Ever wished you had a go to list of all the best vegetables to juice? You know, something that hands you a little snippet of what to juice for what benefits?
Well, we’ve got you covered with a list of the absolute best veggies to feed into your juicer. But before you launch into the list, let’s go over what exactly we mean by the best vegetables to juice.
What Determines the Best Vegetables to Juice?
You already know that vegetable juice is great for your body, waistline, skin, energy, and even your lifestyle. But that doesn’t automatically make every vegetable the best veggie to juice.
Here’s what we mean.
Nutrition science has become so complicated. With numerous studies being published on how best to consume so-and-so vitamin or nutrient for extreme health benefits and the rise of raw foodies, there’s so much talk about what’s best eaten raw and what’s best eaten cooked.
For the most part, I think everyone agrees that most vegetables are great to consume, whether raw or cooked but the fact of the matter is that cooking changes the texture, the taste, the color, and the chemical composition of vegetables. And for many vegetables, this change is not a good thing since the heat used in cooking can damage or destroy some of the most valuable nutrients and enzymes found in fresh produce.
So when we talk about the best vegetables to juice, we’re very focused on choosing – and juicing – those vegetables that you can get the most benefits from when consumed raw.
Let’s get started, shall we?
A to Z List of the Best Vegetables to Juice
Here’s a little A-to-Z list of the best vegetables to juice. You’ll be very familiar with some – cucumber, anyone? – and might wrinkle your nose at others – um, bitter melon juice?
But hey, diversity is the spice of life, right? So go ahead and try all the yummy, wonderfully nutritious veggies on the list – you might just discover a new, favorite vegetable juice recipe.
BEETS
Beets’ claim to fame is found in a potent phytochemical that gives these scarlet beauties their rich color – betanin, which has been proven to help you detoxify your body, reduce overall inflammation, fight free radical damage, and lower homocysteine levels in your blood to reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease.
Interestingly, beets are also good for our mental health – these red beauties contain tryptophan, which helps calm your mind and reduce anxiety.
BELL PEPPERS
Very low in calories and rich in sweet juiciness, bell peppers are an ideal “beauty” food to juice – packed with collagen-boosting vitamin C and filling enough to keep you satiated while you work toward your weight loss goals.
As a member of the capsicum family, bell peppers also contain phytochemicals known to stimulate metabolism as well as to induce your brain to produce more happy hormones.
BROCCOLI
Apart from being loaded with immunity-boosting vitamin C, broccoli also contains a certain antioxidant known as kaempferol which has potent anti-inflammatory properties.
Broccoli is also packed with phytochemicals that have been shown to weaken cancer cells to prevent them from developing fully.
BRUSSELS SPROUTS
When you think Brussels sprouts, think folate which is great for nursing mothers, indoles that help keep the thyroid gland healthy, and potent phytochemicals that inhibit the growth and development of cancer cells.
Like most crucifers, Brussels sprouts also help get rid of bad cholesterol in the body and boost the body’s immunity (top recipes for immunity here) against inflammation.
CARROTS
Carrots get their bright orange hue from beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A by the liver. Just 100g of carrots provides over 330% of your daily requirement of vitamin A, which goes a long way toward keeping your eyes healthy, your skin glowing, and helps to speed up the metabolism of blood sugar in the body.
Certain phytochemicals in carrots have also been shown to boost the body’s defense against cancer as well as leukemia cells.
CAULIFLOWER
Cauliflower is a heavyweight champion in terms of health benefits.
In addition to Vitamin C, folate and manganese, this cabbage flower offers antioxidant phytonutrients that lower the risk of oxidative stress in cells, a risk factor for cancer.
World’s Healthiest Foods also points to studies of the activation of detoxification enzymes, anti-inflammatory effects, digestive and cardiovascular support.
CELERY
Celery is high in fiber and health benefits while being ridiculously low in calories.
These crunchy, water-filled veggies have cancer-fighting antioxidants, phytochemicals that ward off bad breath and prevent dry mouth, and even pheromones that have been found to improve libido in men and women!
CHILI PEPPERS
Chili pepper’s claim to fame is capsaicin – the compound that gives peppers their spicy kick.
