Learn how to make this refreshing PURE pressed pineapple-lime-kale juice, an immune-boosting green juice packed with vitamin C.
Green juice: gross or great?
You may have seen the data: a 2014 YouGov survey announced that 28% of American adults “feared” the look of green juice, despite believing green juice to be the healthiest juice available. We’ve got to be honest: as long-time converts to green juice, it’s admittedly a bit hard for us at PURE to imagine ever fearing such a tasty, nutritious beverage!
But if you’re one of the holdouts who can’t imagine drinking green juice without feeling a little green, we’ve got some great news for you: refreshing cold-pressed juice made from raw fruits and vegetables in a stainless steel two-stage hydraulic press is going to change your view of green juice for good.
Pro tip: If the green color is still giving you the “ick” factor, pour your juice into a thermos and slap a lid on it!
The importance of cold-busting Vitamin C
If you look up kale, pineapple, and lime on the Periodic Table of Juicing, you will see that these green juice ingredients all cover “cancer prevention, musculoskeletal health, and immune health.”
But the thing they all have in common is that they are each packed with a great deal of vitamin C.
No matter the time of year, vitamin C is necessary for the growth, development, and repair of all body tissues. Involved in many body functions, vitamin C plays a vital role in the formation of collagen, absorption of iron, healing wounds, and the maintenance of cartilage, bones, and teeth.
As we enter cooler months, consuming raw fruits and vegetables full of vitamin C becomes especially important, because it helps us keep our immune system strong.
One of the easiest ways to give your immune system a big boost of vitamin C is to whip up a batch of our kale-pineapple-lime juice, a true crowd favorite among adults and kids alike!
Can you really juice kale?
Juicing pineapples and limes–sure, but can you actually juice kale? Yes, you can juice kale, especially with the help of a two-stage cold press juicer like the PURE Juicer.
Our immune-boosting recipe is easy to make because the pineapple and lime are PURE pressed. And since kale is a strong green, it is easy to grind and press. (Note: greens like spinach, which are more slippery, can also be ground and pressed, it just takes a little more finesse.)
Eating or drinking raw kale is especially nutritious because before it is heated, kale is very high in antioxidants, including beta-carotene. Drinking kale juice has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, including lowering LDL cholesterol.
Of course, kale on its own has a pretty distinct flavor; we do recommend you combine kale with a few other ingredients to get the best taste.
Pineapple: the tropical decongestant
Pineapple may not be the fruit that first comes to mind when you consider what you should eat or drink when feeling sick, but in fact, pineapple does not only contain a third of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C, it also contains an enzyme (bromelain) that works to both break up excess sinus mucus inhibit mucus production.
A PURE team member who once lived in Hawaii says local friends advised her to drink pineapple juice and swim in the ocean whenever she felt a cold coming on — and sure enough, this tropical remedy worked! Within 24 hours, she said Aloha to a lingering cold that had bested her for weeks.
If, however, you are not in Hawaii, but are instead stuck nursing your cold, bundled up against a winter chill, perhaps making pineapple-kale-lime juice (and finding a good saline rinse?) is just what you need.
Vitamin C Booster green juice recipe
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes (including clean up)
Ingredients
- 1 pineapple (including core), peeled
- 2-3 limes
- 1 bunch of kale
Directions
- Cut the top off the pineapple; peel and slice the rest (do not worry about coring).
- Slice limes.
- Wrap limes and pineapple in press cloth.
- Press slowly, set jar aside.
- Feed kale into food chute until fully ground. Use #12 grid.
- Wrap kale mash in press cloth.
- Press slowly, feeding the kale juice into the jar of pineapple-lime juice.
- Stir and enjoy.
The benefits of green juicing
Vitamin C and cold-busting aside, drinking green juice on a regular basis is a wonderful preventative measure for optimal health. We all know it’s important to get our greens, but it can be a chore to pack in the daily recommended amount of vegetables.
Drinking a refreshing glass of green juice is a great way to ensure you’re getting all the nutrients you need. And, bonus benefit: we’ve found that when you drink lots of vegetables, you actually crave more vegetables!
Watch Bri Lewis demo her No Bloat Goat 2.0 green juice recipe
Does all green juice taste good?
