Why should you trade in your cup(s) of coffee in the morning for a fresh green juice?
For the last few year coffee had become a morning ritual. If coffee was not consumed in the morning, I was sure I would not make it throughout the day.
Recently I cut caffeine and started drinking green juice in the morning and the outcome was amazing. I felt more energized throughout the day, my thoughts we clearer, and there was no “coming-down” effect that you experience once the caffeine wears off.
After doing some research online I stumbled across this great blog (www.shelivesclean.com) and she too had lots to say about this same topic:
YES TO GREEN JUICE
Natural energizer — green juice is loaded with phytonutrients and vitamins/minerals like calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorous, B vitamins and vitamin C that our cells (all 100 trillion of them) scoop up and use to form ATP (our energy source).
The ATP factory of the cell called the mitochondria is found in large numbers in the brain so green juice is literally fuel for the brain helping you feel sharp and alert. Plus, chlorophyll is blood cleansing and detoxifying thus helping rid the body of toxins, which further boosts energy and alertness.
Alkalizing — As victims of SAD (Standard American Diet), we all tend to be quite acidic. As mentioned above, green juice is packed with alkalizing minerals like calcium, magnesium and zinc, which promote an alkaline ash in our blood.
Why is being slightly more alkaline so important? When your body is in an acidic state (via processed, refined food intake/SAD, smoking, alcohol, caffeine etc), disease thrives, bones weaken, fatigue ensues etc. When you fuel your body with green leafy vegetables your blood skews towards a slightly alkaline state, which is key to good health and feeling energized and vibrant.
Enzyme-rich — Enzymes are these tiny factory workers aka catalysts that are involved in almost every metabolic process in your body — the second food enters your mouth to when its converted to energy — enzymes are there helping break things down and build them back up. Raw foods are loaded with enzymes and of course, green juice is too!
Disease prevention — The nutrients retained in green juice are easier to absorb than from the whole fruit or vegetable and thus can help protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer and various inflammatory diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, green juice has been shown to be one of the best treatments for cancer and cancer prevention.
Plant chemicals called flavonoids and anthocyanins are abundant in a variety of fruits and vegetables and guard against oxidative cellular damage, which comes from everyday cellular maintenance and is exacerbated by exposure to chemicals and pollution.