Capsaicin is also known to “heat” up the body and boost your metabolism as well as promote better blood circulation in the body – even boosting sexual function 😉
Chili peppers are also a very rich source of antioxidants vitamin A and C and have anti-inflammatory properties, as well as phytochemicals that reduce C-reactive proteins in the body that can cause arthritis and similar inflammatory health issues when left unchecked.
CORN
Just 100g of corn gives you 9.4 grams of protein, making corn one of the best vegetarian sources of protein.
Plus, a single ear of corn’s got enough carbs to fill up an average adult while being lower in calories than most other grains and cereals – a good weight loss aid to keep you full on less calories.
Corn’s also a great source of B-vitamins and essential minerals, with 100g providing 21% of your daily requirement of phosphorus, 32% of magnesium, 15% of zinc, 22% of selenium, 16% of copper, and 24% of manganese.
CUCUMBER
There’s good reason cucumbers often pop up on spa menus and treatments – cukes are great for your skin.
They’re highly hydrating and loaded with essential minerals like silica, potassium, and magnesium which keep the skin supple and moist.
Cucumbers are also extremely low in calories – not surprising since it’s mostly water – and an ideal fiber-rich weight loss food to add into your smoothies when you’re trying to shed pounds.
GARLIC
When it comes to medicinal veggies, garlic is one of the most potent, most protective vegetables you can get your hands on.
Garlic contains a powerful compound called allicin that has been shown to keep your heart in great shape, treat hair loss, and even clear up acne.
ONION
Onions might not be the first thing you think to add to your smoothies, but a little bit of raw onion has heaps of health-protective benefits.
Onions are loaded with quercetin, a compound that’s been shown to inhibit the growth and development of cancer cells as well as phytochemicals which help the stomach regulate gastric acid levels.
PEAS
Peas are a great source of vegetarian protein, with 100g providing over 5 grams of protein.
These little green yummers are also an awesome source of varied vitamins and minerals.
Peas also contain compounds that speed up the metabolism of sugar in your bloodstream, helping to regulate blood glucose levels as well as contains phytochemicals that boost energy.
PUMPKIN
Pumpkins are a nutritional a-bomb – literally, considering that the humble pumpkin has one of the highest levels of beta-cryptoxanthin (a vitamin A carotenoid) on earth.
But that’s not all – pumpkins are also rich in heart-healthy potassium, dietary fiber and its seeds are a great source of protein and even healthy fats!
RADISH
Next time your dealing with sinus congestion, you might want to reach for a radish.
Radishes are full of flavonoids that help expel excessive mucus from the body and keep your sinuses less prone to clogging and irritation.
Radishes are also a great energy-boosting veggie to blend since they contain phytochemicals that boost your body’s ability to distribute fresh oxygen in your bloodstream.
RHUBARB
Sure, rhubarb isn’t winning any popularity contests but it’s a veggie definitely worth getting to know.
This beautifully scarlet veggie is a good source of B vitamins, calcium, and vitamin K as well as a natural laxative that can prevent constipation.
Oh, and did we mention it contains polyphenolic antioxidants shown to inhibit the growth of cancer cells?
SEAWEED
Seaweed juice sounds frightful but this stuff is quite delicious and seriously nutritious – in fact, its said to be up to 60 times more nutritionally potent than its land-based counterparts!.
It’s super rich in minerals – iodine, magnesium, calcium, zinc, phosphorous, and iron – as well as a detoxing, alkalizing agent.
The thing is – its not the easiest thing to juice. Our recommendation is to blend this one instead – make sure to soak it in water overnight. It goes surprisingly well with pineapple, mint, lemon, and apple.
SWEET POTATO
Did you know just one medium-sized sweet potato gives you around 400% of your daily requirement for vitamin A?
The sweet potato also has a low glycemic index, despite its natural sweetness and is great for digestion, as it’s a great source of both soluble and insoluble fiber.
TOMATO
We all know tomatoes are good for us, but do you know how much?
For starters, the delish tomato is rich in lycopene, which strengthens the cardiovascular system, keeps the skin glowing, and even maintains bone resiliency.
ZUCCHINI
Naturally slightly sweet, chock full of filling fiber, and only 16 calories per 100g – zucchini is the veggie to reach for when you’re juicing to lose weight.
It’s also rich in phytochemicals that detox the body of excess glucose and sodium, helping your body stay hydrated.
