Green "Health is Wealth" Juice... healthy & tasty!
Hey guys! I hope all is well! I hope you have been consistent and persistent in your fitness journey. As stated in our March Life with C. Leigh Newsletter, we will be sharing healthy recipes with you guys all month long. Though Spring—swimsuit season has basically arrived, it’s never too late to get started on a journey to a healthier you. There’s still time to get it done just in time to slay or (whatever the male equivalent to “slay” is lol).
Although exercise is important, diet is key. When we make healthier choices in the kitchen, we not only speed up results from workouts, but our mood improves. I’m telling you, it is not all hype. A healthier diet was very influential in helping me overcome depression. Instead of feeling sluggish and unhealthy and disappointed in my choices, with time, I became energetic again. I used to fall into slumps of overeating, while other times I was undereating; stress and a lot of sadness can do that to a person. BUT, I stopped making unhealthy choices, instead I prioritized my health and saw great improvement—emotionally, mentally, and of course, physically.
Once I got back into the swing of things, in regards to my health, I brought juicing back into my diet. Over the last year, I’ve been juicing more consistently. So, I thought, what better way to help my readers get ready for swimsuit season and encourage myself, by sharing another one of my go-to juice recipe. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out my previous fitness/health blog post “My Go-To Juice Recipe and the Benefits,” where I provide a breakdown of the benefits of juicing (with tips and a breakdown of the benefits of commonly used ingredients).
With no further ado, here’s my GREEN “Health is Wealth” Juice recipe (including just a few of the benefits of each):
- Spinach (helps maintain blood pressure because it is low in sodium and high in potassium, boosts metabolism (whoa!), and reduces inflammation, the list goes on.)
- Kale (you won’t benefit from the high fiber content since you’re juicing, but it’s low in calorie and has zero fat!—which I personally love! It also contains quite a bit of Vitamin A, C, K.)
- Romaine Lettuce (this green like Kale, is high in Vitamin A, and it has zero fat, and is very low in calorie.)
- Celery (excellent source of antioxidants, cardiovascular benefits, etc.)
- Kiwi (helps boost your immune system—which I am always concerned about. It is also rich in antioxidants—certainly can’t go wrong there!)
- Pear (good for digestive system, also can boost immune system, etc.)
- Apple (remember, you lose fiber in juicing, but it reduces risk of diabetes, heart disease, and so forth…)
- Lemon (is another fruit that aids in digestion and can we talk about how it is also good for the skin and weight loss!)
Personally, I do not measure ingredients for this juice recipe in particular. Instead, I use big bunches of spinach, kale, and romaine lettuce, because it seems like greens just evaporate into thin air. So, start with two cups of each, and then add anywhere between 4 to 6 celery stalks. I use one whole pear for its health benefits, and especially for taste—because let’s be honest, it would be nasty tasting without the added fruit, lol. I like to use ½ an apple—try gala or pink lady for its sweetness (like in my carrot juices). I like to use only ¼ of a lemon, but definitely no more than ½ because it’ll be too tart.
Once you’re done, taste it and see how you like it. If it’s too sweet, just add some more of those leafy greens and you’ll be good to go. Don’t overthink it. You don’t have to be super strict about it. It’s all good for your health. However, I would suggest being mindful of how much fruit you add. I usually stick to the amounts of fruit I listed above because fruit has sugar too and my abs matter to me, lol.
I hope you found this helpful! Give it a try and let us know how you liked it? Or, if you switched it up, let us know what you used instead. Comment below and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. Oh, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @lifewithcleigh.
Until next time,
Keep it healthy!
Peace.