As the holiday season draws to a close, many of us are looking to get back on a healthy track after all the fun and delicious festivities. If this is one of your goals in the new year, then consider adding some fresh juices and smoothies to your diet!
Stephanie Middleberg, a New York City-based registered dietitian describes why many people look to cleansing after the holidays.
ÒMany people turn to cleanses because they feel offÑtheyÕre bloated and sluggish, dependent on caffeine and junk food cravings, breaking out. Ó
Are you feeling like this? You may want to consider boosting your nutrient intake with some juicing to get your body back on track. Juices are one of the easiest most efficient way to get a burst of energy as they are both very digestible and highly nutritious. Some ingredients can have anticancer along with an abundance of vitamins and minerals that can give your body and your palette a cleanly feeling after the holidays. And you donÕt have to limit yourself to juices – smoothies are a great way to increase nutrient intake as well with the added benefit of fiber.
So without further ado here are our 4 amazing juice and smoothie recipes to help you detox on the double. No time to juice on your own? You can also order freshly made juices and smoothies at Tidal Creek Co-op!
SEE ALSO: Top Smoothie and Juice Bars in Wilmington, NC
1. The Turbo Express
Feeling a bit under the weather? Your immune system might have taken a hit or two and needs some help. This juice is the perfect way to amp up your immunity and start feeling fighting fit again.
Ingredients
- 2 apples
- 5 handfuls of spinach leaves
- 1 cucumber
- 1 slice of lime
- 1 celery stick
- _ pineapple
Simply juice the ingredients and serve in a tall glass. Alternatively, you can half each of the ingredients and combine in a blender and blend until you get a nice puree for a delectable, nutrient packed smoothie. This juice offers a lot of Potassium, Vitamin C and Iron. Apart from helping your immune system get back in its stride, the cucumber gives this juice a refreshing taste that many of us crave after indulging for the entire month of December.
2. The Green Veggie Detox Drink
ItÕs almost impossible to have Detox without having a generous vegetable intake. With that in mind, here is a vegetable smoothie straight from certified clinical nutritionist Natalia RoseÕs book The Raw Food Detox Diet: The Five-Step Plan for Vibrant Health and Maximum Weight Loss. It is primarily made up of green vegetables. It provides your body with all the nutrients and fiber that you need to start feeling great again.
Ingredients
- 3 carrots
- 3 kale leaves
- 2 celery stalks
- 2 beets
- 1 turnip
- _ bunch of spinach
- _ cabbage
- _ bunch of parsley
- _ onion
- 2 garlic cloves
Mix all ingredients in a blender. Add water and ice according to how thick you want your smoothie to be.
3. Beet Apple and Blackberry Juice
Beet juice is highly nutritious as it is full of manganese, potassium Vitamin C and folate. Now add apples, blackberry and ginger to it and you get a beautiful deep red drink that is both gorgeous to look at and delicious to consume.
Ingredients
- 3 small beets
- 2-3 apples
- 8 oz. blackberries
- _ inch fresh ginger
Mix in a blender until all ingredients have dissolved into a smoothie. Pour into a glass and serve with some ice cubes.
4. Wild Spiced Dandelion Berry Bliss
As the name suggests, this smoothie is quite literally blissful both to look at and also to sample! This pulped juice is not only healthy but the texture it presents is extremely appealing too!
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries
- 1 cup dandelion leaves or more to taste
- 1 cup raspberries
- Optional: 1 small chili with seeds and skin removed (more or less depending on the heat)
- Optional: 10 drops of alcohol-free liquid stevia depending on the ripeness and sweetness of your berries
Blend all ingredients until smooth. Serve over ice or as is.
Regardless of what your goals are for 2015, your health takes precedence over all. Start this New Year with a commitment to your health and see what a huge difference it makes. Be sure to check out the healthy offerings at the Tidal Creek Co-op Caf and Hot Bar if you need a quick bite to eat. Click here to see the juice and smoothie menu!
All of the juices are made from fresh ingredients as your order them. You have your choice of hearty elixirs prepared from highly nutritious organic produce.
Download the Smoothie & Juice Menu with Prices!
Sources: The Curist