28 Benefits of Collard Green Juice
What exactly is raw collard green juice? Is it really good for you?
Raw Collard Green Juice is a delicious drink that has become very popular over the last decade. The popularity of this drink has grown rapidly due to its health benefits.
Raw Collard Green Juice is rich in nutrients such as vitamin C, iron, calcium, fiber, and antioxidants. These nutrients provide numerous health benefits.
Health Benefits of Raw Collard Green Juice
The following are some of the most common health benefits of drinking raw collard green juice:
1. It helps fight cancer.
Raw collard green juice is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that help protect against free radicals and reduce inflammation.
Free radicals cause damage to cells and DNA, which can lead to cancer. Free radical damage is also linked to heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, and many other health conditions.
A study conducted at the University of North Carolina showed that women with a high intake of cooked or raw collards were half as likely to develop breast cancer as those who consumed very little collard greens.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, making raw collard green juice a powerful tool in the fight against diseases.
2. It boosts your immunity.
Vitamin C is one of the most important nutrients needed by your immune system. Vitamin C is considered to be an essential nutrient because if you don’t get enough vitamin C, your immune system cannot function properly.
Collards contain high levels of vitamin C compared to other vegetables. Drinking a glass of raw collard green juice provides 20% of your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C. This amount will keep your body healthy and protect you from colds and flu.
The phytonutrients called anthocyanins found in collard greens work together with vitamin C to stimulate white blood cell production, increasing your resistance to illness.
3. It improves digestion.
When food is not digested well, it is stored in the form of fat until it can return to the digestive tract. Undigested foods that remain in the colon contribute to weight gain and bloating.
Raw collard juices will help break down toxins found in the gut and promote healthy bowel movements.
4. It promotes weight loss.
This might shock you since collard greens are often thought to be fattening. However, when they are cooked or prepared using other ingredients, they lose their ability to make you overweight.
For example, cook beans and add them to salads – they will no longer increase your appetite. Instead, they will help control your hunger and stop you from overeating.
5. It cleanses your liver.
Drinking collard greens increases bile flow, stimulating detoxification activity in the liver. Since the process of elimination involves excreting toxins out of our bodies via urine, feces, sweat, saliva, etc., we must do so regularly.
Raw collard greens juice is highly beneficial for cleansing the liver since they contain chlorophyll and fiber that encourage the movement of waste products from the liver into the chlorophyll, a natural chelating agent, helping flush out impurities and heavy metals like mercury and arsenic.
6. It reduces constipation.
A glass of collard greens juice is a great way to eliminate those days where nothing seems to go right.
7. It tones muscles.
Since collard greens have been shown to lower cholesterol, remove excess water from the body, relieve muscle spasms and heal wounds, it makes perfect sense to use them to tone up your muscles.
8. It fights acne.
Acne occurs most commonly on oily skin types; therefore, consuming collard green juice can greatly reduce oil accumulation on your face.
9. It protects bone health.
Collard greens contains biochanin A that has been strongly linked to protecting bones from disease. One study found that women who drink more than 7 cups of kale every day had less risk of hip fractures.
10. It treats diabetes.
Diabetes patients may need to consume large amounts of carbohydrates which in turn causes sugar buildup in the bloodstream. Drinking raw collard greens juice provides a slow-release carbohydrate rather than an immediate spike, resulting in lowered blood sugar levels over time.
11. It balances hormones.
Collards have recently come under fire because of their high content of oxalates, although this does not necessarily mean that people should avoid consuming them. Oxalates are compounds that promote healthy kidney function as well as healthy bones and teeth. They are only harmful if consumed in large quantities; however, there is currently no evidence showing that eating oxalate-rich vegetables leads to poor kidney functioning.
12. It strengthens hair growth.
Raw collard green juice is one of the best drinks for hair growth because its vitamin C works synergistically with biotin to help stimulate new cell growth. Both vitamins are essential to the production of hair follicles so supplementing them improves hair growth and texture.
13. It can be used as a beauty toner.
Collard greens are excellent for removing makeup. Since collard greens include both collagen and protein, they keep skin supple and firm. By improving the overall appearance of the skin, collard green juices can make you look younger naturally.
14. Its antiseptic properties help treat dental problems.
Collard greens aid in cleaning plaque build-up from teeth, they clean the gums effectively, keeping them free of infection.
15. It’s anti-inflammatory.
Inflammation is caused by excess fat accumulation in the body which triggers the release of chemicals known as cytokines. These substances cause pain and swelling as part of the healing process. However, inflammation can lead to chronic conditions like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and even cancer. Eating collard greens allows your body to produce fewer cytokines, thus reducing inflammation.
