Relieve Everyday Complaints with Juice Add-Ins

I love the famous Hippocrates quote “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” And that’s part of the reason we love juice: By tweaking ingredients, you can actually fine-tune micronutrients to help relieve some common, everyday complaints.

So let’s talk juice additions: specific ingredients for specific issues can be incorporated easily into your favorite juice recipes and blends. Here are my recommendations for some common issues that happen to all of us at some point.

Upset Stomach, IBS

Ginger is known as a tummy-soother, and it’s a great add-in to your juice if you’re not feeling 100%. Ginger has been shown in some studies to ease morning sickness, and ease some of chemotherapy’s side effects in cancer patients.

If you suffer from IBS (Irritable bowel syndrome), the oils in peppermint have been found to ease discomfort. Lemon is another beneficial addition to your juice, as it can stimulate the flow of bile and ease digestion.

Cabbage is another add-in to try, but it seems to work better for some than others (it can make some people gassy).

Celery contains compounds that can help protect the stomach lining, so it can reduce inflammation and help calm an upset stomach.

Recipes to try: Carrot Apple Ginger Juice, Green Cabbage Tummy Soother, Mint Julep Low-Sugar Lime Juice, Pear Lemon Ginger Juice, A Green Grapefruit Crush Juice

Congestion, Cold

If you’re feeling stuffed up due to a cold or allergy, Try adding cayenne pepper to your juice (it’s especially nice in carrot juice). Cayenne can help open your nasal passages and reduce mucus.

Ginger and mint can also act as natural decongestants, helping drain mucus so you can breathe easier.

Recipes to try: Red Hot Juice, Green Ginger Ale, Minty Pineapple Juice

Constipation, Bloating

I recommend parsley if you’re feeling bloated or constipated, as it can reduce fluid retention.

And Beets are a great juice add-in if your bowels aren’t moving as well as they should. They might make your toilet look pink, but don’t worry—that’s normal!

Recipes to try: Pucker-Up Parsley Juice, A Sunny Citrus Beet Juice

Muscle Soreness, Arthritis

Ginger, again, is a good choice. It’s been shown to reduce exercise-induced muscle soreness, as well as reduce pain an inflammation associated with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

I also like turmeric for it’s pain-relieving properties. It’s been studied for its ability to relieve pain from arthritis inflammation.

Recipes to try: Low Sugar Lemon-Ginger Green Juice, Orange Turmeric Juice