I’ve got the puff. In fact, I’ve got all kinds of puff ‘n’ stuff: full face and pillow-like eyes, bloated belly, thick ankles, chubby legs and sausage fingers. I need to purify something chronic. I need to purge myself of all this water retention, so-called toxins and bad habits, and I need to do it pronto!
But how, I hear you ask. Oh, not you too? Have you also been boozing and binging like nobody’s business? Right then. Well, to be honest I’m tired of diets and detoxs, so I’ve vowed to incorporate more freshly squeezed juices into my diet as a means to re-setting my system’s course.
Dr Joshi, like many natural health care professionals, encourages us to drink freshly made juices as a way to purify the body and stay healthy and well. Eliminating waste, maintaining hydration levels and absorbing an adequate intake of vitamins, minerals and enzymes, is paramount. Juices, according to Joshi, can help achieve this balance, which is “essential for good health and increased vitality”.
“The de-puff, de-paunch juice plan” is really no more complicated than getting in the habit of drinking fresh juices daily. Go on; fire it up today! Experiment with various combinations; each one will offer it’s own benefits. Beetroot and carrot for example contain enzymes and antioxidants that boost circulation and cleanse the liver. Green leafy vegetables and herbs such as parsley are cleansing too, but also contain iron – adding lemon will encourage its absorption. Ginger is great for poor digestion, stomach upsets and bloating, while celery is good for treating constipation. The only rules are: reduce your sugar intake by limiting your intake of fruit, don’t mix fruits with vegetables – the combination tends to cause bloating - add an extra carrot or some beetroot if your juice isn’t sweet enough, and drink immediately as juices are highly perishable.
Below are some of Dr Joshi’s suggestions. Happy juicing!
Bloating and flatulence: ginger, cumin, fennel and celery
Liver cleansing: carrot or beetroot or beetroot, celery and ginger
Constipation: celery
Detoxification: wheatgrass
Stomach upsets: celery, spinach or carrot
Headaches: celery or carrot, celery, parsley and spinach or carrot and coconut milk
Digestion: beetroot, ginger and carrot
Immune system: carrot, ginger, garlic and wheatgrass
Bladder: celery, pomegranate and cranberry
Kidneys: carrot, parsley and asparagus or carrot and parsley or spinach, beetroot, celery and ginger.
Overweight: beet greens, parsley and celery or spinach, celery and lettuce.