Your body needs both macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins and fats) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) to function properly. Unfortunately, the processed foods most North Americans and other citizens of the Western world consume on a daily basis are full of carbs and fat, but contain little to no micronutrients. Our bodies are unable to produce some of the essential micronutrients on their own, so many Westerners end up going without; this eventually results in a lot of them falling into ill health. Cutting back on processed foods and consuming more whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds is a fairly easy solution to this problem. However, fruits and vegetables are very filling, and are not always convenient to carry, so it’s sometimes difficult to eat as many of them as we need, especially when on the run. Luckily, fruits and vegetables can be consumed in liquid form—the drink recipe featured below will be especially beneficial for those looking to lose weight by consuming more healthy diets.
Carrot/daikon drink
Makes 1 serving
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) finely grated carrot
- 1/2 cup (125 mL) finely grated daikon
- 1 cup (250 mL) spring or filtered water
- Splash of organic soy sauce
- 1/3 sheet toasted sushi nori, shredded
- 1/3 umeboshi plum
Combine grated vegetables with water in saucepan and bring to a gentle boil, uncovered, over medium heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer three to four minutes. Add soy sauce and simmer two to three minutes more. Stir in shredded nori and umeboshi plum and simmer one minute more. Drink the tea and eat the vegetables while the tea is quite hot.
Cook’s tip: For a stronger tea, you may eliminate the nori and umeboshi plum, using only carrot and daikon. It
is quite potent this way, so you cannot use this tea for as long a period of time, just a couple of days—it’ll make you feel tired…so be careful.
Healthy weight loss benefits
This spicy, pungent tea is designed to help dissolve hardened fat deposits that have accumulated in various organs, which makes for sluggish function and lethargy—and as such, is a great kick-starter for weight loss. Working deep in the body to restore balance, this drink works to dissolve the fat, while adding minerals to create strong blood quality. As hardened fat begins to break apart, the weight-loss process can begin. For the best results, take this tea every other day for two weeks then stop for two weeks, repeating again, if needed. If you have begun losing weight during the first round of this drink, hold off before going again for another two weeks. Let nature—and life changes—do their job.
Looking for more healthy recipes? Read RAW, QUICK AND DELICIOUS!: Make these raw food desserts in 15 minutes or less>>
Reprinted from Christina Pirello’s Wellness 1,000: Simple Plant-Based Recipes and Sound Advice to Cook Your Way To Vibrant Health by Christina Pirello by arrangement with Perigee, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., ©2013 Perigee Books.
[su_panel background=”#f2f2f2″ color=”#000000″ border=”0px none #ffffff” shadow=”0px 0px 0px #ffffff”]Christina Pirello, MFN, is one of America’s pre-eminent authorities on a healthier lifestyle utilizing natural and whole foods. The long-time award-winning host of her own public television show, Christina Cooks!, Christina was diagnosed at age 26 with acute stage leukemia. The doctors gave her little chance of recovery, but after a change in lifestyle and diet based on whole and unprocessed foods, Christina overcame the odds—and in the process developed an expertise in cooking with whole foods. She is the author of several books including Cooking the Whole Foods Way, Christina Cooks!, Glow, Cook Your Way to the Life You Want, This Crazy Vegan Life, and I’m Mad as Hell and I’m Not Going to Eat It Anymore.
image: public domain
