We’ve all heard about the incredible health benefits of beetroot juice. It’s a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals that can boost your immunity, lower blood pressure, and even improve athletic performance. With just a few simple steps, you’ll learn how to make beetroot juice in a mixer and be sipping on this nutritious, vibrant drink in no time. Whether you’re a seasoned juicer or a complete beginner, our guide will help you whip up a glass of fresh, homemade beetroot juice effortlessly. We promise it’s not as messy as you might think, and the health rewards are definitely worth it.
Steps to Make Beetroot Juice in Mixer
Step 1: Prepare the Beetroot
To start, you’ll want to find and gather tasty, healthy beets. The fresher the beetroot the better as these contain higher levels of nutrients and flavor. It’s been shown by research that fresh beets are rich in fiber, folate (vitamin B9), manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C.
Remember to trim off the leaves, but keep them if you want to add a bit of greens to your juice. By including the fresh beet leaves in the extraction process, we can enhance the overall nutritional potency of your beetroot juice.
Step 2: Peel and Chop the Beetroot
Peel off any dirt or discoloration that is still on the beetroot’s surface. This also helps to remove any wax or unwanted substances which can tamper with the juice’s taste and purity. Once clean, chop your beetroot into smaller chunks. Be cautious, as beet juice can stain clothes and certain surfaces.
Step 3: Add the Beetroot to the Mixer
Place the chopped beetroot pieces into the mixer. Do not overload the mixer to avoid damage or leakage. Keep in mind, blending in small quantities produces a smoother texture which is easier to strain later.
Step 4: Blend the Beetroot
Select the pulse mode on your mixer. This is a fast, high-speed blending style that is perfect for breaking down hard-to-blend foods like beetroot. Repeat this process until no large chunks remain. Depending on the size and power of your mixer, this may take several minutes.
Step 5: Strain the Juice
It’s time to strain the juice to remove any solid remnants. Be sure to use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to avoid any large grit from slipping through. Press down with the back of a spoon to extract as much juice as possible. Don’t forget to pour slowly and steadily.
Step 6: Optional Additions
Now is the time to get creative by adding other fruits and vegetables or even natural sweeteners. Pineapple, orange, spinach, kale, honey, and agave nectar are all fantastic options to complement the flavor of beetroot juice and maximize the overall health benefits. While these are optional, they’re a great way of adding variety to your wellness routine.
Is it Better to Blend or Juice Beets?
Blending beets retains the fiber, making the drink more filling and providing digestive benefits. Juicing, however, extracts the liquid, offering a concentrated source of vitamins and minerals for quicker absorption. The choice between blending and juicing depends on your nutritional goals: for fiber intake, blend; for nutrient concentration, juice.
“Vibrant Health” Beet Root Juice Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 medium-sized beetroots, peeled and chopped
- 1 large apple, cored and chopped (preferably green for a balance of sweetness and tartness)
- 1 carrot, peeled and chopped
- A 1-inch piece of ginger, peeled
- Juice of 1/2 lemon (adjust to taste)
- Water (optional, for adjusting consistency)
Instructions:
- Prepare the Ingredients: Wash all the fruits and vegetables thoroughly. Peel and chop the beetroots, apple, and carrot into smaller pieces that can easily fit into your juicer. Peel the ginger.
- Juicing: Add the chopped beetroots, apple, carrot, and ginger pieces into the juicer (or mixer if you prefer). Juice these ingredients together until smooth.
- Add Lemon Juice: After juicing, pour the juice into a glass and stir in the lemon juice. The lemon not only adds a refreshing tang but also helps in preserving the color of the beetroot juice.
- Adjust Consistency: If the juice is too thick, you can adjust the consistency by adding a little water. Mix well.
- Serve: Enjoy your beetroot juice immediately for the best taste and nutritional benefits.
Benefits of Beetroot Juice
There’s more to it than its vibrant red color and sweet taste. Beetroot juice is a powerhouse of essential nutrients, it improves blood flow, aids in lowering blood pressure, and can enhance your exercise performance.
High in Nutrients
Beetroot juice is packed with essential nutrients, a great source of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and iron. It’s also high in several inflammation-fighting antioxidants and packed with dietary fiber. And the best part, it’s low in calories yet high in the good stuff!
