My Favorite Liver Friendly Juice
In my journey of healing, one stable that consistently makes me feel good is fresh green juice. Whenever I am feeling out of balance, bloated or yuck it is usually because this habit has fallen out of place.
Juicing can get expensive and with some experimentation I’ve figured out a basic juice that I like. The ingredients are usually available and are relatively inexpensive.
I highly, highly recommend buying organic as all of these ingredients grown conventionally are sprayed heavily with pesticides — no thank you 🙂
My go-to juice is made up of four ingredients — all of which are good for the liver — yay! Here there are…
- Organic Cucumber
- Organic Romaine Lettuce
- Organic Parsley
- Organic Carrots or Green Apple
That’s it 🙂
The amounts I use are:
- a full cucumber
- 5-6 leaves of romaine lettuce
- a good size handful of parsley
- 2-4 carrots or one green apple
When I juice I make enough for a glass for myself and my husband. (Yes he loves it too). So if you are just making juice for yourself then cut my measurements above in half — though I would still keep the full cucumber.
The carrots make it somewhat sweet, so if you have blood sugar issues I’d keep them to a minimum or remove them. (If you make your own juice concoction it’s best to keep more sugary items to less than a third. Green apple is another good, neutral fruit to include).
It is best to drink this juice at least a half hour before meals or else it could cause some bloating. Also to prevent a build up of gas in the intestinal track it is a good idea to literally “chew” your juice — at least swish it around in the mouth before swallowing. (This stimulates the digestive process).
If you are new to juicing I suggest making an even smaller amount and diluting with half water. Juice is very detoxifying so best to take it slow at first 🙂
What Goodness is in this Juice?
This juice is filled with B vitamins — good for your brain and your mood 🙂
It is also full of vitamin C — a protector of the nervous and immune system — a definite necessity for healing endo.
It contains folate which is key in the development of red blood cells — which deliver oxygen throughout the body. It can also reduce depression, as it helps serotonin production.
This juice contains magnesium and calcium. Magnesium is a calming, muscle relaxant (great for cramps). Both of these components help reduce inflammation causing hormones. It also contains potassium which also aids in controlling muscle contractions.
This juice is filled with immune boosting antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents that normalize the synthesis of hormones. This combination of goodness will help the bladder, liver and pancreas 🙂
Cucumbers are 95% water so they help keep the body hydrated and help release toxins. Cucumbers contain elements that bind to bad bacteria in the gut and convert them to enteroliganans to release excess estrogens — very good for endo 🙂
Carrots improve bile flow so that the liver performs better and digestion is aided. The combination of carrots and cucumber is said to relieve arthritis pain by lowering uric acid levels in joints. (Bonus for my knees and hips).
Romaine lettuce is rich in chlorophyll which energizes the body and rebuilds the blood. It is also very hydrating.
Parsley is said to aid in the rejuvenation of the adrenal glands and is a great diuretic — which promotes the release of toxins through the kidneys.
On the Positive Side?
This liquid goodness sends a shot of healing vitamins into the blood stream. For me, this translates into more energy and better bowel movements — yes I said it 🙂
I have a relatively inexpensive Breville juicer that my mother-in-law gifted us a couple of years ago. If you don’t have much to spend, you maybe able to find a used one online at craig’s list or the like.
With my Breville I’ve gotten the whole process down to about 15 minutes from rinsing the veggies, juicing and cleaning the machine. I admit that the whole process can be somewhat cumbersome, and honestly keeps me away some days….
That being said, the process is absolutely worth it 🙂
I’ve noticed significant differences when I juice — like a burst of oxygen in my body. It awakens my cells and I believe it to be a key part of my healing. It continues to support my liver — the ticket, I believe to healing endo.
Do you juice? Ready to try it out? The recipe I’ve included is pretty neutral tasting and great starter recipe. Why not give it a shot? Let me know if you like it 🙂
Much love,
Aubree.
