Juicing to Beat the Heat


A quick apology to those for whom Spring has yet to be sprung, but here in Los Angeles it is hot as hades. Between the heat outside and the lack of AC inside, I find my appetite wilting along with the flowers on my balcony. Fortunately, I find juicing to be both delicious and delightful to experiment with.  Today’s heat-beating concoction is a blend of pineapple, dandelion greens and parsley, making it a mini-moment of tropical tastes as well as a powerfully healthy beverage.

Pineapples are among my favorite fresh fruits, and I am pleased to announce that despite their sweet taste (aka high sugar content), they pack a hefty amount of nutrition. One serving of pineapple provides roughly 95% of your daily recommended allowance of Vitamin C, and are high in beta-carotene. The fruit is also linked to anti-inflammatory and digestive benefits, antioxidant protection and immune support, as well as improved circulation, heart health and breathing conditions. Pineapple may even aid improvement of certain inflammatory skin conditions such as acne, rosacea, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis. I have yet to see pineapples at a farmers market for obvious reasons, so this particular pineapple is store bought.

Dandelion Greens are lauded for their liver-friendly, anti-oxidant, detoxifying and diuretic properties. The two cups of dandelion greens added to this particular blend provide me with about 203% of my daily Vitamin A, 58% of my vitamin C, 17% of my iron, and (surprisingly) 20% of my calcium. They are also a great source of Vitamins K, E, B6, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Potassium, Manganese, Folate, Magnesium and Copper. Quite a feat for what is commonly considered a weed! As these greens tend to be somewhat bitter, pairing them with a sweet fruit like pineapple helps them go down (if I may)…in the most delightful way. I buy my dandelion greens at the farmers market.

Rounding out this refreshing drink is Parsley- a much loved and often overlooked herb that more than earns its place on our plates. Packed with Vitamins C, A, K, B6, and E as well as Calcium, Iron, Potassium, Manganese, Copper, Magnesium, Phosphorous and, well… you get the idea.  Parsley is also one of the highest sources of Chloropyll, which acts like iron in the bloody to oxidize the blood and clean the kidneys, liver, and urinary tract.  Praised by athletes as an “energy booster” and by garlic-lovers such as myself as a breath freshener, this little plant can help you detoxify your system in a myriad of ways. Parsley is widely available in both supermarkets and farmers markets, but I prefer to grow my own.

As palates differ, I recommend you experiment with ratios to find what best pleases you; for this juice I used 1 whole pineapple, 2 cups of dandelion greens, and ½ a cup of parsley.  From this I made 4 small glasses, or 2 large, of juice.

What juices help you stay cool in the heat?

To read more about the ingredients and their benefits, click through below:

Pineapple:

Bromelain_enzymes and inflammation

Superfood-pineapple

If you want to know more about the glycemic index of pineapples:

The glycemic index of pineapple

Dandelion Greens:

Dandelion_juice?

More dandelion_juice?

Parsley:

Parsley juice for kidney cleansing and liver detoxification

Health benefits of parsley

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