Just look at those fabulous colors! And when you think about it, they really are available in almost every season.  This week I am attempting another cleanse, but I’ve changed my approach on how to view it.  Instead of looking at it as deprivation, I decided to embrace it as consuming the bounty of spring flavors.  And sometimes my juicer runneth over with a rainbow of goodness…

There are zillions of juice combination to enjoy and many reasons why we enjoy them.  What I try to make sure and include is a bunch of dark leafy greens, like kale, chard, or spinach.  Dark leafy greens are loaded with nutrients and excellent for replenishing many minerals.  Kale is high in calcium, vitamin A, and iron.  Swiss Chard contains vitamins A and C, potassium and calcium; and spinach, known for iron, helps with brain health, heart health, and is also one of our best antioxidants.  All of these greens are energy sources, help lower cholesterol, and support our digestive system – which is usually in need of help when we do a cleanse.

Carrots are a staple in juicing.  They provide a sweetness to an otherwise savory drink, albeit refreshing.  Carrots are high in beta-carotene, which is a powerful anti-cancer, artery protecting and immune-boosting antioxidant.  Just as with the greens, carrots are also good for the skin.  Eat too many, and you’ll definitely ’see’ the affects:)

I often use an apple in my juice blend.  Apples are high in calcium, too!  And they contain 50% more vitamin C than oranges – who knew? (Ed Bauman:)  Apples also help maintain steady nerves, reduce cholesterol, and help keep us regular – another reason they are good when cleansing.

Ginger is a nice addition for flavor and nutrients.  It stimulates digestion and keeps our intestines healthy.  It also helps break down high-protein foods, such as meat and beans, and is preventative with gas (I eat ginger any time I feel my tummy rumble.) It’s also a great remedy for motion sickness.

Juicing is a fabulous way to consume our daily ration of fruits and vegetables all in one glass  -without the added sugars from store-bought.  Juicing helps reverse body degeneration and provides us with boundless energy. Here are a few simple recipes (from “Juicing for Life”):

“Ginger Hopper” (good for inflammation)

1″ piece of ginger
4-5 carrots, greens removed
1/2 apple
1/2 bunch dark, leafy greens

“Cleansing Cocktail”

1″ piece of ginger
2 beets
1 apple
4 carrots
4-5 kale leaves

For both recipes, push all through hopper of juicer and blend.  Drink immediately to maintain integrity of nutrients.

Notes: You can add other types of fresh-squeezed fruit juices, but oranges and grapes don’t do well in the hopper. Get creative with flavors…your body will thank you.

There are multitude of juicers on the market – we use one by Breville.  Jack Lalanne’s model is often on sale at Costco.  Overall, they are easy to use and worth the time to clean;-)