Looking to get your skin glowing again? Want to feel better? Looking to shed those unwanted pounds? Striving for clearer thinking?
Why not consider adding this everyday alkaline green juice into your diet? What’s in it? My everyday go-to contains cucumbers, celery, spinach and/or kale, parsley, ginger and lemon. Why? I list the numerous reasons below.
CUCUMBERS
Cucumber is most noted for its high water content, which is 95%! This makes it an incredibly hydrating food and a great base for juices and raw soups. Cucumbers ALSO contains superb amounts of antioxidants – you know those things that are great at scavenging free radicals that play a role in disease! Cucumbers also contain the following alkaline minerals: calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, selenium, copper, manganese, iron, and zinc. And you thought cucumbers were only good for facials!
CELERY
Celery, like cucumber, is also very alkaline AND has a really high water content, so it TOO is a great choice to use as a base in juices. Celery is loaded with vitamin C, but two of its lesser-known nutrients have been shown to lower blood pressure and cholesterol AND to reduce the risk of cancer. The beauty of vitamin C rich foods is that they help support the immune system, lessen inflammation, and help significantly with cardiovascular health. So crunch away, celery lovers!
SPINACH
All leafy greens should be eaten in abundance, but spinach is great raw (or steamed). Baby spinach or fully-grown spinach is incredibly alkaline. As with all green foods, spinach is rich in chlorophyll a potent alkalizer, and blood builder. It’s high in vitamin K, vitamin A, manganese, folate, magnesium, iron, vitamin C, vitamin B2, calcium, potassium, vitamin E, and dietary fiber. Popeye really had something going, here.
PARSLEY
Parsley is best known for its ability to fight cancer. Animal studies have shown that it can inhibit tumor formation, particularly in the lungs. It’s a rich source of antioxidants and contain heart-protective nutrients including Vitamin C, beta-carotene and folic acid.
GINGER
Ginger is commonly used as a digestive aid and contains compounds that ease motion sickness and nausea. The active ingredient in ginger is gingerol, a compound that’s thought to relax blood vessels, stimulate blood flow and relieve pain.
LEMONS
Lemons too are exceptionally alkaline when metabolized by the body. Lemons assists with detoxification, helps balance pH, aids in digestion, contain phytochemicals that are anti-inflammatory. Lemons enhance the skin as they contain high amounts of Vitamin C which assist with repairing tissues of the skin. Lemons boost the immune system, freshens breath (well, an alkaline body will eliminate breath odors)!
So, what are you waiting for? Don’t have a juicer? Try already bottled cold-pressed green juices found on your grocery store shelf. Make sure little to no fruit is added so look for a juice that has less than 10g of sugar to maximize the health benefits of juicing. Sugar is exceptionally acidic, so it’ll turn your alkaline juice into a soft drink!!
Recipe by Laura A. Bushey, MAT, Certified Health Educator and Personal Holistic Chef with Kitchen of Life. For more about Laura click here.
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