Simply Blooming Grace

After I had my third baby, I started researching and pursuing healthy, natural alternatives that could support my body. The LORD made so many good things; and though not every day is great (we have to be real), my husband and I found that when we drank this juice every day, we started feeling better. My Institute for Functional Medicine diet had me eating 4 cups of vegetables a day… and as silly as it sounds, that was too much chewing! I decided that if I juiced the veggies, I could still get a large nutritional boost in a short amount of time — and not feel bad if I didn’t reach my “vegetable quota” for the day.

Here’s my recipe:

• Two bunches of kale
• One large (or two small) hearts of celery — about 10–12 stalks total
• Two cucumbers
• One head of broccoli
• One lemon (or three mini key limes)
• One thumb-sized piece of ginger root

If you want to keep all the fiber, you can use a Vitamix, but we use the Nama juicer. Follow the instructions based on your machine.

Pour into a glass jar and refrigerate before consuming. Separation is natural, so just stir to recombine. Makes 2–3 days of juice. Do not freeze, and consume within 3 days of making the batch.

But why pick these specific vegetables? Kale and broccoli are full of antioxidants and vitamin K. Celery contains compounds that may help lower blood pressure. Cucumbers have a history of promoting healthy circulation. Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and great for upset stomachs. Lemons and limes are high in vitamin C, which helps support the immune system. When you drink this juice, it doesn’t just boost you now. There’s a study from Harvard Health that shows it may even reduce your risk of death.

“Eating about five daily servings of fruits and vegetables was associated with the lowest risk of death.”

So drink up the greens and know that getting those vegetables in doesn’t have to happen only on your plate. Maybe juicing will be the best fit for you. Sometimes we have to approach health in a different way, and that’s okay. It doesn’t matter how we get the nutrition into our bodies just that we get it.