16. It can reduce joint pain.
Joint pain is common among older adults because of osteoarthritis or wear and tear on joints. Drinking collard greens juice can provide relief from joint pain because it reduces inflammation.
The raw collard leaf juice has been used for centuries to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Studies suggest that the antioxidant content of collard greens can help fight inflammation in joints caused by arthritis.
17. It prevents premature aging.
As we age, our bodies accumulate more fatty acids than normal. This causes wrinkles and sagging skin. To prevent these changes, consume collard green juice regularly. The antioxidant compounds present in collard greens juice protect against free radicals, preventing premature aging.
18. It helps fight off infections.
The antibacterial properties in collard greens juice help combat bacteria that causes colds, flu, urinary tract infections, stomach ulcers, sinusitis and pneumonia.
19. It fights stress.
Collard greens juice has been shown to increase levels of serotonin, a hormone that regulates mood and sleep patterns. In addition, it increases blood flow to the brain, helping relieve depression and anxiety.
20. It boosts immunity.
Collard greens contain Vitamin K, which is important for bone health. Vitamin K also plays a role in maintaining proper immune response. Consuming collard greens juice can boost your immune system and prevent illness.
21. It helps lower cholesterol.
A study published in the Journal of Nutrition showed that raw collard greens juice lowered total cholesterol in individuals who had moderate hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol). Other studies show that collard green juice may also decrease triglycerides (fatty substances) and LDL (bad cholesterol).
22. It improves vision.
Raw collard greens are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that play a vital role in protecting eyesight. They improve night vision and enhance the ability to see fine details.
23. It helps control blood pressure.
Collard greens are packed with potassium, which lowers blood pressure. Potassium is essential for healthy muscle contraction and nerve function; therefore, consuming enough amounts of this mineral can help keep blood vessels relaxed and prevent hypertension.
24. It improves mental clarity.
Consumption of raw collard greens has been linked to improved cognitive performance. One theory suggests that vitamin C and beta-carotene found in collard greens may be responsible for this positive effect.
25. It detoxifies the body.
Raw collard leaves are loaded with vitamins A and C, both of which are powerful antioxidants that promote liver detoxification.
26. It strengthens bones.
Collard greens are rich in calcium, magnesium and iron, all of which are necessary for strong bones.
27. It helps maintain heart health.
Raw collard leaf contains large quantities of folate, which is important for heart health. Folate supplements have been shown to reduce the risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease.
28. It prevents diabetes.
Raw collard green juice reduces insulin resistance by promoting glucose metabolism. This means that the pancreas produces more insulin to metabolize sugars from food, thereby reducing the chances of developing type 2 diabetes.
How To Make Collard Green Juice
1. Wash the collard greens thoroughly. Remove the stems and cut off any wilted parts. Rinse them under cold running water until they feel fresh. If you want to make collard green juice at home, you need to wash the collard greens first. The best way to clean the collard greens is to remove the outer leaves and soak them in several changes of cold water. After washing, pat dry with paper towels. You can use a salad spinner if you prefer.
2. Cut the collard green into pieces. For juicing, cut the collard greens lengthwise into thin slices. Then chop the collard greens into smaller pieces. Do not peel the collard greens before cutting them. Peeling will remove most of the nutrients.
3. Add other ingredients according to your taste preferences. You can add carrots, celery, apple, cucumber, lemon, lime, ginger, mint, parsley, cilantro, basil, garlic, onion, chives, dill, oregano, rosemary, thyme, bay leaves, black pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, curry powder, red chili flakes, salt, olive oil, vinegar, honey, agave nectar, maple syrup, brown sugar, molasses, milk, yogurt, sour cream, butter, heavy whipping cream, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, peanut butter, coconut milk, and almond milk.
4. Blend or process the mixture using an electric blender or a hand blender.
5. Pour the blended mixture into a glass jar or pitcher. Store in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
6. Serve chilled or room temperature. Drink 1 cup per day.
7. Enjoy!
Tips:
- You can also eat cooked collards as a side dish.
- You can add chopped kale instead of collard greens.
- You can serve collard green juice on top of salads.
- You can add some ice cubes to it.
- If you like spicy foods, try adding hot sauce to your collard green juice.
- You can substitute spinach for collard greens.
Conclusion
If you’ve been looking for ways to improve your health, then collard greens juice should be on your list of things to try. Not only does it provide many nutritional benefits, but it is also delicious and easy to make!
