Fresh juice anyone?
As has been seen in many Asian countries for some time now, fresh fruit juices have become an accepted street food. Unfortunately other than vendors squeezing orange juice (virtually on request) on some street corners there is limited places that sell a variety of fresh fruits in Bangkok, although the hotels are starting to catch on to this latest ‘trend’. By fresh, I mean FRESH – prepared and consumed in a matter of minutes, not those that are labeled ‘fresh’ and yet have a shelf life in the supermarket of a week or more. Fresh juices provide a valuable dose of nutrition in a pleasant drink.
Being that it has been deemed that we only need fruits and vegetables for sustenance, there is an obvious better way of gaining maximum nutrition from them. With most of the nutrition locked up in the cellulose fibre of plants, it can take considerable chewing and or digestion time to release the necessary nutrients. Placing your fruits and vegetables in a juicer will make the nutrients available to your digestive system in as little as few minutes.
In comparison to whole fruits and vegetables, we can comfortably consume a quantity of juice far in excess of the whole fruit. As a rough guide, 1 kilogram of fruit or vegetables will produce about 2 glasses of juice. With the juice having a higher concentration of vitamins, minerals and trace elements if your diet is lacking, this is a great way to increase your nutrition intake with reasonable comfort.
Juices can be consumed from an early age, but check with your health care professional for specific advise. As soon as children start on ‘solid foods’, fresh carrot juice mixed with their milk is a great way to start on a healthy life long dietary program. Carrot juice for growing children can be a way of them consuming nutrient rich vegetables when they are a stage of life when they are notorious for rejecting them. The sweetness of fresh carrot juice is where the most obstinate child can be convinced to ‘eat their veggies’. On the upside here also is that as the child nears the age where acne can be a problem, carrot juice aids the normal development of glands and can help prevent or overcome the ravages of this ailment.
Taken on a regular basis, a dose of fresh juice will provide enzymes that are essential for the body to enable proper digestion. While our body also will produce these essential enzymes as we age our body produces progressively less of them, so juices can provide an important boost so that we maintain efficient digestion.
You do not have to be ailing to benefit from the ingestion of raw juices. In a way, they are the same as taking vitamin supplements, but, with the added benefit of being ‘alive’.
Incorporate freshly prepared juices in your life on a daily basis. They are quick and easy to prepare and the variety of flavours is up to your taste and imagination. Just wash thoroughly all items being used. You only need to peel fruits with thick skins (such a pineapples and melons), but apples can go in your juicer skin and all (but leave out the seeds). Carrots, beetroot, celery only need to be washed, but celery leaves can be particularly strong in flavour so leave these out to start with unless you really like the flavour. If in doubt, experiment. As with all experiments, some will not work, but others will give surprising results. A few recipes follow, but there are lots of juice and juicing books available at book stores so if you are truly interested in improving your own health or that of your family, why not invest in a juice machine and a new book today. The kids will love preparing them – the colour range is particularly exciting. To start with, perhaps stick to a single juice but as you become more adventurous try mixing the juices. Green apple and carrot is great start, but then why not try some of the following:
For the relief of heartburn caused by an acid stomach, juice 3 potatoes, 3 carrots, 1 apple and 1 stick of celery (no leaves).
For relief of arthritis, juice equal quantities of cherries, blueberries and blackberries.
For relief from acne, juice 4 carrots, 1 cucumber, 1 whole lemon, 1 potato, 1 artichoke and 1 apple.
For relief from high blood pressure, juice 6 carrots, 2 sticks celery, 1 beetroot, 1 bunch parsley, 1 clove garlic, 1 bunch spinach.
For relief from ulcers, three times a day juice ¼ green cabbage and 6 carrots.
To boost your immune system, juice the seeds of 2 pomegranates (tubtim), 4 carrots and ½ lime.
Remember fresh juices are not a miracle cure. They are part of a health eating program with the effects being long term. When you start with juices, dilute them by 50% with water. Drinking one glass of juice that will assist in lowering your blood pressure (or any other specific health dis-ease) is unlikely to have a major effect. You will have to make juices a regular part of your diet to see the real and long term benefits. If in doubt, consult your healthcare advisor, and remember that everything in life should be taken in moderation.