It also improves sleep as it has the ability to calm your herbs and reduce stress.
Lemon - Lemon is what shines in our dark green juices! We love it for so many reasons. Lemons aid in digestive health because the main fiber in lemons is pectin which is a form of soluble fiber linked to multiple health benefits. it can improve gut health and slow the digestion of sugars and starches. They are packed with vitamin C and they also protect agains anemia because they help your body absorb as much iron as possible from your diet.
Orange - I like adding just a touch of orange to my green juices because it gives me that powerful dose of vitamin C and potassium, plus it contains calcium and vitamin D. Why do we need vitamin C? It’s a water-soluble vitamin that doubles as a powerful antioxidant and plays a huge role in immune function. I try to sneak it in especially during the fall and winter months.
Turmeric or Ginger - I love both of these roots! Let’s talk ginger (see my next post on turmeric benefits). Ginger has amazing antibacterial properties! It also makes juices just taste fresh and bright. Why does it aid in digestion? Well, it awakens your taste buds and gets the juices flowing. It stimulates the production of saliva which aids the digestion process. This is definitely a staple in our household because of the many healing properties. It’s known to be a pain reliever because of its anti-inflammatory properties. It’s great for removing bad breath because the vitamin C helps in killing the bacteria in the mouth. Ginger pairs perfectly with this green detox juice!
This is what the pulp looks like after you’ve juiced everything! When I have my garden up and running I love to use this in my compost pile. I’ve also experimented in making a flax cracker with the pulp which was fun!
Here’s the recipe I used for this juice, I’d love to hear how you’re experimenting with juices in your own homes!
Ingredients
1 bunch of dinosaur kale
1 bunch of celery
1 large cucumber
1 lemon
1/2 orange
2 knobs of ginger (remove skin)
This recipe yields (3) 12-16 ounce cups of juice depending on the size of your veggies and fruit. If you’re new to juicing and don’t want a juice quite as potent I would recommend adding half an apple! This juice is the perfect re-set during the new year. I promise you will feel energized. I get a boost unlike I do with coffee or other types of caffeine. I was energized, hydrated and felt ready to take on the day. Cheers!
Recipe by Alyssa Potter
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