Juice up your d
Fresh juice can be the key to better health
By Britta Florman, Jayplaywriter
Feel like you're coming down with a cold? Need an energy boost? Fresh juices made from fruits and vegetables can help power up your tired, overworked self this winter. By juicing different combinations of fruits, vegetables and herbs such as carrots, apples, beets, cucumber, celery, spinach, garlic and parsley, you can create the perfect drink to help you feel better and build up your immune system.
A Scientific Explanation.
Fresh juice can provide health benefits like no other drink. Although bottled juices can have nutritional value, these pre-made drinks lack the thriving enzymes present in fresh juice. Removed from their food counterpart, enzymes have a different effect on the body.
Hal Sears, wellness manager at the Community Mercantile explains that enzymes function to aide digestion and eliminate waste and free radicals, which are unstable molecules that can cause cancer. When they are consumed with the vitamins and minerals of the fruit and vegetable juices, the body quickly absorbs the nutrients, and enzymes work to eliminate pre-existing waste.
Does this sound confusing? Basically, when you drink fresh juice, your body quickly absorbs the nutrients of the raw fruit or vegetable, requiring almost no effort by the digestive system. This advantage of drinking fresh juice is receiving all of the nutritional benefits of vegetables
A Real-Life Juicer
Lawrence sophomore Melissa Brewer attributes her interest in juicing to her father.
"My dad's a health nut," she says.
Brewer's father taught her well; she lists some of the wide-ranging benefits of fresh juice. It provides vitamins, antioxidants and is good for the hair, skin and nails, Brewer says.
No Juicer, No Problem
Since most of us don't own a juice, the Juice Step and the Community Mercantile (the Merc) both offer fresh-made juices to order. Brewer says carrot, apple and parsley comprise her favorite juice combination, which is available at both juice shops. The important antioxidant vitamin C in apples helps maintain healthy skin and bones, boosts the immune system and helps the body utilize the iron in parsley, which is also detoxifying.
The Juice Stop also offers earthy-tasting wheatgrass shots. A 1-ounce shot of wheatgrass juice is nutritionally equivalent to 2 1/2 pounds of raw vegetables. A wheatgrass shot is a quick way to energize you; it helps detoxify and regenerate the liver and blood.
If the wheatgrass is too extreme for your palate, vegetable and fruit juice may be better for you. The Juice Stop and the Merc both have menus suggesting different drink combinations. Try one of those,
or create your own mix of yummy, healthy vegetables and/or fruits.
These ingredients, when juiced, can provide the following benefits:
Beets stimulate the liver and help cleanse the digestive system.
Oranges and apples are packed with the antioxidant vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system and rid the body of free radicals.
Celery can help purify the blood, kidneys and bladder.
Cucumber is cooling to the body and is a mild diuretic.
Garlic has antiviral and antibacterial properties.
- Ginger protects against respiratory infections, aids digestion and warms
the body by stimulating circulation.
Spinach is rich in antioxidants, which help slow cell degeneration; it's also high in calcium, folic acid and vitamin A.
- Carrots and red peppers contain the important antioxidant beta-carotene, which converts to vitamin A in the body and helps you rpaintain healthy vision.
Photo by Kit Leffler
Sara Dixon, Derby, Kan. senior, prepares a smoothie while working at The Community Mercantile Saturday afternoon. The smoothie was a "Cherry Vitality".
Information about specific health benefits from Tracy Rutherford's "Power Drinks and Energy Tonics" (2002).
Super short supper
Cheesy Tortellini (Makes 2 servings)
Ingredients
1 package of refrigerated tortellini
1/2 package of frozen broccoli
1/2 to 1 jar four-cheese alfredo sauce
Cook refrigerated tortellini and frozen broccoli in one pot on medium heat until pasta is tender and broccoli is heated through. Add half a jar of four cheese alfredo sauce (add more to taste). Heat all together and serve.
Serve pasta with a side salad, Use bagged, pre-made salad and toss with your favorite dressing.
source: www.bettycrocker.com
—Anja Winikka
Attire: The atmosphere is nice and comfortable, so casual attire works just fine.
Booze availability: Aladdin's doesn't serve alcohol, but you're welcome to bring your own bottle of wine or whatever to accompany your meal.
Date-worthiness: Definitely. The restaurant is usually quiet and not crowded, so you can focus entirely on the experience. The lighting isn't bright and the exotic decorations add to the intimate ambiance.
Price range: $5 to$ 15
Aladdin Café 1021 Massachusetts Street
**Food type:** Authentic Middle-Eastern cuisine, including falafel, hummus, tabouli, gyros, dolmas, couscous, kababs, sand-wiches, vegetarian dishes and baklava.
Seating: There are some tables outside the restaurant for dining alfresco. Inside, in addition to tables and booths, an area in the back offers a trip reminiscent of Arabian Nights, with big cushions on the floor for sitting, small tables and traditional decorations.
Mom factor: Though this restaurant has a romantic atmosphere, it would also be perfect to take your family or go out with friends. If you are looking to turn a casual evening into something with an ethnic flair, this is the perfect choice.
Jayplay 02.03.05
—Maha Musud