10 Ultimate Juice Recipes

10 Ultimate Juices Recipe Book by Trisha Stewart is to compliment the Healthy Lifestyle series of books written by Trisha.  These books will guide you to optimal health

Raw freshly extracted juices don’t just taste nice but are a powerhouse of nutrients that will have your taste buds tingling and your body system and organs firing on all cylinders. They will pack real punch into your daily routine.

Did you know that juicing is known to help heal many ailments? Even Cancer! Now we are not allowed to say here that it cures anything but there are many studies which have been done to prove that taking in raw nutrients and enzymes help to rebuild the cells of the body. Just in case you did not know it, our body is made up of billions of cells so everything we do towards good health keeps rebuilding good cells and that means good health.

You might ask, "Why make your own juice when there are plenty of them in the shops already made?"

Here is why.

There is absolutely NO juice that you can buy in ANY shop that will replicate your own home-made as they all have to be treated in some way to ensure that bacteria is not present. Most are pasteurized to at least 71 degrees centigrade to kill off the bacteria so that the juice has an extended shelf life. Some are processed by a high pressure method which can include heat or not but, in either process, there is a huge if not all loss of the nutrients and enzymes.

Take a look in the supermarket and see how long the sell by dates are and then make you own and see how quickly they go off!

I am not going to get into naming and shaming juice manufacturers who flout the law to get their juice on the shelf in a supermarket because - guess what? We are only interested in showing you the absolute right way to extract your juices and to get the maximum benefits.

What do you get from your own pressed juice?

I can’t guarantee exactly what nutrients you will get from your fresh raw juice. Neither can anyone else because it depends on many things including the soil they are grown in and how ripe they are. But what I can tell you is that by choosing the right organic fruit and vegetables, ensuring they are in season and ripened by the sun, will give you your maximum daily requirement.

Let’s start here with the potential nutrients. Enzymes – these are essential for life!

We need enzymes to break down the nutrients in our body so that the nutrients can pass through the intestinal walls and be absorbed into our blood. Without enzymes, the vitamins and minerals that we consume are just passing through our system being of no use. They are like our little power team.

Enzymes are specialized protein molecules facilitating most of our body’s metabolic processes such as supplying energy, digesting foods, purifying the blood and ridding the body of waste products.
Enzymes assist in keeping our body on top form, help lower cholesterol level, clean our colon, break down fats, strengthen the immune system, improve mental capacity, detoxify the body of unwanted wastes, and eliminate carbon dioxide from our lungs. They help build muscles and many other functions.

Enzymes are basically classified into three main groups – metabolic enzymes, food enzymes and digestive enzymes.

Metabolic enzymes exist throughout our entire body system in our organs, bones, blood and cells. Their job is to grow new cells and maintain every tissue in our body. When these enzymes are healthy, robust and present in adequate numbers, they will do their job well.

Digestive enzymes are secreted by our various body organs through our salivary glands, stomach, pancreas and small intestine. As its name suggests, the function of the digestive enzymes is to help in the digestion of our food. That is why chewing your food is so important as the enzymes start secreting in the mouth to work on breaking down the food before the next part of the journey and the next batch of enzymes.

The following are a few commonly known enzymes:

• lipase — breaking down of fats
• protease — breaking down of proteins
• cellulase — breaking down of fiber
• amylase — breaking down of starch
• lactase — breaking down of dairy products
• sucrase — breaking down of sugar
• maltase — breaking down of grains

We are interested in food enzymes here. There are those that exist naturally in the raw food we eat and of course the juices which I will show you how to make. Their function is very much like the digestive enzyme which is to assist in the digestion of our food.

When we consume foods that are rich in enzymes, the foods will be self-digested causing less or no stress to our body. Hence a juicing only diet allows the whole body system to rest and repair whilst digesting the fruits and vegetables we are taking in so a huge power surge can happen inside of us.

When you are using juicing as part of your daily routine, it helps to keep your blood cells moving through the veins and arteries. One of the functions of our red blood cells is to carry oxygen and nutrients to all parts of the body. When there are sufficient enzymes present in the blood, the blood cells can do their job properly. You will see now, how drinking fresh juices regularly can prevent blood clots which can lead to many health problems including thrombosis and heart attacks.

When the blood is toxic, stagnant or slow moving (caused by eating too much meat and other harmful foods, and not enough enzymes from fresh fruits and juices), it thickens. This causes a sluggish system and creates untold ailments from mild ones like headache/migraine, fatigue, inflammation (e.g. arthritis, gout) to more serious problems like heart disease and even cancer.

