JUCING VS SMOOTHIES WITH NOURISHING ESSENTIAL OILS

Its’ that time of the year to cleanse and strengthen our bodies.  Whether you want to juice or enjoy  a  smoothie, essential oils can be a beneficial part of your ingredients.

I enjoy making fresh juice, the aroma and the taste is a wonderful way to start your day.  My favorite is apple, pear and carrot.  Add a drop of lemon essential oil.  It’s simple and better than anything you can buy and you know exacting what you are consuming.

Freshly pressed juices are ideal for hydration, cleansing, cellular repair and a good way add in nutrients to your diet.  With juicing your body does not have to work as hard to garner the nutrients because your digestive system doesn’t have to break down the fiber.

A great spring detox juice:  (Recipe by Jenni Hulburt)

3 stalks kale

2 stalks celery

1 lime

1 apple

1 cucumber

1 drop cilantro essential oil

combine all the ingredients, except the essential oil in a juice.  Juice and add essential oil last to taste.

Smoothies include fiber since you are using the entire fruit and/or vegetable in your blend.  Smoothies can be enjoyed as a meal or a nutritious snack.

Flavoring juices and smoothies with essential oil is not only tasty, but using therapeutic essential oils can be a great addition to your healthy lifestyle.

My favorite smoothie:

1 frozen peeled banana (keeps your smoothie cold and doesn’t water it down)

1/2 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries

1/2 cup of spinach or kale

1/2 cup of ice cubes

cinnamon or lemon therapeutic essential oil

Blend in the blender until smooth. Dip the end of a toothpick in your essential oil and swirl in your smoothie.  This is a great way to get your fruits and vegetables when you are in a time crunch or want a nice nutritious snack on a hot afternoon.

To save time when making your smoothie ingredients; wash and prepare your fruits and vegetable before you store them.  Choose your recipe, cut up your fruits and vegetables  and freeze them in individual sandwich bags or a container of your choice.  You can also prepare any mixture of dry ingredients that you want to add; chia seeds, flax seeds, organic coconut  or protein powder.  By preparing your kits ahead of time, it will ensure that you keep on your healthy path and not grab that sugar laden donut.

Here are some of the common essential oils used in juices and smoothies, along with their benefits:

Cinnamon helps warm the body as well as uplifting your mood, supporting your digestive health and your immunity.

Cilantro provides antioxidants, aids in digestion, soothes the skin and promotes detoxification.

Ginger  aids with indigestion and occasional nausea, it also eases congestion.

Grapefruit Supports weight loss, boosts your metabolism and helps reduce food cravings.

Lemon stimulates cleansing and promotes lymphatic flow, provides respiratory supports and uplifts your mood.

Lime provides antioxidants for healthy immune function; stimulates and uplifts mood.

Peppermint soothes digestive issues, has a cooling sensation for fresh breath and helps open airways.

Wild orange stimulates the lymphatic system, energizes and uplifts the nerves and digestive issue

You can find this information and other recipes in the Doterra Living  magazine Spring 2015.  Also, follow me on Pinterest at miksgirl.

Disclaimer:   I am not a doctor or health practitioner.  If you need medical advise, consult your physician.  Any essential oil information has not been authorized by the FDA