Juice

If you've had BluePrint Juice's refreshing concoction of pineapple, green apple, and mint (P.A.M.) and thought to yourself how good it would be in a cocktail, you definitely have the makings of a bartender in you! BluePrint's P.A.M. has everything you want in a great Summer cocktail — a balanced flavor profile of sweet and tart with just a little something extra from the fresh mint. All it takes is one sip to be transported to a tropical beachside destination. Adding to its taste appeal are of course P.A.M.'s many nutritional benefits: made from raw, live juice, pineapple and mint are both known for their detoxing and debloating benefits.

First we set out to hack BluePrint's P.A.M. recipe for ourselves, which was a success in its own right. But after mixing it up with a little rum, we may have even improved on the original.

Fans of the mojito, learn how to make your new favorite Summer cocktail after the break!

If you're having trouble falling asleep at night, skip the sleeping pills for this nutrient-rich juice instead. Neka Pasquale, founder of Urban Remedy, developed this recipe using ingredients known for having calming properties on the body. The result is a bright and balanced green juice that would taste good whatever the time of day! Here's how each ingredient adds to the overall effect of Neka's natural sleep aid:

• Celery juice: Neka says celery juice contains essential oils that have a "calming effect on the nervous system," which can help the body unwind. "It also contains a high level of magnesium, which promotes muscle relaxation and a sense of well-being."
• Watercress and romaine: Both of these ingredients are high in calcium, which, like magnesium, can help the body relax after a long day.
• Lemon and orange: The citrus in this recipe contain inositol, which Neka says can help enhance REM sleep. In small studies, inositol has also been shown to calm anxiety, which may be especially helpful if stress keeps you up at night.

But juice alone is not a cure-all to restless nights; taking care of the body is key, Neka says. "Get yourself in bed around 10 p.m., as this is the body's natural resting time. Even if you're not ready to fall asleep, lay down and read a book or listen to music. It's the act of putting the body in a resting position that's most important!”

See Neka's recipe for sweet green sleep juice after the break!

The juices from the BluePrint Cleanse program are flying off the shelves quicker than kombucha. Inside of each bottle, which ranges from $8 to $12, are delicious juices filled with nutrients and ingredients known for their natural detoxing properties. You don't need to shell out the money to get the same tasty results, though. Here's an easy recipe that mimics BluePrint's P.A.M. drink. Since pineapple is a natural de-bloater, this juice has potential to help with water retention, as well.

See the recipe after the break

When I'm on the go or out of town, I turn to trusty Starbucks to pick up my favorite bottled green juice: Evolution Fresh Sweet Greens and Lemon Juice. With that bottle of the slightly sweet, definitely green, and perfectly smooth stuff, I always feel like I'm doing my body good when I invest in a $6 bottle. The back of the bottle showcases the fruits and vegetables used, and on a recent day, I thought, "Hmm, I'd like to try that recipe out at home."

Upon closer look at the ingredients list, I was a little disappointed by the actual amount each bottle provides. While there is a sufficient amount of celery, apple, and parsley, other ingredients have oddly minimal amounts: 1/8 of a cucumber, 2/5 leaf of romaine lettuce, and 5 leaves of spinach? As an avid juicer, I felt a little ripped off.

I tried to stay as true as I could to the amounts listed on the back but did make a few tweaks so each ingredient makes a significant presence in the juice. (My grocer doesn't carry fresh sprouts or wheatgrass, so I didn't include those in the recipe, but that's not to say you shouldn't add them.) I was worried that with so many ingredients, the juice would take a long time to make, but start to finish, it took 15 minutes to chop the vegetables and process them through my Omega Masticating Juicer. Interestingly enough, the juice yields at least twice the amount of juice you'll find in the bottle, if not more.

When I bought the ingredients, I was curious to know if it would be cost-effective, compared to the Evolution juice. When I broke the price down based on the recipe I developed, the total amount of organic ingredients was $5.14, so not much less than the Evolution bottle. For the recipe, and a side-by-side taste comparison, read more.

Good circulation can benefit your entire body. Not only does it boost mental processes like memory, but it can help your hearing, vision, and even improve your skin. Poor circulation is often considered a sign of high blood pressure, so it pays to pay attention to your blood flow.

One of the main contributors to poor blood circulation is lack of proper nutrition when the body isn't receiving enough natural minerals or vitamins in the bloodstream. Fresh foods like oranges, kale, carrots, and ginger all help with circulation by neutralizing vein damage, strengthening capillaries, and stimulating blood circulation. This green juice recipe includes all four super foods to aid in circulation, plus a few more to sweeten the deal.

From Jaime Young

Kale, Carrot, and Ginger Juice

Ingredients

1 Fuji apple, cored and sliced
1 lemon, peeled
1 orange, with peel
2 carrots, whole
6 kale leaves, rinsed
1 inch of ginger root

Directions

1. Slice up the apple, orange, and lemon.
2. Remove the peel from the lemon and add all of the ingredients to your electric juicer.

For less bite, remove the peel of the orange before adding it to your juicer.

Nutritional Source: Calorie Count

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Hangovers happen. And while water, aspirin, and a little time are the best ways to deal with the after-effects of drinking, little things — like what you eat — can help. Take this pressed-juice recipe, for instance. At first glance, it may seem like just a Bloody Mary minus the vodka, but it's exactly what you need to power through the day.

Full of the essential nutrients (think: vitamin C, lycopene, and hydrating water) that your body is depleted of from drinking, this pressed juice also gets a spicy kick from the added jalapeño. And when you're feeling too miserable to move, a spicy boost of endorphins can make or break the day. Nauseated? There's a little dose of stomach-soothing ginger to help you out too.

Learn how to make the recipe after the break!