Teas, Juices and Smoothies for Christmas!
Teas, Juices and Smoothies for Christmas
Yes, it’s that time of year when we over indulge and cause our liver to work overtime!!! Here are a few recipes to help your hormones remain balanced, maintain clear detoxification channels and remain happy and healthy over the festive period!
- Drink a mug of warm water with the juice of quarter of an unwaxed lemon first thing in the morning! This helps to stimulate your liver and clear the residue and toxins! You can add ginger to it as well – I find grating the ginger works well. Whilst this is amazing for your liver it is not great for the enamel on your teeth so keep to only a few mugs daily.
Juices and Smoothies
Rule of thumb: If you are using a nutri-bullet or smoothie maker you will need to add water to these recipes:
Liver Cleansing Juice
Combine the juice of 2 carrots, a handful of watercress and a quarter of a red pepper. Add filtered water to fill glass. This juice is rich in antioxidants to protect the liver. It’s great first thing in the morning, as the peppery taste of the watercress will wake you up!
Potassium Drink
This helps reduce acidity in the stomach and eases fatigue, perfect for the recovery after the Chistmas party! 3 carrots, 2 stalks celery, 4-6 leaves lettuce or winter greens, Handful spinach, kale or watercress, A few stalks fresh parsley or coriander.
Carrot, Apple and Kiwi Juice
Another good breakfast or super snack food, full of antioxidants and beta-carotene. Serves 2
4 large washed and peeled organic carrots, 2 large washed but unpeeled organic apples
2 organic kiwi fruit, peeled. Add the ingredients to juicer and enjoy.
Virgin Vegetable Cup
225g ripe tomatoes, 1 medium carrot, 1 celery stalk, Handful of watercress, 125ml tomato juice, Black pepper.
Skin, halve and deseed the tomatoes. Peel and finely chop the carrot and chop the celery. Add everything to a blender or food processor and purée until smooth. Serve cold.
You can use a wide range of additional vegetables in this cup. Try added some sorrel or spinach leaves, cauliflower and/or broccoli florets and Swiss chard.
Teas
Justine’s Green Chai
1-2 organic green tea bags, 3 mugs boiling water, Half a cinnamon stick or pinch dried cinnamon
2-3 green cardommon pods, Pinch saffron, Pinch dried ginger or a little grated root ginger
Honey to taste
In a saucepan pour 3 mugs of water. Add cinnamon, cardamom pods, saffron and ginger plus green tea bag. Add a glug of honey (Manuka is best) and simmer. The end result is a fragrant tea which is a powerful antioxidant.
Immune Boosting Tea
2.5cm grated root ginger, 2.5 cm sage – use leaves only, 2.5 cm thyme – use leaves only, Slice lemon, Dash of cayenne pepper.
Add ingredients to hot water. Stand for about 5 minutes. Strain if you wish and sip slowly