Delicious Detoxifying Beet Juice
Happy Monday! Did you watch the commercials during the SuperBowl last night? My favorite commercial was this one, and I even teared up a little bit. #LIKEAGIRL
Anyway... if you indulged a bit too much on game day treats, have I got the recipe for you!
Today I want to talk to you about one of my favorite foods in the world as far as flavor, versatility, health content and a naturally detoxifier: beets!
Growing up my Greek father introduced us to beets at a young age and my siblings and I quickly became obsessed. My dad would whip up mediteranean-style beet salads with delicious oils, vinegars and spice and we were HOOKED.
As I’ve gotten older and my affinity for health-foods and time in the kitchen grew, beets soon became a staple. For one, they are extremely versatile as a food. I love beet roots and beet greens steamed, or to add beet roots to veggie roasts with olive oil, garlic salt and fresh ground pepper. I also love a good beet salad with hazlenuts, gorgonzola cheese, red onions and sliced orange – YUM-O! Beet greens can also be used in salads or wraps in place of traditional romaine, so don’t you dare throw them out!
So many ways to prepare, so little time (JK, there is ALWAYS time!).
However, what really has me even more obsessed with these vibrant ruby-colored beauties is their amazing anti-inflammatory and natural detoxification properties. Beets are high in dietary fiber so they help regulate digestion and relieve constipation (yup, I said it). Beets are also packed with potassium, folate and antioxidants that help aid the kidneys in blood detoxification, an important step in removing toxins from the body. The list truly does go on…
Since I am recently on the heels of two trips, San Francisco and Bahamas, as well as a slew of holiday parties and celebrations, I am focused on naturally cleansing foods this week. One of my favorite ways to naturally detox my body after “too much fun” (is there such a thing?) is to add in fresh-pressed vegetable juices into my diet. Here is one of my favorite combinations for natural detoxification that is so rich in flavor and satisfyingly sweet you’ll love adding this cleansing juice to the mix.
You’ll Need:
3-4 Stems of Swiss Chard or Beet Greens (I used Swiss chard since I used the beet greens in another recipe!)
½ Large beet root (or 1 medium beet root)
1 red apple of your choice
1 organic lemon, peeled
1 medium carrot
If I have it on hand, I’ll add a 1 inch knob of peeled ginger to this recipe and it adds a bit of spice!
Using a high speed juicer, I used a Breville, juice all ingredients. Stir well to incorporate and serve immediately.
Note: consuming juice within the first 15 minutes of extraction provides the highest nutrient content.
*Vegan *Gluten-Free *Anti-Inflammatory *Aids in Digestion *Dairy-Free