Summer Games Inspired Sports Juice – Recipe Of The Week

The Summer Olympics are inspiring people around the world to get up and get active! Even the most novice athletes could benefit from a nutrient rich, refreshing juice to fuel their workout. Many electrolyte enhancement drinks are full of sugar and artificial colors and other processed ingredients. This juice is 100% naturally packed with electrolytes potassium, magnesium and sodium, plus antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti bacterial compounds to help keep your muscles and immune system healthy and strong.

A study conducted in the UK, site of the 2012 Summer Olympics, found that that drinking beet juice can help to lower blood pressure and improve oxygen utilization during exercise, attributed to its natural source of nitrates. This week’s veggie-heavy juice also packs more natural nitrates with Swiss chard.

Ingredients:

2 beets (beetroot)
2 carrots
3 stalks celery
¼ lemon (peeled)
1 orange (peeled)
1 handful basil leaves
6 leaves Swiss chard

Directions:
- Wash all produce well
- Peel lemon and orange
- Cut ends off beets
- Stuff basil into orange
- Juice

- Pour over ice
Enjoy!



Preparation time: 10 minutes
Makes 1 serving, 16 oz (480 mL)

Substitutions:
Beets – golden beets, red/purple cabbage, radish, grapefruit, tomato, blackberries
Carrots – sweet potato, cantaloupe
Celery – cucumber, zucchini (courgette), fennel
Lemon – lime, ginger
Orange- kiwifruit, Clementine, grapefruit
Basil – mint, cilantro, parsley