Just juice it

With summer here, Active! on the juices that can help you stay cool, look good and boost immunity. Plus, is a liquid fast healthy?

Just juice it

With summer here, Active! on the juices that can help you stay cool, look good and boost immunity. Plus, is a liquid fast healthy?

Flawless and glowing are adjectives frequently used to describe Slumdog Millionaire star Freida Pinto's skin, who recently shared the secret to her near-perfect skin: fresh veggie juice with coriander and a dash of pepper.
Wellness specialist Namita Jain endorses Freida's beauty tip. "Fresh fruit or vegetable juices are a fantastic way to get your nutrients in a glass," she says.

These can either be combined or drunk separately says Namita. "There is no one miracle juice that everyone should drink, as each fruit, vegetable and herb has unique benefits." She adds that unless advised by a nutritionist or dietitian to avoid certain fruits and veggies, most can be juiced for health benefits. Anupam Adarsh of Fellas, a health cafe in Khar, shares that the colour of fruit or veggies is a helpful indicator of its vitamin content. He advises that it is best to buy fresh fruits and vegetables from local markets, as imported ones are treated with chemicals.

"Vegetable juices tend to be neutral and good for diabetics as well. It's convenient to consume 400 gm of carrots in juice form rather than as a fruit, given the fast pace of living," says Anupam, adding that herbs are rich in antioxidants and help control blood pressure. Anupam advises consuming juice first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Namita, however, says that juices can be consumed anytime of the day. "However, if you have been given specific instructions from your doctor for health reasons to follow certain timings, you must adhere to them," cautions Namita.

Liquid fast, good?
The experts are divided on whether going on a two to three-day juice fast every fortnight is a good way to cleanse the system, and say that it is likely to depend on the individual's health status, medical condition and goals. "I am totally against fasting. Your body has a survival mechanism. If it notices it's not getting enough food, it will start storing calories and you will end up putting on weight," says Dheepesh. He also adds that is best to consume fruits and vegetables whole. "Fruits and vegetable have fibre. It's important to have fibre in your diet," he elaborates. Namita agrees, explaining that one apple with the skin, has about 3.6 grams of dietary fibre, which is nearly 17 per cent of the recommended daily fibre intake. According to her, whole fruits and vegetables provide fibre for a healthy digestive system, as well as antioxidant nutrients to protect cells and tissues.

Juices vs shakes
According to Dheepesh, no juice can replace a protein shake. Spinach and sprouts contain some amount of protein, but they cannot provide all the benefits of a protein shake. "Fruits and vegetables are carbohydrates and protein is protein. It's important to keep a good balance between the two," he says, adding that spinach and spirulina are good options for juicing. "One scoop of a protein shake is equivalent to loads of green vegetables," adds Dheepesh. Watermelon and banana juice are helpful in maintaining sugar levels for athletes, but are not recommended for diabetics for whom he recommends juicing spinach and broccoli, instead.

Squeeze- worthy tips
Wash fruits and vegetables in warm water with potassium permanganate to free them of all chemicals. Ensure that the juice is made within fifteen minutes of washing the fruits and veggies. Juices must be consumed fresh, whether they have been made with vegetables, fruits or herbs. Don't store juices. Using a quality manual juicer is recommended, as the fruits and vegetables are turned slowly, which helps retain vitamins. Ensure that juicer is well cleaned to prevent the accumulation of bacteria.u00a0u00a0Fruits/ vegetables/ herbs kept inside a fridge should be first brought to room temperature before juicing. The juice should be consumed at room temperature, as 'coldness' obstructs digestive system.

Papaya and Orange
Makes: 200 ml
You need: 100 gms papaya, 200 ml orange juice
How to: Cut and peel the papaya. Remove the seeds. Peel the orange and extract the juice. Blend both the ingredients in a blender and serve.
Benefits: This combination helps control hair loss and clears acne. Good for the gums, teeth and complexion, this juice improves digestion and boosts appetite. It also prevents heart problems, lowers cholesterol and improves blood flow.

Plum, Peach and Pineapple
Makes: 200 ml
You need: 75 grammes plums, 75 grammes peaches, 150 ml pineapple juice
How to: Cut the plums into small pieces and remove the seeds. Wash, peel the peach and cut it into small pieces and remove the seed. Peel the pineapple, cut it into slices and juice it. Blend all three ingredients in a blender and serve.
Benefits: This blend strengthens the immune system and improves blood circulation. It also protects the eyes and kidney.

Pomegranate, Grapes and Sweet lime
Makes: 200 ml
You need:100 ml pomegranate juice, 150 ml grape juice, 150 ml and sweet lime juice
How to: Cut open the pomegranate and peel off the sweet lime. Remove the seeds and wash the grapes. Blend all the three in a juicer and serve.
Benefits: Rich in potassium and vitamin C, this mix helps people with high blood pressure and women with polycystic ovarian syndrome. It detoxes the body and controls high blood pressure.

Carrot, Spinach, Tomato and Mint
Makes: 200 ml
You need: 150 ml carrot juice, 20 ml spinach juice, 120 ml tomato juice a few sprigs of mint
How to: Wash the carrots, scrape off the skin and cut off the ends. Wash the spinach and tomatoes. Chuck all of this into the blender and juice it with the mint. Serve.
Benefits: Rich in vitamin A and potassium, this acts as a cure for eye disorders and prevents dark circles. It also cools the stomach and eliminates toxins from the body. Being rich in calcium, it also strengthens bones.

Get the juice on these celebs

Got juice? wonders Salma
Salma Hayek has been juicing for years to give her skin that "healthy" glow. Her stint with fresh fruit and veggie juices was so effective that she went ahead and started her own organic juice company called Cooler Cleanse. The brand offers five flavours, including grapefruit mint, beet and apple, young coconut water and nut and date milk. Consumers can opt to have the juices freshly made and delivered to their doorstep.

X-treme make-over for January Jones
Mad Men star January Jones recently lost two dress sizes for her role in the film X Men: First Class by going on an all-juice diet. She followed a diet known as the Blue Print Cleanse, which required her to consume six bottles of fresh vegetable and fruit juice everyday, making up to 1,100 calories, per day. She paired this diet with raw vegetables.

Green goop works for Gwyneth
Actor Gwyneth Paltrow recommends and drinks Young Alive Green Shake on her website: Goop (.com). This shake includes cucumber, spinach, sprouts, mint, avocado, limejuice, grapefruit juice and coconut milk, beside other ingredients. The shake is said to be a good source of antioxidants and cleanses the body of toxins.

Tomato juice for Shah Rukh Khan
The King Khan of Bollywood is on a special diet for his role in the upcoming movie Ra One. Breakfast consists of a glass of vegetable juice, two slices of multigrain toast and an egg-white omelette, while lunch is just a light sandwich or some pasta with soup. At the IPL opening, he reportedly intended to snack on nuts and sip on tomato juice to keep himself energised.

Veggie juice for Ranbir Kapoor
Actor Ranbir Kapoor kickstarts his day with a glass of vegetable juice followed by scrambled eggs. He believes his metabolism is very fast and hence it's tougher for him to gain muscle mass fast. So, when he needs to bulk up for a role, his breakfast includes brown bread, soup and lots of fruits as well.

Juice to get over heart break?
Hollywood actor Ben Affleck reportedly went on a diet subsisting on just fruits and vegetable juices, after his break-up with Jennifer Lopez. It was his way of getting a svelte body and detoxing all the 'toxins' in his body and from his personal life. Wonder what the new Amercan Idol judge would have to say!?