Tropical Cucumber Juice

Ingredients

2 Cucumbers
2 Mangoes
1 Red Grapefruit
1 Pear
2 tsp. Concentrated Aloe Juice
1 Lemon (optional)

Directions

Rinse and scrub vegetables, peel and pit mango. Juice ingredients in juicer, add aloe juice. Chill and enjoy!

If your mangoes are not super ripe, you might want to sweeten the juice by adding a second pear.  Be careful, though -- unripe mangoes are more fibrous and can be difficult to digest.  They can even cause diarrhea.  On the other hand, if your mangoes are quite ripe, you can juice and add a lemon to give the drink a bit more zing.

Makes approximately 36-40 oz. of juice.

Nutritional Information

Aloe Vera is known for it's healing properties, which work not only to soothe and heal your skin when you get a sunburn, but also help to cleanse the intestine, heal the digestive system and promote the healthy function of the colon.  Aloe can be a hassle to juice yourself, though.  You only need a small amount for each glass of juice, and the leftover aloe juice will go rancid pretty quickly.  That's why I use aloe concentrate.  You can find aloe vera drops and in other concentrated forms at health food stores, Whole Foods, and online.  (I am currently using Aloe Life Aloe Gold Concentrate Dietary Supplement, which you can buy on Amazon or at Whole Foods.)

Cucumber is a good source of chlorophyll, which helps your body's organs (especially your liver) eliminate toxins by improving cellular and organ detoxification.  Chlorophyll helps the body maintain a proper acid-alkaline balance, and also protects against the formation of calcium stones in the kidneys, helping to break them down and eliminate them.  Although cucumber does not have quite as much chlorophyll as dark, leafy green vegetables, it is a good way to add chlorophyll to your diet if you are sensitive to the more bitter and difficult to digest kale, cabbage, etc.

Cucumbers, with their high water content and as a source of chlorophyll, are also a natural diuretic and detox agent. They will help you eliminate bloating and puffiness and shed water weight.  Cucumbers are also great for treating edema, the accumulation of fluid beneath the skin.  They are one of the most important vegetables that you can consume to detox your kidneys, which are the body's most important sites for eliminating toxins, help to cleanse your gallbladder of toxins and fight candida infections, a common disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that arises when there is an overgrowth of the yeast candida.

Cucumbers are rich in zinc, which helps reduce inflammation and facilitates healing and tissue regeneration.  Zinc contains neutrophils, compounds that boost your immune system, helps fight infections and colds, and is also necessary for the conversion of omega-3 acids into anti-inflammatory substances called prostaglandins.  Zinc can significantly reduce the time it takes to recover from a cold, and there are many additional benefits to consuming this mineral.  Zinc is important for maintaining healthy levels of anxiety and generally happy moods; a zinc deficiency may cause depression, anxiety and lethargy. Zinc is also associated with lower body fat levels and may help you lose weight, has been shown by numerous studies to improve memory, and is thought to help reduce the symptoms and severity of allergies and respiratory conditions.  Zinc is also important for maintaining healthy skin because it is necessary for absorbing linoleic acid, a fatty acid that promotes healthy skin.  Zinc controls the production of oil in the skin and may also help control some of the hormones that create acne. The correct levels of zinc in your body clears skin by taming oil production and controlling the formation of acne lesions. Cucumbers are also known to generally help the skin from becoming overly dry.

Cucumbers are also high in vitamin A and silica, which strengthen connective tissue of muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and bone, and promotes strong, shiny hair, strong nails and healthy-looking skin.  Too little silica can result in reduced skin elasticity and slower healing of wounds, and vitamin A is essential for the maintenance and repair of skin tissue as well.

Finally, cucumbers contain an enzyme called erepsin that is helpful in digesting protein and are instrumental in maintaining a healthy acid-alkaline balance in the body. By increasing the alkalinity of your diet, you improve your bone health by reducing the excretion of calcium.

