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