17 Little Known Juices You Should Add To Your Diet
Juicing has grown in popularity over the years, and this makes sense; everyone loves juice, it's sweet and refreshing. Juice bars have popped up all over, and electric juicers have become common home kitchen appliances. According to Web MD, drinking fresh juice is an excellent way to get vitamins and minerals into your day, as long as you are mindful of the potential excesses in calories and sugar.
Home juicers are an affordable way to start juicing. The two most popular types of juicers are masticating and centrifugal juicers. The former works by crushing the fruit and vegetables to make juice, and the latter uses centrifugal force to spin the fruit or vegetables to extract the juice. Both let you make a juice at home that will send your tastebuds soaring, and put your body on. path to better nutrition.
While orange juice is far and away the most popular — with apple and grape a close contender among kids — there are a wide variety of other juices made from lesser-known fruits and veggies. If you are new to juicing, get ready to be adventurous and explore the world of little known options you can add to your diet. All these juices are easy to make at home, found in your local juice shop, and worth trying. So, push aside those boring old options, and put some new juice in your life.
1. Beet
Let's be honest; beets aren't the most popular vegetable. Their deep red color and earthy origins can put some people off. But if you have trouble eating beets, you could always try drinking them instead.
Beet juice is actually healthier than eating beets; cooked beets lose a lot of their nutrients from the heat. Beet juice is made by juicing fresh beets, so all of the vitamins and minerals stay intact. According to Medical News Today, beet juice boasts health benefits like lowering blood pressure, improving stamina, and reducing inflammation. Plus, beet juice is excellent in supporting liver function, thanks to the antioxidant betaine, which helps cleanse the liver from toxins (via Healthline).
Beets are one of those vegetables that are naturally high in sugar, but that doesn't make beet juice sweet. Instead, beet juice has an earthy taste easily improved by mixing it with sweeter juices or a bit of honey. One disconcerting side effect to be aware of before you start consuming beets, whether cooked or in juice, is that they can turn urine and stools reddish pink — so, be prepared for a surprise a day or so later, but don't worry, it's perfectly normal.
2. Prickly pear
Even if you don't know what a prickly pear is, you've likely heard or seen the name. Prickly pears are, in fact, the fruit of the cactus tree — but unless you live in the desert, you'll likely have a hard time finding them in your local grocery store. Prickly pears are native to Mexico and the southwest, and so popular in Texas that the prickly pear cactus is the state plant.
These little fruits are sometimes referred to as "tuna," and have a unique look and taste. They grow on the flat cactus leaf or paddle, commonly called nopal. Prickly pears are oval and can range in color from pink to red, orange, or purple. On the outside, they have tough outer skin, and on the inside, sweet pulp with black edible seeds. While the nopal is common in Mexican dishes and cooked similarly to a green pepper, the prickly pear is reserved for sweet juices and desserts.
A little known juice loaded with health benefits, prickly pear is a powerhouse. According to Healthline, in Mexico, the prickly pear was traditionally consumed for medicinal purposes. Today, you can enjoy a glass of this sweet juice by itself or mixed — preferably with tequila in a prickly pear margarita.
3. Passionfruit
Passionfruit tastes as exotic as it sounds, with a tart, mildly sweet flavor that makes it popular in the culinary world. This tropical fruit is native to South America and comes from the same vine as the passion flower. It can be eaten fresh on its own for a sweet snack or added to smoothies, juiced, or made into other desserts.
Making passion fruit juice at home is a bit messy with the fleshy fruit. But it is available at most international markets; companies like Welch's and Simple Truth typically have it at the ready.
While the name may imply the powers of an aphrodisiac, the passion fruit was named by Spanish missionaries in the seventeenth century. According to Passiflora Online, in Spanish, the name translates to 'the flower of five wounds.,' and it has been associated with the crucifixion and the passion of Christ.
However, this fruit with the sexy name has a deadly secret. The passionfruit has a toxin in the pulp that can cause cyanide poisoning if over-consumed (via WebMD). To keep your passions string, enjoy this fruit juice in moderation.
4. Hibiscus
Hibiscus tea comes from the hibiscus flower, among the edible flowers that have long been a culinary delicacy. Growing in tropical and subtropical regions, the plant has been used in folk medicine in many different cultures. Hibiscus tea is made with the dark red flower petals, yielding a tea with a tart bite similar to cranberry juice. While it is commonly used in hot tea, it can also make a refreshing cold juice. You may have tried it in Mexican restaurants, where it is common to find cold hibiscus tea on the menu.
