The Healthy Chef – Teresa Cutter

Well the Tour de France is well on it’s way and I ‘ve designed the perfect immune boosting tonic to help any athlete recover.

You can find these power packed  purple carrots at your local grocer or farmers market these days and they taste amazing !  If you can’t find them, just ask your green grocer to get you some.  I’ve combined them with a little citrus which makes it extra delicious and you can choose to make my recipe as a juice or blended as a smoothie if you want a thicker, fibre rich drink.

What’s good about it:

Purple carrots are high in antioxidants called anthocyanins – responsible for the purple-red pigment they  produce. Anthocyanins, phenolic acids and carotenoids are the predominant phytochemicals present in purple carrots. A study from the university of Queensland found that these phytochemicals could be useful in treatment of the metabolic syndrome,  hypertension and insulin resistance.  A little ginger added to the juice is great for stimulating your circulation to help remove toxins as well as having antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. The orange works as the perfect electrolyte, as is packed with potassium to help maintain fluid balance.  The carbs will help restore muscle and liver glycogen for a quick recovery and the best thing is, this drink tastes awesome ! Enjoy.

Recipe for juice

2 purple carrots
2 oranges / or blood oranges
1/2 lemon
small piece ginger
small sprig mint

Place all the ingredients through a juicer.
Drink immediately and enjoy.
Serves 1

Nutrition:
Protein: 4 g
Carbs: 29.5 g
Total fat: 0.4 g
Saturated: 0
Calories: 140
Kilojoules: 586

NB for a smoothie blend

1 purple carrot, chopped
2 whole oranges, peeled
1/2 lemon, peeled
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
few leaves mint
1/2 cup apple juice / water / coconut water
handful ice

Combine all the ingredients into a Vitamix and blend until smooth.
Drink immediately and enjoy.

Additions: Add 1/2 cup frozen blueberries in place of the ice and blend.

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