When people first start juicing, they think mostly about the wonderful fruits they will get to blend in a juicer to make tasty, colorful treats.
However, while many juices do taste delicious the other equally important reason for juicing is for your health. Flavor is high on the list but without the benefits of nutrition, your juice might as well be eating ice cream, a dessert pie, a burger and fries with an ice-cold soda or any other food or drink you consider delicious but registers extremely low on the nutrition scale.
Poor nutrition is the leading factor in many preventable diseases.
Poor nutrition leads the way in a series of factors that can cause a compromised immune system. When your immune system operates at less than optimal levels, it opens the doorway to a host of potential problems. That said, discussed in this article are a few fruits and vegetables to add to your favorite juice blends when looking to boost your immune system. Feel free to use these fruits and vegetables alone or add them to your favorite combinations for the added immune system boosting benefits they may potentially provide.
Kiwifruits
I must admit I initially never thought of kiwi as a juicing ingredient but after more study and learning the health benefits of this peculiar looking fruit I find myself using it more these days instead of just having the occasional kiwi in a salad or eating a few kiwis alone.
Kiwifruit contains many nutrients. In particular, kiwis are high in Vitamin C, (almost two times the amount of Vitamin C found in an orange) which builds your immune system, helping to detoxify an protect your body. Originally known as the Chinese gooseberry, the kiwifruit is also a good source for others vitamins as well, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin E and Vitamin K. In addition, kiwifruits contain potassium, phosphorous, magnesium and copper. Lastly, the antioxidants found in kiwis may help eliminate free radicals, further aiding you in maintaining good health.
While you most certainly can make an entire glass of kiwi juice, it is not something that I recommend on a regular as kiwis tend to not have that much juice unless overly ripe. Generally, I add kiwi to recipes that I normally enjoy where it makes sense. A recipe that you would incorporate kiwifruit successfully would be a green juice with apple and kale. Just in case you need a recipe for a suggestion here is a juice recipe with kiwi to try out.
Quick and Easy Kale Apple Kiwi Juice Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 kale leaves
- 2 granny smith apples (cored)
- 2 kiwifruit (peeled)
- 1 small cucumber
- 1 piece of ginger (about ½ inch in size)
- 1 celery stalk
Clean the ingredients then add them to your juicer 1-by-1 for a healthy treat. Feel free to add more kale if you enjoy the taste. I prefer dino kale. Yummy.
Carrots
Unlike kiwi, carrots typically find their way into juices, usually paired with a citrus fruit. You may know carrots are healthy and good or the eyes, but did you know that carrots helped your immune system?
Loaded with Beta-carotene, carrots are more than colorful, they literally help fight to keep you healthy as Beta-carotene cleanses the liver and helps increase production of white blood cells. In addition to joining the “front line” of your immune system and serving as an antioxidant attacking free radicals, a portion of the Beta-carotene undergoes a process (also in the liver) that turns it into Vitamin A. This vitamin also plays a role in preventing degenerative diseases along with aiding other areas of wellness such as reduced risk of heart disease or high blood pressure.
Beets
Beets with their rich colors and deep flavors often only arrive with salads. Unfortunately, more often than not beets are considered an afterthought ingredient instead of as a great food with several nutritional benefits. I don’t think I have ever seen a crowd of people gathered around the beets at the farmers market or the grocery store. Have you?
However, I must admit that until a few years back I was just the same. Rarely did I think of beets as an ingredient in my juices if ever until my CSA box from the local farm I supported arrived with what appeared to be a bushel full. Those beets had to be used somehow. Juice it was.
While beets may damage the color your clothes if you are not careful, they do all they can to protect your body as an ingredient in your juice.
Beets contain substances that promote your overall health and wellness but the focus here is your immune system and beets help there as well. With an immune supporting combination of manganese, iron, folate and Vitamin C beets do a great job. However, in addition to those vitamins and nutrients, the phytochemicals in beets are thought to serve as antioxidants protecting you from physiological stresses and assisting in the prevention chronic diseases.
Like kiwi fruit, I typically add beets to juice recipes I already am familiar with for a change in routine. Usually that means an orange and carrot juice of some sort with a bit of ginger for added kick. I find about half of a medium sized beet to be enough to add to one juice. Be sure to peel it.
For a beet juice recipe, try my Red Power up Juice Recipe for Energy.
Cranberries
Besides being known as a favorite side dish for many people in the winter (and during the North American holiday season) , cranberries are also recognized as containing powerful antioxidants that fight against bacteria such as E-coli and for helping improve your body’s immune system. Cranberries also help reduce acidic pH level as they are alkaline forming.
Although cranberries do contain Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K and other nutrients, their real power comes from their potential to boost the immune system and reduce bad cholesterol levels. Be aware though, actual cranberries taste essentially nothing like the so-called cranberry juices, juice beverages and juice cocktails you may find in the supermarket or grocery store, cranberries are very bitter.
For a powerful sweet and sour combination you can try a variation of my Orange Tangerine Blast Energy Juice. Simply replace the two celery stalks with about a half cup of cranberries and get ready for the blast. Pow!
Lemons
Lemons have been celebrated for thousands of years for their health benefits. Although now lemons are mostly associated with lemon cakes, lemonade and the famous Master Cleanse diet that makes use of lemons, cayenne pepper and grade B maple syrup, there are serious potential health benefits that you are missing out on if you are not occasionally adding lemons to your juices.
This is because both internally and externally, lemons can benefit the body.
As for the immune system benefits however, like many foods that assist in keeping you healthy, lemons contain a high amount of Vitamin C, a vitamin regarded almost universally as a helpful aid in strengthening the immune system. In addition to the Vitamin C, lemons also help to keep your internal system clean by assisting in flushing toxins and elimination of waste through stimulation of the liver and aiding the liver in its processes.
Although lemons are acidic unto themselves, upon entering the body lemon juice helps reduce inflammation and the opportunity for disease as it moves your body into an alkaline state. This benefits your immune system and your overall health tremendously.
Closing and Summary
While there are more fruits and vegetables out there that promote immune system health, these are some of the most practical and accessible. Sometimes we overlook resources right in front of us unnecessarily and miss great opportunities to move forward.
Remember, the goal is to have great health.
Cranberries, beets, lemons, carrots and kiwifruits aim to give it to you, by providing essential vitamins and nutrients, while protecting and helping your immune system. Enjoy these foods to your benefit. You do not always have to go far or spend lots of money for the help you need.
Your immune system only cares about wellness and with more knowledge you have the ability to do more to reach your health and wellness goals. These are five simple foods with amazing potential and can take juices you’re currently making to the next level. Find more ways to incorporate these powerful foods into your juicing routines and your eating habits. Your body with thank you.
Your life will reward you.
Thanks for reading and may you have peace on your journey. I am glad to have been a part (small or large) along your path of health and wellness.
Also, please share. Someone may really need this and will be glad you did.
Plus sharing makes you feel good.
