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!