VITAMIN – C JUICES : POWER PACK BENEFITS TO EXPLORE!

By: Dr. Kaviraj Khialani- Celebrity Master Chef.

Vitamin-C, also popularly known as Ascorbic acid, which is very much necessary for the growth, development and repair of our body tissues. Vitamin C is also an anti-oxidant, it promotes healing and helps body absorb iron.

It comes from fruits and select vegetables. Some of the good sources of Vitamin- C include citrus fruits, red and green peppers, tomatoes, broccoli and our famous greens.

Vitamin- C is one of the safest and most effective nutrients as per most food and nutrition experts. It is always beneficial to know more about what we eat and consume in our daily diets and that little awareness can take us a long way towards living a healthy lifestyle.

“Vitamin C as we are aware is quint essential to be included in our diets and taken advantage of through wise and mindful eating. I have somehow related the C – factor to CARE- Collect- Adapt- Rejuvenate- Explore, which truly is the essence of a healthy lifestyle”- chef kaviraj Khialani, Celebrity Master Chef.

Top 10 Vitamin- C Rich Sources:

1. Oranges.
2. Strawberry
3. Kiwi fruit
4. Spinach
5. Broccoli
6. Red capsicum
7. Lime and Lemon
8. Guava
9. Tomatoes
10. Papaya

Here are 5 Health Benefits of Tomato Juice:

1] TOMATINO AL FRESCO JUICE

Ingredients:

• Tomatoes- red and ripe- 4-5 no.
• Ginger- 1 tsp chopped
• Lime juice- 2 tsp
• Salt- 1 pinch
• Celery- 1 stalk roughly cut
• Honey-1 tsp
• Mint leaves- 8-10 no
• Carrot- 1 small, peeled and cut
• Black pepper powder-1/4 tsp
• Coriander leaves-2 tsp chopped

Method:

HERE ARE 5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF PINEAPPLE JUICE:

1. Pineapple juice helps lower cholesterol levels in our body.
2. it is beneficial as an immunity booster and good for bone health.
3. pineapple juice is beneficial in reducing arthritis pain, improves digestion.
4. it improves blood circulation and promotes heart health, provides good carbs.
5. pineapple juice is also good for a weight loss program, keeps gums strong.

RECIPE USING PINEAPPLE JUICE :

2] PINA MINA COOLER

Ingredients

• Fresh pineapple- 6- 8 slices, cleaned, cubed.
• Mint leaves- 10-12 no
• Lime juice- 2-3 tsp
• Honey- 1 tsp
• Ginger juice- 2 tsp
• Orange juice- ½ cup fresh/ orange segments- 2 oranges
• Water-1/2 cup
• Ice cubes- 3-4 no if needed

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the pineapple juice recipe.
2. In a blender jar combine together all the ingredients and churn them all into a nice smooth juice.
3. Strain the mixture through a soup strainer/ fine sieve/muslin cloth and add a little crushed ice/ cold water if desired to balance the juice.
4. Serve it in tall glasses, add some fresh mint/ basil or herbs of your choice to the juice as well for added flavor and freshness.

HERE ARE 5 HEALTH BENEFITS OF KIWI JUICE :

1. Kiwi juice offers our body with beneficial digestive enzymes.
2. Kiwi is a great immunity booster as well for our body.
3. Kiwi juice is high in fiber and removes excess sodium from our body.
4. Kiwi is good for managing blood pressure and also protects our respiratory system.
5. Kiwi juice protects our cardiovascular system and is also good for eye health.

Recipe Using KIWI JUICE :

3] KIWI MAST KALANDAR

Ingredients:

• Fresh kiwi fruit- 2-3 no, peeled and cubed
• Green apple-1 no, cut into small cubes
• Lime juice-2 tsp
• Honey-1 tsp
• Mint leaves- 10-12 no
• Fresh basil- 4-5 leaves
• Ginger juice- 2 tsp
• Chia seeds-2 tsp soaked in ¼ cup water for 30 mins
• Pinch of salt
• Ice cubes-4-5 no/crushed ice/ chilled water as needed

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients for the healthy kiwi juice.
2. Using the jar of a food processor combine the ingredients into the jar except the chia seeds which we will add later in the glass.
3. Churn the mixture to a nice puree and remove into a bowl, do not strain this juice ideally but enjoy it with the rustic look.
4. Lastly add the soaked chia seeds and stir lightly, pour the mixture into glasses add a little cold water/crushed ice if desired and serve.
5. As an option for this juice I also like to use kale or spinach leaves in place of green apple. Another good source of vitamin c here is to use boiled/blanched Amla- Indian gooseberries with kiwi as a combination juice as well replacing green apple.