CookBook - Drinks

DRINKS

Counting The Calories

It is tempting to toss too many fruits into the concoction for more sweetness, let’s face it most people prefer the taste of pineapple over kale.

Although most fruit contains healthy vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients, fruit also contains a considerable amount of sugar.

Fruit sugar is still sugar, so remember that just because it is full of healthy fruits and veggies there are some hidden factors you need to take into account.

Juice Without Skins

Citrus Fruits

The peel of both oranges and grapefruits contain some oils that can cause pretty bad indigestion. Always peel the peels off oranges and grapefruit before juicing!

Mangoes

Mango skins are edible and I personally prefer to leave them on when I juice. However, they can cause an allergic reaction in some people. The skin of mangoes is filled with vitamins and nutrients, but it also contains a chemical called urushiol which is found in poison ivy and responsible for the itchy rashes. Not everyone will have an allergic reaction, I don’t but if you are not sure, it is best to avoid eating the skins.

Squashes

Like pumpkin, butternut, etc. have peels that are much, much too hard for your juicer. Make sure to peel these off, but peel as little as possible (so you leave the part that is closest to the peel that is the darkest colour of the flesh since this is where the most nutrients are).

Juice With The Skins

Apples

Apple peels contain much of the nutritional benefits of this fruit.

Bananas

Although you cannot juice bananas, you can juice the peel. If that sounds a little gross, do not worry it is actually quite yummy. You can also add these nutritious peels to your smoothies. And the benefits are unexpectedly great. Banana peels are rich in serotonin, which is associated with mood, people with depression are known to have lower serotonin levels.

Eggplant

Some people are reluctant to juice eggplant because of rumours of its toxicity, but if you are going to juice eggplant, make sure to leave the skins on. They are chock full of nasunin an antioxidant that may prevent brain cell damage as well as an ample amount of potassium and magnesium. Make sure you juice the eggplant as soon as you buy it as the peel get more bitter with time.

Grapes

Red and purple grapes contain resveratrol the anti-ageing miracle that’s been making headlines all over the news and the main reason why red wine is touted as a nutritious drink.

Resveratrol is an antioxidant that helps to protect your body against free radical damage that leads to ageing and disease. The studies that back up resveratrol as an anti-ageing marvel are based on studies in which mice that were fed resveratrol supplements had better motor coordination and lived longer than mice that didn’t receive any resveratrol. According to these studies, resveratrol works by boosting enzyme activity in the mitochondria of muscle tissue.

This is one of the biggest reasons to eat organic red grapes with the skins on the concentration of Reseveratrol is much higher in the skin of red grapes than it is in red wine.

Kiwi

Most people scrape all their kiwi skins off, missing all the nutritional benefits of this furry brown wrapping. But this skin is high in antioxidants and thought to have anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergenic properties.

Beets

Beet peel is a matter of preference. I generally never peel these, especially since I only get them organic. But other people might not like the slight taste of “dirt” that tends to come with unpeeled beets. If that really bothers you then you can give them a rigorous scrub or just peel them all together.

Cucumbers

Cucumber peel is full of nutritious benefits. The skins are rich in fibre and contain a variety of beneficial minerals such as silica, potassium and magnesium making them ideal for hydration as well as for maintaining healthy tissue. Silica is an essential component of healthy connective tissue in muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bone. Cucumber juiced with the peels left on is an excellent source of silica to improve skin health.

Lemons & Limes & Tangerines

Citrus peels are high in powerful antioxidants called super-flavonoids which can contribute to reducing “bad” cholesterol levels.

At the same time the oils from these citrus peels can be tough on your stomach, so make sure you go easy on them.

Melons

Melons are great to juice whole just leave everything the way it is, cut it up and juice. The rinds are where most of the nutrition is, plus the rinds help to dilute the sugariness of the melon.

The Green Goddess

Ingredients

2 large handfuls of Spinach

2 sticks of Celery

200ml of Apple Juice

½ a Cucumber

Pinch of Chilli

6 cubes of ice

Method

Put all ingredients into the blender and set to high until smooth, add about 6 cubes of ice once smooth and blend till ice is crushed, serve and enjoy all that green goodness.

Pear, Orange And Ginger Reviver

Ingredients

2 Ripe Pears

4 Medium Oranges

4 Cubes Crystallised Ginger or Fresh Ginger

1 tbsp Honey

4-6 Cubes of Ice

Method

Peel and quarter the pears, removing the cores. Put into a blender with the orange juice and the crystallised ginger and process until smooth.

Add honey to taste.

Then add ice through the top of the blender whilst still mixing until the ice has just crushed.

Suggestions

If using fresh ginger add a little bit at a time, taste and add more if required.

For an alternative, more citrus taste add some pineapple.

Simple Starter

Ingredients

2 Apples

3 Carrots

4 Stalks Celery

Method

No need to chop any ingredients simply put them straight into the juicer and for that extra chilled juice poor over crushed ice.

This Juice has the benefits to help towards healthy skin, teeth, gums and to give a glowing youthful complexion. Its other benefits are great for the nervous system and to reduce acidity.