Consumers have it hard these days, paying for food, utility bills and for the roof over our heads. How can we eat well in these times, maintain health and well-being on a budget? Have you tried vegetable juices?

It is important for us to know that we can make our juices into a balanced meal while using minimum energy in terms of not having to cook with gas or electricity. Using our juice machine for two to five minutes to blend or extract the juices use far less energy.

Vegetable juices helps us to regain or maintain health. Most foods we eat should contain live, vital organic elements, which are found in fresh, raw vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts. When you eat raw, uncooked vegetables and fruits, their fibres act as an intestinal broom in swabbing the walls of the intestines of accumulated impurities. It is important to have a variety of vegetable juices, starting off with those that you enjoy eating.

Fresh vegetables and fruit juices are builders and regenerators of the body as they contain many of the amino acids, minerals, vitamins and enzymes necessary for the functions of the body. When on juice, it is important to listen to our bodies, as our stomachs should feel good over a period of four hours. If we find our stomachs growling or making its presence known,we probably juiced something that we should not be eating or added too much cabbage or beans to the juice. This is where we could add a pinch of ginger or a sprig of fennel to the juice. Remember, we will be eliminating bulk rice, flour and meat our diets. Soups or broths are excellent in-betweens.

Storing your juices

Vegetable juices are perishable and it is best to drink them immediately, but there is a method recommended for storage for no longer than 24 hours. Place juice in a container, fill right up to the top and cover with an airtight lid. Wrap the glass jar or container with aluminum foil to block out light. Remember light damages the juice.

Store juices in the refrigerator until ready for use. It is best to take out half an hour before use, as it is best to consume juices at room temperature.

A balanced juice meal

A well-balanced juice meal can consist of the following:

1. Shredded whole coconut (which improves your immune system, and is an excellent source of fat to balance the meal).

2. Powdered Irish moss (which is high in nutrients and is a filler).

3. Powdered or grated ginger (just a pinch to improve the taste and for heart health).

4. A clove of garlic (to balance the bowel flora and to help the immune system).

5. A quarter cup of fresh pumpkin, already diced, and a tablespoonful of linseed (flaxseed).

6. Freshly chopped lettuce, bok choy and a small amount of carrot for its sugary content.

7. Chlorella one teaspoon to 6ozs.(chlorella is a powerful nutrient from the sea, which assists in cleansing the blood-binding pesticides, mercury and arsenic for removal from the body).

Adults should drink no more than 6 ozs. of juice at a time.

Remember, you can start growing your vegetables, start juicing and controlling the budget while looking radiant and feeling energised.

Dr Diane Robertson is a pharmacist and recipient of an honorary doctorate in complementary medicine for her work in herbs; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.