The dark red drink is high in vitamin C and antioxidants (via Healthline). In Mexico, hibiscus tea is a common home remedy for menstrual cramps, credited with regulating menstrual cycles. It is also thought to cleanse the liver, and is commonly given to anyone suffering the effects of overindulgence in alcohol.
You can find hibiscus tea on the shelf in most grocery stores, and some international stores sell dried hibiscus flowers in bulk. To make hibiscus tea from dried flowers, just steep the dried petals in hot water, then cool and serve with ice; the result is a refreshing, healthy juice.
5. Pomegranate
Pomegranates are a fruit with deep ties to mythology. The round red fruit, filled with seeds, is a symbol of fertility and the changing seasons and is an inspiration for the Greek myth of Persephone and Hades, the God of the underworld. This fruit, which is native to the Middle East and the Mediterranean, is now grown all over with a season from September to December (via Minnetonka Orchards).
Fresh pomegranates have tough outer skin and, when broken open, are filled with seeds. Pomegranates are a bit messy to work with, but well worth the effort. The seeds have become a popular food in recent years and are often sold separately from the fruit and sprinkled on cereals, yogurts, salads, and desserts. Making pomegranate juice is as simple as squishing the seeds to get to the sticky red juice. Or you can find pomegranate juice bottled in your local grocery store, and you should, because this tasty juice is a healthy addition to your diet. This mythical fruit has many healing properties. Healthline explains that pomegranates are high in antioxidants, have cancer-fighting properties, and are good for gut health.
6. Acai berry
Acai berries are somewhat new to the American health food scene, but those in the know have long regarded these little reddish-purple berries to be an unrivaled superfood. They are rich in antioxidants, good for you inside and out, and the oil of the acai berry has even been added to beauty products because its abundance of antioxidants promotes healthy skin (via Web MD).
Finding fresh acai berries to throw in your home juicer can be difficult. Fresh acai berries aren't readily available outside of their native Central and South American homes. But you can still reap the benefits of this colorful fruit in pressed juices, puree, and dried powder. According to Healthline, that acai berry juice is rich in antioxidants but is also high in sugar. So keep that in mind when reaching for a bottle of acai berry juice.
If excess sugar is a concern, you can still enjoy this little superfood. Acai berry puree is a lower-sugar alternative to getting more of this purplish fruit in your diet. The puree can be blended with other ingredients and turned into a delicious smoothie or popular bowl.
7. Guava
The guava fruit (sometimes called guayaba) are tropical little fruits that range in color from shades of green to yellow. They have a pink juicy inside that makes a sweet juice. Guavas can be eaten with the skin, seeds, and all. Even the guava leaves are edible, sometimes used to make extracts.
Finding fresh guavas for juice may require a trip to the international market, as they are not typically available in a local supermarket. Several juice companies make bottled guava juice; if you have never had it, you are in for a treat. This sweet fruit juice has a pleasant aroma and a mild, sweet taste. Fresh guava has a texture similar to the gritty texture of a pear. If you are making fresh guava juice at home, you can use a strainer to eliminate some of the texture.
According to Healthline, a guava is packed with vitamin C, even more than an orange. So, it may be time to reconsider your boring old glass of OJ; consider replacing it with guava juice instead.
8. Prune
Wile prunes might not be the most popular of fruits, they do have undeniable health benefits. Dehydrated gems made from a certain species of plums, these dark purple staples of the elderly diet are like large raisins; they don't appeal to everyone, but you should really give prune juice a chance.
Prune juice has a well-established reputation as a laxative, and is often associated with older folks trying to staying regular. But this juice has lots of other reasons to try it, including taste: Prunes are naturally sweet, and prune juice can satisfy a sweet tooth without any added processed sugar. Plus, it is rich in antioxidants and good for your liver and heart health and preventing high blood pressure (via WebMD).
Prune juice is readily available in supermarkets, or you can make your own, no juicer required. Making fresh prune juice is as simple as soaking these dried fruits in water to rehydrate them.
9. Tamarind
Tamarind is a popular fruit internationally, often employed in Indian dishes like chutneys and curries. In Mexico and Central America, tamarind is used to make candies, marinades, and syrups and the fruit really can do it all, including making juice. Tamarind is an unusual fruit, one that grows on trees in long, hard brown casings with pods inside. The pods and the pulp surrounding them are used to make a unique juice, sweet with a tangy tart bite.
