Healthy homemade juices to boost your immunity during pandemic

Pineapples and carrots are nutritious, and can be considered a base for juices, making up about 7 out 10 parts of the ingredient. Fruit juice was once viewed as part of a healthy diet, but today it is often seen as supplying little more than a high dose of sugar. Increasingly, fruit juices are seen as junk foods, and consumption is falling. But fruit juice should not be cut from our diets. Major reasons for not consuming fruit are that it involves effort and it is often inconvenient. But fruit juice avoids the problems of intact fruit while providing the same range of health-promoting chemicals. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

Boerhaavia Diffusa is a species of flowering plant in the four o’clock family which is commonly known as punarnava (meaning that which rejuvenates or renews the body in Ayurveda), red spiderling, spreading hogweed, or tarvine. It is taken in herbal medicine for pain relief and other uses. The leaves of Boerhaavia Diffusa are often used as a green vegetable in many parts of India. Having anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties, Boerhavia diffusa (Punarnava) is said to be a good cure for Amavata (a disease in which reduction of Vata Dosha and accumulation of Ama take place in joint(s), and simulates rheumatoid arthritis (RA)). (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

Perilla leaf is a type of aromatic traditional Asian herb that originated as a wild specie of the mint family. Scientists has found that extracts of perilla leaf have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant properties. Besides, perilla leaves are rich in dietary fiber and minerals such as calcium, iron, niacin, protein, and thiamine. And in terms of minerals it is rich of vitamin A, vitamin C and riboflavin. Nonetheless it is also widely applicable as a herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and is useful for the cold, bloating, stomach aches, and lung problems. Although its texture is a little fuzzy, these leaves are soft and tender. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

Coconut flesh or copra contains fats belonging to the lipid group, which is like a conduit for the body to absorb other nutrients from the juice. Coconut is the fruit of the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). It’s used for its water, milk, oil, and tasty meat. Coconuts have been grown in tropical regions for more than 4,500 years but recently increased in popularity for their flavor, culinary uses, and potential health benefits. The raw white meat inside a coconut is referred to as the kernel. It has a firm texture and delicious, slightly sweet flavor. If you have a whole coconut, you can scrape the raw meat out of the shell and eat it. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

From these ingredients, we can make 1.5-2 litres of juice. Most of us have heard we should be eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Yet several surveys have shown that few people meet this target. Research has shown that drinking pure juice can be good for us. The Food4Me study, funded by the European Commission, revealed that lower weight was associated with a greater intake of fruits, vegetables and fruit juice. While a national nutritional survey in the US found that adults who drink pure juice were at a lower risk of obesity and had better insulin sensitivity. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

Slow Juicers operate via crushing the fruit/vegetables into juice. The slow juicers produce more pulp thus giving slightly more nutrient content in the juice and do not produce as much heat as a fast juicer due to its slow operation. Slow Juicers offer various advantages that a fast juicer can’t compete on. The biggest advantage of a slow juicer is its ability to process leafy greens like mint, kale, sprouts, wheat grass, and other herbs. The slow crushing action helps extract the maximum nutrients from the vegetables, fruits and leafy greens input into the machine. Some claim that the cold press juicer offers a higher quality juice due to its pulp, and extra nutrients. The slow juicer is much quieter than its fast juicing counterpart. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

In the photo: Carrot juice. As much as we love to eat carrots, it is said that the best way of having this veggie is in its raw form. So apart from tossing it into your salads, enjoy its natural goodness by juicing it up. A glass of carrot juice every morning can take you a long way towards good health. Vitamin A plays an important role in eyesight. Red-orange coloured foods such as carrots, pumpkins and melons contain a pigment known as beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A when consumed by the body. This then helps in maintaining good eyesight apart from other health benefiting properties. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

Having a glass of fresh juice every morning helps in detoxifying your body. If you do not have a fruit everyday, the easiest alternative is to make fresh juice a part of your diet. However, you must stay away from those packaged fruit juices by all means. A glass of fresh juice contains all the enzymes, minerals and vitamins that are easily absorbed in your body. The regular intake of fresh fruit juice keeps you away from ailments. You can start by drinking a glass of fresh juice every morning to see the difference in your weight. Besides weight loss, fruit juice strengthens your immune system, aids digestion and prevents allergies & ailments from entering your system. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

Eating raw fruits and vegetables are beneficial over juices. However, juices have an advantage of providing water to your body and keeping it hydrated. Every juice comes with a certain health benefit and adds value to your system. If you are feeling hydrated, you can have a glass of celery juice. If you are feeling exhausted after a long day at work, you can have a glass of ginger or lemon juice as it restores the energy levels of your body. The best part about fruit juices is that your body easily digests liquid and instantly provides the nutritional value. Fruit juices detoxify your body and naturally flush out the toxins from your body which results in weight loss. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)