Juicing is great. It’s a wonderful detox, and a great way to shed some water weight, as well as incorporate some fruits and veggies you may have a hard time working in otherwise. But how do you know what will give you the most “bang for your buck” – so to speak?
Well, you’re in luck. While it’s true that any food you juice will have its own benefits, here are some that will give you more than just a good feeling. Remember, the brighter the foods you’re eating, the more likely they are to be great for you (excluding Skittles, of course).
10 Super Foods For Juicing
1. Spinach
Have you seen those “Green Monster” drinks? Well, more often than not, they call for spinach. There’s a reason for that: spinach is high in iron. If you’re vegetarian or vegan, you need to incorporate as many iron-rich foods as you can since the main source (red meat) is a no-go for you. Luckily, you can juice as much spinach as you want! With the right ingredients, you don’t even taste it, although it does tend to turn your drinks a delightful shade of green.
2. Kale
Kale can often be used in place of spinach. In addition to iron, it does have some other benefits. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory, and it’s jam-packed with vitamins and amino acids. When I say that, I mean it. Kale has each and every one of the amino acids we need for the building blocks of life – just like meat.
3. Apples
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” – and for good reason. Different types of apples are good for slightly different things, but all of them are good for you. High in pectin and fiber, these superfoods help fill you up longer. Of course, you may need a particular type of juicer in order to handle the core and seeds, but it’s all worth it. Rich in vitamins, apples also help you to fight cancer, free radicals and gout!
4. Carrots
Carrots are another one that help with more than just the color of your juice (although they can turn it a beautiful shade of orange). The beta carotene in them helps to improve your night vision (but no, you will not learn to see in the dark). Plus, they’ll help to give you lovely skin. But be careful, because too many carrots can actually give your skin a faint orange hue!
5. Ginger Root
Before we get ourselves confused, ginger is not actually an herb. It is, in fact, a root vegetable, and a lovely one at that! Ginger tends to have a pretty intense flavor, so if you aren’t familiar with it, try a tiny bit at a time. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out once it’s in there. It’s also a great anti-inflammatory that has been shown to be helpful with people who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
6. Beets
As if the color and taste of beets wasn’t enough to entice you to try them, it turns out that they’re an under-utilized super food as well. They have incredibly high amounts of a nutrient called betalain, the antioxidant that gives beets their bright red color.
7. Lemon
Lemon is a natural cleanser. As a diuretic, it helps to flush toxins out of our bodies and restore our natural pH. It is also an antibacterial agent. If you have a sore throat, toss some lemon into your juicer. Or, simply add some to hot water and sip that throughout the day. It’s amazing how much faster you’ll recover, simply by clearing out your throat from bacteria.
8. Broccoli
Broccoli is a heavy hitter in terms of serving up folic acid. This is a vital nutrient for any woman who is able to carry a child, since adequate intake of folic acid is vital to preventing some sever birth defects, such as spina bifida. Even if you aren’t planning to get pregnant, things happen. And if you turn out to have a surprise, wouldn’t it be better to have a happy, healthy surprise?
9. Blueberries
If you want Vitamin C, fiber, low blood pressure, antioxidants and a fat-cell bursting powerhouse packed into your juice as well, look no further than the all-mighty (and tiny) blueberry. Really, is there anything these little balls of deliciousness can’t do? They pack a wallop of good-for-you vitamins and nutrients, they grow wild in some areas (making them free), they taste amazing, and they turn your juice a beautiful blue-violet.
10. Red Bell Peppers
Surprised to see bell peppers here? They aren’t exactly the first thing you think to add to your juice. However, there’s a reason Bloody Mary’s are so popular as a hangover cure – and guess what they’re full of – bell peppers! A single red bell pepper gives you the Vitamin C and A that you need all day. So go ahead, get snackin’!
Contributing Author: Alicia is a “Jill of all trades.” She writes about DIY projects, home advice and health on her blog Homey Improvements, works as a freelance writer, and helps a variety of clients with content marketing.
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