Apple, Basil, Collard Green Juice


September 28, 2013

This apple, basil, collard green juice from The Decadent Detox 3-Day Juice Cleanse is loaded with chlorophyll and minerals for healthy blood and cells.

Apple, Basil, Collard Green Juice

This apple, basil, collard green juice from The Decadent Detox 3-Day Juice Cleanse has collards and spinach for chlorophyll and minerals to build blood, regenerate cells, and prepare the body for rest. Cucumber cools, hydrates, acts as a natural diuretic, and provides the skin and connective tissues with silica.

The Health Benefits of Collard Greens Juice

Loaded with alkalizing chlorophyll, antioxidants, vitamin K, and omega-3s, collards are anti-inflammatory avengers, combating bacteria, increasing enzyme activity for detox and digestion, oxygenating the blood, and aiding circulation. Push the entire stalk (ribs and all) through the juicer. Apple, lemon, lime, orange, pineapple, and grapes help to temper any bitterness.

The Health Benefits of Spinach Juice

Highly alkalizing, spinach contains nearly twice as much iron as any other green, and helps to build blood by helping red blood cells carry oxygen. It also helps strengthen all other cells, particularly those of the respiratory system and brain. Rich in chlorophyll and carotene, spinach can help reduce the development of abnormal cells and macular degeneration. Rounding things out, spinach also provides carotenoids, lutein, vitamins A, B complex, C, K, folic acid, iodine, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, sodium and manganese, and many amino acids.

This popular and readily available mild leafy vegetable serves as a great introductory green for juicing. While spinach is cooling, we include it in every seasons cleanse since it’s a versatile ingredient that pairs well with all fruits and vegetables.

The Health Benefits of Cucumber Juice

This vege-fruit truly is the ultimate cool-hydrate-cleanse food. It’s right in there regulating body temperature and easing inflammation. A relative of squashes and melons, the cuke is a natural diuretic (due to that abundant water), aiding in cell hydration, waste removal, and dissolving kidney stones. Cucumber’s high silica content is great for the skin, and helps alleviate eczema, psoriasis, hair loss, and strengthen nails. The silica in cucumber also reduces the concentration of uric acid, which causes inflammation in the joints, muscles and tendons. A natural blood-pressure regulator, cucumber is high in vitamin A (mostly in the peel), B complex, C and folic acid, amino acids (methionine and tryptophan), potassium, sulfur, and natural chlorine. To take advantage of the nutrients in the skins, we always use the less-bitter-skinned English/Dutch variety. Any cucumber, though, goes well in our recipes.

We add cucumber to many juice blends as a way of adding mineral-rich water that’s way more beneficial than the plain filtered stuff. Cucumber juice is chock-full of nutrients, yet barely alters flavor. Cucumbers are intensely alkalizing, and a half (or whole) cucumber worked into a batch of juice offsets the acidic effects of high-sugar fruits and aids detox. Cucumber is our go-to base for sugar-free, alkaline juice blends, too. Make sure your cucumber is organic and hasn’t been embalmed in a coating of wax.

The Health Benefits of Apple Juice

Tasty, able to break down toxins, lower cholesterol, and enhance digestion, this fruit is a popular, versatile, and cost-effective go-to for juices. With phytonutrients, powerful antioxidants like quercetin, vitamin A (in the peel), vitamin C, and significant potassium, apple is a prime detox food that’s available year ‘round. As an aid to cleansing, apples’ high pectin content provides a great bowel regulator, able to slow the colon down or speed it up, as the body needs.

Apple is a cooling food, and we include it in juices to balance the bitterness of leafy greens and other vegetables. The sweet tang of apple blends with almost all fruits and vegetables; our preferred variety is Granny Smith, which has a tarter flavor and lower sugar content than common reds like Fuji, Delicious, and Honeycrisp. That said, this fruit is versatile, and our recipes work with any apple you have on hand.

We recommend coring apples before juicing, as the jury is still out as to whether the bit of cyanide occurring naturally in the seeds is detrimental to health.

The Health Benefits of Lime Juice

This alkalizing tart tamer is a potent detoxifier and natural antibiotic that improves liver function, relieves constipation, and can help dissolve kidney and gall stones. High levels of vitamin C help boost immunity and alleviate symptoms of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as combat heart disease. Limes provide calcium and magnesium for strong bones and teeth, along with unique compounds that have powerful antioxidant properties. The flavonoids in limes have even been shown to halt abnormal cell division.

While limes are cooling, this superstar can be balanced with warming foods like cayenne and fennel. We use limes in lots of juice blends to lift the earthy and pungent quality of leafy greens and vegetables, add zip and tang, and balance the acidifying impacts of high-sugar fruits. You may want to remove the rinds of these fruits before juicing, as in substantial quantities they’re slightly toxic, or you may enjoy the zesty punch it adds—a good compromise is a bit of the peel along with the flesh.

The Health Benefits of Basil Juice

With potent antioxidant and antibacterial properties, this magical herb offers powerful medicinal mojo along with incredible flavor. Fresh basil delivers a healthy dose of vitamin A, blood-clotting vitamin K, manganese, and magnesium. Particularly beneficial for easing inflammation, it helps out with rheumatoid arthritis and bowel conditions.

Basil pairs well with watermelon, honeydew melon, strawberries, raspberries, and of course, tomato. A little basil juice goes a long way, so start small, and add to taste.

Other Collard Green Juice Recipes For You

Mint Kiwi Grape Collard Greens Juice

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Apple, Basil, Collard Green Juice

This apple, basil, collard green juice from The Decadent Detox 3-Day Juice Cleanse is loaded with chlorophyll and minerals for healthy blood and cells. 

Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 1 16-ounce glass
Author Tess Masters

Ingredients

  • 1 large collard leaf  (or 3 leaves romaine)
  • 3 handfuls baby spinach
  • 1 handful fresh basil (or fresh mint)
  • 1/2 English cucumber
  • 1/2 green apple
  • 1 lime,  rind removed
  • 1/2 cup filtered water
  • Pinch of Celtic sea salt

Instructions

  1. Push the collard, spinach, basil, cucumber, apple, lime, and water through your juicer.
  2. Strain any pulp, and stir in the salt.

Recipe Notes

Recipe from The Decadent Detox 3-Day Juice Cleanse.
Photo by Trent Lanz; styling by Alicia Buszczak