Thursday 4 October 2012

Beet + Parsley + Strawberry = Cleansing Juice


Coriander leaves, Chinese parsley, cilantro or daun ketumbar is known as the best cleansing treatment for kidneys and it is natural! Besides it is very rich in vitamin K, vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C, iron and folate.


Health Benefits of Parsley :


1) Parsley is good for the heart.

2) Good for strengthening the urinary bladder and preventing kidney stones.

3) Cleansing of blood vessels.

4) Prevent the occurrence of osteoarthritis and inflammatory polyarthritis; a type of rheumatoid arthritis.

5) Used for treating menstrual problems.

6) Treat digestive problems, anemia, diarrhea, gallstones, gout, insect bites, liver congestion.

7) Strengthening teeth.

8) Weight loss.

Source : E-mail received from a friend

Here is a healthy juice using parsley, beet and strawberry.
Beet (click for more info) has a lot of benefits too. Take note that there is no exact measurement and you can add any veggie or fruits that you like.

Put everything into a blender. Add water. Then blend. I like to use blender as I like my juice with fiber. You can use juice extractor too. Add honey should you prefer it sweet. As for me, I did not add honey for this juice.

In order to have maximum benefits of any juice, I usually take it early in the morning; 1 hour before breakfast.




Wednesday 3 October 2012

Watercress Soup


Watercress soup is believed to be very effective in lungs cleansing.  Besides, it has cooling properties and is suitable for heaty body. 


I used to cook watercress soup using meat or just a sweet version; vegetarian soup. 

Ingredients :-
 
- 1 kg of watercress, use stems and leaves - washed
- a handful of  dried red dates
- 4 kurma (hahaha... I supposed to use honey dates but didn't realise that I have run out of stock.  So, I used kurma instead as it was available then).
- Ginger (washed and crushed)
- 3 litres of water

Method:-

1)  Put all ingredients in a pot, bring to a boil. Then reduce heat to low and simmer the soup for about 2 to 4 hours. (I simmered for 2 hours only).

2) Serve hot. 

Friday 28 September 2012

Beetroot + Grapes Juice

Beetroot has had a great PR job over recent years, being hailed as a ‘super food’ by numerous experts.

Health benefits of beetroot

Find out about the top 5 health benefits of beetroot and how you can make sure you’re getting your daily dose – without resorting to pickled beetroot from a jar!

Beetroot Is Your Liver’s Friend
The beta cyanin in beetroot can help detox your liver, having a knock-on effect for your bloodstream, by helping the body to eliminate toxins and potentially preventing the build-up of fatty deposits.
So if you have found yourself ‘over-indulging’, adding some raw beetroot or beetroot juice to your diet can help you recover.
Then again, why save it just for the ‘morning after’?!

Beetroot Juice Can Prevent Strokes & Heart Attacks
Beetroot juice has been shown to reduce high blood pressure. It affects an estimated 25% of the world’s adult population and is a significant factor in coronary heart disease and strokes.
Researchers at Barts’ Hospital (London) and the London School Of Medicine found that drinking 500ml of beetroot juice a day can significantly reduce high blood pressure, for over 24 hours after drinking.
Whilst most of us wouldn’t fancy a pint of red stuff every morning, the research gives us a very big hint that including at least some beetroot in our diet on a daily basis will be good for us.

Beetroot Is Packed With Nutrients
Beetroot leaves can be eaten raw when young.
Beetroot is a super-storehouse of both vitamin C and iron, which is great news for your body. Both are essential elements for health, but many of us struggle to absorb enough iron. Luckily, good old Mother Nature included extra vitamin C in her beetroots and this vitamin helps increase iron absorbtion!
Vitamin C is water soluble, which means it leaches out of veggies when you cook them in water. So the easiest way to get your combo-fix is to eat raw beetroot.
Incidentally, young beetroot leaves are a better source of iron than spinach!
The roots are a good source of many other vitamins and minerals, including folic acid, phosphorous, magnesium and B6.

Beetroot Can Cheer You Up
Beetroot has been shown to contain the compound betaine, which enhances the production of the body’s natural mood-lifter seratonin. So it would seem that munching fresh beetroot can literally make you smile.
Betaine is also really useful for cardiovascular health.

Immune System Booster
Beetroot’s amazing range of vitamins and nutrients have been shown to boost your immune system, helping you better fight off infection. These nutrients help stimulate the reoxygenation of cells and the production of new blood cells. Pretty important stuff!
Source : Raw Food Journey

So, here's a healthy drink to share with you all. There is no exact measurement as it depends on individual's preference. :)


Ingredients :

- Beetroot (washed and cut into cube)

- Grapes (washed)

- Honey
- Water

Method :
1)  Put beetroot, grapes and water into the blender.  I didn't use the juice extractor because I prefer my juice with fiber; so blender is the best choice.

2) Blend until smooth.  Add honey.

3)  Serve chilled.