Gin And Juice

According to the old wives’ tales, eating fruits or vegetables is better than drinking their juice, and while that is true, juices aren’t without their benefits either! So whip out those blenders because renowned nutritionist Naini Setalvad gives us some interesting yet healthy juices we can experiment with…

Coco Jumbo: Coconut Water
Good because: Coconut water is almost identical in content to blood plasma and can literally be thought of as the king of fruit. It’s rich in most minerals and is excellent in reducing blood pressure. It’s also a diuretic (which means it increases the rate at which you’ll go running to the loo!), helps curb cholesterol, and is a complete food by itself when had with its cream. In addition, it’s rich in potassium and chloride and is even considered to be healthier than milk!

Popeye’s Cocktail: Carrot, Parsley, Spinach and Lemon
Recipe: Blend two carrots together along with a handful of spinach leaves and a few sprigs of parsley. Add lime juice to the concoction.
Good because: This juice is an excellent anti-aging juice. The lemon is rich in Vitamin C and its alkalinity helps counteract acidity. It also helps to metabolise fat, reduce blood pressure and helps in iron and calcium absorption. Carrot is a rich source of beta-carotene and Vitamin A and is a veritable gold mine of minerals. Spinach is an excellent source of iron and calcium while parsley adds potassium, iron and manganese to the cocktail. So drink up and make Popeye proud!

Herbilicious: Coriander, Mint and Lemon
Recipe: Blend together a fistful of coriander leaves with a few sprigs of mint. Add the juice of one lime to the mix.
Good because: Coriander contains the highest amount of calcium and neutralises the damage caused by smoking and radiation – it’s ideal for chemotherapy patients. In addition, it’s high in iron, Vitamin C and folic acid and is the king of vegetable juices. Mint is an excellent herb for curing digestive disorders and is good for the liver as well. The lemon… well, we’ve gone over that already, haven’t we?

Beet Red Cocktail: Tomato, Beet, Ginger, Pepper, Rock Salt and Mint
Recipe: Juice a big tomato and one beet. To this add the juice of one ginger (with pieces is better) and a pinch of pepper and rock salt for taste. Garnish it with a sprig of mint.
Good because: Tomato is brilliant for fighting cancer especially prostrate cancer in males. This Vitamin C rich juice also helps curb hypertension and is good for the skin as well. Pepper, ginger and mint have digestive properties and beet is an excellent source of iron and anti-oxidants. In short, a swig of this juice and that Diwali indigestion will disappear in a snap!

Fruit Smoothie: Banana, Papaya and Lemon
Recipe: Blend together one banana (peeled, of course!) with a bowl of papaya and add the juice of one lime to the concoction.
Good because: Bananas are rich in Vitamin B, Vitamin C and potassium, and it’s used literally for a plethora of things – it neutralises acid in the stomach and is used to cure gastric and urinary disorders, relieves constipation, fights arthritis and gout, prevents anaemia… phew!