Nutritional Information Source: The Everything Juicing Book by Carole Jacobs, Patrice Johnson and Nicole Cormier

Note: I will be posting nutritional information on pears, mangoes, grapefruit and lemons in upcoming posts, so stay tuned!

Green Apple Grape Juice

I am excited about this recipe because I haven't been able to digest raw apple since I developed IBS over 6 years ago!  Apples are very good for you, and so even though I've been able to eat cooked apple all along, I'm glad that juicing has enabled me to start get more of the nutrients from raw apples.

Ingredients

1.5 lb. bag of Green Grapes
2 Granny Smith Apples
1 Cucumber
1 Green Bell Pepper
2 tbsp. Concentrated Aloe Vera

Directions

Wash all of the produce, scrubbing the skins well to remove all traces of pesticides.  Important for those of us IBS sufferers who can't digest apple skins, make sure that you peel the apple using a potato peeler.  Juice all the produce, and add the Concentrated Aloe Vera.  Refrigerate for optimum flavor and enjoy!

Nutritional Information

Apples are rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, folic acid, biotin and a host of minerals that promote healthy skin, hair and nails (29).  Apples also support immunity, fight lung and prostate cancer, and lower the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (117).  According to research conducted at Cornell University, apples contain antioxidants that fight inflammation, allergies, cancer and viruses (130).  Specifically, apples provide a wide range of phytonutrients such as catechin, quercetin, phloridin and chlorogenic acid, which act as antioxidants to fight disease and help lower blood pressure (117, 128).  The Vitamin A in apples is a fat-soluble vitamin that is also extremely important in immune defense.  Vitamin A has been shown to enhance white blood cell functioning, which helps the body resist and fight off infection (215).

The B Vitamins are nature’s own mood elevators (92) and additionally perform many other important functions.  The Vitamin B1 in apples, also known as Thiamine, reduces feelings of irritability and mental confusion.  A deficiency of B1 can lead to fatigue, irritability, depression, anxiety, loss of appetite, insomnia and memory impairment (93).  The Vitamin B6 in apples helps the immune system function properly by aiding in the production of antibodies (215), and also helps diminish anxiety, which is useful for all of us IBS sufferers who are stressed out about controlling our condition!  The folic acid (also a B vitamin) in apples is instrumental in keeping your blood healthy.  A deficiency in folic acid causes a decrease in healthy red blood cells which carry oxygen throughout your body.  The result is lethargy and headaches, which may cause irritability and anxiety (93).  Folic acid can also help reduce the risk of heart disease and colon cancer, and speed up a sluggish metabolism (43).  In addition, studies show that pregnant women who consume too little folic acid are at a higher risk of having children with neurological disorders (43).

The Vitamin B2 in apples, also known as Riboflavin, is important for growth, nerve function, red blood cell production, healthy skin and the release of energy from foods (180).  Consuming enough Riboflavin is important for helping to maintain your energy levels and boosting your stamina (180).

The Vitamin C in apples helps reduce infections, and is useful for regulating cortisol secretion in the body.  Cortisol is necessary for the fight or flight response to stressful situations, but too much of it can be unhealthy (94).  Vitamin C supplies your body with energy (181) and increases your body’s absorption of iron (43), which also contributes to higher energy levels and gives you increased stamina (137).  Vitamin C also boosts your immune system and helps reduce infections that can cause anything from colds to pneumonia (43), improves circulation (137), and helps to ease certain types of cramping by helping your body assimilate calcium instead of accumulating in your joints (131).  As an added bonus, Vitamin C is important for fat metabolism, meaning that it can actually help you slim down (47).

Finally, apples contain pectin, a fiber that absorbs toxins, stimulates digestion and helps reduce cholesterol (29).  Pectin is a soluble fiber, which is one of the most helpful things for preventing IBS symptoms.  In soluble fiber, the chemical bonds that join the individual sugar units cannot be digested by enzymes in the human GI tract, and so soluble fiber passes through the body intact.  Soluble fiber dissolves in water but is not digested, which allows it to absorb excess liquid in the colon, preventing diarrhea by forming a thick gel and adding a great deal of bulk as it passes intact through the digestive system.  Unlike other types of fiber, soluble fiber soothes and regulates the digestive tract, stabilizes intestinal contractions and normalizing bowel functions from either extreme – meaning that bananas and other sources of soluble fiber prevents and relieves both diarrhea and constipation (van Vorous 23-25).  Specifically, the pectin in apples binds to cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract and slows glucose absorption by trapping carbohydrates (29).

