Beet, Carrot, Ginger and Apple Juice (The Pre-Workout Boost)

August 8, 2014

Beet, Carrot, Ginger and Apple Juice (The Pre-Workout Boost)


This is the story of how I started loving beet juice.
A crazy and dimwitted love story.
It begins with my extreme hatred for beets.
Even as a kid, I always LOVED my veggies, but beets were something I have never acquired a taste for.
Seriously, how can you acquire a taste for something that tastes like…ehm, dirt?
I lived a happy, healthy and beet-less life, until a bunch of British lads from the University of Exeter discovered that beetroot juice - being a natural source of nitrate - gives athletes some extra oomph.
Nitrate has basically two physiological effects.
Firstly, it widens blood vessels, reducing blood pressure and allowing more blood flow. Secondly, it affects muscle tissue, reducing the amount of oxygen needed by muscles during activity.
The combined effects have a significant impact on performing physical tasks, whether it involves low-intensity or high-intensity effort.
In other words, beets have a similar effects of those disgusting nitric oxide supplements.
Drinking something natural and healthy instead of synthetic stuff? Too good to be true.
That was it for me. I needed to start liking beets, NOW!
Beet, Carrot, Ginger and Apple Juice (The Pre-Workout Boost)

Normally, a sweet taste in a vegetable is a good thing. Sweet Potatoes? Onions? Roasted Eggplant? All quite likeable. But there's something about beety sweetness that I find totally disgusting.
So imagine how I felt about drinking two whole cups of beet juice before training.
I would basically hold my nose and gulp it down in one go. I had such a hard time keeping it down though.
So I started experimenting, by adding other juices, fresh herbs and spices.
I wanted to create something with beetroot juice I could drink without barfing.
Because beetroot juice really works as a boost. Like really well. I have proof, if you need it.
After many failed attempts, I found out that carrots, apple, ginger and lemon complement really well the flavor. So well, you won't notice the beet taste. So here you have it: Beet, Carrot, Ginger and Apple juice.
In fact, this juice tastes so good you almost question if there are beets in it, seriously.
In other words, I still don't love beet juice. But I love drinking it when mixed in other juices.
Soooooo...slurp this juice without delay and beet the competition (pun intended!)

Beet, Carrot, Ginger and Apple Juice (The Pre-Workout Boost)

Beet, Carrot, Apple and Ginger Juice (The Pre-Workout Boost)               Print this recipe!

Note. If you don’t own a juicer you can still make this wonderful juice. Buy organic beetroot, carrot and apple juices, mix them together in equal parts and add some grated ginger. That easy.

Ingredients


3 medium beets, trimmed, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 large carrots, washed and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 Granny Smith apple, cored and quartered
1 Gala apple, cored and quartered
1 3-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Directions

Pass beets, carrots, apple and ginger through a juicer. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. Add lemon juice and mix to stir.
Pour into glasses and enjoy!

Nutrition facts

One serving yields 62.5 calories, 0 grams of fat, 15 grams of carbs and 1 gram of protein.

32 comments:

  1. Im excited to try this! I have yet to find a beet juice that I can stomach. But I love anything ginger. Here is my fave juice to share with you. I copied the Toxic Flush from Nekter Juice Bar - its so good http://www.inallofhersplendor.com/2014/02/04/nekter-juice-bar-toxic-flush-recipe/

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  2. You don't like beets????

    I am a beet junkie - I love 'em! When I was in college and didn't have access to a stove at times, I would buy cans of beet and chickpeas and eat 'em - straight up! My daughter -on the other hand- does not share my love for them - unless I mix them in with chocolate or use them in a pizza base topped with cheese. I really need to try feeding her this juice - I think it would be right up her alley!

    Have a wonderful weekend Mike!

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    1. I know quite well you're a beet girl (no pun intended!), but I do struggle with it. What can I say...it's just a taste that doesn't work for me!

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  3. I need something like this Mike, especially this morning as I am trying to come up with every excue not to hit the gym!

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    1. This is really perfect when you need a pre-workout boost!

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  4. The daily vitamin intake has never tasted better!
    Great combination of flavors ( 2 kinds of apple to add additional aroma, wow)
    The best of two worlds in one drink: healthy & tasty :)

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  5. Can I use a vitamix? I don't have a juicer.

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    Replies
    1. Well, not really. With a vitamix you'll be making a smoothie (and probably a pretty disgusting one!)

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  6. Your combination of ingredients is perfect, because green apples and ginger are both considered anti-nausea agents. Personally I've never had a problem with beets, although I cannot fathom drinking beet juice…

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  7. You are really making me curious about the effect of beet juice - the problem that I have is a complete aversion to eating or drinking anything before working out. Even while training for marathons I would do my long runs on an empty stomach. I get queasy. Now, it is true that I never tried a juice, I sometimes would get a cereal bar, or energy gels. Hummmm... I am tempted (btw my husband threatens to walk out of the house at the sight of a beet.... )

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    1. You should totally try drinking beat juice before working out, it does wonders!

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    2. Mike, can you believe I STILL have not tried this drink? But I have very good intentions to do it this weekend before running...

      I am so excited about it.... will let you know how it goes.

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    3. Seriously Sally, you have to try it. It does wonders!

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  8. love a good carrot and ginger juice.. never tried adding beets before. definitely something i will be doing next time!

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  9. I've always loved veggies, but hated beets - I've tried several ways of eating them but no such luck! Looks like juice is the answer! :)

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    1. Juice IS the one and only answer K, seriously that's the sole way I can stomach them!

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  10. Impressive, Mike! Beets are one of those things that I've never really taken a love to...my wife loves them roasted, but I'm still just skeptical about them. They taste like...well, dirt. You nailed that one right on. I'm willing to give this juice a shot, though...only b/c you say so! #WolfpackEats

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  11. I hate beets when cooked as a side dish or in any kind of meal at all... but I LOVE beets in desserts and juiced! :)

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    1. What kind of dessert you make with beets, I'm curious to know!

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  12. Just enjoying a glass.... it tastes a lot better than I expected!

    soon I'll test it "on the road" ;-)

    I think I'll stay with half now, and finish it after running, my batch made a HUGE amount....

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  13. hi I am just looking at this recipe, am I right in reading that it is a '13 inch' piece of ginger for 1 juice? thankyou Senga

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    1. No, it's 1 3-inch piece, that is to say one piece of ginger about 3-inch long :D

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  14. Ah I see, thankyou Mike xc

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  15. Is this recipe considered "one serving"?

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  16. is this whole recipe considered "one serving" for your nutritional breakdown?

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  17. Thanks so much for posting! I recently started training but am not crazy about the idea of pre-workout supplements. It's great that they work for some people but they just aren't for me. I've been looking for a more natural alternative. Really excited to try this out!

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  18. I remember my college roommate drinking raw beet juice and raving about it for her team cycling competition training. I tried it and hated it, overwhelming beet taste.
    I tried this today though and it was really good! Mine turned out strangely salty though, I wonder if the beets were just salty. Not sure why. But it does taste great and like carrot apple ginger rather than beet.

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