The quality of your life begins with the quality of the foods that sustain it. The surest path to a healthier, more energetic, and disease-free lifestyle begins with a diet rich in natural foods such as whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Especially important on this path to health are fresh fruits and vegetable juices. Fresh juices provide the proteins, carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and other food factors that are vital to your health.
The advantages of increased energy, strengthened immunity, reduced risk of disease, strong bones, and the glowing complexion that is the evidence of great health can all be yours when fresh fruit and vegetable juices play a key role in your daily diet. It is a well-known fact that the Surgeon General, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Cancer Institute, and many other experts are all saying the same thing: “Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables!” Juicing provides nutritional advantages of plant foods in a concentrated form that is easily absorbed by the body, and is the most fun and efficient way to increase your consumption of these life-giving foods.
There are some guidelines that you should try to follow when developing your own recipes. A general rule of thumb is to let your taste buds be your guide. They should steer you in the right direction. For example, it is often recommended that no more than one-fourth of a green juice be composed of greens like parsley, kale, lettuce, wheatgrass, or spinach. Your taste buds should tell you that too strong a green drink doesn’t taste all that good; it can be fixed by mixing in carrots, celery, cucumber, or apples.
The most important guideline is to enjoy yourself. It’s fun to experiment and find a combination that is unusually delicious. I had that experience a few years ago when I invented the Better Red than Dead recipe.I have listed this recipe below and 7 other of my favorite recipes to try.
BETTER RED THAN DEAD
This recipe is one of my absolute favorite drinks, especially in the fall. It is one of the richest drinks for carotene content, especially the red and orange carotenes. Drinking this juice will give you a year-round tan. I named this drink “Better Red than Dead” because one of my professors, Dr. Ed Madison, gave a lecture on the benefits of carotenes with this title. His lecture really made an impression on me, and I have tried to maintain high carotene intake ever since. As noted earlier, there is a strong correlation between carotene levels and life expectancy. This is a phenomenal drink for raising carotene levels. It’s a great idea to load up on this drink for a few weeks before going on vacation to a sunny location because the carotenes will be deposited in the skin, where they will protect against sunburn and damage to the skin.
1 beet, including top
½ medium-size sweet potato, cut into strips
3 carrots
Juice the beet first, then the yam strips, and then the carrots.
CLEANSING COCKTAIL
This is a good drink during a juice fast, because it is nutrient-dense and supports detoxification. If wheatgrass is not available, parsley will suffice. Wheatgrass is extremely rich in chlorophyll and antioxidants; look for it at health food stores if you are not familiar with it. It is very good for you.
½ cup wheatgrass or parsley
3 carrots
1 apple, cut into wedges
2 celery ribs
1 beet with top
Bunch up the wheatgrass or parsley and push through the juicer with the aid of a carrot. Alternate remaining ingredients to ensure proper mixing.
COLOR ME PINK
This recipe is a great way to start the day, especially if you are on a weight-loss program. It is low in calories, but the natural fruit sugars will keep your appetite in check. This drink is particularly rich in flavonoids. Make sure you leave as much of the albido (the white pithy part of the peel) as possible on the grapefruit, as this is rich in flavonoids.
1 cup raspberries
1 large pink grapefruit, peeled
Juice the raspberries first, then the grapefruit.
ENERGIZER
This drink is a popular recipe to increase energy and alertness. It is nutrient-packed, yet very low in calories.
Handful of parsley
4 carrots
Bunch the parsley in your hand first, then place in the feeder of the juicer and push it through with a carrot (fat end first).
GO GREEN DRINK
Have you ever heard the age-old statement, “When you are green inside, you are clean inside”? I believe there is some truth to that statement. This is probably one of the healthiest juice recipes available.
Handful of parsley or wheatgrass
1 Granny Smith apple, cut into wedges
2 kale leaves
Handful of spinach
4 celery ribs
Juice the parsley or wheatgrass first, then the apple, kale, spinach, and celery.
KILL THE COLD
This is a great drink to have when you feel a cold coming on. It is a diaphoretic tea, meaning that it will warm you from the inside and promote perspiration. It’s pleasant to drink even when you don’t have a cold and just want to warm up and feel good.
2-inch slice of ginger
½ lemon, unpeeled
1 cup hot water
Juice the ginger and lemon and add it to the cup of water. It’s a strong brew. If its too strong, add more water. Sweeten with a little honey or xylitol if desired.
MIKE’S FAVORITE
From the name of the recipe, it is obvious that I like this drink. It is my favorite not only for taste, but also for what I know it can do for my health. It is a great breakfast drink, quite thick and filling.
¼ pineapple with skin, sliced
1 cup blueberries
1-inch slice of ginger
Juice the ginger first, then the blueberries, and finally the pineapple.
PURPLE COW
Like milk, this drink provides calcium (about 150 mg per serving). And it also contains some added nutrition not provided by milk.
½ head of red cabbage, cut into wedges
2 kale leaves
1 red bell pepper, quartered
2 red apples, cut into wedges
Juice the cabbage first, followed by the kale, pepper, and apples.
The Complete Book of Juicing, Revised and Updated: Available at Amazon.com
