Two Must-Have Spring Juices

Spring is here, although not exactly reflected by the weather outside. What best to boost your immune system than a freshly-squeezed juice?

Fear not – despite anything you might have read, you don't need to give up food and live on juice alone to receive the benefits. In fact, it's best to combine juices with balanced meals – juice doesn't hold any fibre, which is vital for our digestion, but they do contain many important nutrients. 

CARROT, ORANGE AND GINGER

Benefits:

Oranges are full of fruit sugars which is great for a morning energy boost. As well as being a great source of sugar, oranges contain incredible amounts of vitamin C, which is an essential nutrient for humans. Carrots take care of all your vitamin A needs, as well as provide plenty of beta-carotene, an anti-oxidant that protects against degenerative decease. Ginger and turmeric aid digestion, plus ginger gives your juice a nice kick.

Ingredients:

• 2 oranges
• 2 carrots
• 2 inch fresh ginger root
• ¼ tsp turmeric

Method:

The beauty of this juice is that you do not need any special equipment, you can make this one without an expensive juicer. Cut the oranges in halves, squeeze the juice. Get rid of any orange pips. Peel the carrots and ginger. Grate both root vegetables and wrap them in a cheesecloth to squeeze the juice out. Alternatively, you can use a fine sieve to extract the juice. Add the turmeric, mix thoroughly, and serve. If you are using a juicer, be sure to peel the oranges but leave the seeds in – they are a great source of calcium.

CARROT AND BEETROOT

Benefits:

As with the previous recipe, carrots will take care of your vitamin A and beta-carotene intake. In addition to being good for you, they actually taste really nice without being overwhelmingly sweet and make a great base for any juice. Beetroot is a powerful blood cleanser, and it's rich in folates and folic acid which preserves the nervous system. As for cranberries, they've made a reputation for themselves being a great remedy for urinary infections, but not everyone knows they are a great source of vitamin C, potassium and carotene. The juice is a wholesome combination for enhancing your immune system.

Ingredients:

• 3 carrots
• 1 small beetroot
• 50g  cranberries

Method:

Scrub the carrots and beetroot. You can peel them if you like, although not at all necessary. Free the cranberries of the stalks. If you're using a juicer, cut the beetroot in chunks and then feed the ingredients through, then serve straight away. If you don't have a juicer, grate the carrots and beetroot to squeeze the juice using a cheesecloth or a sieve. Mash the cranberries through a sieve or simply blend  them with the carrot and beetroot juice. 

Author: Cat Gavriusova
Follow Cat on 
Instagram - @bendandascend
Blog - bendandascend.com
Twitter - @bendandascend
Facebook - facebook.com/bendandascend