Health Series | DIY Lean & Green Juice Recipe

Now that Christmas is over, it's time to put down the tin of Roses (they're chocolates for those of you unfamiliar with the product!) and get your body back into shape! Something that I'm really getting into lately, are homemade juices. Shop bought juices can be dodgy as they often have extra bits thrown into them and often contain a ton of sugar. If you make your own juice, you can control exactly what goes into the drink so it is often a lot healthier. Today's juice is what I have called a "Lean & Green" juice drink. It's packed with fruits, veggies and tons of vitamins and antioxidants. Plus it tastes good!

Makes: 1 glass of juice

What You Need:

• 1 whole (green) apple
• 1/2 a cucumber 
• 3 kale leaves
• 1 cup of grapes (about 28)
• 1/2 cup of water

Method:

1. Core and chop up your apple.

2. Slice cucumber into thick slices.

3. Throw in all your ingredients into your juicer.

4. Taste your juice and add more of any of the ingredients you like including watering it down to taste.

5. Enjoy your yummy and healthy juice!

Health Benefits:

There's loads of brilliant benefits to this juice. Cucumber contains vitamin K, calcium and copper which helps with things such as blood clotting and boosting your immune system. Of course we know that 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' but did you know they also cleanse your liver and can prevent cancer? Flavonoids and phenolic acids are proven to prevent the development of cancerous tumour cells. Kale can also help prevent cancer, in particular cervical cancer. It also contains lots of vitamins and minerals including K, C, B, magnesium and calcium. Finally, grape juice is great for lowering cholesterol and surprisingly, it's also great for your brain. Apparently, it can help you retain knowledge better. I guess I'll be downing some grape juice before exams from now on!

The end product- add a slice of cucumber for extra style points!

As you can see, juicing has so many great health benefits. It's a really easy way to get in the majority of your 5 a day, in one glass! There are so many different juices, and if you like this one stay tuned for lots more healthy and delicious recipes soon. 

Just Do it

I know it can be annoying to see fitness and exercise plastered everywhere but sorry guys, I'm joining in. The thing is, fitness is actually really, really important. I'm not saying you need to become a mega gym bunny but getting your heart racing every now and then doesn't do any harm- your future self will thank you! Also guess what? Exercise doesn't have to be boring. I'm going to give you a few fun way to get fit. Their easy and also don't cost a fortune!

• Zumba

Zumba is a Latin dance type of exercise. If you have two left feet, don't be disheartened! Zumba doesn't require any previous dance experience and it is super easy to follow. It's honestly so much fun! Extra bonus- it burns a ton of calories (about 500 per hour). If typical workouts bore you, I would definitely recommend attending a Zumba class. There available everywhere and a quick google search will let you know of your closest Zumba class.

• Hike/Cycle with your friends!

I'm not gonna lie- I'm not really into hikes. However if you're in the right place with the right people, they can actually be pretty fun. Hiking in a beautiful area, makes you feel like you're not even exercising. Soak up your surroundings and it can become an experience! The same goes for a cycle. I prefer cycles because you can cover a lot more space very quickly in comparison to walking. 

To check out some trails see www.irishtrails.ie

• Wii Games

If you prefer to exercise from the comfort of your own home, then why not invest in some Wii games. There are so many games specifically designed for workouts. My personal favourite is Just Dance. It's super fun and doesn't even feel like your exercising. If boxing is more your thing try Punch-Out! Another great game is Active Life: Outdoor Challenge. You don't even have to leave your house so you have no excuse!

These are a few of my recommendations but my best advice is to do something you love! Joining a sports team is great if you love a particular sport, and it will also motivate you to go to your training sessions. I can promise you one thing- you will never regret doing a workout. You'll feel great and in turn, you'll look great!

Let me know your favourite ways to workout below!