Juicing: Nutrition IV

Teri Cochrane on
Juicing vegetables and fruit is an excellent way to boost your health.

There are a variety of detoxification methods in the marketplace today, but I believe that juicing is the most effective and sustainable way to keep your liver, skin and organs happy.

Juicing is the process of extracting the natural liquids, vitamins and minerals from raw fruits and vegetables. I call juicing a “Nutrition IV,” because the nutrients go straight to work in your system, clearing out the gunk and oxidants from our bodies.

Benefits of Juicing

I personally juice every day and recommend my clients do the same. I used to suffer tremendously from spring and fall allergies. But thanks to juicing, I can now enjoy these seasons without sneezing and wheezing.

Juicing is like liquid magic, and here are some reasons why.

    1. Juicing can greatly increase your nutrient intake.

      Through the process of juicing, we retain the most potent vitamins and minerals from the foods we are using. By removing fiber, there is little to no digestion required. Therefore, juicing allows the nutrients to quickly and easily nourish your cells, detoxify your liver, and support your lymphatic system.

      We consider juicing to be a therapeutic, supplemental aid to your overall health and wellness, which can support clear skin, healthy hair and nails, balanced hormones and digestive health. With that being said, it is important to look at juicing not as a substitute for meals but, instead, as a pure infusion of essential nutrients – a “Nutrition IV.”

      Are you unsure of what to do with the leftover pulp? You can save it for use in other recipes – filler for vegetarian meatballs, additional fiber for smoothies, and thickener for soups. Just place it in an airtight container in the fridge to use within a few days (or in the freezer if you want it to last a little longer).

      Getting as much out of our food as we can and reducing waste is a tenet of my Cuban heritage and Wildatarian™ lifestyle – an approach that is all about abundance.

        2. Juicing is a powerhouse of goodness!

          Juicing boosts immunity and supports healthy pH balance. Juices also puts some pep in your step, as it is abundant in alkalizing agents, phytonutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

          Juicing breaks down the plant’s cell walls, making it easier for someone with impaired digestive function to receive the plants’ health benefits. This delivery system gives the digestive tract a respite from the work of breaking down high-fiber foods to extract their nutrients. As a result, highly concentrated nutrients go directly into the system.

            3. There are so many juicing combinations.

              Options are crucial to your success in any healthy living regimen. The exercise of making choices about what we want to eat, how we want to exercise, etc., keeps us engaged in the process and therefore committed to it. The possibilities with juicing are endless – as you will see in our recipe below!

              Ingredients

              Juice base

              • ½ regular or English cucumber, rinsed
              • 1 cup fresh cilantro, rinsed

              Optional add-ins
              Rule of thumb: Three vegetables to one fruit

              • 4 stalks celery rinsed
              • 1 cup fresh parsley, rinsed
              • 4 Swiss chard leaves, rinsed
              • 1 beetroot
              • ½ lime or lemon, peeled
              • 1 inch ginger root
              • 1 cup strawberries, rinsed
              • 1 carrot, chunked

              Instructions

              1. Peel and juice cucumber.
              2. Add cilantro and any or all of the above add-ins.
              3. Mix and drink at once or sip throughout the day. Although not as nutrient-dense, juice can be refrigerated in a glass container like a mason jar for up to 3 days.

              A serving is 4 ounces of juice mixed with 8 ounces of water.

              Older Post Newer Post

              © 2023 Village Green Apothecary - All Rights Reserved.