8 Benefits of Drinking Your Veggies

Eating enough vegetables can be tough. But juicing is a great way to take in a variety. Fresh juice as a part of a well-balanced diet has several health benefits, including:

1. Abundant micronutrients

Imagine trying to eat ten large carrots or half a head of cabbage. That seems pretty impossible, right? Juicing makes it easier to consume a wider variety and a greater quantity of vegetables.

2. Important antioxidants

These fight free radicals, which are linked to certain cancers, and inflammation. You can find antioxidants galore in beets, garlic, berries, tomatoes, wheatgrass, and grapes.

3. Easy on your tummy

Whole vegetables take some 60 minutes to break down and digest. Fresh vegetable juices take just 15 minutes.

4. Detoxification

Comfort foods contain lots of fat, sugar, salt, and refined carbohydrates. Juicing detoxifies you by keeping your digestive tract clean. Foods like dandelion greens, lemons, and apples are great for detoxing.

5. Firm, flawless skin

Fresh juice fights wrinkles, acne, and redness.

6. Hydration

Juicing keeps you from going thirsty, and it delivers much-needed electrolytes.

7. An alkaline environment

Reduced acidity and increased alkalinity of your body keeps away bloating, eczema, cramps, headaches, and swelling. Most vegetables help to promote an alkaline environment.

8. Workout recovery

Fresh juice helps you bounce back from exercise by replacing electrolytes, repairing injured muscles, and keeping you hydrated as your fat cells shrink.

6 yummy, nutritious fresh vegetable juice recipes

1. Power Juice

Time: 10 minutes

Rich in iron, which is essential for healthy blood-cell and muscle function, this juice also comes packed with vitamin K, which is key for blood and bone health.

Ingredients

• 1 cup kale
• 1 cup green grapes
• 1 cucumber, peeled
• 1 Granny Smith apple, cored
• 1/2 cup water

Directions

• In a blender, combine kale, grapes, cucumber, apple, and water
• Blend until smooth

2. Post-Workout Drink

Time: 10 minutes

The potassium found in this drink balances your electrolytes and fluids.

Ingredients

• 2 medium oranges
• 1/4 cup raw almonds
• 1 small sweet potato
• 1 medium apple
• 1/2 cup water

Directions

• In a blender, combine oranges, almonds, sweet potato, apple, and water
• Blend until smooth

3. Detox Drink

Time: 10 minutes

This high fiber drink prevents constipation, and the ginger in it soothes your stomach.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons chopped ginger
• 1 medium beet
• 4 medium carrots
• 1 medium apple
• 1 cup water

Directions

• In a blender, combine ginger, beet, carrots, apple, and water
• Blend until smooth

4. Carrot-Orange Juice

Time: 10 minutes

This juice recipe is jam-packed full of vitamins A and C, which are great for your immune system.

Ingredients

• 1 yellow tomato
• 1 orange, peeled
• 1 apple
• 2 carrots
• Some ice cubes

Directions

• In a blender, combine tomato, orange, apple, carrots, and ice
• Blend until smooth

5. Super Healthy Green Juice

Time: 10 minutes

This juice combines parsley, spinach, pears and celery, all of which contain lots of vitamin K.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup parsley
• 3 cups spinach
• 1/2 lemon, peeled
• 2 pears
• 6 large stalks celery
• Some ice cubes

Directions

• In a blender, combine parsley, spinach, lemon, pears, celery, and ice cubes
• Blend until smooth

6. Tomato–Vegetable Juice

Time: 10 minutes

This drink contains all the ingredients of a healthy salad. Yet it has way less salt than you find in bottled tomato juice.

Ingredients

• 1 cup chopped hearts or romaine
• 1/4 cup chopped chives
• 2 tomatoes
• 1/2 jalapeno peeper, seeded
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded
• 2 stalks celery
• 1 carrot
• Some ice cubes

Directions

• In a blender, combine romaine, chives, tomatoes, jalapeno, red bell pepper, celery, carrot, and ice cubes
• Blend until smooth

References

1. “Ask the Diet Doctor: What are the Benefits of Juicing?,” Shape, October 7, 2013.
2. “Juicing Benefits: 7 Reasons Why Fresh Juice Is The Healthier Option,” HuffPost Canada March 21, 2014.
3. “The Healing Properties of Juicing,” The Dr. Oz Show, May 1, 2013.
4. “The Health Benefits of Every Fruit Juice,” Harper’s Bazaar, June 22, 2015.