Fresh tamarind is available in international markets, and you can easily make this juice at home, no juicer necessary. Start by removing the pods from the hard shell casing, then pour boiling water over the pods and soak them for a few hours. Next, separate the seeds from the pulp, discard them and blend the pulp with a bit of water to make a refreshing juice. Since tamarind juice has such a sour, acidic taste, you may want to add a bit of sweetener like sugar, honey, or agave.
If that sounds like too much effort, simply hit up your local international market and get tamarind concentrate instead. It will need to be diluted with water, but once you do that you'll have a simple, sweet tamarind juice.
10. Carrot
Many people who get juicers at home, immediately start buying carrots in bulk. And why not? Carrots are one of the best vegetables you can juice — Bugs Bunny's favorite treat yields a surprisingly sweet juice, packed with vitamins and minerals including vitamins C and A; it's also an unexpectedly rich source of potassium (via Healthline). Plus, carrots blend well with other fruits and vegetables to make all kinds of juice combinations like carrot apple, carrot ginger, or carrot beet. The possibilities are endless.
While carrots have long been identified as a catalyst for healthy eyesight, they don't have the ability to improve your vision. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, the myth about carrots improving eyesight was created to fool the Germans during World War II. British propaganda tried to conceal then newly-developed radar technology, knowing it was key to their fighter pilots' success in shooting down enemy planes. To the public, they explained their pilots ate a lot of carrots, which supposedly gave them improved eyesight.
11. Wheatgrass
Have you ever wondered about those little patches of grass in your grocery's produce section? Well, you've just encountered wheatgrass. But don't let nature's unorthodox packaging intimidate you; Medical News Daily explains that wheatgrass is high in antioxidants and believed to boost metabolism and fight inflammation. Plus, wheatgrass is high in fiber and helps promote gut health.
The grass of the wheat plant before it has developed, wheatgrass was initially grown for animal feed; over the lasts several decades, it has exploded on the health food scene as a superfood, often taken as a shot with something like an orange serving as a chaser.
Which makes sense, because the big drawback with wheatgrass juice is the taste. It tastes, well, grassy and earthy. If that's not to your liking, you can make wheatgrass more palatable by mixing it with a natural sweetener like honey or agave. You can also try mixing it with other fruit juices that have a stronger flavor to cover up that grassy taste, or just go with the chaser.
If you still can't handle the intense flavor but want the health benefits of wheatgrass, you can find it in powders and supplements in health food stores — sneakily mix it into something sweeter, and you'll find the grass is always greener on the other side of this juice.
12. Tomato
While tomato juice is not as popular as orange , it is still a favorite for many, especially when traveling. Tomato juice has long been the go-to beverage for many when flying — surprisingly enough, it's likely because the receptors of taste and smell have less sensitivity when at a higher altitude, so travelers tend to appreciate the freshness of the taste without the earthy, mulchy aftertaste that they find less palatable when on terra firma.
Many folks only think of tomato juice as an ingredient in Bloody Mary. But tomato juice is not beholden to the power of vodka; tomato juice is a tasty juice all on its own, with no vodka and assorted garnishes required.
Tomato juice is easy to make at home with or without a juicer. Using a juicer will remove the skins, but if you do not have a juicer, you can blend your cooked tomatoes in a blender and then strain the mixture with a sieve or cheesecloth. It is worth making tomato juice at home because of its many health benefits. Medicine Net explains that tomato juice is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. It's also a great way to get the antioxidant lycopene into your diet.
Commercial tomato juice is readily available but often has added sugar and salt. The best way to enjoy this red juice is homemade to avoid the excess sodium, or look for commercial tomato juice that has no added sugar and salt; vodka is optional.
13. Celery
While sauteed celery is key to a good mirepoix and essential to a good broth, raw celery leaves much to be desired. Unless you have some buffalo wings around, raw celery is not an enticing snack for most people. It's largely water, and eating it can feel laborious with its tough, stringy texture. Plus, celery may remind you of dieting, and that association can put you off to the bland vegetable.
Despite the vegetable's milquetoast reputation, celery makes an excellent juice. Celery juice has been in the spotlight in recent years as a healthy juice on the rise at the juice bar, and with good reason. A low calorie juice packed with vitamins and minerals, according to WebMD, an 8-ounce glass of fresh celery juice has 42.5 calories, 4 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of protein. That's pretty good for a vegetable that is mostly water. Plus, it's inexpensive and easy to throw in the juicer.
