Green Summer Hydrator

drinks & smoothies

27 Jun

GLUTEN FREE · VEGAN · NUT FREE · PALEO · AIP

This juice was born about a couple months after I had ileostomy surgery, when I was craving fruit and veggies but was still not able to eat them in their whole raw form. I was also struggling to stay properly hydrated (an issue for many ileostomates) as the weather got substantially warmer, and I was sick of electrolyte powders. The result was this oh-so-refreshing, zingy, and digestion-friendly juice.

It really is summer in a glass, and a great way to up your hydration during the hotter months.

The Ingredients

Cucumbers

With their very high water content, cucumbers are one of the most hydrating vegetables out there. In fact, it has been said that a cucumber can produce similar hydration levels to twice the volume of water. Indeed, there is also evidence that ‘eating your water’, by consuming water-containing fruits and vegetables, is actually more effective at hydrating the body than drinking plain water.

In addition to their high water content, cucumbers are also rich in nutrients, and contain anti-inflammatory compounds. They are thus the perfect ingredient for a hydrating and digestion-friendly juice.

Pineapple

While pineapple can sometimes be a little challenging for those with gut woes to eat in its raw form, due to its high fibre content, juicing pineapple is an excellent way to take in the health benefits of this tropical fruit, without taxing the digestive system.

Pineapples are an excellent source of bromelain - an enzyme which has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties and improve digestion.

Limes

These really put the zing into this juice. You could also use a lemon if you don’t have limes, but I do recommend sticking with the limes if possible.

Mint

Used for centuries as a digestive aid, mint rounds off this juice beautifully. A very under-utilised herb, mint is most commonly seen as a digestive tea, or in the form of a purely decorative flourish to other dishes, usually desserts. And in mojitos! Yet it is rich in phytonutrients and anti-inflammatory compounds, and though you don’t get a huge volume of liquid from the handful of mint in this juice, you do get just enough to enhance it, both in terms of taste, and digestive support.