Happy March everyone! Are you ready for some warmth and sunshine? While the snow has been nice and made New York City look absolutely picture perfect, and while we are still wearing our winter boots,  jackets and trekking through ice and snow, we have to celebrate that spring like weather which is right around the corner (at least we hope!). To get you in the mood, I would like to share one of my favorite snacks to enjoy during the Spring – JUICES! They are light, refreshing, energizing and perfect for your longer days filled with abundant sunshine.
I never thought I would be one of those girls who drink juice every day, I always thought if I had the time to blend those fruits and vegetables into glasses of juice, why wouldn’t I just eat the fruits and vegetables instead? Hmmm, I’m sure a lot of you think the same way that I thought. So, is drinking a glass of green juice as good as eating the vegetables? Not quite. Registered Dietitian Ioan Taylor says: “You’ll get the vitamins and minerals but not the fiber. And the soluble fiber in vegetables is really good for your cholesterol and blood pressure.” When you eat a piece of fruit or vegetable whole, some of the vitamins and minerals remain trapped within indigestible fiber that your body simply eliminates. By juicing, you extract most of the nutrients from the fiber, and so your body benefits more than if you simply ate your produce raw. Because absorbing nourishment from juice requires little to no effort from your digestive system, proponents of juicing suggest that your body is able to take a break from the ongoing work of processing food and turn instead to attending to whatever needs repair. That being said, there is great benefit to consuming fiber. Because it is important for digestive function, removing fiber from your diet by replacing whole fruits and vegetables with juice would prove unhealthy. The single greatest benefit of juicing may be that it makes vegetables and fruits easier to consume on a regular basis — most of us can drink more vegetables than we can eat. Added to a regular diet, then, juicing undoubtedly will increase your intake of vegetables and fruits.
I want to share some of my favorite combinations with you here:
Green Apple Detox Juice
Serves 1-2
1 medium apple, chopped (any sweet variety)
2 cups mache lettuce (or spinach – or any soft leafy green)
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 cup coconut water
handful of ice (optional)
optional: cayenne – a few dashes for spiciness
Blend in a high speed blender from low to high until smooth. You could also add in some mint and a splash of grade B maple syrup if you’d like. This juice is packed with hydrating, energizing nutrients like vitamins A and C, potassium, fiber and more.
Vibrant Orange Juice Frosty
Serves 1-2
4 Valencia oranges, squeezed
1 small banana, ripe
1/3 cup frozen peaches
1/2 cup frozen pineapple
1/3 cup ice
Blend. Pour. Garnish with a citrus twist and serve and enjoy your vibrant day!
Hangover Vibrant Juice
Hangover from too many cocktails?
Serves 1-2
2 large beets (I used one red, one golden)
1 carrot
1 cucumber
1 apple, cored
1/2 to 1 inch fresh ginger
1 lemon, peeled
1 lime, peeled
Cheers!
Now, are you ready to be a juicing convert?
