Green Juicing Diet (8 page)

Don't Cheat!

The purpose of a juice cleanse is obviously to
cleanse
. That means you're sweeping away all of the garbage large and small from your digestive tract as well as the rest of your body, allowing your immune system to heal all that ails you and letting your system function properly.

The idea behind juice cleansing is that a huge percentage of your daily energy consumption goes toward digestion; when you're not consuming foods that require digestion, your body can use that energy to heal. If you're still eating solid food, you're defeating the purpose of a cleanse. So dedicate yourself to doing it right, and stick with it!

These simple tips should help get you started should you decide to take on a juice cleanse. So now it's time to discuss some specific needs you may like to address by juicing, and provide you with some delicious recipes to set you on your way to a healthier, greener you!

GREEN JUICE AND SMOOTHIE RECIPES TO CURE WHAT AILS YOU!

T
hough all juices are essentially good for you, certain ones are particularly suited to address specific conditions, so we've put together some recipes that can help you meet your particular needs. As we begin to understand how nutrients work in our bodies, it becomes a matter of finding the foods that contain the nutrients your body requires to fight off certain conditions, then eating the right combinations of those foods to give it the necessary tools to stay healthy. Here are some of the most common ailments that juices and smoothies can remedy and the great combinations you can try at home.

Detoxification

Because your body is exposed to toxins daily in dozens of different circumstances, it's important to detoxify your system on a regular basis. Drinking plenty of water helps, but it's simply not enough when your body has to continue to digest your food, fight disease, and perform the thousands of other functions that it must carry out for basic survival.

You need to clean your system periodically in order to maintain your good health, so here is a collection of recipes to get you started. The ingredients in the following recipes have been measured out for juice, so if you are making smoothies, decrease the measurements by about three-quarters.

Apple Juice Detox

This recipe is light and delicious but is also a cleansing powerhouse. Because of the high sugar content, this is a great breakfast juice to get your day started.

• ½ pound green apples

• ½ pound mint leaves

• 1 lemon

• 1 orange

• 1 cucumber

Process the apples and mint in a juicer, then the lemon and orange, followed by the cucumber. Stir well to combine. If using a blender, simply add all the ingredients (be sure to peel the lemon and orange first) and puree until smooth.

Yield: 12 to 14 ounces

Dandy-Kale Delight

The rich green color of this drink gives you a sense of the healing benefits of its ingredients.

• ½ pound dandelion greens

• ½ pound kale leaves

• ¼ pound parsley

• 1 pound cucumber

• ½ pound celery

Process the dandelion greens, kale, and parsley in a juicer, then the cucumber and celery. Stir well to combine. If using a blender, simply add all the ingredients and puree until smooth.

Yield: About 20 ounces

Italian Fennel Cleanse

The fennel in this juice adds a peppery flair, and the lemon juice freshens it up, while everything works together to detoxify your body.

• ¼ pound garlic cloves, peeled

• ½ pound fennel

• ½ pound kale leaves

• 8 basil leaves

• ½ pound tomatoes

• ¼ pound cucumber

• 1 lemon

Process the garlic, fennel, kale, and basil in a juicer, then the tomatoes, cucumber, and lemon. Stir well to combine. If using a blender, simply add all the ingredients (be sure to peel the lemon first) and puree until smooth.

Yield: About 15 ounces

The Delicious Green Cleanse

This attractive green drink is as good for you as it looks. Fortunately it tastes refreshing and pleasant while working hard to fight diseases and detoxify your body. Each of the ingredients works well independently, but together they create a real powerhouse. If this drink tastes too rich, just add a little more cucumber.

• ½ pound green bell peppers

• ¼ pound broccoli florets

• ½ pound cucumber

• ½ pound cabbage

Process the bell peppers and broccoli in a juicer, then the cucumber and cabbage. Stir well to combine. If using a blender, simply add all the ingredients and puree until smooth.

Yield: About 14 ounces

Popeye's Pride

This rich green drink will really give your body a detoxifying boost. The lemon and celery work to cleanse while lending a refreshing taste to balance the spinach.

