Green Juice: Benefits And Juicing Recipes
Homemade green juice is a healthy alternative when we want to lose some weight.
16/11/2018 08:05h | Updated at 2018-11-27 13:24h
Even though it should never replace meals, the truth is that green juice is the perfect complement for a healthy diet, as well as to favor weight loss. Generally, it is also useful to improve the immune system or reduce cholesterol, among other benefits that its ingredients provide us.
In this article, you will learn what green juice is, what benefits it has, and some juicing recipes so you can enjoy some healthy breakfasts.
What is green juice?
Green vegetables are very nutritious food and they are also rich in essential vitamins and minerals for a good functioning of our organism. When we combine vegetables with fruit, the nutritious power of these foods increases and they become an ideal complement for a healthy diet, sometimes compatible with eating fewer fats and losing some weight.
When these juices are taken for breakfast they provide a lot more energy and, in combination with other food, they provide a lot of necessary components. They are fresh, fast and easy to make.
They can be made as juice or as smoothies, the only difference between them is that one will be made with a squeezer (manual) or a juicer (electrical), so it doesn't include the pulp; while the others are made with a hand blender.
In the case of smoothies, other liquids are added, such as water or any kind of milk. These green drinks are ideal to lose weight but they don't replace meals, they should always accompany other food.
Green juice benefits
Green juice is rich in fiber and antioxidants that help speed up the metabolism and detox our body, helping to eliminate fluid retention due to its diuretic effect. This is why these juices are also known as detox juices.
Additionally, having green juice regularly can provide our body with the following benefits:
- Lose weight easily.
- Regulate pH blood levels
- Reduce swelling
- Promotes liver and kidney health
These juices also help to strengthen our immune system, they are good for the skin, they control bad cholesterol, they prevent cellular aging and they keep us hydrated. Another benefit is that they cause a filled up effect that helps us control anxiety for food.
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Juicing recipes
In the following lines, you will find some easy green juice recipes. In the same way, to create your perfect combination of a juice of approximately 500 ml you only have to have a vegetable or a fruit base, add another main ingredient and, in less quantity, others that accompany the recipe.
The base vegetables or fruit can be carrots, apples, oranges, cucumber, or celery, among others. You can also add seeds or other components such as ginger or chia.
1. Traditional green smoothie
This is one of the green juices par excellence because it provides our body with half of the antioxidants it needs a day and it also helps speed up metabolism, favoring weight loss in a faster way. It only consists of 1 celery stem, ¼ of a Chinese cabbage, and the juice of a grapefruit.
2. Chard and apple smoothie
This green smoothie simply consists of ¼ of a chard, ¼ of a cucumber and ½ a green apple. In general, it provides our body with very powerful phytonutrients and antioxidants. The apple is the ingredient that provides a natural source of sugar and gives the smoothie a fresher flavor.
3. Cucumber, celery and orange juice
This cucumber juice is one of the favorite options for those who have green juices. It only consists of ¼ of a cucumber, 1 celery stem, and juice from 3 oranges. It hydrates the body, it satiates thirst, and it improves the body defenses because of the orange in it.
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4. Cabbage and fruit juice
This juice has more fruits than vegetables but it is also an example of a green juice because it has ¼ of a kale, 1/8 of a watermelon, ¼ of a green apple, and the juice of a small lime. It is a healthy source of hydrates, phytonutrients, and vitamin C.
5. Green juice with mint
If you are looking for a natural drink that helps to reduce the inflammation of your belly and improve digestion this is the indicated option. The ingredients for this juice are a handful of mint, ¼ of a kale, ¼ or a cucumber, and 1 celery stem.
6. Avocado green juice
To prepare this juice you only need the juice of 1 lime, ½ a cucumber, a handful of spinach, and ½ an avocado. You can add some ice if you want it to be cold. It is a drink rich in healthy and essential fats, as well as a high source of energy.