@KaraRosen: Juices in pregnancy -part 1
#1. You’re tired
Stress buster
With a base of kiwi fruit and orange, it tastes more fruit than veg, but don’t be fooled – 2 cups each of chard and celery sneak in a ‘salad’ to create a nutritionally dense powerhouse.
The high levels of vitamin C in the oranges and kiwi fruit help regulate cortisol levels (the hormone produced by the adrenals when stressed).
Finally, the celery contains a category of phytonutrients called phthalides, which can have a sedative effect on the body.
If you are stressed and find yourself reaching for sweets or another unhealthy comfort food, try this juice first – it’s healthier and the after-effects will help rather than exacerbate the issue at hand.
2 cups chard | 2 celery sticks | 3 kiwi fruit (peeled) | 2 oranges (peeled)
#2. You’re having trouble sleeping
Mellow garden
Adding fresh herbs to your juices is a great trick for making even the most hardcore green juices super tasty and they are an excellent source of vitamin K and antioxidants.
Try replacing an afternoon or late-night after-dinner coffee with this juice (with a splash of cherry juice) for a blissful night’s sleep.
5 cups spinach | 4 cups Cos lettuce leaves | 5 cups kale | 3 cups broccoli pieces (florets and stems) | 1 cup parsley | 1 cup basil | 8 tbsp fresh lemon juice
#3. Your sex drive is low
Snake charmer
This recipe has been specially devised to help lift a flagging libido, and with the mix of watermelon and pomegranate, you’ll find yourself transported in your mind to a terrace in Marrakesh.
But be warned – even though it was created to, um, inspire your inner tiger, it’s also wildly delicious, so be careful who you make it for!
2 celery sticks | 2 cups spinach | seeds of 1 pomegranate |1½ cups watermelon (skinned, deseeded and chopped)
Kara Rosen is the author of Plenish
published by Hachette Australia (RRP $24.99)