A green juice power shot or green smoothie are popular foods for quick detoxification. Fresh green juice prepared from organic, preferably biodynamic, high brix vegetables is a great way to get lots of easy to absorb minerals quickly without any estrogen disrupting pesticide load.
In addition, plain green juice eliminates the fiber that can sometimes cause issues for those with weakened digestion or reflux.
While some green juices need to be used with caution particularly if there is a thyroid problem, history of kidney stones, or candida or yeast issues, others like cucumber, celery, zucchini, and wheatgrass are safe to consumer regularly without risk.
When it comes to green juice, my personal favorite is wheatgrass. Nutritional pioneer Ann Wigmore is credited with discovering the health benefits of fresh (never pasteurized!) wheatgrass juice preferably grown under natural conditions. She incorporated its use for detoxification for many years with great results.
I got started drinking wheatgrass over 17 years ago. I consumed a 2 ounce power shot of fresh, organic wheatgrass juice almost every single day for several months in order to detoxify for pregnancy. While pregnant and breastfeeding, I continued to consume wheatgrass several times a week for additional minerals.
The chlorophyll in wheatgrass is what makes it so cleansing. Cholorophyll is an extremely potent blood, liver and gastrointestinal cleanser. Incidentally, matcha tea is very high in chlorophyll also.
Wheatgrass juice is literally condensed sunlight energy. It is one of the most potent forms of nutrition on the planet.
Fresh wheatgrass juice also contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, amino acids and enzymes. Best of all, unlike juice from cruciferous and some leafy green vegetables, wheatgrass juice is low in oxalic acid unlike some other raw vegetables and thyroid suppressing substances which can be problematic to health especially for those with candida or gut imbalance issues.
A frequent misconception is that because wheat contains gluten, that wheatgrass juice does too.
Those who are gluten intolerant or celiac will be delighted to learn that wheatgrass juice is completely gluten free! The seeds of the wheat plant contain this difficult to digest plant protein. However, the juice from the grass itself does not. This is why wheatgrass powder is permitted by the Food and Drug Administration to be included in products with a gluten free label.
Despite drinking wheatgrass juice regularly for going on two decades, I must admit that I have never really liked or gotten used to the taste!
The taste of wheatgrass is so strong that I tend to hold my breath when I drink it and chase with a sip or two of water. The good news is that I feel amazing about 10-20 minutes later, which is how I know that it is really doing me good.
This beneficial effect is especially true when I have congestion issues from a cold, air travel, or the drying indoor heat from a furnace. A power shot or two of wheatgrass is very helpful in speeding my recovery and clearing congestion naturally without medication.
I recently learned about a way to blend wheatgrass with fresh ginger and lemon juice. This particular blend very effectively masks the strong flavor of the wheatgrass. In addition, it boosts the potency and energizing effects.
This concoction is especially helpful for congestion from the very powerful dose of fresh ginger juice. It clears up the nasal passages like nothing else I've tried!
If you enjoy the potent benefits of wheatgrass juice, try blending it with fresh ginger and lemon into a wheatgrass power shot. It is my new and preferred way to enjoy the benefits of wheatgrass. According to Ann Wigmore, it is the best source of greens on the planet.
If you need a sweet chaser after this power shot, try this recipe for homemade elderberry syrup.
This recipe for a power shot containing wheatgrass, ginger and lemon is the healthiest and best green juice for clearing up congestion fast. Oxalate free and safe for those with kidney stone or candida issues.
1 ounce/30 ml fresh ginger juice about 1 small "finger"
Juice enough wheatgrass in any standard wheatgrass juicer to obtain 2 ounces (60 ml). I like this simple and very inexpensive one. You really don't need a fancy, electric wheatgrass juicer because you juice so little at a time due to its high potency.
Juice fresh organic ginger and lemons either with a standard juicer or manual juice press to produce 1 ounce (30ml) each.
Fresh juice is best consumed at room temperature within 20 minutes and not refrigerated. So, if you wish to consume this drink more than once per day, make fresh each time for best results.