The Green Clean
I needed a little juice therapy today! Taking inspiration from my recent trip to Turks & Caicos I decided to duplicate one of the juices from the Parrot Cay resort. Daily we would be greeted with a beautiful and nutritious breakfast were we had access to fresh pressed juices and energy giving smoothies. It was the perfect way to start the day, natural Vitamin D and a cleansing juice. This recipe is wonderful to replenish your body and skin from dehydration, assists in removing excess toxins and the perfect blend to spring clean and maintain your bodies digestive health.
Adding fennel to the juice really transforms it into a slightly exotic, yet beautiful liquorice flavored juice that passes on a whole load of benefits. I love fennel because its aniseed taste can add some unusual sweetness to some otherwise earthy combinations. Fennel bulb, which looks kind of like a cross between an onion and the base of a bunch of celery, has a sweet, perfumy, anise-like flavor. Fennel imparts a light, bright spring-like quality to any food or juice. Plus, fennel is good for you. Not only are the leaves edible, but so are the seeds, bulbs and even the pollen. It contains Vitamins A and C, as well as potassium and calcium.
Fennel has an amazing calming effect on the digestion and reduces intestinal cramps, intestinal gas, flatulence and bloating. It is widely used by herbalists as an antispasmodic for IBS, due to the essential oils contained within fennel that help to relax the walls of the gut. (having a healthy gut is imperative to your over health and well-being, read here to learn more). The most powerful essential oil is anethol, which is a superb anti-inflammatory as well as being the main chemical responsible for fennel's antispasmodic effects. Fennel contains compounds known as phyto-estrogens, these are plant chemicals that are similar in chemical structure to the female hormone oestrogen. These compounds are known to be of great use for conditions where a change in estrogen levels cause symptoms, such as menopause and pre-menstrual issues.
Fennel has been found to help release endorphins into the bloodstream. These "feel good" chemicals create a mood of euphoria and are thought to relieve depression associated with certain illness as well as dampen anxiety.
The Green Clean
Ingredients:
3-4 organic kale leaves
1 organic green apple
1/8 organic fennel bulb
1 large stick of celery
1 organic cucumber
Juice all ingredients and add 1/2 a cup of fresh organic coconut water to mixture, stir thoroughly and drink up! Enjoy and drink green to stay clean!!
XO
Claudia