Although beets have the highest sugar content of all vegetables, it is packed with other nutrients that can improve your health in a variety of ways. Beets can lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation, and they also are loaded with Vitamin C, Potassium, and Fiber.
Other nutrient packed ingredients in this recipe are carrots, cucumbers, and tart cherry juice. This is one juice you can be happy about drinking with no guilt!
Now, here goes my semi-infomercial moment...
I recently made the financial decision to purchase a Vitamix. It literally took months of convincing from some family and friends. However, after a handful of failures trying to make green juice smoothies with my Nutri-bullet and Ninja, I decided to give the Vitamix a chance. How much better could it really be? I brought over the same exact ingredients that I had been trying to my brother's house, and attempted to make the same green smoothie in his Vitamix. The results were amazing! I couldn't believe the difference between the two. For the first time, I didn't have to chew my smoothie.
Deciding to purchase the Vitamix wasn't a cheap decision by any means, but so far it has been worth every penny. The Vitamix I purchased cost me $449. (Which actually is now available for $439!) Yes, you read that correctly, I paid $449 US dollars. Yes, for a blender...a freaking blender!
I know exactly what you are thinking...and the answers to all of these comments would be "No!"
"Is she stupid?"
No.
"It's just a blender."
No, no it is not.
"She must be out of her mind!"
No. (Well, that's debatable, but for other reasons.)
"My Nutri-bullet (insert other blender here) is fine."
Oh no it isn't!
I thought those same things about the people who tried to convince me as well. But, I can honestly say it is an AMAZING "blender." I say "blender" because this piece of equipment is not like any "blender" I have ever used in my life. This equipment is like a piece of food magic. Seriously, it is. It can juice, blend, and make hot soup. It can make ice cream and sorbet. It can make nut butters galore. It can puree, dice and chop veggies, and it can also ground coffee for crying out loud...what "blender" can do all of that? AND, what blender can do it all well!? None that I've ever used.
I've used my Vitamix at least once a day since I received it just about a month ago. I've only made soup, juices, and smoothies so far but, all with great success and no disappointments.
I make a green juice smoothies almost every day, although this morning I decided to try to make a beet juice smoothie instead since I had a bag full of beets from my local CSA share. I do like my green juice that I make every day, but man, this beet juice wowed me! By using the Vitamix, you get all the nutrients from everything included in the ingredients because you are adding the whole vegetable and fruit including seeds, skin, etc. And, it's not thick as you would expect from blending, it made actual juice!
One benefit to blending instead of juicing is that you get both insoluble and soluble fiber, which keep you sustained longer. A juicer will just extract the juice and leave behind the pulp removing the insoluble fiber. Here is a infographic of the benefits of juicing vs. blending.
Ingredients
1/4 cup filtered water
1 Tbs bottled lemon juice
1/2 large beet, unpeeled and cut into chunks
1 small carrot, unpeeled and cut into chunks
(or 4 or 5 bagged baby peeled carrots)
3" of an English Cucumber, unpeeled and cut into chunks
Directions:
Place ingredients in order listed into Vitamix.
Turn on Low for a few seconds, then switch to High.
Blend for about 45 seconds.
Enjoy!
Yield: 1 pint, or 1 serving.
This recipe is gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan
