Posts tagged: healthy recipes

How To Make Probiotic Lemonade

How To Make Probiotic Lemonade
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When it comes to flavor and refreshment, nothing beats a cold glass of fresh homemade lemonade. Store-bought brands are often filled with sugar, preservatives, and artificial flavoring. So when it comes to your drink, it’s always better to go natural. Lemons are already packed with vitamin c, antioxidants, and potassium to keep our body healthy… but imagine if we can make an awesome drink even more awesome. [1]

A great way to boost the health benefits you can get from your beverage is to add a dose of probiotics extracted from yogurt. Probiotics are often called “good bacteria” since they have been linked to improvements in mood, digestion, and immunity. [2][3] Best of all, the natural tart taste of lemons makes it a perfect complement to the sour flavor of the whey from yogurt.

Here are the steps to make your own probiotic lemonade at home.

For this recipe you’ll need:

Ingredients
• 12 Organic lemons
• 1 cup of fresh whey from yogurt
• 1/2-1 cup of organic cane sugar (adjust according to taste)

Things you’ll need
• A thin cheesecloth
• Rubber bands
• A gallon jar

1. Extract the whey. We start with the process of extracting whey from store bought whole milk organic yogurt. To do this, simply drape your cheesecloth into a bowl and add the yogurt. Tie it with a rubber band and hang it up to strain the liquid. After a few hours transfer the liquid into a measuring cup and you now have around 1 cup of whey for your drink.

Tips:
You can use the leftover yogurt as an ingredient for dips, spreads, and fillings.
Use the thinnest cheesecloth as possible. A think cheesecloth can absorb the whey rather than strain it from the yogurt.
You can save the whey for other recipes, just make sure to keep it refrigerated.

2. Now it’s time to squeeze the juice out of the lemons. You can use a lemon press or any lemon juicer of your choice.

Tip:
Roll the lemon first on your counter top to maximize the amount juice you’ll get.

3. Mix the whey and lemon juice in a gallon jar. Now add the amount of water and sugar to the taste that you want.

Tip:
It is best to use at least 1/2 cup of sugar so that the probiotic can use it for fermentation. This will make the sweetness a little weak after fermentation.

4. Wait. Once finished mixing. Tightly close the jar and leave it on your kitchen counter at room temperature for 2 days.

5. Enjoy! After 2 days, transfer the mixture to a glass pitcher and you now have a refreshing and healthy probiotic drink your family will enjoy.

References:

[1] Natural bioactive compounds of Citrus limon for food and health. (2017)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19748198 https://gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(17)35557-9/pdf

[2] Probiotic Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 Reduces Depression Scores and Alters Brain Activity: a Pilot Study in Patients With Irritable Bowel Syndrome https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28483500

[3] Probiotics (Lactobacillus gasseri KS-13, Bifidobacterium bifidum G9-1, and Bifidobacterium longum MM-2) improve rhinoconjunctivitis-specific quality of life in individuals with seasonal allergies: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. (2017) https://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/105/3/758

Healthy Juice Recipes

Healthy Juice Recipes
Healthy Juice Recipes. Graphic: © herbshealthhappiness.com. Image source – Unsplash (PD)

Allergy Reducer

Ingredients
⦁ Medium-sized carrot – 1
⦁ Large oranges – 2
⦁ Cucumber – ½
⦁ Mint leaves – a handful
⦁ Ginger root – ½ inch

Suffering from allergic reactions such as congestion, sneezing, and itchy eyes? Consider this all-natural juice blend to alleviate your symptoms. Ingredients such as ginger and oranges have been scientifically shown to reduce allergic reactions. [1][2]

Reduce Blood Pressure

Ingredients
⦁ Grapefruit – 1/2
⦁ Celery stalks – 2
⦁ Cucumber – 1/2
⦁ Garlic – 1 clove
⦁ Fennel bulb – 1/4

Give this juice blend a try and drink your way out of high blood pressure. Several studies suggest that organic fruits and vegetables such as garlic, fennel, and celery help with hypertension. [3][4][5]

Metabolism Booster

Ingredients
⦁ Green apples – 2
⦁ Small cucumber – 1
⦁ Small beetroot – 1
⦁ Lemon – 1/4
⦁ Ginger – 1/2 inch

Boosting your metabolism allows your body to burn calories faster, reduce unwanted fat, and help you maintain a healthy weight. Each ingredient in this ‘metabolism booster’ juice blend (especially ginger and lemon) affects your metabolism profile. [6][7]

Immune System Booster

Ingredients
⦁ Apple – 1
⦁ Celery – 2 stalks
⦁ Kale – 2 stalks
⦁ Lemon – 1/2
⦁ Ginger root – 1/2 inch

One of the most obvious ways to improve our health is reinforcing the system responsible for fighting off harmful pathogens – i.e., the immune system. This juice is bursting with tons of minerals, vitamins, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant compounds that strengthen your immunity.

