I use parsley every day. I use it for cooking, and I use it as an addition to prepare my green shakes and juices. It is so useful that once you know about its numerous health benefits, you will be using it too. The main purpose of this post is to help you understand how important parsley is for improving your health and how to incorporate it into your diet. So stay tuned! One important distinction you should know about this green vegetable is that are several types of parsley. Basically there are three main varieties: Common Parsley: Also called Curly Parsley. Very easy to grow if you want to grow it on your own. Fast growing, edible, decorative, and compact. Flat Leaf Parsley: This one is rather tall and brings in more flavor than the previous variety. Japanese Parsley: As the name suggests, this variety is native to Japan. It has a slight bitter flavor and has large stems and thick roots. Why is Parsley So Useful For You? If we check the nutritional profile, one nutrient stands out: Vitamin K. More than five times the recommended daily allowance! The other abundant important nutrients found in parsley are vitamin […]

Tomatoes, which are extremely useful for an array of reasons, are full of flavor and are thought to have amazing medicinal properties. In the past, people would use it as a medicine to address several health problems. The tomato, which many believe is a vegetable, is actually a fruit. It can be used in soups, gravies and salads. It’s also found in juice form. That’s where most of the benefits lie with the tomato – in juice form. Tomato juice has been known to keep the liver, gut and heart healthy while also battling carcinogens that could lead to cancer development. With vitamin A, antioxidants, flavonoids, lycopene and other nutrients, you can lose weight, have healthy hair and skin and see better. Bright red tomatoes can lead to good health because of the vitamin C, folate, potassium and other nutrients. However, what sets apart tomatoes from other fruits and vegetables is the amount of antioxidants such as carotenoids they contain. In order to get the most nutrients out of the tomato, it should be eaten raw or cooked very little. However, if you don’t like the idea of consuming raw tomatoes, consider tomato juice. With a small bit of cayenne […]

Over the years, we have learned just how important it is to be physically active whilst maintaining a healthy diet. Within this context, vegetables are often seen as the cornerstone of every good diet and, according to the US Department of Agriculture, men require three cups of veggies daily, while women need a little less. Today, we are going to show you what makes cucumber so special among the other types of vegetables, and why cucumber juice (or cucumber water) should be in everyone’s diet all around the world. Health Benefits of Cucumber Juice Of course, cucumber juice offers the generic benefits that come with many vegetables such as lowering the risk of obesity and fighting some cancers. Cucumbers contain two types of cancer fighting compounds Cucurbitacins [1,2] and polyphenols (pinoresinol, lariciresinol, and secoisolariciresinol), both of which help diminish the risk of some types of cancers. However, they also have their own unique advantages so let’s take a look at the nutrients you would find in them. Copper First, cucumber juice holds a healthy dose of copper which your body can use to produce the chemical needed for the communication in your brain cells. Furthermore, red blood cells can be […]

In this post I will share some important tips on preparing vegetable smoothies. You might find them useful if you want to get the maximum health benefits from your green beverages, and also if you want to avoid a number of potential health problems. If you’ve been following this blog in the past, you know that as of recently I don’t recommend fruit-based drinks as a healthy option. Sure, they typically taste great, but sadly, they are not as healthful as many people use to think. Especially you will find them problematic if you want to lose weight, or if you drink them to improve your health. The reason is that fruit smoothies are usually full of fructose (the natural fruit sugar), and if you are smart, fructose is the kind of sugar you would want to avoid as much as possible. But how about some delicious green smoothies? As their name suggests, green smoothie blends are based on vegetables, and what’s more important they are health packed, nutritious, and can be very delicious. Apart from the problem with high oxalate levels in some leafy veggies (see tip number 11.) and if put some effort in selecting the best possible […]

There is a much loved lore about spinach being the source of Popeye’s strength. At the slightest hint of trouble, the reed thin sailor Popeye would open a tin of spinach, which would lead to his biceps bulging and him getting almost superhuman strength. Comic exaggerations aside, raw baby spinach has a huge array of health benefits, which we discuss here. While spinach is good for you when cooked into a quiche, sautéed with garlic, it is at its effective best when taken raw as part of a salad, juiced or as an ingredient in smoothie recipes. Cooked spinach is certainly healthy, but raw baby spinach leaves are so much more powerful. Spinach is a nutrient-rich food that provides all the fiber you need as well as essential vitamins and minerals. Spinach is relatively low in fats and cholesterol, and high in zinc, niacin, fiber, vitamins A, B6, E, C and K, folate, calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, manganese and copper. Spinach also has high levels of bio-flavonoids that prevent cholesterol oxidation and protect your body from the harmful action of free radicals. My favorite way of using raw spinach leaves is mixing them in my smoothies. It doesn’t matter much […]

