Instant pick-me-up

It's almost the holidays and people might be getting tired, stressed and anxious, so how about an instant pick-me-up in the form of a detoxifying juice to help beat the holiday blues?

Sometimes we don't have time or the appetite to eat all the healthy vegetables and fruits, so freshly made juices can be a brilliant addition to a healthy diet.

Beetroots, carrots and pineapples are excellent ingredients for a quick pick-me-up juice, and they are all packed full of nutrients and deliciousness.

Beetroots are a good source of vitamins and minerals, such as folate, manganese, iron, vitamin C, boron, silica and potassium. Furthermore, they are high in several beneficial plant compounds, mainly betaine, vulgaxanthin and inorganic nitrates (which are associated with reduced blood pressure). Not only can beetroots lower blood pressure, they can also improve oxygen use, stamina and exercise performance. Beetroots are also high in fibre, which is a good thing, but please note that they also have FODMAPs, which for some can cause digestive problems.

Carrots are also packed full of nutrients and are a good source of beta carotene, vitamin K1, fibre, potassium and antioxidants. Carrots have many health benefits and they have been linked to weight loss, lowered cholesterol and improved eye health.

Then we have pineapples - an ubebu favourite! They are also loaded with nutrients and vitamins, such as vitamin C, manganese, copper and vitamin B6. Additionally, they contain disease-fighting antioxidants and they have been found to ease digestion and arthritis and boost immunity.

Freshly made beetroot, pineapple and carrot juice. Yummy!

Beetroot, pineapple and carrot juice

Here's a simple and tasty recipe for fresh beetroot, pineapple and carrot juice. It provides 1 serving.

Ingredients:

• 1 beetroot, peeled

• 2 carrots, roughly peeled

• 1 cup pineapple

• 1 lemon (can be omitted)

Directions:

1. Cut the vegetables and fruit into small enough pieces to fit in your juicer (see note).

2. If using the lemon, remove visible seeds from it but keep the peel on for extra tanginess.

3. Slowly add the ingredients to the juicer, one by one, until you've juiced everything.

4. Enjoy!

Notes:

Ideally you will need a juicer to make this recipe, but you could use a blender for this and strain the blended ingredients through a clean cloth or a juice strainer.

You might want to add ice to the juice or keep the ingredients refrigerated before juicing for an even cooler and more refreshing drink.

When consuming beets, remember that they can turn your urine and stools pink!

Bon appetit!