Detox

Ingredients
⦁ Chard leaves – 4
⦁ Apples – 2
⦁ Cucumber – 1
⦁ Lemon – 1/2
⦁ Ginger – 1

Looking to rejuvenate your body naturally? This juice blend contains vitamin C, pectin, and other compounds that help your body detoxify. [8]

Thyroid Tonic

Ingredients
⦁ Carrots – 6
⦁ Cucumber – 1
⦁ Lemon – 1/2
⦁ Radish – 10

Contrary to popular opinion, carrots don’t give you the ability to see in the dark – but they can improve the health of your thyroid, courtesy of beta-carotene. Along with other potent ingredients, carrots can be used to make a thyroid tonic to improve your general wellbeing.

Please note that this content should never be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.

References:

[1] Kawamoto Y. et al. 2016. Prevention of allergic rhinitis by ginger and the molecular basis of immunosuppression by 6-gingerol through T cell inactivation. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26403321.

[2] Ju-Hee Seo et al. 2012. Association of Antioxidants With Allergic Rhinitis in Children From Seoul https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3579096/.

[3] Ashraf R. et al. 2013. Effects of Allium sativum (garlic) on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24035939.

[4] Nitrates found in green veg and beetroot help tackle high blood pressure https://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/items/smd/95990.html.

[5] Moghadam M. et al. 2013. Antihypertensive Effect of Celery Seed on Rat Blood Pressure in Chronic Administration https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3684138/.

[6] Maharlouei N. et al. 2019. The effects of ginger intake on weight loss and metabolic profiles among overweight and obese subjects: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29393665.

[7] How to Boost Your Metabolism Naturally: 15 Proven Ways https://globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/tips-for-boosting-your-metabolism/.

[8] Eliaz I. et al. 2006. The effect of modified citrus pectin on urinary excretion of toxic elements. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16835878.

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Healthy Juice Recipes
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Miracle Red Juice

Miracle Red Juice
Graphic: © herbs-info.com. Image © vrozhko – fotolia.com (under license)

What do you get when you take some of nature’s most nutritious ingredients and dump them in a juicer? Easy, a kick-ass drink swelling with potent health benefits! Nicknamed the the “miracle red Juice” – this refreshing pure juice blend is made from Beets, Apples, Celery, Ginger, and Carrots. It’s a variation on the juicer’s staple “ACBG” (Apple, Carrot Beet, Ginger) and has people buzzing with excitement due to its supportive qualities, as outlined below:

What are the Benefits of the Drink?

1. Eye Health: Staring at screens all day takes a toll on your eyes. However, healthful compounds in the miracle red juice such as vitamin A may help relax, soothe, and strengthen your eyes.

2. Skin Health: Most of the compounds in the miracle juice have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that can help with signs of aging, acne, and soothe your skin.

3. Brain Health: Time to boost your brain. The miracle juice might help improve your concentration levels, memory, and attention span.

4. Promote Repair and Recovery: Alpha and beta carotenes in the juice can help rejuvenate the body, assist with digestion, control cholesterol, and detoxify the liver.

5. Protect Against Diseases: An apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? Now add a couple of other nutritious ingredients, and you can significantly protect your body from diseases.

Miracle Red Juice Recipe

Ingredients:

⦁ Ginger (2 Inches)
⦁ Limes (2)
⦁ Celery (6 Stalks)
⦁ Apples (2)
⦁ Carrots (4)
⦁ Beetroots (2 Large Bulbs)

Instructions:

Wash the ingredients and cut them into small pieces without peeling of the skin. Put them in a juicer and add some water for consistency. Blend the mixture and add lemon juice or honey for taste.

Please note that this content should never be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.

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Miracle Red Juice
Graphic ©herbs-info.com. Image © vrozhko – fotolia.com (under license)