A Healthy Outside Starts on the Inside.

As a kid, I was always told to eat my veggies, that seemed to be the mom mantra, and mom wasn't wrong. Veggies are so good for us nutritionally and great for weight loss.

Then I grew up and moved out and didn't have mom telling me to eat my veggies. Did you know most women are not getting enough veggies in their diet?

Experts and moms agree that veggies are necessary for great health. They are full of vitamins, minerals, and fibre, which are vital to your body needs. Veggies can also be useful in preventing things like heart disease and high blood pressure. And a diet high in veggies is also fantastic for weight loss.

The fastest and easiest way to ensure you are getting enough veggies into your day is to drink your veggies!

Fresh green veggie juice is loaded with potassium and will help you with water retention issues, bloating and will also help you lower insulin, which is a fat-storing hormone. Green juice also aids in digestion, speeds up your metabolism, nourishes your cells, and eliminates the annoying cravings and hunger we have throughout the day.

So how do you drink your veggies? I recommend using a juicer; however, if you only have a blender, you can still make green juice. When using a blender, you will need to add 1/4 cup or 1/3 cup of water. Purchase a few milk bags to pour the juice through to strain out the pulp.

Please don't throw the pulp away; it is high in fibre and can be added to scrambled eggs, add to a bone broth or your smoothie. You can also convert it to a dip. Just mix some cottage cheese along with Greek yoghurt and add 1/4 cup or so of vegetable pulp along with whatever spices you desire. This is a snack you can feel great about eating.

If you are travelling and cannot juice, you can purchase organic green juice powder. This doesn't replace fresh juice, but it does work when you have no other options. You can also purchase green juice from a whole food grocery or health food store, just read the ingredients and stay away from fruit and sugar.

I also recommend you only use organic veggies.

My favourite recipe:

1 cup Kale or 2 leaves

1 cup spinach

2 celery stalks

1/2 large cucumber

1 large juiced lemon

Fresh Parsley and Cilantro if available or sometimes mint.

If I have fresh ginger, I will add it to the juice.

Pinch of salt.

Stir the juice once finished. The juice is best served immediately but will keep it for about a day provided you store it in a glass airtight container in the fridge.

The juice will separate after a few minutes, so stir it before drinking.

Honestly, you can use any combination of green veggies that suites you, experiment, and find your favourite way; remember to use celery and cucumber as they have higher water content and they have many health benefits.

• Benefits of juicing cucumber

Cucumber juice is one of the most refreshing drinks you could make. Apart from the delicious taste, this beverage offers a range of health benefits as well. For instance, cucumbers can help with weight loss. Also, cucumber juice is packed with antioxidants, which can prevent cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. Cucumbers are rich in vitamin C and K, but they also contain manganese and potassium. As a result, cucumber juice is great for bone health.

• Benefits of juicing celery

Celery juice is an awesome beverage, despite its slightly bitter taste. First of all, celery contains flavonoids, which can reduce inflammation and repair liver health. On top of that, celery is super-low in calories and sugar. Thus, you can incorporate celery juice into your weight-loss plan. Celery is also rich in potassium, as well as in vitamin K and vitamin C.

Stay away from fruits, carrots and beets. Once these are juiced, they are pure sugar, and they will stop you from burning fat.

TAKE AWAY MESSAGE: By starting your day with a green juice with breakfast, you are getting a head start to fuel your body with the nutrients it needs for a healthy life and boost your weight loss success.