Fresh Kale and Beet Juice Recipes

Get the health benefits and convenience of fresh juice at home with these delicious and nutritious recipes

Are you getting your recommended seven to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables per day? If you’re like 50 per cent of Canadians, the answer is no. A simple solution? Incorporate a smoothie into your daily routine. You don’t need an expensive juicer to create these tasty concoctions. In fact, using a blender will retain most of the fibre and nutrients from the fruits and vegetables, which helps to keep your blood sugar levels balanced. So start peeling, slicing and blending your way to good health.
 

beet, orange & ginger Smoothie

This smoothie is the ultimate detoxifier. Ginger has been shown to be the most powerful of all vegetables in stimulating our detoxification enzymes. The fuchsia colour of beets is derived from phytonutrients called betalains. Betalains provide effective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support, as well as further boosting the body’s detoxification system.

• ½ cup water
• 1 medium beet, scrubbed, peeled and sliced
• 1 carrot, peeled and sliced
• 1 medium orange, peeled and sectioned
• Knuckle of ginger, sliced
• 2 ice cubes

Instructions

Add ingredients to blender in the order they appear. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to high. Blend for about one minute or until desired consistency is reached. If mixture is too pulpy, you can strain up to one-half through a sieve or, better yet, simply add more water to thin it out.

Yield: about 20 oz (2 large servings)

Click through for kale smoothie recipe

Kale, Pineapple & Mint Smoothie

Known as the “Queen of Greens,” kale is loaded with vitamins A, C, K and folate along with two potent antioxidants – lutein and zeaxanthin – which lend kale its deep- green hue. These antioxidants protect our eyes and are vital to maintaining healthy vision. The pineapple not only adds a sweet tang to the recipe, but also provides an excellent source of manganese, which increases energy.

Ingredients

• ½ cup water
• 5 leaves of kale, stems removed and sliced
• ½ an apple, sliced
• ½ cup fresh pineapple chunks
• 3 mint leaves
• ½ cup cucumber, sliced
• 2 ice cubes

Instructions

Add ingredients to blender in the order they appear. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to high. Blend for about one minute or until desired consistency is reached. If mixture is too pulpy, you can strain up to one-half through a sieve or, better yet, simply add more water to thin it out.

Yield: about 20 oz (2 large servings)