Sources for Nutritional Information: Wikipedia; The First Year: IBS – An Essential Guide forthe Newly Diagnosed by Heather Van Vorous; The Everything Juicing Book by Carole Jacobs, Patrice Johnson and Nicole Cormier

For nutritional information on Cucumbers and Aloe Vera, please see my post and recipe for Grasshopper Juice.  I will be posting nutritional information on grapes and bell peppers in upcoming posts, so stay tuned!

Blackberry Super Juice

Ingredients

12 oz. carton of Blackberries

6-8 oz. Organic Blueberry Juice*

1 Granny Smith Apple

1 Green Pear

1 Cucumber

3 stalks of Celery
3 tbsp. of Concentrated Aloe Vera (optional)

*Note on the Ingredients: despite the expense of organic juices, it is more cost-effective to buy blueberry juice as opposed to juicing the blueberries yourself.  You can always opt to buy fresh blueberries and juice them, though.

Directions

Wash all produce.  For those of us IBS sufferers who can't digest the apple skin, make sure that you peel the apple.  Juice all of the produce, and mix with the Organic Blueberry Juice.  Refrigerate for optimum taste.  Enjoy!

Makes approximately 40 oz. of juice.

Nutritional Information

Blackberries are packed with sapronins, which improve heart health, as well as disease-fighting antioxidants, vitamin C, minerals and phytochemicals.  They help build bone density, suppress appetite and enhance fat burning.  Blackberries are also rich in bioflavonoids, which studies show to have anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-cancer and anti-diarrheal activities.  Bioflavonoids also help to ease the severity of a cold, working with Vitamin C to help reduce infections.

Berries, in general, are also blood purifiers.  They contain antioxidants, which are nutrients that can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our bodies.  When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals that can cause damage.  Antioxidants work as scavengers, gobbling up the free radicals and preventing and repairing the damage that they cause.  Antioxidants protect your body from heart disease and cancer, and help prevent bladder infections, high blood pressure, fatigue, colds and even help prevent bad breath!

Blackberries are a great source for several important minerals.  They are high in iron, which transports life-sustaining nutrients through the body, along with oxygen, while removing carbon dioxide.  Iron also ensures a healthy immune system and creates energy.  An iron deficiency can cause a variety of health problems, including fatigue, irritability and headaches.  Blackberries are also rich in magnesium, which helps relax blood vessels, maintain normal nerve function and help you breathe more easily.  Magnesium is also an important mineral for mental stability.  Too little magnesium causes confusion, agitation and anxiety.  Blackberries contain folic acid (Vitamin B9), which helps reduce the impact of allergies and is instrumental in keeping your blood healthy.  A deficiency in folic acid causes a decrease in healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout your body.  The result is lethargy and headaches, which may cause irritability and anxiety.

The Vitamin C in blackberries increases your body’s absorption of iron, which gives you more energy and stamina.  Vitamin C also helps improve circulation, reduce infections that can cause anything from colds to pneumonia, and is important for fat metabolism, meaning that Vitamin C can actually help you slim down.

Blueberries are considered a “super food.”  They are extremely low in calories, yet packed with sapronins, which improve heart health, as well as disease-fighting antioxidants, vitamin C, minerals and phytochemicals.  Like in blackberries, the Vitamin C in blueberries increases your body’s absorption of iron, helps improve circulation, reduce infections and has many other health benefits.  Most importantly for those of us with IBS, blueberries are a good source of tannins that kill bacteria and viruses, and help with digestion!