Cauliflower is often a forgotten vegetable and has received a bad reputation. Although it is not as exciting as some of its other cruciferous cousins, cauliflower is a versatile vegetable that is full of amazing health benefits. Whether eaten raw in a salad, as a snack, or cooked as a side disk, it is full of nutritional value and flavor. Health Benefits Recent studies have shown that cauliflower has one of the largest concentrations of health promoting sulfur compounds. These compounds increase the ability of the liver to produce enzymes that can neutralize toxic substances, and stop enzymes from activating cancer causing agents in the body. In addition to this health benefit, cauliflower is also an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate and Dietary Fiber. Additional benefits include: Cauliflower supports heart health because of its excellent source of folic acid and Vitamin B6. These nutrients help metabolize a compound called, homocysteine, which has proven to be harmful to arterial walls and cardiovascular disease. The high folate content helps the development of the fetus during pregnancy and prevents neurological defects in the fetus. Dietary fiber is an essential nutrient for every diet and especially those with cholesterol problems and […]

Kale is one of the most powerful green vegetables that has recently started to gain in worldwide popularity among the nutrition experts. The expression “queen of greens” best illustrates the importance of this super nutritious, vitamin packed, extremely healthy and often overlooked leafy green. It is well known that consuming raw vegetables is one of the best natural ways to improve your health. Therefore, when preparing your raw vegetable juices, you should certainly include fresh Kale juice as a fantastic tonic that can do wonders for your health. The alternative name of this vegetable is Borecole. It belongs to the same plant family as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, sprouts and collard greens. It comes in several varieties differentiated by the shape of the leaves, such as Scots or Curly Kale, Rape Kale and Tuscan Kale. If you have neglected Kale in the past, probably now is a good time to consider this vegetable on your next visit to the supermarket. Nutritional Facts and Information One cup (130 g) of Kale has only 33 Calories. One cup of Kale provides more than three times the daily requirement of Vitamin A; about 90 percent of Vitamin C; and over 10 times the daily […]

Making waves in the health and fitness world today are green foods that are heavily researched and looked at for a wide variety of health benefits. Chlorella, a widely cultivated alga, is one of them: it comes from the Chlorophyta family, is widely used as food because of its rich nutrient profile and carb content, and has even been earmarked by NASA to be grown on the International Space Station. One good thing about chlorella is it easily multiplies with water and sunlight exposure, and it is a great addition to food and beverage recipes you can explore for the whole family. Here are three very simple chlorella drink recipes that are easy to do! Chlorella Cleanser Smoothie (Recipe from Healthy Body Guru) Serves 2 Ingredients: 2 tablespoons wheatgrass powder 1 handful spinach (1 cup) 1 handful kale (1 cup) 2 sticks celery 1 banana 1 apple 1 cup mixed berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, tart cherries, aronia berries, and  strawberries) 3 teaspoons chlorella powder Filtered water Procedure: Put all ingredients into blender and cover with water. Blend until smooth. Add chlorella powder and blend for 10 to 20 seconds. Chlorella Blueberry Wellness Smoothie (Recipe from Authentic Self Wellness) Ingredients: 1 handful blueberries1 […]

If you are used to juicing for better nutrition and optimum health you certainly know how important it is to take at least one glass of vegetable juice in the morning. The juices taken in the morning will help you energize your entire body. In addition, they will give you enough nutrients to get you going. Here are some useful juicer recipes that you can use to prepare your delicious morning juices or smoothies. Make sure you also check our list of tips on preparing vegetable smoothies for maximum health benefit. Detox Morning Juice 2-3 stalks of celery 2 peeled cucumbers 6 broccoli flowers and stalks 1/2 lemon 1 piece of ginger This juice is a great way to absorb all the healthy nutrients your body needs right after you wake up in the morning. It will provide plenty of minerals and vitamins and will prepare you to meet the challenges of the day in a much better shape. Simple Vegetable Morning Juice 2 large beets 8 stalks of celery 10 medium carrots Celery is an important ingredient of this juice. Researchers have shown that adding celery to your morning juice can lower the blood pressure by up to 15 […]

The best way to juice carrots is to use an electric juicer. There are many different carrot juice recipes that use juicing as way of preparing this delicious drink. Due to their distinctive sweetness, carrots are probably among the most popular vegetables for preparing sweat and refreshing juices. If you haven’t really tried making some carrot juice for yourself, you must absolutely do so. The sweetness of carrots makes the juice taste great, and besides, there is little cost involved as you can always buy carrots at very affordable price. Selecting Fresh Carrots Always choose fresh carrots If you want to make the best possible carrot juice, make sure you pick some fresh vegetables. It is easy to spot when the carrots are old – usually they will be rubber-like, broken, and limp. In addition, you should pay attention to the carrot tops, and if they are wilted this is a good indication to avoid them altogether. Fresh carrots will usually be of bright color, and they will have a shiny texture. The vivid orange color of the young carrots will be a good sign of the presence of beta carotene (vitamin A) – which is a powerful antioxidant. This […]

