Healthy Orange Juice With A Twist

I just made some carrot and red cabbage orange juice today. Before you lovely ladies and gents start making that face that looks like you have sucked on a lemon, there are great benefits to this drink and it actually doesn't taste bad at all. I made this juice just because I had excess cabbage from making corn salad and my mom ended buying the jumbo bag of carrots that nobody can really finish. The great benefit in red cabbage and carrots is that they contain different forms of vitamin A that contribute to eye health.

"Beta-carotene is converted into the form of vitamin A called retinol that's used by cells in the eyes that detect light and convert it into nerve impulses. Lutein and zeaxanthin function as antioxidants that protect the retina and may help prevent age-related macular degeneration." -Sandi Busch, healthyeating.sfgate.com

The important thing here is that you get red cabbage because comparing both regular cabbage and red cabbage are both healthy, nutritious, and cholesterol friendly foods. However, you'll find that red cabbage has a lot more to offer overall. The regular cabbage does trump red one with vitamin K by an additional 40% of DV. You can check out nutritiondata.self.com. Everybody has heard oranges are great sources of vitamin C but did you know that red cabbages are too?

Photo from healthy recipes.wikia.com

Red cabbage, 1 cup raw
Vitamin C, 85% DV
Vitamin K, 42% DV
Vitamin A, 20% DV
Carbs, 85% DV
Great source of fiber

There are many more but I listed the top nutrients.

Carrots, 1 cup raw

Vitamin A, 428% DV
Vitamin C, 13% DV
Vitamin K, 21% DV
Potassium, 12%
Carbs, 89% DV
Great source of fiber
anti-inflammatory


Photo by www.bhg.com

You can mix it with any fruit drink but I decided to go along with organic orange juice from Wholefoods. It is so yummy and easy to make. You can hardly taste the cabbage unless you put a lot in there. You can garnish it with a sliced wedge of orange to make it look pretty. If you don't like pulp then you can strain it if you use a blender.

Note of discretion: please consult with a doctor before starting any health diets or drinks. Certain vegetables such as cabbage are high in vitamin K which can be fatal to someone who is on anticoagulants as it can increase the risk of stroke or a heart attack.