Blueberries, like blackberries, contain antioxidants.  Specifically, the distinctive blue color of blueberries comes from anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that have been demonstrated to protect against cancer, aging and neurological diseases, inflammation, diabetes, bacterial infections, and fibrocystic disease.  Blueberries help to lower cholesterol, and a growing body of evidence suggests that in addition to neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory functions, anthocyanins may possess analgesic properties, which means that blueberries provide some relief from pain!  There are at least five different types of anthocyanins in blueberries, and they also contain more antioxidants than any other “super food.”

Partially due to their high antioxidant content, the North Carolina Research Campus, which encompasses eight universities working together to research health and longevity, considers blueberries to be one of the best fruits to consume to boost energy and ward off the signs of aging.  Blueberries restore antioxidant levels and reverse age-related brain decline, protecting against short-term memory loss and enhancing memory.  Blueberries are also rich in compounds that strengthen collagen structure.

Blueberries contain Vitamin E, which helps fight infections, and are also high in potassium.   Potassium is necessary for the proper functioning of your body’s cells, nerves and muscle cells, as well as helping to improve your mood and energy levels.  Deficiencies in potassium can cause weakness, fatigue, depression and anxiety.

Sources: The Wikipedia entries for anthocynanins, analgesics and bioflavonoids; The Everything Juicing Book by CaroleJacobs, Patrice Johnson and Nicole Cormier

For nutritional information on Cucumbers and Aloe Vera, see my recipe and post for Grasshopper Juice.

Ruby Red Cocktail

I'm very excited about this recipe, because I've had a hard time eating a lot of tomato products for years, and I have never been able to eat citrus fruits.  But red grapefruit is delicious!!

Ingredients

2-3 Roma Plum Tomatoes
2 Red Bell Peppers
1 Red Grapefruit

Directions

Wash and juice the tomatoes whole.  Wash the red peppers and remove the seeds from the inside before juicing.  Remove the skin from the grapefruit before juicing the fruit -- do not juice the skin of the grapefruit.

Mix all the juices and enjoy!  Makes approximately 14 oz. of juice, which is either one large serving, or two small glasses of juice.

Nutritional Information

Tomatoes are a good source of both Vitamin C and Potassium, which help to cleanse your liver.  Potassium is also important for the proper functioning of your cells, nerves and muscle cells.  A potassium deficiency can cause weakness, fatigue, depression and anxiety.  Meanwhile, Vitamin C also boosts your immune system, helps to regulate cortisol secretion in the body, and helps regulate your fat metabolism, along with the Vitamin E found in tomatoes.  Vitamin E has many benefits, in fact; it helps to build a healthy immune system by triggering the production of cells that kill germs and promotes the production of B cells, which create the antibodies that destroy bacteria.  Vitamin E also helps to maintain the chemical balance of nutrients in your brain, correct nutrient deficiencies, support the proper functioning of nerves and muscles, and repair the damage caused by environmental toxins. This is because Vitamin E is an antioxidant which helps prevent a chemical reaction called oxidation that results in free radicals that contribute to aging, cancer and many other diseases.

Fresh tomato juice helps to stimulate circulation, and is a good source of boron, a mineral that helps reduce calcium secretion and promotes strong bones.  An excellent source of iron as well, tomatoes help form red blood cells, keeping blood vessels and nerves healthy, and helping to prevent anemia.  Iron also promotes the healthy functioning of certain enzymes that play a role in bone strength.

Tomatoes are a good source of lycopene, which has been proven to have anti-cancer properties, and reduce inflammation.  Because inflammation is at the root of many different medical problems, by reducing inflammation, the lycopene in tomatoes helps to prevent degenerative diseases, lowers the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and can help calm IBS in some cases if the colon is spasming due in part to inflammation.

Tomatoes also contain Bioflavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties and help to ease the length and severity of colds.  Finally, tomatoes contain Vitamins A and B, which help improve your mood and aid your body in maintaining healthy skin.

Primary Nutritional Information Source: The Everything Juicing Book by Carole Jacobs, Patrice Johnson and Nicole Cormier