Improved Blood Flow
Speaking of how beetroot juice benefits your cardiovascular system, it largely boils down to a compound found in abundance in beetroot: nitrate. Our bodies convert this natural nitrate into nitric oxide – a molecule that dilates and relaxes our blood vessels leading to better blood flow. Improved blood circulation means more oxygen and nutrients are getting to the places that need them, including your brain, heart, and muscles.
Lower Blood Pressure
The nitric oxide produced from the nitrate in beetroot juice not only improves blood flow but also supports in reducing blood pressure. Studies show that beetroot juice can reduce systolic blood pressure by around 4-10 mmHg over a period of a few hours. It’s a natural and tasty way to keep your heart happy and your blood pressure in control.
Enhanced Exercise Performance
Athletes, listen up! Beetroot juice is said to boost stamina and improve exercise performance. The nitrate in beetroot juice leads to a reduction in oxygen uptake, making exercise less tiring. One study found that people who drank beetroot juice prior to exercise could push their workout 16% longer. It might just be the perfect natural pre-workout drink to add to your routine.
With all these incredible health benefits, it’s hard to ignore the power of beetroot juice. Add it to the blender being mindful of balancing the intense flavor with other nutritious ingredients and voila! You’re on your way to harness the plethora of benefits this crimson drink has to offer.
Ingredients for Making Beetroot Juice
Let’s dive right in and look at the primary ingredients that you’ll need to have on hand.
Fresh Beetroot
The star of the show is, of course, fresh beetroot. This humble, earthy vegetable is a potent source of minerals like iron, magnesium, and potassium. More importantly, it’s rich in nitrates, which are believed to improve blood flow and exercise performance.
To make beetroot juice, you’ll need one to two medium-sized beetroots. Ensure they are clean and properly peeled before use to avoid potential contaminants and unwanted gritty textures in your juice.
Other Optional Fruits and Vegetables
Though beetroot juice is delicious and nutritious on its own, you might want to explore complementing it with other fruits and vegetables. For a tropical twist, consider adding pineapple. Pineapples have bromelain, an enzyme believed to aid digestion and reduce inflammation.
For an extra vitamin C hit, adding a squeezed orange is a great idea. Plus, the orange’s sweet and tangy flavor can balance out the earthiness of the beetroot. For a green power-up, think about adding spinach or kale. These leafy greens are supercharged with nutrients including vitamins A, C, K, and many minerals.
Water or Juice
When it comes to liquids, you’ll want to aim for balance. Pure beetroot juice can be quite intense for some people, and that’s where additional water or juice comes in. Water can tone down the intensity, making the juice more palatable. If you’re seeking flavor without added sugar, consider adding naturally sweet juices like apple or orange juice.
Optional Sweetener
Finally, while the natural sweetness of beetroot and added fruits is generally enough for most, some might prefer their juice a tad sweeter. Honey, agave nectar, or even a very ripe banana are all fantastic natural sweeteners that can take your beetroot juice to the next level. Do remember that a little goes a long way!
Tips for Making Beetroot Juice Right
There’s a distinctive advantage to choosing fresh ingredients, particularly when it comes to beets for our beetroot juice. Fresh beetroots offer the highest nutritional content available. Besides, they’re packed full of flavor that truly elevates the juice. Fresh is best – there’s no two ways about it. When we buy beetroots, we inspect them carefully, ensuring they’re firm, bright in color, and free from spots or signs of decay.
Use a High-Quality Mixer
Don’t underestimate the importance of using high-quality kitchen equipment. Specifically, the mixer that we use can drastically impact the juice’s quality. A good mixer can effectively break down the tough fibers in the beetroot, ensuring a smooth final product. It helps to unlock more nutrients and makes the juice easier to digest. While we’re not suggesting you break the bank, it’s worthwhile investing in a solid, reliable mixer.
Adjust the Consistency
Some of us like it thick, some prefer it thin – we’re talking about the consistency of beetroot juice here. Straining your juice can adjust its consistency. Use a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth, and remember: the more you strain, the thinner your juice will be. Also, be aware that thicker juice often contains more fiber. So, go with what you prefer but be mindful of the nutritional content.
Experiment with Flavors
Don’t hesitate to get creative with your beetroot juice. Adding other fruits and vegetables not only gives the juice a more robust flavor but also boosts its nutritional profile. You could mix beetroot with carrot for a sweet twist, apple for a bit of tang, or even spinach for an extra punch of nutrients. We also find that natural sweeteners like honey or agave nectar can enhance the taste while keeping things healthy. Remember, variety is the spice of life, yes, even when it’s beetroot juice you’re making.