What Happens When Enzymes Are Depleted?

Two things:

• Our body tries to produce more enzymes causing extra stress which affects our immune system. This lowers our ability to protect ourselves from diseases.
• Our digestive system becomes very inefficient through lack of enzymes leading to food that cannot be properly digested. It sits around in the system fermenting and apart from causing bloating and gas, it can pollute the blood which of course is not a good thing.

Even if you eat good food every day but don't digest it properly, undigested food can actually seep from the small intestine into the bloodstream.

The immune system reacts causing lack of energy and a raft of other problems such as digestive discomfort, craving of certain foods, weight gain, thyroid problems, bloating, heartburn, gas, indigestion and even burping after meals.

It doesn't end there as it can also lead to constipation or diarrhea, hair that is dull, thinning, or falling out, lack-luster skin, weak or cracked nails, trouble getting up in the morning, sleep problems, arthritis or joint pain, feeling too tired to exercise, depression, mood swings, headaches or migraines, ADHD rashes ,hives, hot flashes, PMS and, sometimes, fertility problems.

Poor digestion also speeds up the aging process. The aging process is not just seen in the face but is felt within the body as the systems and organs begin to age causing a breakdown and some or all of the above.

On the other hand, when our enzymes intake is constantly kept at an optimum level, we can expect very minimal wear and tear to our body. This takes a lot of time as we plan and consume our food it but it is so worth it.

Here in this book, I demonstrate that drinking these fabulous juices every day will prevent disease and in many cases, if you are already sick, will help heal you.

Vitamins and Minerals

These are considered essential nutrients because acting in harmony they perform hundreds of roles in the body. They help us have strong bones, heal wounds, and boost the immune system. They also convert food into energy and repair cellular damage.

Did you know that every day your body produces skin, muscle, and bone? Did you also know that the rich red blood running through your many veins and arteries carry nutrients and oxygen to every part of your body and brain and so much more?

But to do all this, your body requires some raw materials. These include at least 30 vitamins, minerals, and dietary components that your body needs but cannot manufacture on its own in sufficient amounts.
As I have said earlier, the amount of vitamins and minerals in your juice is not guaranteed but the more raw fruit and vegetables you have, the more chance you have of getting them.
The following are necessary, daily vitamins and minerals available from juicing fruit and vegetables:

• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin K
• Vitamin C
• Biotin (vitamin B7)
• Folic acid (folate, vitamin B9)
• Niacin (vitamin B3)
• Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5
• Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
• Thiamin (vitamin B1)
• Vitamin B6
• Vitamin B12
• Calcium
• Chloride
• Magnesium
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Sodium
• Sulfur

Let’s not forget those all-important Antioxidants

Antioxidant is a regular term for any compound that can counteract unstable molecules such as free radicals that damage DNA, cell membranes, and other parts of cells.

Your body cells naturally produce plenty of antioxidants to see off those free radicals. The foods you eat and perhaps, some of the supplements you take are another source of antioxidant compounds.

Carotenoids such as lycopene in tomatoes and lutein in kale and flavonoids such as anthocyanins in blueberries, quercetin in apples and onions, and catechins in green tea are antioxidants. The vitamins C and E and the mineral selenium also have antioxidant properties.

What about equipment?

You will need a good juicer. My preference is for the masticating or twin gear which are quite expensive but well worth it in the long run as they produce the best juice with the most enzymes. This is due to the fact they slowly turn the fruit and vegetables into a juice with very little heat, whereas most juicers cause too much heat by blending rather than extracting.

You will also need a blender, salad spinner, good chopping boards and sharp knives. See how simple it is to make such a high quality, nutrient packed meal?

No ovens or thank goodness, no microwaves! Just a few pieces of equipment and a good lot of fresh produce.

How far ahead can I make the juice to obtain maximum benefits?

This is always a dilemma. Wash, juice and drink is always the best way to obtain the maximum of all the nutrients, antioxidants and enzymes. I understand and accept that it's not always possible to do that but if you can, it is well worth it.

If you are going to take a juice with you to the office, workplace or car, then get one of those really good flasks that acts like a drinking vessel and make sure it's kept cold in a small cool bag. If the juice is left too long it will ferment and if you do that, you will see frothing and that is a sign not to drink it. It won’t kill you but it might well upset your tummy.One other thing. Don’t use fruit or vegetables that have seen better days. Limp, bruised or in any way damaged, they won't taste nice or give you the great benefits of real fresh produce.

Let’s get started!