Fresh Blender Juice

Makes approximately 1 litre

Prep time 15-20 minutes

So juices get a bit of a bad rap sometimes. It can seem like everyone is on a detox or  juice cleanse these days, am I right? Well I have some news… juices are not just for cleanses! That’s right. My food philosophy involves supporting our bodies’ natural detoxification processes and channels so I am not a huge advocate of a body-shocking week long juice fast, most of the time. But in my opinion, a good quality and fresh juice has its place in our daily lives.

Juices can be extremely nutrient dense and easy on the digestive system. They are ideal for people who are in a heightened stress response state. Here’s why…

During a period of heightened stress response we have:

• higher nutrient requirements as our adrenal glands rely on nutrients such as vitamin C, B5, and B12 in particular to produce our stress hormones
• slowed digestion so our body can focus on the immediate perceived stress
• less time to sit and eat (which can also be hard on digestion)

SO juices are a great option to get you through until you can sit and eat in a relaxed environment. That said, without the fibre of a whole fruit or vegetable, juices can spike blood sugar. If this is of particular concern, I recommend a handful of nuts or seeds alongside your juice to slow the release of glucose into the bloodstream.

Here is one of my favourite juice recipes. It contains vitamin C-rich citrus, beta carotene, anti-inflammatory turmeric and ginger root, and it tastes great! This version uses a high speed blender but feel free to add all ingredients into a juicer if you have one at home.

Ingredients:

• 2 small-medium sized carrots
• 1 apple (I used Gala)
• 2 sticks of celery
• 3 clementines (or 1 regular orange)
• 1 lemon with peel removed
• 1 inch long knob of ginger
• finger long knob of fresh turmeric (see note)
• 1 1/2 cups of water (you could use more or less, according to your preference)

Directions:

1. Wash produce and cut into smaller pieces. Remove peels from lemon and clementines.
2. Put all ingredients into a high speed blender loading in softer items first and blend on high until smooth.
3. Strain juice through a nut milk bag or cheese cloth over a large glass bowl. A little patience is required with this as the pulp can be squeezed through the mesh if you use too much pressure. Turmeric will stain your hands and nails so if this is a concern, I would advise wearing gloves.
4. Pour juice into a glass container and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days. Enzymatic breakdown begins immediately so the sooner you drink it the more benefits you will receive!

*Note: Fresh turmeric root can be difficult to find or expensive. I stock up when it is available and keep it in the freezer for later use. If you can’t find fresh, organic turmeric powder will do in a pinch. The anti-inflammatory effects of this little wonder root are worth the effort of finding it!