This Iron Booster Juice boosts your iron levels, your immunity and your energy levels. Iron is an essential mineral that plays an important role in the transport of oxygen to cells. It is incredibly important for energy and stamina. An iron deficiency depletes cells of oxygen, which can result in fatigue, dizziness, low stamina, irritability and a weakened immune system. Women require more iron than men for a variety of reasons, including menstrual flow.

If you are a woman and follow a plant-based diet, you are at a higher risk for iron deficiency (anaemia). The form of iron found in animal products like meat and fish is more readily absorbed by the human body than iron from plant-based foods. If you are vegan or vegetarian, you might have a harder time getting sufficient iron into your body. Although many plant-based foods are naturally rich in iron, they are not as easily absorbed by the human body. Plant-based sources of iron are spinach, broccoli, kale, dried fruits such as dates and figs, fresh cranberries, prunes, pumpkin seeds,  almonds, chickpeas and lentils. There’s only so much broccoli or dates you can eat.

If your diet is low in iron-rich foods and low in Vitamin C and you are feeling low in energy, you might need to boost your iron intakeJuicing is a great way to get lots of nutrients in without having to eat ridiculous amounts of iron-rich foods. A simple juice contains a wide variety if nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables and will easily equal a big plate of food. It is important to add Vitamin C rich foods to your iron-rich foods. Vitamin C, when taken in at the same time as an iron-rich food, helps the body absorb iron from plant sources more easily. That’s why this Iron Booster Juice contains oranges and cranberries, which are rich in vitamin C. The Vitamin C helps to absorb the iron in the spinach, broccoli, beets and date paste. Instead of date syrup, you can also use blackstrap molasses or one of my favourites, all natural Pear Apple Cranberry Syrup. 

Some people  have a harder time metabolising iron and, certain foods, such as dairy products, black tea and coffee, when eaten at the same time with iron-rich foods, can inhibit the absorption of iron. Eating a nice bowl of yoghurt or fortified soy yoghurt with iron-rich foods like cereal, pumpkin seeds and dried fruit might not be the best way to go about boosting your iron levels. When you are juicing, it is easier to balance calcium-rich vegetables like broccoli and spinach with plenty of Vitamin C rich foods. If you have been feeling low in energy lately, you might want to give this Iron Booster Juice a try.

Ingredients

• 1 small red beet, juice
• 2 oranges
• 1 cup of cranberries
• 1 cup of spinach
• 1 cup of broccoli
• 1/2 cup parsley
• 1 tsp date syrup (optional)

Instructions

Juice all produce except for the syrup. Add the date syrup and enjoy!