Carrot, Ginger and Apple Juice Health Benefits
Nothing beats juicing when you just want to cleanse from the inside out! Here are some of health benefits of this juice I made and the bonus is how delicious it tasted!
Vitamin A
Juicing carrots, ginger and apples yields a concoction rich in vitamin A, thanks in large part to the vitamin A content of carrots. Each 8-ounce glass provides 19,726 international units of vitamin A, which is more than 6 times the daily intake requirements for men and more than 8 times the daily intake requirements for women, as set by the Institute of Medicine. Vitamin A helps new cells grow and mature into functional tissue, nourishes your skin and boosts your immune system. Adding foods rich in vitamin A to your diet -- including juice made from carrots, apples and ginger -- also helps fight eye diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Potassium and Magnesium
Juicing apples, carrots and ginger also helps you consume more potassium and magnesium, two minerals that play key roles in your health. Potassium helps your cells transmit electrical impulses, and it keeps your heart, muscles and digestive tract functional. Magnesium nourishes your bones and teeth, and it also helps produce the energy you need to get through the day. An 8-ounce serving of fresh carrot, apple and ginger juice contains 661 milligrams of potassium and 36 milligrams of potassium. That's 14 percent of the recommended daily potassium intake, as well as 9 percent and 11 percent, respectively, of the daily recommended magnesium intake for men and women, according to the Institute of Medicine.
Vitamin K
Fresh carrots, apples and ginger serve as a refreshing source of vitamin K. Getting enough vitamin K contributes to the health of your bones, but its main role involves blood clotting. After an injury, vitamin K helps set off a series of chemical reactions, called the coagulation cascade, that cause your blood cells to aggregate, forming clots. If your blood cannot coagulate, you risk increased blood loss after an injury, and you might also experience nosebleeds or bleeding gums. A serving of juice made from fresh carrots, apples and ginger provides 18 micrograms of vitamin K, which is 20 percent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A for women, set by the Institute of Medicine, and 14 percent for men.
Ginger Phytonutrients
Using ginger in your juicing provides beneficial phytonutrients, including compounds that fight cancer growth. Compounds called terpenoids help combat endometrial cancer, reports a study published in "PLoS One" in 2012. The terpenoids activate a cancer-fighting protein called p53, triggering the death of cancer cells. Another study, published in "Nutrition and Cancer" in February 2013, notes that beneficial phytonutrients in ginger, called gingerols, also stunt the growth of prostate cancer cells. The effects of ginger require further investigation, but adding more ginger to your diet might promote lifelong health.
Ingredients
1½ pounds of carrots, peeled and trimmed
2 apples (2 pounds), quartered and cored
½ - 1 ounce raw ginger, peeled (1 ounce if you like a small amount of spice)
12 ounces water
Instructions
1. Cut the carrots and apples into medium sized pieces and layer them in the blender. It's not necessary to peel the ginger if you have a high powered blender.
2. Add the ginger and water to the blender.
3. Blend until a fairly smooth puree is reached.
4. Filter through cheesecloth or a nut milk bag.
5. Alternatively, you can run the carrots, apples, and ginger through a juicer.
What's your favourite juice combo?
I'm loving these juices even more during our detox challenge. If you haven't joined, please join me this month sober free. It’s officially Day 2 of our challenge (I started 2 weeks ago, so it’s day 18 for me!) so excited!!!
xxDani