In this article we will explore the role that sodium plays in human body and why it is so important to drink low sodium juices if you want to have a healthy and balanced nutrition. Sodium (Na) is a chemical element that occurs naturally in a lot of foods. However, common kitchen salt (sodium chloride – NaCl) is probably the best known reservoir of sodium for the body. A great number of unprocessed, fresh foods, for example, a lot of types of fresh fruits and vegetables, integral grains, as well as protein rich nutrients, like lean meats, poultry, and fish are actually pretty low in sodium content. This list also includes garlic, onion, parsley, paprika, honey, skim milk, yogurt, soy milk, tea, cottage cheese and other ingredients. Why do we need sodium? The human body needs certain amounts of sodium in order to function properly. Our body contains electrolytes – chemical substances that become ions in solutions and are capable of conducting electric impulses. The balance of electrolytes in our organism is essential for the proper functioning on cellular level. Sodium is an important electrolyte. Therefore, sodium helps in maintaining the proper balance of liquids in our bodies and it […]

Freshly grated horseradish is remarkable as an addition to sauces. It is possible to prepare a very delicious combination of horseradish with milk or yogurt. This vegetable can be served with any meal. As a medicine, it is usually taken alongside acidic foods, in form of a syrup, boiled in white wine or water, or as a juice or tea. However, you should never exaggerate with its use, since it has been known to cause diarrhea and vomiting when taken in surplus. Horseradish is rich in vitamin C – more than 100 milligrams per 100 grams of freshly grated root. There is also a lot of micro nutrients contained in it – glutamine, glucose, potassium, sulphates – to mention just a few, as well as potent essential oils that give it its spicy flavor. Health Benefits Horseradish is recommended for cleansing the blood, expelling kidney stones, for sweating and as a diuretic. It has been used in folk medicine as a cure for lung diseases, rheumatism, gout, and against cold. It is valuable as a stimulant of the digestive system, causing increased secretion of the gastric and intestinal glands, as well as in the gall bladder and pancreas. It is […]

In our recent article we have examined the health benefits of lettuce juice. Endive is another vegetable, virtually belonging to the same group. It very much resembles lettuce, and to some degree it has the same nutritional value. The alternative names are escarole or chicory. In some areas of the US, this curly vegetable is referred to as chicory, while the word endive is being used exclusively for the winter-grown heads of Brussels Chicory. Brussels Chicory can be distinguished by its long creamy white leaves pressed one to another in a compact form. Brussels Endive Here we will address in more detail the former type – the true Endive. The Belgian variety is deficient in chlorophyll and also in some important mineral substances found in the full grown endive plant. The endive has dark-green, curly and serrated leaves. The green leaves are edible when young. Endive Lettuce As a plant, the endive lettuce is closely related to the dandelion. It is of higher quality and there is a greater range of culinary possibilities than when considering the ordinary lettuce. Even within the endive family there are several species with slightly different nutritional and medicinal properties. The energetic value of endive […]

It might look strange at first sight, but lettuce can be a source of a very healthy and delicious juice. It has a number of beneficial micro-nutrients, but the most important are iron, Fe, and magnesium, Mg. In lettuce, both elements are contained at the level of around 5 percent. Not too many words should be spent on iron, as one of the most vital elements for the normal functioning of the bodily systems. Unfortunately, a lot of processed foods consumed today do not contain iron in its vital organic form. Due to its high activity, iron should be renewed more frequently than the other nutrients. Our body can store certain amounts of iron in the liver and spleen. Those elemental supplies are used in emergency cases, for example, for accelerated blood cells formation when there is blood loss or injury. In the spleen, iron serves, together with the other chemical compounds, as a battery power for recharging the blood. At the same time lettuce, like almost all vegetables, possesses relatively low sodium content, which makes it a desirable ingredient in any type of low sodium juice. Lettuce is rich in iron and magnesium. Another variety of lettuce is Endive. […]

Carrot in combination with other vegetables can produce especially healthful, tasty and refreshing drinks. We all need to drink juices daily, since they are the most effective nourishment for our body. Any fresh raw juice is better than no juice at all. The knowledge about how to make these healthy juices comes naturally if you have a quality electric juice machine. If you do not have a juicer, there are two other methods: to squeeze the juice out of the carrots manually, or to use a blender. The former method is too time consuming and difficult, whereas the latter does not separate the juice from the pulp, so it is meant more for producing smoothies. Therefore, the only real way of producing quality carrot juice (or carrot juice combinations) is to use an electric juice extractor. The juice extracted by a juice extractor (we recommend the hamilton beach big mouth extractor) should be used immediately. The extraction of the juice from the fibers is never 100 percent complete. Moreover the oxidation and heat from the friction in the juicer will tend to spoil the juice in a short time. However, the good news is that the potentially toxic sprays are […]