Cranberries.  Let’s not beat around the bush.  The damned things are sour.

Still, they are extremely healthy and you could benefit greatly just by sneaking a few of them into your diet.  I’ m not talking about prepackaged sauce and juices which have lost many beneficial nutrients due to the addition of heat and sugar.   Rather, raw unsweetened cranberry juice is the most beneficial  because it has all essential vitamins and nutrients intact.

How powerful are cranberries?

You are probably familiar with the use of cranberry juice and extracts to treat and prevent urinary tract infections.  Cranberry juice produces hippuric acid to prevent bacteria from adhering to the lining of the bladder.

Researchers have discovered that cranberries have five times the antioxidant content of broccoli. This means they may protect against stroke, heart disease and cancer.  Additional research shows that cranberries contain high concentrations of flavonoids (think red wine), which helps promote circulation and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Much research has been conducted on the health benefits of cranberries and thus it ranks near the top of the list of most beneficial fruits and vegetables.  Based on university studies, the cranberry is now believed to lower LDL cholesterol and promote HDL cholesterol.  Studies are now being conducted to see if the high level of antioxidants in cranberries also protects against atherosclerosis. New research in a double-blind trial study suggests that cranberry juice can be as effective as probiotics in maintaining good digestive health. Cranberry juice was determined to be as effective as a probiotic in suppressing growth of H. pylori. For more information on this and other scientific studies of cranberries, visit The Cranberry Institute.

Benefits of Cranberry Juice

• treats and prevents urinary tract infections
• prevents kidney stones
• strengthens bones and teeth
• supports digestive health
• inhibits growth of stomach ulcers and cancer
• promotes good cholesterol
• promotes healthy cardiovascular system
• reduces risk of cold/flu infections

By drinking just one glass of cranberry juice per day, you may significantly reduce the risk of infections such as colds and flus.  The best way to get the juice is by making your own in a juice machine.

One cup of cranberries = approximately one ounce of raw cranberry juice.

Dr. Mercola suggesst using up to four ounces of cranberry juice per pint of juice.  The following great tasting recipe will help you benefit from the good nutrients without  being overwhelmed by the sourness of the fruit.

Green Cranberry Juice

3 cups fresh cranberries (one bag)
2 oranges
1 1/2 cups packed spinach
1 cup grapes
2 stalks of celery

Wash all produce.  Peel orange and break into four segments.  Push all ingredients through your juicer.  Pour into a glass with ice and enjoy.   (If you find this still too sour, add another handful of grapes.)  Makes approximately 20 ounces of juice.

Are you a fan of cranberries?  Have you tried to make your own fresh cranberry juice?

Related posts:

1. The Benefits of Juicing Fruits and Veggies
2. Juicing Benefits of Green Foods
3. 24 Hour Water Fast Study

How many different things can you make out of pumpkin?  This might not be a question you’d often ask yourself, but in the town where I grew up, experimenting with pumpkin recipes is commonplace.  Known as “The Pumpkin Capital of the World”, Morton Illinois is home to the Libby’s Pumpkin processing plant.  The town holds an annual Pumpkin Festival each fall complete with rides, a parade, pumpkin decorating, pumpkin chucking, and a food tent featuring pumpkin chili, pumpkin ice cream, pumpkin pancakes, and so much more.  For me the pumpkin will forever be a symbol of my youth and of community spirit.

So here’s my contribution to the tradition of honoring the pumpkin.  This recipe is for all you lovers of autumn and the holidays  and festivals that are associated with it.  If your taste buds are tingling for a bit of the fall harvest and you are dreaming of pumpkin pie without the baking and all the calories, then you simply must try this.  (You’ll need a juicer.)

Pumpkin Juice Recipe

4 cups  pumpkin chunks (1/2 – 1 whole pie pumpkin)
1 apple
2-3 carrots
1/4 inch piece ginger
cinnamon
nutmeg

Cut the pumpkin in half and scoop out the seeds.  Cut into 1 1/2 inch chunks and remove skin with a vegetable peeler.  Wash apple and carrots and cut into pieces that will fit into your juicer.  Put the first four ingredients through your juicer.  Pour the juice into a glass and sprinkle with cinnamon and nutmeg.  Add ice if desired.  Makes approximately 10 oz.

with spirits (for adults only)
Prepare juice as above and mix with 1-2 ounces vanilla vodka.  Top with a table spoon of whipped cream.

