Recently I was asked for my opinion for an article that was being written about the health benefits of various juices. I was given the titles—the best juice for—type-thing, and I filled in the blanks. I am not a big juice fan personally unless the juice includes pulp and contains vegetables.
Best pick-me up juice
No! not an ‘energy’ drink that temporarily revs your engine and then later you crash. True energy to get you through your day comes from nutrient-dense foods such as complex carbohydrates-our bodies’ main fuel source, healthy proteins and good quality fats. Raw foods that have been juiced are easily absorbed into your body for quick energy.
Here are some key ingredients to get you moving!
Coconut water contains electrolytes to replenish you and the natural sugar gives a little burst of energy. Fruits, including the skins, and veggies contain natural carbohydrates that you need to keep putting one foot in front of the other. More veggies than fruit is always best as most (non-starchy) veggies don’t spike your insulin levels.
If you add a little nut butter to your juice, (then it’s more of a smoothie) then you just added some healthy fats and protein. Be sure to use raw, not roasted nuts. Don’t forget wheatgrass juice-it’s a wonder drink and will have you dancing down the street.
Energy Drink-in the real sense of the word:
2 cups coconut water
1 cucumber
1 carrot
1 apple
Small piece of fresh ginger or 1 clove garlic, peeled, if you dare!
Best sweet-tooth craving substitute juice
Low glycemic fruits such as berries, cherries, apples and pears may help alleviate your sugar cravings while providing you various antioxidants and dietary fiber. Balance the addition of these naturally sweet fruits with a handful of bitter greens. Try putting a handful of watercress or endive in your smoothie.
Certain amino acids such as L-Glutamine have been shown to help alleviate sugar cravings. Consuming protein at every meal is important as well.
Sugar Buster:
Be sure to use a juicer that saves all the pulp from the fruit, such as a VitaMix
2 cups coconut water or pure water
1 ½ cups mixed berries
1 apple
½ bunch watercress
1 tablespoon hemp or flax oil
Remember to consume adequate protein that helps with sugar cravings.
Best cellulite smoother
Seriously, this was one of the titles. There is no magic cure for cellulite.
Get enough exercise, (circulation is important) and drink enough water. Genetics comes into play, as do hormones. There are no quick fixes and no amount of massage will get rid of cellulite permanently.
Two juices have been show to temporarily decrease the look of cellulite. Just sip them, unsweetened and preferably diluted. They are grapefruit and cranberry.
Please note that grapefruit and its juice has been shown to interact with certain prescription drugs, so before you drink a lot of grapefruit juice to help that cellulite, check with your doctor.
Best juice to curb hunger
I might have been a little smart-alecky with my next sentence.
Food is helpful to curb your hunger! That said vegetable juice could temporarily satisfy your body’s need for fuel. A few raw nuts would be helpful to eat after you drink your veggies for a protein and healthy fat source.
Some top anti-hunger veggies are carrots, celery, and cucumber. Add in some fresh lemon juice for a little flavor kick and to add another level of alkalinity to your body, imperative for good health.
Best juice to boost your immune system
Shitake mushrooms are great for your immune system, but in juice form? Maybe not so palatable.
Your immune system loves vitamin C, E, the carotenoids, bioflavenoids, zinc and that much-loved member of the allium family, garlic. Here is a great combination for you to try.
Immune Booster:
2 tomatoes
1 celery stalk
2 cloves garlic
½ cucumber
Juice of one lemon
(No, this is not a recipe for a Bloody Mary, so don’t add vodka!)
Best libido booster juice
Sexual health depends on our mental and physical well-being. Good circulation is also a big part of sexual fitness, so be sure to exercise regularly.
Here are the top libido booster foods in liquid from.
Celery contains an ingredient that increases those well-known pheromones in men that send out signals to women saying here I am.
Watermelon helps to relax blood vessels that increase sex drive
Bananas and avocado contain potassium. Avocados also contain a B vitamin, which is said to boost male hormone production. These ingredients would make it more of a smoothie than a juice.
Libido Juice:
Start with 2 cups of pure water or coconut water and add:
Celery-2 stalks, ginger-a small piece, 1/2 bananas, ½ avocado, a handful of fresh basil, 3 figs
Foods included in this list are raw oysters-high in zinc, which is important to men’s prostate health, asparagus and artichokes. Chocolate could also be included in this list much to many people’s delight.
Best juice for clear, glowing skin
High-nutrient, high-water content vegetables and fruits support healthy skin. Food containing vitamin A and beta-carotene are helpful for skin health as are zinc and silica-rich foods.
Yellow-orange veggies are fruits are generally good sources of vitamin A and beta carotene: Sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash, pumpkins, cantaloupes, apricots, mangoes, but also dark leafy greens such as kale, beet greens, romaine lettuce, collard greens and spinach.
Healthy Skin Juice:
2 cups pure water
2 large carrots
2 kale leaves or one large collard leaf
Handful of spinach
2 apricots
½ mango
Sip and enjoy, then eat some raw pumpkin seeds, a few Brazil nuts for your zinc intake. Have a salad for lunch full of silica rich foods such as green beans, leeks, cucumbers and garbanzo beans.
Remember that essential fatty acids are vital to skin health and can be found in cold-water fish such as salmon and sardines, and also olive, hemp and flax oil. Adequate water consumption is key as well. Also, remember your colon! A high-fiber diet consisting of copious amounts of veggies-mostly non-starchy such as kale and broccoli, and whole grains and legumes keep your bowels moving which prevents the absorption of toxins in your system that leads to problems with the skin.
Best anti-aging juice
The best way to fight the clock is to reduce chronic stress, obtain adequate exercise, drink enough pure water and eat antioxidant rich foods to counteract free-radical damage, which can result in premature aging. It’s also important to stay away from foods and habits that increase free-radical production such as such as smoking (horrible for your skin and the rest of your body!) and consuming refined and pesticide laden-foods.
There are many antioxidants, some more active than others and some that work to recycle others. Mother Nature is amazing! They are vitamins E, C, A, Carotenes, Uric acid, glutathione, lipoic acid, Coenzyme Q10, B vitamins, selenium and sulfur, to name some of the most active. The following fruits and veggies are high in antioxidants and can be easily juiced. Other foods, such as beans and legumes might not taste so good in juice form….
Antioxidant Juice
Pick 2 from each category and juice!
Fruits:
Blueberries
Cranberries
Blackberries
Strawberries
Raspberries
Plums
Oranges
Prunes
Veggies:
Kale
Spinach
Sprouts
Beets (raw)
Red Bell Peppers
Corn (raw)
