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2/03/2012

Golden Apple Delight


Golden Apple Delight
INGREDIENTS
  • 7 large green chard leaves (not to be mistaken with swiss chard with red and green leaves)
  • 1 romaine heart
  • 5 stalks of celery
  • 3 large golden apples (peel on, core removed)
  • 2 cups water
Makes about 40 oz 

Juice your ingredients...and voila! You've got Juice! 

No juicer? No problem! Blend in your Vitamix. Then strain through a nut milk bag or a paint strainer bag...and pour in your storage container. For detailed instructions on making juice in the blender click here.

This juice is light and flavorful.  You don't taste any greens in it, just celery and apple.



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Some Health Benefits 

Green Chard: Swiss chard, like spinach, is the store-house of many phytonutrients that have health promotional and disease prevention properties. Chard is recommended in cholesterol controlling and weight reduction programs. Chard leaves are an excellent source of anti-oxidant vitamin, vitamin-C. Its fresh leaves provide about 33% of recommended levels per 100 g. As an anti-oxidant, vitamin C helps to quench free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) through its reduction potential properties. Research studies suggests that regular consumption of foods rich in vitamin C helps maintain normal connective tissue, prevent iron deficiency, and also helps body develop resistance against infectious agents by boosting immunity. Chard is one of the excellent vegetable sources for vitamin-K; 100 g provides about 700% of recommended intake. Vitamin K has potential role bone health by promoting osteotrophic (bone formation and strengthening) activity. Adequate vitamin-K levels in the diet helps limiting neuronal damage in the brain; thus, has established role in the treatment of patients suffering from Alzheimer's disease. It is also rich source of omega-3 fatty acids; vitamin-A and flavonoids anti-oxidants like beta-carotene, alpha-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. It is also rich in B-complex group of vitamins such as folates, niacin, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), thiamin and pantothenic acid that are essential for optimum cellular metabolic functions. It is also rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, sodium, potassium, iron, manganese and phosphorus. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure by countering effects of sodium. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is required for cellular oxidation and red blood cell formation. 


Romaine: Romaine lettuce is the perfect supplement to a weight loss diet. To lose weight effectively, you must take in fewer calories per day from food. Because romaine lettuce only contains 17 calories per serving, you may eat large portions of romaine lettuce and still lose weight. In addition, romaine lettuce has a high water content, which can help you feel full quicker when eating. Include romaine lettuce in your lunch or dinner salads to improve your weight loss efforts. The high fiber content of romaine lettuce makes it an excellent supplement for a clean digestive tract. Specifically, romaine lettuce contains 2 g of fiber per serving, which is 7 percent of your recommended daily value. Fiber is a substance that is not digested, so it acts as a sponge to push waste through your intestinal tract. HIgh fiber diets have been linked to a lower risk of heart disease and diabetes, states MayoClinic.com. To work effectively, you must drink at least eight glasses of water per day, or you may become constipated and have hard stools. The high vitamin C content of romaine lettuce makes it a heart-healthy vegetable. One serving of romaine lettuce can provide up to 4 mg or 40 percent of your recommended daily needs. In particular, vitamin C prevents cholesterol from becoming sticky and adhering to the walls of your blood vessels. Thus, if you have heart disease, or a strong family history of heart disease, you should include one to two servings of romaine lettuce in your daily diet to keep your heart healthy. Potassium is essential for not only heart health, but also for muscle strength. If your potassium levels are low, you may experience muscle weakness. Therefore, consuming food rich in potassium is essential for maintaining muscle strength. One serving of romaine lettuce provides your body with 247 mg, or 10 percent of its daily needs. In addition, consuming other fruits and vegetables and legumes will help you meet your recommended daily intake for potassium. 


Apples: are a source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber such as pectin actually helps to prevent cholesterol buildup in the lining of blood vessel walls, thus reducing the incident of atherosclerosis and heart disease. The insoluble fiber in apples provides bulk in the intestinal tract, holding water to cleanse and move food quickly through the digestive system. It is a good idea to eat apples with their skin. Almost half of the vitamin C content is just underneath the skin. Eating the skin also increases insoluble fiber content. Most of an apple's fragrance cells are also concentrated in the skin and as they ripen, the skin cells develop more aroma and flavor. Apples are rich in antioxidant phyto-nutrients, flavonoids and polyphenols. The total measured anti-oxidant strength (ORAC value) of 100g apple fruit is 5900TE. The important flavonoids in apples are quercetin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2. Apples are also good in tartaric acid that gives tart flavor to them. These compounds help protect the body from deleterious effects of free radicals. In addition, apples are a good source of B-complex vitamins such as riboflavin, thiamin, and pyridoxine (vitamin B-6). Together these vitamins help as co-factors for enzymes in metabolism as well as in various synthetic functions inside the body. Apples also contain small amount of minerals like potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure; thus counters the bad influences of sodium. 


Celery: Is a non-soluble fiber which when combined with other weight loss regimens may help to reduce body weight and blood cholesterol levels. Celery is a functional food. Its leaves are rich source of flavonoid antioxidants such as zeaxanthin, lutein and beta- carotene, which have anti-oxidant, cancer protective, and immune-boosting functions. It is also good source of vitamin-A. Vitamin-A and beta-carotene are natural flavonoid antioxidants. Vitamin A is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin, and for vision. Consumption of natural foods rich in flavonoids helps body to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers. The herb is also rich in many vital vitamins including folic acid (provides 9% of RDA), riboflavin, niacin and vitamin-C, which are essential for optimum metabolism. Fresh celery is an excellent source of vitamin-K, provides about 25% of DRI. Vitamin-K help increase bone mass by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bones. It also has established role in Alzheimer's disease patients by limiting neuronal damage in the brain. The herb is very good source of minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, manganese, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Its leaves and seeds contain many essential volatile oils that include terpenes, mostly limonene (75 to 80%), and the sesquiterpenes like beta-selinene (10%) and humulene; but its characteristic fragrance is due to chemical compounds known as phthalides (butylphthalid and its dihydro derivate sedanenolid) in them. Essential oil obtained from extraction of celery plant has been used in soothing remedies for nervousness, osteoarthritis, and gouty-arthritis conditions. In addition, its seeds, and root has diuretic (removes excess water from body through urine), galactogogue (help breast milk secretion), stimulant, and tonic properties.


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