There are a lot of benefits you can get from adding green juices to your diet. Since we're a skin care company, we'll focus on the skin benefits, and there are many!
A lot of the skin problems can be related to what you're eating (and not eating). Adding more produce to your diet gives your body access to the vitamins and minerals it needs to work optimally. This reflects externally, on your skin.
Our body absorbs these nutrients more quickly when they're in liquid form (this is also why sugary drinks spike your blood sugar so significantly). So when you're drinking juices full of veggies and some fruit, you're giving your body a powerful dose of nutrients. If you normally skip breakfast or eat a low nutrient food like a bagel or pastry, swapping in a juice will make a huge difference for you.
If you add a green juice to your diet or replace one of your meals with one, you should see improvements in your skin.
It's also important to note that you don't need a juicer to make juice. The folks over at Minimalist Baker have a great post on how to juice without a juicer.
And if this seems like too much work, a green smoothie is also an excellent idea.
We're always looking for more green juice inspiration, and Kris Carr is who we usually turn to. Since she was diagnosed with cancer ten years ago, she has been eating a plant-based diet filled with lots of green smoothies and juices. So she has a lot of tricks up her sleeves when it comes to how to start drinking green juice and how to stay motivated by including lots of different yummy recipes.
We're really excited for her new book — Crazy Sexy Juice — to hit the shelves. It's full of green juice, smoothie, and nut milk recipes you can use to stay healthy and energized. She has tons of awesome tips for how to get started, and the way she writes sounds like your good-humored friend who happens to have a wealth of nutritional knowledge. The photos are also really beautiful, which we all know is almost as important as the recipes when you're buying a cookbook.
Click Here to Learn More About Crazy Sexy Juice
Kris agreed to give you a sneak peak of her new book here on our blog. We chose this recipe because we love incorporating herbs as much as we can—into our food and juices, as well as our skin care. This juice is a great way to give yourself a healthy dose of nourishment first thing in the morning, or in the afternoon when you need an energizing boost.
Kris Carr's Herbal Elixir Recipe
Makes 2 Servings:
Ingredients:
- 1 large cucumber
- 2 ½ cups pineapple cubes
- ¼ cup basil, leaves and steams, tightly packed
- ¼ cup cilantro or parseley, leaves and steams, tightly packed
- ⅛ cup mint leaves, tightly packed
- 4 stalks kale
Directions:
- Wash and prep
- Juice
Benefits:
- Cucumber – Hydrates and contains silica, which is a great nutrient for hair, skin, and nail health.
- Pineapple – Contains enzymes that aid in digestion. And when your gut is happy, everything's happy.
- Basil – Contains unique flavanoids called orientin and vicenin, which protect against environmental stressors.
- Cilantro – Helps the body remove heavy metals from the body.
- Mint – Yummy!
- Kale – Full of nutrients like vitamin A, C, and K.
Some nutritionists say we should not mix fruits and veggies in the same meal – as they digest in a different way. So I tent to use sweet root veggies to replace fruit ingredients. Do you think replacing pineapple with carrot or fennel would still make a good juice for the skin?
I wonder if you could also post a juice combo that is good for the kidneys. I read somewhere that wheatgrass and/or daikon juice are good for detoxing and strengthening kidneys…
Thanks so much for all the fabulous knowledge you share Annmarie!
Hi Lucie,
Carrot is also great for the skin, so yes! I recommend getting Kris Carr’s book… It has TONS of juice recipes in there. https://www.annmariegianni.com/crazy-sexy-juice
do you peel the cucumber in your recipe?
No need to peel, but make sure you’re using organic!
Can I use organic frozen kale? If so how much?
Hi Pamela,
I’m not sure if frozen kale would work in this juice, but you could definitely use it in a smoothie.
Can you do this as a smoothie rather than juicing?
Sounds delicious.
Definitely!
Green smoothies l find are less work, but will try your juice recipes since I am interested in the skin benefits, esp. If it helps to use less makeup. Thanks for the info.
One of my favorite green drinks is:
1. Cucumber cut up.
4 to 5 stalks celery with tops cut up
1/2 apple cut up
1/2 to 1 full lemon cut up (skin & all)
Thumb size piece of ginger cut up
1 bunch parsley cut up rinse in bowl of water
1/2 cup Kale or Spinach or Romaine or other greens.
2 cups water
Start with parsley, water & ginger in Blender blend well. Add other greens, cucumber, celery, lemon and apple. Add 1/2 cup more water blend
and serve. Makes about 6 cups Enjoy Can store up to 2 days!
This recipe sounds delicious, more than a comment I have a question. Do you put herbs in a regular juicer? Does it work? Thanks
A lot of green drink recipes call for kale. What can you replace it with if you’re allergic to it?
Spinach!
Hi. I am curious about the addition of pineapple. I love fruit but my doctor says fruit outside of berries and other low glycemic index fruits are a no-no. Could I sub with strawberries or other berry?
Thanks!
Hi Nina,
Yes, you can absolutely substitute strawberries in this recipe. 🙂 Maybe blueberries would be good, too.
Thanks so much for sharing this recipe! Love Kris and love your products!