A Juice that Makes You Happy
By Claire Georgiou, Reboot Naturopath, B.HSc ND
If you’ve been feeling down lately or suffer from depression, the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a diet with high intakes of fruits and vegetables was associated with fewer depressive symptoms. The study contributed these results to a cumulative effort of the antioxidants in fruits and vegetables. Many studies indicate that more than 7 servings per day is the magic number that supports a happy mood. Here’s what I added to this juice to boost your mood and make you smile.
Dark Leafy Greens: Folate found in leafy greens helps minimize homocysteine levels which are correlated to depression and poor mood. Eating plentiful folate-rich foods may have an antidepressant effect.
Citrus: Flavonoids found in citrus fruits have a mild anti-depressant activity.
Beets: Beets and their leaves contain tyrosine and B vitamins to support dopamine and serotonin production.
Turmeric: In a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study with a major depressive disorder, turmeric was found to be effective at improving several mood-related symptoms.
Ingredients
- 4 chard (silverbeet) leaves and stems
- 1 cup (30 g) spinach
- 1 large beet (beetroot) and leaves
- 2 oranges
- 1 lemon
- 1 inch (2.5 cm) piece of turmeric
Directions
- Wash and scrub all produce well.
- Peel the beet, oranges and lemon.
- Add all ingredients through juicer and enjoy!
Servings: 1
Serving Size: 16 - 18 oz (500 ml)
Substitutions
- Chard (silverbeet) – kale, spinach, lettuce, watercress, arugula
- Spinach – kale, chard, lettuce, watercress, arugula
- Beets – golden beets, radish, carrots
- Orange –grapefruit, orange, mandarin
- Lemon – grapefruit, lime
- Turmeric – mint, ginger