• 1 pound spinach

• 1 lemon

• ¼ pound parsley

• ½ pound celery

Process the spinach and lemon in a juicer, then the parsley and celery. Stir well to combine. If using a blender, simply add all the ingredients (be sure to peel the lemon first) and puree until smooth.

Yield: About 16 ounces

Weight Loss

Most vegetable juice blends are great for weight loss, especially the green ones. If you really want to amp up the race to slim down, try to stay as green as possible, because green usually indicates cleansing and low calories. Weight loss efforts can be thwarted by a sluggish metabolism, but cleansing your system can really help to rev up your internal energy furnace and get you closer to that svelte new you!

Cabbage Soup Juice

Rich in vegetables that help your body to detoxify and flush out toxins, this juice is both delicious and nutritious. Since it's so nutrient dense, you can actually fast on this juice for a few days if you choose to really cleanse your system.

• ½ pound green cabbage

• ¼ pound garlic cloves, peeled

• 6 to 8 basil leaves

• ½ pound tomatoes

• ½ pound green bell peppers

Process the cabbage, garlic, and basil in a juicer, then the tomatoes and bell peppers. Stir well to combine. If using a blender, simply add all the ingredients and puree until smooth.

Yield: About 12 ounces

Skinny Salsa Sauce

Made with many of the same vegetables found in salsa, this pleasant-tasting juice is low in calories and great for cleansing and detoxifying your entire system so that your metabolism functions efficiently. The large amount of
chlorophyll increases your oxygen usage, enabling your body to drop unhealthy excess weight more quickly. Note: If your juicer can't handle the grasses, just leave them out.

• ¼ pound green onions

• ¼ pound wheatgrass

• ¼ pound lemongrass

• ¼ pound cilantro

• 1 pound tomatoes

• 1 lime

Process the green onions, wheatgrass, and lemongrass in a juicer, then the cilantro, followed by the tomatoes and lime. Stir well to combine. If using a blender, simply add all the ingredients (be sure to peel the lime first) and puree until smooth.

Yield: 16 to 20 ounces

Vegetable Soup Juice

Everybody who has ever tried to drop a pound — or twenty — has heard of the vegetable soup diet. This juice is a tasty play on that and is great for a mini-fast to kick-start your dieting efforts. The cayenne pepper gives it an extra metabolism-boosting kick.

• ¼ pound potatoes

• ¼ pound green onions

• 1 pound tomatoes

• ½ pound green bell peppers

• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

• Pinch of cayenne pepper

Process the potatoes and onions in a juicer, then the tomatoes and bell peppers. Add the black and cayenne peppers to the juice, and stir well to combine. If using a blender, simply add all the ingredients and puree until smooth.

Yield: About 20 ounces

Perfect Pepper Picker-Upper

This juice has an amazing peppery flavor, and the capsaicin it contains will really boost your metabolism.

• ½ jalapeño pepper

• ½ pound green bell peppers

• ½ pound cucumber

• ½ pound arugula

Process the jalapeño and bell peppers in a juicer, then the cucumber and arugula. Stir well to combine. If using a blender, simply add all the ingredients and puree until smooth.

Yield: About 16 ounces

Skinny Spaghetti in a Glass

This juice will remind you of a delicious spaghetti sauce because of the basil and tomato combination. It's a pleasant juice that will help keep you full, while providing a delightful burst of nutrition.

• ¼ pound garlic cloves, peeled

• ¼ pound green bell peppers

• 6 basil leaves

• 1 pound tomatoes

Process the garlic and bell peppers in a juicer, then the basil and tomatoes. Stir well to combine. If using a blender, simply add all the ingredients and puree until smooth.

Yield: About 12 ounces

Disease Prevention

In order to keep your body disease free, you need to do three important things on a regular basis. First, you should maintain a relatively alkaline environment, because diseases such as cancer can't grow under those conditions. Second, you need to keep your system clean, so your body can fight disease the way it's meant to do. Finally, give your body the nutrients it needs, such as antioxidants, to fight and prevent diseases on an ongoing basis. The following juices will help keep you on track for a disease-free existence!