The Best Clean Juice
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Photo Credit: Jessica Collins
Just holding fresh juice in my hand makes me feel a little healthier and happier. It's a real feeling, and there is science to it! The brain does weird things with certain associations such as color, touch, and smell. But, of course, to receive the full benefits you need to actually drink it. I am assuming if you are looking for juice recipes you already know the health benefits of consuming more fruits and veggies in your diet and giving your body a digestive rest via juicing is a good idea, but to name a few: aiding in digestion, increasing nutrient absorption, lowering blood pressure, strengthening immunity and detoxing. Therefore, I am going to share our favorite recipes and how to optimally prepare them without a juicy novelette.
Below you will find our fave green juice that isn't too sweet nor bitter and a red beet juice made from root veggies and the added benefits of turmeric - both have ginger citrus notes. Green juices are the iconic I-am-doing-something-healthy- juice. They can tend to be bitter or overcompensated with sweet to mask the bitterness. I like balance. Personally I don't mind bitter juice, but I want my kids to drink it without cringing. Therefore, I choose mild greens such as spinach and chard. If you choose bitter greens... you will get a bitter juice. If using greens from your garden, which I highly recommend, remember that greens grown in hot weather climates have more kick, but fall and winter greens will be milder. Red/orange juices, my kids favorites, are sweeter because root vegetables have more natural sugar than greens veggies. We call it happy juice because the citrus really shines in this one. An orange, in our opinion, is the happiest fruit. Thus, dubbed by my children the happy snack on road trips and picnic lunches. I really like that I can put a good amount of tumeric in this juice, but one of our favorite things to do is add ice and pour in a little honey sweetened coconut milk for a cold juice latte.
Juicing 101
PREP: (The list looks long. It's not, it's just common sense that looks longer when made into lists.)
- Make sure your cutting board and juicing area is clean and free from raw meat or egg bacterial influence. (This can be tricky if juicing while also making breakfast.)
- Wash your produce thoroughly with warm water and consider using a non-toxic veggie cleaner. I am a fan of Young Living veggie cleaner, and this grapefruit based cleaner found on amazon.
- Leave the skin on for optimal pre-biotic and enzyme benefits.
- Cut off ends or blemished parts of your produce that you feel might harbor bacteria.
- Cut large items in quarters or halves to allow them to fit in your juicer.
JUICING:
- If your juicer has a low and high mode, start low, and juice your softer items such as cucumbers and greens.
- Turn it on high and transition to your more dense items such as carrots and apples.
- Taste your juice before disassembling your juicer or putting everything away. It may need a little of this or that to balance tastes.
- TIP: When the taste profile isn't what you want, add another apple, orange, or lemon.
ENJOY:
- I like to have my cup ready and to drink my juice asap, because I love the fresh froth and bright colors!
- You can juice and keep in the fridge for 3-5 days, but the color will deepen or become duller, fyi. The taste will also change similarly with a deeper sometimes more bitter profile, which can be easily brightened with fresh squeezed juice from a citrus wedge or two.
- TIP: Drinking juice with an empty stomach will increase nutrient absorption, alkaline benefits, and better aid in detox. Therefore, drinking juice first thing in the morning gives the most benefits. If you are a coffee drinker, be sure to enjoy your morning cup either an hour before or two hours after, as the acidity will disrupt the alkaline benefits of juicing.
CLEAN-UP
- Clean up is easiest and best immediately with warm soapy water.
- If you cannot clean right after, rinse with warm water to keep your juicer from staining or residue from sticking to your blades and linings.
- If items begin to stain due to use of turmeric or bright veggies, soak them in 1 part white vinegar and two part water + non-toxic dish soap. (It's normal for a well-used juicer to be well-loved and tint or stain a bit. So no shame if you choose to just let it be.)
- TIP: Have a little bowl or plate to keep rogue drops from staining counters once you remove the juice pitcher to pour into glasses. This is a small tip, but helpful in keeping colors like bright orange tumeric from becoming a permanent display of your juice making abilities. Also, designate an exclusive brush for cleaning your juicer. Fresh juice isn't heated to kill rogue bacteria, therefore, it's a good idea to not use brushes or sponges (Yikes! This really shouldn't happen anywhere - just research it. You can't unsee it.) with their mini bacteria hotels.
What to do with what's left?:
- Freeze and add to smoothies or soups.
- Make veggie broth.
- Add to your compost.
- Add to savory muffin recipes.
- Make a micro chopped salad! (Just add your fave salad dressing or oil + vinegar + salt and pepper.)
- TIP: My juicer debri goes into a side compartment. I can fit a compostable bag in there, which is one less mess, and often a trip to the composter, if you don't want to use it otherwise.
To healthy habits and happy juicing!
Andea Beims
Best Clean Juice Recipes
HIVEhomemade | 12/31/2020
The Best Green Juice:
- 1 cucumber
- 1 green zucchini
- 1 green apple
- 1 orange
- 2 stalks celery
- 1 inch of ginger root
- Greens of choice (I like a mild spinach or cool chard)
- touch of Himylayan sea salt
Beet the Blues (Happy Juice):
- 1 large red or orange beet
- 1 inch of ginger root
- 1 inch of turmeric root
- 1 orange or green apple (I personally prefer the orange)
- 2 stalks celery
- 2 carrots
- beet greens (optional)
Other Options and Suggestions:
Add fresh herbs such as mint, parsely, lemon thyme, even sage depending on what you desire. Increase the turmeric or ginger if you want more of their benefits and robust taste. Choose to stir in some of your fave essential oils such as lemon, orange, or lime or even cinnamon. Save a little beat juice to make a homemade cardamon beat juice latte! (If you know, you know.) Sprinkle a little zest and himalayan sea salt on top to make it extra. Stir in coconut water for added electrolytes, or as I mentioned above add a little honey sweetened coconut milk to make a creamy iced juice latte. I'd love to hear other suggestions in comments.
TRY IT + TELL US WHAT YOU THINK!
In comments let us know what you think, how we can help, or suggestions you can offer. We love feedback! Also don't forget to tag us @HIVE_home via insta so we can share your foodie-glee.
CREDITS:
Author + Recipe - Andea Beims
Photos - Honey in the HIVE - Jessica Collins of https://jessicacollins.photography.
Editing, Layout + Publishing - Andrea Haney
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