One of the reasons we love this kale-pineapple-lime juice recipe is because the pineapple’s sweet acidity paired with the mouth-puckering lime helps to elevate the flavor of the kale juice. When you first start drinking green juice, you may find that you want to experiment with different fruit juice bases that can help mask the flavor of the greens.
However, many people report that once they have been juicing for a while, they become acquired to the taste of vegetable juice, and don’t need to feel as though they are covering up the taste of kale, spinach, or broccoli.
Just as our bodies learn to crave the nutrients and energy extra vegetables supply, they also learn to crave the taste.
Is it better to make homemade green juice?
While it’s becoming easier to buy green juice at the grocery store or your local juicery, we still recommend making your own green juice as often as possible. Pressing juice at home ensures you know exactly what is going into your body and helps you avoid any unnecessary ingredients like preservatives or added sugars.
Keep in mind that green juices made mostly of leafy greens like kale, broccoli, collards, and cucumbers are going to be lower in calories and natural sugars than green juices that are fruit-based.
That said, homemade fruit-based green juices are still very nutritious. Compared to many types of juice on the market that are saturated with excess sugar, your cold-press juice will pack a nutritional punch that will begin to heal you from the inside out.
How often should you drink green juice?
If you’re just beginning to add green juice to your diet, it’s a good idea to start by drinking it two to three times a week to start. Once you do that for a week or so, you may find that your body begins to crave green juice every day. If that is the case, feel free to start drinking it daily, as needed!
How much vitamin C is too much?
Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin, which means our bodies do not store it for the long term. This means two things: you need to consume vitamin C daily, and you cannot overdo it.
Feel free to drink as much green juice as your heart desires!
How long does green juice last?
Green juice really is best fresh, which is why we recommend daily juicing. Consider freezing it right away if you don’t have time to juice daily.
Other PURE favorite green juice recipes:
THE GREEN DETOX
- 1/2 pineapple (including core), peeled
- 1 medium fennel bulb, trimmed
- 1 large green apple, cored
- 1 lemon
- 1 lime
- 1 2-inch piece ginger
- 1 small bunch kale, to yield about 3 packed cups
- ⅓ cup packed cilantro
@ Matthew Kenney Cuisine
MEAN GREEN WEIGHT LOSS JUICE
- 2 cucumbers
- 8 celery stalks
- 4 apples
- 16 leaves kale with stalks
- 1 lemon, peeled
- 2 in (5 cm) piece of ginger
Makes 2 servings of 16-20 oz (500-600 ml)
@ Joe Cross | Reboot with Joe
KID’S VEGGIE SPECIAL JUICE
- 1 small beetroot
- 2 apples – (golden delicious or royal gala)
- 1/4 small pineapple
- 1 celery stick
- 1 small handful of spinach
- 1 inch slice of cucumber
Makes 2 servings of 16-20 oz (500-600 ml)
@ Jason Vale | Juice Master
SPICY GREEN JUICE
- 2 cucumbers
- 4 celery stalks
- 3 kale leaves
- 2 romaine lettuce leaves
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeds (partially or entirely) removed
- 1/2 lime, peeled
@ Food Republic
Health Benefits
kale: one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, it’s no wonder kale is known as a superfood. Kale is extremely low in calories but has a vast amount of nutrients ranging from vitamin A to magnesium. A single cup can contain up to almost 7 times the amount of the daily recommendation for vitamin K, a compound vital for blood clotting.
lime: very high in vitamin C, limes also contain small amounts of iron, calcium, vitamin B6, thiamine, and potassium.
pineapple: delicious and packed with antioxidants, pineapples are known for their anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in a healthy immune system. Pineapples are a rich source of Vitamin C, manganese, and the compound bromelain, a group of digestive enzymes that may help break down protein and aid with digestion and could help fight against cancer.
Sources
Limes: A Citrus Fruit with Powerful Benefits
Pineapple: 8 Impressive Health Benefits
Medical Disclaimer
PURE Juicer is a juicing company. We are not doctors or medical experts. All content and information on this blog and website is for informational and educational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice, and does not establish any patient-client relationship by using this website.
Although we strive to provide accurate general information, the information presented here is not a substitute for professional advice. You should not rely solely on this information. Always consult a professional in your area for your health questions and concerns before making any professional, legal, medical, financial, or tax-related decisions.