Related posts:

1. Carrot Pulp For Skin Care

No doubt that the healthiest juices are the ones that contain greens.  Green leafy vegetables contain the most vitamins and nutrients, and you’ll feel almost instantly better after drinking a green juice. Many of my readers have been asking me for green juice recipes and in particular the “Mean Green” juice recipe made by Joe Cross in the movie Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.

Typically the guidelines for making green juice is 60% dark green leafy vegetables and 40% other vegetables/fruits.  You can try variations of any of the green recipes until you find one that suits your needs and tastes.  For a juice cleanse you’ll drink approximately (4) 16-20 ounce drinks per day.  If  you are making a whole day’s worth of juice at one time, keep the extra juice in a tightly sealed container in the fridge.  Here are some recipes to get you started.  (If you like the recipes please share them by “liking” this page!)

{ image source }

Mean Green Juice (original)

This is the official recipe used by Joe Cross and Phil Staples according to the Reboot Program.

6 Kale Leaves
1 Cucumber
4 Celery Stalks
2 Green Apples
1/2 Lemon
1 piece of ginger

Mean Green Juice #2

handful spinach
3 stalks of kale
2 golden delicious apples
small handful parsley
1 lemon
1 cucumber

Mean Green Juice #3

2 stalks celery
1/2 cucumber
1/2 apple
1/2 lemon
small piece ginger
1/2 green chard leaf
bunch cilantro
5 kale leaves
handful spinach

Mean Green Juice #4

1/2 pear
1/2 green apple
handful spinach
handful parsley
2 celery stalks
1/2 cucumber
small piece ginger
slice of papaya

NOTES FOR MAKING JUICE

• peel or slice off lemon rind leaving some of the white pith
• to juice small leaves such as parsley and cilantro, roll them up into a ball to compact the leaves
• wash all vegetables and fruits before making juice
• buy organic if possible

Have you tried any of these recipes?  Which is your favorite?

Related posts:

1. Fresh Juice Recipe
2. Delightful Green Juice Recipe
3. Juicing Benefits of Green Foods

Here’s a fun juice recipe just in time for Valentine’s Day.  Actually this juice can transform any ordinary day into a special occassion – that’s how good it is.  Serve it to the whole family.  Kids will love the unique sweet taste.  For a grown up beverage add some champagne.

Strawberry Pear Orange Juice

12-15 strawberries
1 pear
1 orange

Wash fruits. Pinch the greens off the strawberries. Peel the orange leaving some of the pith. Break into segments. Remove stem from pear and cut into halves or quarters. Put all into the juice machine. Garnish with a piece of fruit. Makes approximately 12 oz.

This is a good starter recipe for introducing vegetables into your juice.  It is light and slightly sweet.  Make it bolder by adding more greens.

Delightful Green Juice

1 apple
1/2 cucumber
1/4 green cabbage
handful spinach

Wash fruits and vegetables.  Cut to the size that will fit in your juicer.  Push the raw foods  through juicer machine.  Add ice and enjoy.  Makes approx 12 oz juice.

For more recipes check out our juicing recipes page.

Related posts:

1. Fresh Juice Recipe
2. Juicing Benefits of Green Foods
3. Juicer Recipe for Digestion

Digestive woes?  Feeling bloated from last night’s dinner overindulgence?  When I find myself in this situation I reach for three key ingredients:

1. Ginger
2. Mint
3. Fennel

These herbs help to settle digestive upsets and bloating.  You can use them in a couple of different ways depending on your time and desire.

For herbal tea, steep them in hot water with some orange peel.  This makes a nice after dinner treat.

For a morning after cleanse juice them according to the following recipe:

Digest Ease

1/2 cucumber
1 green apple
1 stalk fennel with leaves
2 sprigs of mint
1/4-1/2 inch piece of ginger

Push all through juicer.  Note:  mint leaves can be rolled up into a ball to create volume when pushing through the juice extractor.

photo credit

Related posts:

1. Astrology and digestion