Be mindful of consuming celery juice in moderation, especially if you have sensitive skin. Dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth warns that celery juice can heighten sensitivity to harmful UVA sunlight (via Women's Health).
14. Pineapple
Pineapples are a tropical fruit, frequently associated with daiquiris and piña coladas on sandy beaches. But you don't have to be on vacation in the tropics to enjoy pineapple juice.
Pineapple juice is readily available in supermarkets. If you prefer to make your own fresh at home, make sure you know how to pick the right pineapple; juicing unripe pineapples can be toxic. Many home chefs avoid pineapples because they are messy; the tough outer skin and crown must be removed before you can get at that sweet fruit. But once you get to the bright yellow insides, you can throw it in the juicer or your basic blender with a little water and fresh ginger for delicious pineapple juice. Whether you make your own or not, you should drink more pineapple juice, because it is high in vitamin C, beta carotene, and vitamin A (via WebMD).
Pineapple also contains the enzyme bromelain, which has been connected to reduced inflammation. Recently, the humble pineapple has become a symbol of fertility, anecdotally connected to IVF. According to reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Tomer Singer, there is no scientific data to support pineapple or pineapple juice as a fertility enhancer — its effect on embryo implantation, it seems, has been overinflated (via The New York Times). Regardless of the science, however, the sweet tropical fruit makes for a tasty, refreshing juice.
15. Dragon fruit
Dragon fruit juice may sound like a cocktail from Game of Thrones, but it is actually made from the tropical delicacy. Dragon fruit is a unique-looking entity that reportedly earned its name because it resembles fire and scales (via New Food Magazine). Its pink outer exterior hides its white or pink insides dotted with black seeds. Making dragon fruit juice is as easy as scooping out the soft insides and throwing it in the blender. But you'll likely want to strain it (for a smoother juice), or add some fruit and make it a thick smoothie.
Dragon fruit has a unique flavor, like the intersection between a kiwi and a melon. The seeds give it a texture similar to a pear, and it's not only delicious, but also quite healthy. According to Web MD, dragon fruit is high in antioxidants and fiber; it strengthens the immune system and wields invaluable prebiotics that can support gut health.
16. Cherry
Fresh, sweet cherries are a highlight of the summer season. The colorful little stone fruits can be eaten alone or made into such desserts as cherry pies and cobblers. Their cousins sour cherries, meanwhile, make a tart cherry juice similar to cranberry juice and with just as many health benefits.
You can make sour cherry juice at home with a pile of sour cherries, but removing the pits and stems makes for a laborious, time-consuming process. It's much easier to grab a bottle of commercial sour cherry juice.
Tart cherry juice has essential vitamins and minerals, can help reduce inflammation and muscle soreness, and boosts the immune system (via Healthline). If you are one of the many people that struggle to fall and stay asleep, then you will be pleased to learn that tart cherry juice is connected to better sleep. The Sleep Foundation credits the sleep hormones melatonin and tryptophan in tart cherry juice for better sleep. They recommend drinking a small glass of unsweetened tart cherry juice an hour before bedtime for a better slumber.
17. Cucumber
Health spas have been employing cucumbers as a natural relaxant for years, and perhaps they're onto something.
If you have ever enjoyed an afternoon at a health spa, you have probably sipped cucumber water — possibly with slices of fresh cucumbers covering your eyes. Cucumbers are known for being a hydrating vegetable, which makes sense because they are mostly water. So, making them into juice seems like a no-brainer. According to Healthline, cucumber water is a great way to get glowing skin from the inside out, because cucumbers are rich in antioxidants and promote healthy skin.
But you don't have to spend money on an extravagant spa day to get the health benefits of cucumber water. It can be as simple as adding a few slices of freshly sliced cucumbers to a pitcher of H20, or you can blend them together to make a thicker juice.
If you are getting into juicing, you will want to stock up on cucumbers; they are a versatile fuel to throw in your juicer. They have a fairly mild flavor and make a simple juice on their own, or mix well with other fruits and vegetables for a refreshing juice. Cucumber water with lime and chia seeds is a popular way to perk up a basic cucumber water, but ideally, you should remove the skin — it contributes a bitter taste to an otherwise exceptional juice option.