Don’t eat vegetables? Drink ‘em!
August 9 2011 |
Feeling and looking your best shouldn’t be a chore! Obtaining all the veggies you need should be simple, fun and delicious. People tell me all the time, “I don’t eat vegetables” and other similar stories, but it all comes down to this: We all need fresh fruits and veggies in our diets…and I’m not just referring to the slice of tomato on your ham and pastrami sandwich slathered in mayonnaise. Let’s review some basics and then I’ll leave you with some of my favorite juice combinations!
- A serving of vegetables is about a 1/2 cup
- Leafy green foods are crucial for the optimal health of all organ systems
- Raw food offers high concentrations of nutrients
- Achieve and maintain higher energy levels
- Boost overall moods and quality of life
There are three basic types of juicers out there. If you have one that runs like a centrifuge (like a Jack LaLaine, or Breville) it will leave the pulp of discarded food (fruits and veggies) rather wet as compared to the pulp from a triturating juicer (like a Green Star) or a masticating juicer (like a Champion). If you have a centrifugal juicer, process the fruits and vegetables (non leafy ones) and leave the leafy greens out. Blend them in a blender or a Vita-Mix, along with the previously juiced fruit/vegetable juice from the juicer, until very smooth.
Individual taste, and proportions of flavors, are ultimately all up to you (and there are endless possibilities), however I’d love to share with you now what combinations I’ve found to be my favorite! I really like juicing beets because I find them to be a great source of usable iron. Plus, those of you that don’t care for beets, this is the best way to enjoy the benefits because you can blend them with apples, enhancing the flavor ten-fold!
Combo 1: 3 Celery stalks, 2 carrots, 2 tomatoes and 1/2 a cucumber. Send all through the juicer.
Combo 2: 2 Kiwis, 2 oranges, 2 apples, 1 beet, and 1 carrot. Save kiwis for blender, peel first. Combine orange, apple, beet and carrot juice in blender with a bit of water, then add kiwis and process till smooth.
Combo 3: Add to a blender: about 3 cups of water, 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple, 1 banana, juice of an apple, and blend in a nice handful of leafy greans (kale, romaine, spinach).
Combo 4: 2 Cucumbers, 3 apples, and 1 carrot. Put in blender, add 1 cup of water, then add fresh pineapple.
Combo 5: 3 oranges, 1 bunch parsley (if you have a non-centrifugal juicer), 2 apples and a kiwi.
There are lots of juices you can make, and plenty of fun books out there to help get creative. You can juice beet greens and swiss chard, celery, carrots and more….with juicing, better health is around the corner. Right now, I’m saving to get what I feel to be one of the best juicers on the market (the Green Star Elite). It’s quite an investment, but totally worth it and comes with a great warranty. Even if you keep it for only ten years, then essentially you’re paying $60/year and only $5/month…..that’s super cheap and very worth it! If you’ve found any great juice combinations, feel free to share! I’d love to hear about it!
