EARLY MORNING REGIMEN II: CARROT & BEETROOT JUICE

This is one juice combination I have fallen in love with. After ordering it a number of times from a local smoothie store, I decided it was time to create this at home and save some money. More interestingly, I did this the traditional way without a juicer. It took me slightly longer to prepare, but in total I spent about 10 minutes. Before I share the recipe, here are some facts about Carrots and Beets.
Beetroots are high in immune-boosting vitamin C, fiber, and essential minerals like potassium (essential for healthy nerve and muscle function) and manganese (which is good for your bones, liver, kidneys, and pancreas). Beets also contain the B vitamin folate, which helps reduce the risk of birth defects. Betacyanin, the pigment that gives beetroot its colour, is also an antioxidant. Antioxidants are believed to help reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, in turn protecting artery walls and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. Because of its high fiber content, beetroot helps to prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract. Carrots are an excellent source of vitamin A. Carrots also contain fiber, vitamin K, potassium, folate, manganese, phosphorous, magnesium, vitamin E and zinc. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene which has been shown to promote eye health and protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. The antioxidants and phytochemicals in carrots may also help with blood sugar regulation, delay the effects of aging, and improve immune function.

Ingredient

2 large Carrots

1 beetroot

1 apple

1/4 of a ginger root (optional)

Preparation

Using a Juicer: Rinse off ingredients, chop up into smaller pieces as necessary, put into juicer. Pour into a glass and enjoy

Using a Blender: Chop up ingredients into small pieces, place into blender and blend until mixture is smooth. Get a bowl and sift. Pour mixture into the sift and allow liquid to drain. Squeeze mixture until all liquid is drained into the bowl. Pour into a glass and enjoy!

NUTRITIONAL/HEALTH BENEFITS OF PLANTAINS

P lantains are widely eaten in West Africa. Plantains are similar to bananas but larger in size. While bananas are termed fruits, plantains are vegetables. Bananas are mostly eating raw, while plantains are usually cooked before consumption. Plantains can be eaten unripe, ripen or over-ripe. When unripe, plantains are usually green in colour, when ripen, they turn yellow. In Nigeria, for example, unripe plantains are usually used to cook plantain porridge, ripe plantains are mostly fried and used as a supplement to main dishes like rice and beans. Over-ripe plantains are used to make snacks like plantain fritters.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF ZOBO/SORREL DRINK

z obo/sorrel was a must have during family gatherings. As children, we loved drinking it, not only because of how nice it tasted, but also because it coloured our lips and tongues red. Zobo (Nigerian) or Sorrel (Jamaican) is a red coloured drink made from a flower called Hibiscus sabdariffa. The sorrel plant contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, calcium, niacin, riboflavin and a group of compounds called flavonoids. Flavanoids not only gives the sorrel plant its deep red colour, but, are also rich in antioxidants which rids the body of toxins. The sorrel plant also contains nutraceleuticals, which are said to be helpful to the health. Nutraceleuticals can help prevent and treat several diseases including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF LIME AND HONEY

L ime and Honey are two must haves in my house. I use honey as a substitute for white sugar. I remember a friend of mine visited me once and she wanted to drink garri (drinking garri is local to Nigerians, i.e. eating dried cassava with cold water as opposed to hot water), she was astonished when I told her to use honey to sweeten her garri. I'm not a tea person, but my parents are, and a cup of tea for them is not complete without limes.

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