Feeling like your usual kickass self in January is, admittedly, a little bit harder compared to the rest of the year…am I right? The cold weather coupled with dark mornings, afternoons and nights tend to have a draining effect and can sometimes wipe the sass from your step completely! Not to mention the sluggish post-Christmas slump. Eek!
Lately, I wrote about making this year AMAZING, and part of that was loving yourself a little more - and that includes the inside too! I am no health food guru - and most people who know me know just how much I love sugary treats - but even I know that a little of what’s good for you goes a long way.
Last year, I started experimenting with juicing (a little late to the party, but still excited to be there!) after picking up our Nutribullet blender. This gave me the perfect opportunity to start including more variety into my diet and experiment with food that I wouldn’t normally eat by flinging it into endless concoctions of juices and shakes. Talk about opening a feel-good floodgate!
Today, I’m sharing a super easy, healthy juice recipe that I hope helps shake off some of those January blues and give a little boost where you need it most - I’m talking mind, body AND soul, guys! I call it my Va-Va-Voom Juice and here’s how it’s done…
You will need: one stalk of celery, one third of a cucumber, the juice of one lime, one Granny Smith apple, two to three cups of kale, one cup of blueberries (it would almost be a green juice if it wasn’t for those blueberries!) and one cup of water. You’ll also need a blender or juicer - I use the Nutribullet but there are PLENTY of options out there!
The reason why I’ve selected these ingredients? Where do I begin? Kale is nicknamed the ‘queen of greens’ and is ridiculously good for you! It’s loaded with nutrients and fibre - great for detoxing and boosting your immune system (making it the perfect January vegetable or what?). Green apples are higher in potassium than other apples and have plenty of minerals like calcium and iron. They also help stabilise blood sugar - hands up if you hate the mid-morning crash?!
Cucumber rehydrates the body, promotes joint health and even stimulates hair growth (talk about a triple threat!). I toss in some celery because the minerals found in this vegetable actually soothe the nervous system, encouraging a feeling of calm (aaaah…). It’s also full of vitamin A which helps aid eyesight. A squeeze of lime adds more vitamin C, rejuvenates the skin and cleanses the immune system. Finally, blueberries (my favourite fruit!) are jam-packed with antioxidants, they soften dry skin and studies have shown that these little guys boost your brain health as well! Phew!
The method: wash your ingredients and core the apple. Chop up the celery, cucumber, apple and kale (you only need to do this roughly, the blender will do the rest!). Throw the apple, celery, kale, cucumber, blueberries and water into the blender and squeeze in your lime juice. Blitz the ingredients until smooth (the length of time will vary depending on your juicer or blender!).
Pour your juice into a glass or cup and enjoy right away!
Was that easy or what? I hope you’ve enjoyed my recipe and might give it a try next time you need a little Va-Va-Voom kick!
Cheers!
Miss West End Girl x
PS: This post is in no way sponsored by Nutribullet (I would make it clear if it was!), I bought mine with my own pennies and just genuinely love it!
This sounds delicious and healthy but omg your headband is sooo cute!