All fruits, vegetables and herbs contain antioxidants and other beneficial nutrients. Freshly prepared juices are an excellent way to maximize your intake of these nutrients, and to nourish the body.

Juices contain relatively little dietary fiber, and although not usually recommended, this can sometimes be beneficial because it gives the digestive system a break, as it has to work much harder when dealing with fiber.

Juices provide easily absorbed vitamins and minerals without the need for extensive digestion. This is an excellent way to detoxify the body, and is particularly beneficial when you are feeling run down or ill, or just need an energizing boost.

Here are some recipes for some detoxifying vegetable juices. Each recipe serves one, but the juice made will vary depending of the size of the vegetables used and how efficient your juicer is.

Carrot with apple and alfalfa sprouts

This juice is packed with many beneficial nutrients and is a great energizer. Carrots provide Beta-carotene, and alfalfa sprouts are a highly concentrated source of nutrients, including saponins, which boost the immune system and protect against disease. Alfalfa combines well with carrot juice, which is necessary since alfalfa juice is very strong on its own. The ginger in this recipe is an excellent stimulant.

To prepare your sprouts for juicing simply rinse them, drain them and then wrap them up tightly in something like a lettuce leaf. Feed the stuffed lettuce leaf into the juicer. This should help the juicer extract the juice from the alfalfa sprouts more efficiently.

Ingredients

• 3 or 4 carrots
• 1 apple
• 1 small piece root ginger
• 1 large handful sprouted alfalfa seeds
• mineral water and/or ice cubes to dilute, optional

Preparation

Scrub the carrots and peel the apple. Cut them into chunks so that they fit into the juicer. Peel the ginger, and add to the juicer, along with the carrots, apple and alfalfa sprouts.

Dilute the juice with mineral water and/or ice cubes if using. Pour into glasses and serve.

Broccoli juice

Broccoli is one of the best green vegetables that you can eat, and eating any fruit or vegetable raw ensures that none of the valuable nutrients are lost. Broccoli is a potent immune system booster and helps to protect against diseases like cancer and stomach ulcers. The carrot and apple naturally sweeten the juice, making it more palatable and enjoyable. This juice provides calcium, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, sulfur and potassium.

Ingredients

• 1 small head broccoli
• ½ red pepper
• 3 carrots
• 1 apple
• mineral water and/or ice cubes to dilute, optional

Preparation

Scrub the carrots and peel the apple. Cut the fruit and vegetables up into chunks and pass them through the juicer.

Dilute the juice with water or ice, if using and serve.

Cucumber, apple and mint juice

This cool, refreshing green juice is perfect for any time of the day. Cucumber is a naturally juicy vegetable and when sprinkled with a little freshly ground salt, it becomes even juicier. This juice is rich in Vitamin C and caffeic acid, a compound that inhibits cancer. It also provides natural hydration and has cleansing properties.

Ingredients

• ½ large cucumber
• freshly ground salt to sprinkle, optional
• 1 Granny Smith apple
• 1 celery stalk
• few fresh springs of mint
• 2 tbsp orange juice
• mineral water or ice cubes to dilute, optional

Preparation

Peel the cucumber, cut into thick slices and place in a colander. Add a twist or two of freshly ground sea salt, and leave for 5-10 minutes. Chop the apples and trim the celery. Pass all the ingredients through a juicer until a juice is formed.

Pour into glasses and dilute with water and/or ice if using.